Therapists for college students near San Diego State University

I am deeply committed to helping people create the most fulfilling lives possible as they move through and beyond challenges such as anxiety, depression, stress, college adjustment, ADHD, as well as relationship and self-esteem issues. When life has thrown you off your path, I work with you to restore your natural capacity for self-compassion and healing and provide unwavering emotional support as you create a thriving life with healthier relationships.

Navigating your college years is a massive transition. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed, shifting relationship dynamics, or anxiety about the future, you do not have to figure it out alone. I have been a therapist since 2011, and as a trauma specialist, I help young adults find their footing. As a UC Berkeley grad, I know firsthand the weight of high expectations. My approach is collaborative and conversational. I bring warmth and genuine care to our sessions. We will work as a team, using strategies focused on finding solutions to get to the root of what is holding you back while building practical tools for resilience. Our first session is simply a safe, supportive space to start unpacking what is on your mind. We move at your pace. Reach out today, and let's start exploring what true healing looks like for you.

Welcome! I'm Isela Garcia White, LCSW (she/her), therapist and owner of Lotus Bloom Therapy. I specialize in working with undergraduate and graduate students- especially Latinx, BIPOC, first-generation, and immigrant students who are navigating high academic pressure, anxiety, depression, impostor feelings, perfectionism, and the challenge of balancing family or cultural expectations with school demands. With several years of experience supporting students at Stanford University and Stanford School of Medicine, I understand the unique mix of stress, identity-related experiences, and relationship changes that can come with campus life. My approach is warm, culturally responsive, and straightforward, offering a safe space to be heard, develop coping strategies, and strengthen your confidence and well-being. If this sounds like the kind of support you’re looking for, I invite you to message me here, or at www.lotusbloomtherapy.org. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to help consider if we'd be a good fit. I’d be honored to connect and see how we might work together.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

You’re trying to find your footing after a major loss, a breakup, or a life transition that’s turned everything upside down. Whatever has led you here, one thing is likely true: something has shifted and you’re left trying to make sense of it. I offer a space to process the complex layers of change including grief, transition, and identity exploration. You may be holding the weight of a loss while also trying to figure out who you are and where you’re going. That’s a heavy lift. In our work, we’ll explore how your past has shaped you, how your values can guide you, and how to build a life that both honors what you’ve lost and allows you to stay connected to hope. Through compassion, insight, and gentle challenge, I’ll help you rediscover your worth and reconnect with the parts of yourself you’ve missed. This work is personal to me. My own experiences with grief and therapy are what led me here, and they give me a lived understanding of what it’s like to rebuild after loss—not from a textbook, but from my own life. I’m not here to lead from a distance. I’m here to be with you through the work, honoring your process while drawing from what I’ve learned in my own journey. If you’re feeling lost, isolated, or unsure where to start, I want you to know—you don’t have to figure it all out alone. I’d be honored to walk alongside you. Text, call, or email today and let's take that first step together.

Young adulthood is a time of growth, self-discovery, and life transitions. Whether you're in college, starting your career, or navigating relationships, therapy can provide guidance and tools for coping. Together we can discuss things such as relationship difficulties, values, identity, coping with anxiety or depression, body image struggles, connection to oneself and others, and patterns you are maybe starting to notice as you grow. My goal as a young adult therapist, which is similar to that of a teen therapist, is to create a safe relationship for exploration. A place where you can show up without preparation and as exactly who you are.

The most important thing for how well and how soon you get results in therapy is that you feel comfortable, like we have good chemistry, and that I get where you're coming from. And the second most important thing is that you feel like our plan---how we're going to work together--- is exactly right for you. I think only a conversation can help you know whether I'm right for you, so I offer you a free 15 min conversation to kick my tires :-) Btw, my schedule in not on this website but on https://headway.co/providers/christopher-franklin-2?utm_source=pem&utm_medium=direct_link&utm_campaign=81956 I am a really unusual combination of qualities. Maybe you are too?... I went to Princeton and Yale, but I'm Marxist (Socialist Equality Party). I trained to be an Episcopal priest; I love and married a Muslim woman, whose parents are from India/ Bangladesh and we both appreciate Zen. Growing up with divorced parents, I went back and forth from my father's farm to my mother's townhouse...and felt at home nowhere. I fostered two people since they were 10, who are like a son and daughter to me. I served a Spanish language, Mexican immigrant, LGBTQ+ Episcopal church in Los Angeles. (I know! REALLY unusual combination, right?) I have taught psychology at undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels. I used to be a hospice chaplain and suicide negotiator (as a registered psychologist, not as a police officer) and a consulting suicidologist for ICE (yes, in 2 detention facilities, one for children the other, adults). Nowadays, I work with adult students, doing couples and individual therapy. I'm sex worker positive. (See my videos, TheSugarPsychologist on tiktok.) And I do evaluations for people adopting orphans in India.

Hi! My name is Mary and I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and Somatic Experiencing practitioner based in Southern California. Are you struggling with your emotions in a chaotic world? Unsure of how to support yourself through a life transition? Or just wanting support to find your full potential? Let me meet you where you are at in your journey to help you understand how to support yourself through difficult and complex times. I work with individuals of all ages in the therapy space. If you are searching for the best version of yourself, no matter your background, you are supported in this space to make that discovery. I have a special focus on women's issues and how mental health and physical health go hand in hand to find a balance. My journey to becoming a therapist started many years ago with an introduction to Jungian psychology and working with my own dreams to understand who I was becoming as a person. It has inspired me to be a more curious individual and to impart that knowledge to my clients in the therapy space.

Navigating Rough Waters Therapy is my private practice. I'm Dr. Lara Kennerly, PsyD, a Licensed Psychologist with over two decades of clinical experience helping adults with a wide range of mental health challenges in various treatment settings (e.g. private practice, inpatient/outpatient, College Counseling Center, onsite PSP for Correctional staff & First responders in an active disaster zone), trained in most well-known evidence-based approaches, and am also certified in several other highly specialized approaches (EFIT, CPTSD, ADHD) I offer in-person psychotherapy in Sacramento and virtual therapy sessions for clients throughout California. I work with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, PTSD, CPTSD, people pleasing, social anxiety, interpersonal difficulties, self-esteem struggles, body image issues, ADHD, OCD, perfectionism, Attachment Trauma, unprocessed pain from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE's), and other emotional challenges. My approach to therapy is Trauma-Informed, Psychodynamic, and Insight-oriented. That means we don't just focus on managing symptoms. Instead, we explore the emotional patterns and life experiences that drive how you think, feel, and relate to others. That kind of deeper work leads to real, lasting change. Many clients come to therapy because anxiety, past trauma, or chronic stress has begun affecting their emotional well-being, relationships, or sense of purpose, and are complicating current major life challenges like having to adjust to big changes in their lives or confidently make major life decision about their futures. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure about the next step in your life, therapy can help you gain insight and move forward with greater emotional balance and confidence.

My areas of emphasis are relationships, trans-affirming care, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ concerns, trauma, anxiety, sexuality, multi-ethnic/cultural identity & college-related concerns. I support my clients in unlearning shame, setting boundaries without guilt, embracing their identities and cultures with pride, and build more authentic, fulfilling relationships. I offer a compassionate space where you can safely explore yourself, challenge old patterns, and develop new ways of responding that support healing, confidence and lasting change. In addition to psychotherapy, I provide WPATH assessments and letters for gender affirming surgeries. Therapy with me is collaborative, affirming, and driven by the desire to support you in healing through your resilience and empowerment. I integrate psychodynamic and action-oriented methods and my approach is liberation-based, anti-racist and trauma-informed.

As a Licensed Psychologist with more than 13 years of clinical experience, I have developed a strong passion towards helping students recognize their capabilities and collaboratively creating positive changes in their lives through our work together. I am able to discuss and treat a variety of mental health concerns by providing treatment from a multicultural lens. My areas of specialization include grief and loss, resilience factors, trauma, faith and spirituality concerns, racial/ethnic identity development, self-exploration, relational patterns/interpersonal relatedness, family of origin issues, assertiveness training, disability related issues, self-esteem, and providing support for students with adjustment concerns, anxiety, and depression. I hope I can be of support to you and look forward to connecting!

I’m really passionate about mental health and I genuinely enjoy helping people work through their challenges and find ways to improve their lives. I work to make a real difference by being someone who listens and supports clients in a way that helps them feel understood and empowered. I want to help them build the tools and confidence they need to handle whatever comes their way. My goal is to create a space where they feel comfortable exploring their feelings and making positive changes in their lives. I often use CBT which is highly effective in helping clients identify and alter dysfunctional thought patterns and behaviors. This approach is beneficial for addressing anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders. I also incorporate aspects of DBT, especially the mindfulness and emotion regulation parts. These techniques provides clients with practical skills to manage their emotions and relationships more effectively. PCT and ACT are also central to my practice. t’s important to me that clients feel heard and valued in our sessions and help clients stay present and committed to making positive changes, even when things get tough. I enjoy working with diverse communities such as minority and marginalized communities, refugees and immigrants, individuals experiencing homelessness, people with substance use disorders, caregivers, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, veterans, survivors of trauma and domestic violence, elderly populations, individuals with chronic illnesses, and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. My aim is always to provide tailored, empathetic support that meets the specific needs of each client. Throughout my career, I’ve had the chance to work with all sorts of people, from children in kindergarten, teens, adults and trauma survivors. These experiences have really shown me how strong and resilient people can be. Personally, dealing with my own challenges has taught me the power of empathy and creating a safe space for clients. I always aim to stay updated with the latest therapy techniques to give my clients the best support possible on their healing journeys.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I support students who are experiencing stress, both academically and interpersonally. I recognize the layers of pressure that may be coming from family, peers, and yourself. School can be a challenging environment and finding support is not always easy. I provide a space to be heard and for you to process anything that's on your mind. I am warm and nonjudgmental.

Hello and Welcome! I am an SCU alumni and currently have a fully remote and in-person practice (In person on Thursdays only). Ultimately, we all hit bumps in the road associated with being human and making our way through LIFE. But you don't have to struggle and suffer alone. There is support, and I'm happy to help. I enjoy helping people work through issues around stress, addiction, codependency, anxiety, substance abuse, boundaries, family issues, relationship issues, and issues around life transitions. "Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional..." -Haruki Murakami

Hi! I'm Dr. Alice Wong, I have experience in working with diverse cultural backgrounds and understand the struggles one may face in wanting to assimilate while retaining their cultural heritage. Besides prescribing medications when necessary, I am a strong proponent of psychodynamic psychotherapy to process past experiences, understand ourselves better, and achieve the lives we consciously choose. Whether you're seeking relief from family expectations, struggling to integrate your multicultural identity (especially as an Asian American), experiencing the stress of transitions in life, managing symptoms of anxiety/depression/trauma, or feeling lost in your pursuit of a fulfilling life, I'm dedicated to walking this path with you.

Hello! My name is Tina, and I am the daughter of immigrants from Mexico, an Angeleña, and a wounded healer. As someone who carries her own history of trauma, it is important for me to create a space where people feel like they not only belong but that their story matters and where they can find healing within themselves. I support people who are ready to do the difficult work of addressing their experiences of loss, life transitions, and trauma. I specialize in working with people who have experienced childhood trauma and abuse, survivors of sexual abuse, and people who have had difficult experiences that they feel hold them back. Many of the people I work with struggle to put themselves first and often feel overwhelmed and stuck although they may appear to have it all together. They struggle to ask for help due to fear of being seen as weak when deep inside what they really want is to be seen and accepted for who they are, unconditionally. I work with clients to recognize the thoughts, feelings, and physical responses to trauma as a means of understanding themselves and their trauma and regaining control through various therapy modalities including EMDR and Brainspotting. I also explore the role of intergenerational trauma in my clients' lives and help them connect with their inner child as a part of their healing journey. My approach to therapy is human-first. It is important to co-create a space where people feel like they not only belong but that their story matters and where they can find their own source of healing within themselves. My hope is that through our work together you can connect with your inner healer and take that next step forward throughout your healing journey. In-Person Sessions are offered in Upland, CA and Telehealth Sessions are available to people in CA and FL.

I have always wanted to make a positive impact and in my journey to figuring out what that was, I realized I enjoyed providing people with emotional support and that is when I decided to become a mental health therapist. This is a safe, nonjudgmental space. What is it that you need to feel heard and understood? I do not come from an expert stance. I believe you are the expert in your life and we are both coming together to work collaboratively on how to help you along your life journey.

I understand the challenges college and grad students face: Academics and work have been keeping you so busy and the overwhelm is starting to catch up to you fast. Perfectionism and imposter syndrome have been a real annoyance in your life. Your thoughts are constantly racing. You feel the weight of the world sitting on your chest. You speak pretty harshly to yourself. It’s really hard to communicate your needs to others, and big emotions are hard to shake. You’re feeling more and more disconnected in life. I've been working with college & grad students at various universities throughout the country for the past 14 years. I also have had the honor of supporting people in their early career journey, from graduating, to passing various exams required by their profession, to getting their first job and transitioning into that new chapter. I approach therapy in a thoughtful, comprehensive, evidence-based, and holistic way that is tailored to meet each person’s unique needs. I’ve been told that the work I do is approachable, that our time together feels safe, that I understand the experiences that Gen Z and Millennials bring in, and those that I work with experience big changes in their lives in a relatively short amount of time. You are welcome here!

Hi! I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. I help my clients overcome anxiety, depression, relational struggles, parenting and transitions in life. I also supervise two fabulous Associates. who are also accepting new clients at a reduced rate. Please visit my website to learn more about us!