Therapists for college students near San Francisco State University
I am a psychotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience in a variety of settings. I received my psychotherapy training at the San Francisco State University and graduated in 2012. After working at a private counseling center for 6 years, I opened my private practice in 2018 as a licensed marriage and family therapist. I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ adults and Asian adults. My areas of interests include gay/lesbian and gender issues, sexuality. I have history of interest in issues of race and culture and their intersection with psychoanalysis.
Hi ! Thanks for stopping by. Life can feel so confusing and hard to navigate at times. I work to help you learn more about yourself so you can better navigate the challenges in life. When we build awareness of our experiences we have more possibilities for change. I use a non-judgemental, supportive approach and aim to help you create space and develop tools to feel more at home with yourself. I look forward to learning how I can best support you in whatever you are going through right now.
We are a group practice located in Berkeley, California. We provide in person sessions in Berkeley and online therapy in California, Hawaii, Florida, and Virginia. We specialize in supporting college students as they navigate academics, relationships, stress, loneliness, depression, anxiety, burnout, and more. Our therapists are warm and highly skilled in providing research-backed psychotherapy techniques including: Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Mindfulness and Positive Psychology Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
I’m passionate about working with people who want a deeper, more caring connection with themselves. I specialize in gender identity, anxiety, and substance use - I do not require or push abstinence. I tend to connect most effectively with folks who are trans, queer, kinky, creatives, helping professionals, students, recent graduates, artists, nonmonogamous, neurodivergent, witchy, and/or spiritually inclined. Sound like you? Let's chat!
My practice was an oddity before COVID. Now it just makes sense. I meet most of my clients outdoors, on the hiking trails of the Berkeley and Oakland Redwoods. I of course also work with people online, too, but prefer to at least meet once or twice a month in-person: webcams are quite convenient, but still a 2D version of ourselves; it's definitely not ideal for the sort of conversational depth & breadth that we may embark on together. Put more plainly: Talking about the most stressful, anxiety producing, depressing, &/or shame-inducing stuff is best done in person, not online. Take a look at my website to get more of a feel for whether my practice may be a fit for you, and of course, don't hesitate to send an email or txt msg if you have questions: 415.823.1760
As a professional counselor and family therapist who's spent the better part of the past decade helping teens and adolescents navigate the transition to college and the beginnings of their young adult lives, as well as helping international students acclimate to their new environment, I'm here to let you know that ... Despite what anyone tells you, you don't need to have it all figured out. What many people don't want to admit or face is that life is a continuous process of growth and change. However, once you realize and embrace that fact, everything else becomes much easier, more rewarding, and fun. This is what counseling for college students and young adults is all about: learning to embrace change, discover who you really are, and create the relationships and life you desire and deserve. My job as a psychotherapist is to help you explore your values and beliefs and align your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with who you really are, so you can let go of any unnecessary tension, cope with and move past anxiety and depression, communicate more effectively with others, and live a more authentic and joyous life. And it doesn't have to take a long time. You don't need to be in therapy until you're middle-aged! You decide on your goals for our work together, and we'll figure out the most effective and efficient ways of achieving them. If you're ready to embrace this time in your life, discover your personal power and feel confident and comfortable making big decisions, enjoy exploring all of the possibilities for the future, and make sure you’re on the right path for you, I encourage you to contact me today.
As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in trauma, adoption, and challenging life experiences, my approach is relational and integrative. I work exclusively online with teens and adults in California who have had significant adverse childhood experiences or recent stressful or traumatic events. Life transitions can trigger old emotional wounds, contributing to anxiety or depression in adulthood. One of the most effective ways to free yourself from symptoms of past trauma is EMDR therapy. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can provide lasting relief from disturbing memories, reactivity, anxiety, excessive worries, and other emotional distress stemming from adverse experiences in the past. This evidence-based integrative brief psychotherapy approach has been extensively researched and proven effective. Both the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association recommend EMDR as an effective trauma treatment; the Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense placed EMDR therapy in the "A" category as "strongly recommended" for trauma.
Many of the people I work with are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) who are struggling to navigate multiple areas of their life like work, school, family, relationships, or the intersectionalities of their identities. Many talk about often feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or stuck. This then kicks off to what feels like a never ending cycle of confusion, frustration, depression, and anxiety. Therapy is an opportunity to find clarity and work through these obstacles to help people get their life back on track. My clients and I work together to develop more mindful behaviors to help lead a more meaningful and healthy life. People develop certain attitudes and perspectives based on their early life experiences to survive when they were younger. But these attitudes and perspectives are not helping now which is part of the reason why people might feel stuck. By looking at these attitudes and perspectives closely, people can learn to change how they talk to themselves, how they react to their emotions. and take more thoughtful actions to move forward towards a more authentic and fulfilling life. My practice integrates several evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) that encompasses principles of person-centered, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, multiculturalism, and strength-based values. With my compassionate, collaborative, non-judgmental, and down-to-earth style, therapy can address the things that are getting in the way of people’s life so that they can move forward. COMMON EXPERIENCES THAT I WORK WITH PEOPLE ON: - It feels like your mind is playing tricks on you - It feels like your eyes or ears are playing tricks on you - It feels like something odd is going on or hard to explain - Confused at times whether something is real or imaginary - You feel suspicious or mistrustful of others - It feels like you have little control over your thoughts - It feels like others can hear your thoughts or read your mind - Having thoughts or beliefs that you or others find strange - Race-related identity, culture, and intersectionality - Cultural and systemic trauma and oppression
I work with people of all ages on relationship and mental health issues. One area of specialized training I have is the use of supplements, vitamins, and dietary modification to boost mental health and reduce unwanted mood and behavior symptoms. Please read more about my practice at my website, where you can also access my online scheduler to sign up for a free phone consultation at a time convenient for you.
During challenging times, people often feel defeated and focus on what is wrong. I want to shift the focus from what is "not working" to identifying what is "working." We will work to uncover patterns (behavioral, thought beliefs, relationship), that will lead you to making better decisions. I want to offer a safe place to process thoughts and feelings around issues that can be challenging. I am interested in helping people who experience stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief/loss and challenges with relationships (social or romantic). Many conversations are around “adulting” and how to manage life, career, relationships, etc. I teach clients how negative thought patterns/language effect mood and behavior. Narrative and Solution Focused therapy assists in shifting from self-defeating language/thoughts to a positive life narrative. I utilize CBT and teach the basics of how thoughts effect behavior/mood. I teach ACT concepts- to learn how our emotions and thoughts are related. I teach mindfulness to help with coping.
My approach is relational, warm, and collaborative. I look forward to helping you make the changes in your life you'd like help with, including better relationships, improved mood, more effective parenting, increased self-esteem, career counseling, navigating divorce & co-parenting issues, feeling less stuck, navigating adolescent issues, and more.
I specialize in men's mental health, trauma, moral injury, helping people live a life in accordance with their values, and individuals practicing consensual non-monogamy. The 7+ years I spent working in community mental health has allowed me to gain significant experience working with individuals from diverse sociocultural backgrounds. I am fully trained in EMDR and have received advanced training in Narrative Therapy from the Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy. I am non-binary (they/them/she/her), queer identified, and have relevant lived experience. I am directive but always collaborative, and enjoy taking an active role in your goals.
I help clients deal with an array of life problems such as; depression, anxiety, IPV, trauma, assault, chemical dependency, co occurring conditions, maternal and postpartum, infertility, grief, etc. Previous clients have expressed therapy sessions with me have led to; better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and reduction of feelings of stress. My approach to therapy is meeting the client where they are and allowing clients to explore which therapy approach works best for them. Therapy can create some discomfort for both patients and people close to them. This is because therapy can involve change. I used a plethora of treatment modalities; CBT, DBT, gestalt, solution focused, EMDR, and many more. I feel clients are the experts of their lives and my job is not to judge or tell a client what to do. But to be a helpmate to assist a client to get where they're trying to go.
Many people begin therapy feeling emotionally exhausted, stuck, or unsure of where they belong. This can be especially true for those navigating multiple cultures, identities, and expectations at once. When family values, cultural norms, and personal needs don’t fully align, it’s common to feel pulled in different directions—or to quietly lose touch with yourself. Over time, this strain may show up as burnout, anxiety, relationship stress, or a lingering sense that something isn’t quite right, even if everything looks “fine” on the outside. I take a collaborative, culturally responsive approach to therapy that honors the complexity of your lived experience. I don’t believe there is one “right” way to feel, heal, or move forward—especially when identity, family dynamics, and cultural expectations play such a central role in your life. My work integrates evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion-Focused Therapy, family systems therapy, and person-centered approaches. Together, we will make sense of patterns shaped by your past experiences and relationships while building practical coping skills that support meaningful, sustainable change. I earned my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco. During graduate training, I completed my internship at Gateway Public Schools, where I worked with adolescents ages 11–18. In this role, I supported students navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, and a wide range of family-related and personal challenges, gaining hands-on experience working within complex systems that impact young people’s emotional well-being. Over time, clients often gain greater emotional clarity, self-trust, and a stronger sense of agency—feeling more empowered to live in ways that feel authentic rather than obligatory. Therapy is a space where you don’t have to choose between parts of yourself—you can bring all of you into the room. My goal is to create a supportive and affirming therapeutic space where you feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood. We will explore how family dynamics, identity development, and cultural influences have shaped your experiences, while also focusing on what matters most to you moving forward. Outside of therapy, I value humor, perspective, and taking meaningful chances in life. One quote that resonates with me is: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky — Michael Scott. This mindset reflects my belief in growth, courage, and the importance of showing up for yourself—even when the next step feels uncertain.
Hi there! I provide a warm yet challenging relationship to support you in becoming stronger, calmer, and more clear about who you are. I use mindfulness, body awareness, and curiosity to help you develop lifelong skills.
We are a group practice of cognitive behavioral therapists located in the Bay Area. We offer a number of empirically supported treatments including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), compassion-focused therapy (CFT), mindfulness-based therapies, and schema therapy. We apply behavioral principles while emphasizing an attachment and relational frame that considers the whole person.
If you are reading this you are likely ready for a shift or change in your life. How to proceed in creating a more satisfying life is often confusing, but it is possible. If we listen deeply and compassionately enough to the wisdom of our body and mind the obstacles to our wholeness can become the catalysts of deeper awareness, meaning, agency and fulfillment. I aim to help you explore both the known and unknown parts of yourself so that you can more easily navigate your inner world, your relationships with others and the complex demands of being human.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.