Therapists for college students near San Francisco, CA
Marla Leigh Caplan MFT
I am a licensed psychotherapist in San Francisco, California. I bring my creativity and intellectual curiosity to a psychodynamic approach to clinical psychology rooted in the tradition of psychoanalysis. My approach as a therapist is honest and direct. I am actively engaged in the process of exploration, listening for the unconscious - for what is said and what is not said. I aspire to collaborate with you to rediscover your authentic self and a renewed sense of aliveness by accessing and reflecting on your own inner wisdom from multiple perspectives. I work with artists, creators, writers and thinkers; highly sensitive people who are deeply affected by the world and whose sensitivities are both their greatest asset and most daunting challenge. Wherever you find yourself in the infinitely varied spectrum of culture, gender, race, sex and religious identity, you are welcome here with me. It is my privilege to join you on this journey. I am here to help you see that everything is possible.
Paul Thomas
You have the innate ability to uncover, identify, explore, and ultimately change unwanted or problematic thoughts or behaviors. My style is personal, collaborative, and responsive to your needs. I start from the premise that you are the expert on yourself. Therapy is a safe and empowering space to pursue the best version of yourself. I walk alongside you throughout the process, lending support, offering validation, teaching skills, and providing accountability. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Kurt Vaillancourt
Some of the areas I have provided treatment for include substance use/abuse, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, and adjustment disorders due to life transitions. For nearly 20 years, I have worked with adults, families, and couples both individually and in group settings. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of California and obtained a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) in 2005. I relocated to the Bay Area in 2020 from Los Angeles. I have worked in numerous medical center settings including Cedars-Sinai, Century City, and Kaiser Permanente just to name a few. My clients often describe me as supportive, ethical, passionate, and energetic. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Geoffrey Fletcher
I became a therapist after working for many years in business and finance. I was fortunate to then complete a master's and subsequently a doctoral program in Psychology. This professional and academic experience supports the therapy I've been providing for over a decade. By connecting academic theories with my clients' real-life situations and an empathic and thoughtful style, I seek to help clients understand themselves better while supporting their movement forward in positive directions. In addition to working as a therapist, I have written about long-term success for couples and workplace stress and have led therapy groups on these topics as well as anxiety and depression. I specialize in these areas working with couples and individuals. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Melissa Craven
Medical training can be deeply meaningful—and relentless. High expectations, long hours, constant evaluation, and responsibility for others can make it difficult to maintain perspective, extend yourself the same compassion you offer patients, or stay connected to the people and parts of life that matter to you. I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) with extensive experience integrating the arts into psychotherapy. Expressive arts practices offer a way to step outside habitual thinking, gain perspective, and reconnect with creativity, self-compassion, and balance. No artistic experience is needed. Together, we can address perfectionism and self-criticism, anxiety or low mood, relationship challenges, or simply the difficulty of feeling like yourself within a demanding environment. I spent fourteen years at UCSF, where I integrated creative approaches into treatment for people experiencing moderate to severe mood symptoms. I also hold a credential in perinatal mental health. I offer online psychotherapy throughout California and walk-and-talk sessions in San Francisco parks. My goal is to help you find some space around what feels difficult, reconnect with what matters to you, and enjoy more of the life you’re working so hard to build.
Marissza Cavin
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with experience working with individuals, couples, families, and groups. I work with those struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance use, and relational issues. I gravitate toward using Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Gottman methods in my approach to build understanding of your inner dialogue, your values, and how to create more fulfillment in your life. While working with couples, I support building trust through assertion practice, role playing, shifting toward appreciation, and improving communication techniques especially when in conflict. My therapeutic style is a balance of building trust through understanding and asking intentional questions to get to the heart of the issue. My approach integrates processing unaddressed emotions, challenging unhelpful narratives, and building new strategies to manage life stressors in its many stages. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Dennis Padla
Dr. Padla was born in New Jersey and attended school there through college where he received his Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University. After this, he received a Master’s Degree at Virginia Tech before attending medical school at Rutger’s Medical School, Newark, New Jersey. He then did his psychiatric residency training at the prestigious Institute of Living in Hartford Connecticut. During his years of private practice he has specialized in general psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, pain management and obesity medicine. He has trained physician’s assistants while being an adjunct professor in Psychiatry at Western Michigan University. He retired in 2017 after being Chief of Psychiatry at Doctor’s Hospitals of Indiana. After a brief retirement of six months, he was lured out of retirement and became the psychiatrist at the Sacramento Native American Health Center where he currently still works. Dennis Padla, MD Experience (background and professional journey) Time with APA (how long you’ve been part of the team) Personal note (2–3 lines about yourself outside of work) Certificates & licenses (list of credentials) Specialization (your focus areas in psychiatry/mental health) Title (your professional title as you’d like it to appear) Experience- BS with Honors 1981 School of Environmental and Biological Sciences- part of Rutgers University MS 1983 Virginia Tech- Full Tuition Scholarship through Graduate Research Assistantship MD- 1988 Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Psychiatry Residency 1992- Institute of Living Center for Psychiatry 1992-2018- CEO and Medical Director Neuropsychiatric Hospitals- Psychiatrist in Chief 2013-2016 Sacramento Native American Health Center 2018-2023- Psychiatrist-in-Charge Advanced Psychiatry Associates 2018-present - Psychiatrist Behavioral Care Solutions 2012-present - Assistant Psychiatry Director Current Active Licenses California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Title: MD Psychiatrist- focus Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry General, Forensic, Psychiatry, Pain Management and Obesity Medicine
Channing Richmond
My approach to psychotherapy is grounded in strengths-based, collaborative, empowering, and respectful techniques. I am seeking to support clients being seen in a world that does not always validate one's existence. I hope to be a helpful guide in the journey of life to help clients notice the innate wisdom that already exists within themselves. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Pablo Padilla
A person is complete when the whole self, (emotions, thoughts, and actions) all harmoniously unite. With the guidance of CBT, Narrative, Relational, Couples Counseling, etc. we can make headways into restoring the whole self so that we can be complete and live a life to the full. My goal is to empower you to be the author of your life so that you can have the final say of each chapter. My role will be to be your editor to ensure your desires are accomplished and protected. When we arrive at the whole self, you will be an unstoppable force. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Sarah Dardick
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.
Melissa Olmedo
Hello! I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Registered Dance/Movement Therapist. I am interested in supporting you through your college journey. I am focused on helping you manage the stresses of school, family, and your social life. I am here to help you learn how to manage your anxiety and find ways to help you to best take care of yourself. I can help guide you to connect to your mental, physical, and spiritual parts of yourself to help you develop into the best you!
Taylor Keller
My style is an honest approach to a client-centered model that allows for the client to guide the direction with my support. Together we can navigate through some of today’s hurdles and stress such as depression/anxiety, trauma, relationship/communication issues, loss/grief/bereavement, and family conflict. With the mutual understanding that we may not be able to change certain aspects of our life, I am here to help you process, adjust expectations, cope, improve communication skills, set boundaries, and strengthen your resilience. My skillset utilizes Cognitive Behavioral and Solution Focused Techniques, Motivational Interviewing, and a Strength-Based approach. My goal is to help clients identify and remove barriers that may be hindering a healthier and improved life by working to increase optimism, self-awareness, and maintenance for a strong sense of self. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Tina Ahmed
I work to help clients change stuck patterns and feel empowered in their lives, as well to teach skills for managing mental health symptoms and overwhelming life experiences. Empowerment, safety, and wholeheartedness. These are the values that drive my work. I use a holistic approach to focus on individual strengths and needs. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Jaimi Martin
Life brings challenges that leave us feeling overwhelmed, lost, and maybe even a little stressed. We all can use some support and guidance during these rough patches in our life. I get that. In my practice I offer another way of looking at these obstacles, while rediscover your strengths and welcome your vulnerabilities. My approach to healing is warm, and compassionate. I utilize holistic, humanistic and mindfulness approaches. Using modalities like EMDR, I can help clients heal from trauma, anxiety, depression, and navigate life’s transitions. As a therapist I offer practical tools to reduce stress and build positive coping skills while building self-esteem, so you can face life challenges. You can learn more about me at https://womanhoodcounseling.com
Karyn Galindo
You don’t have to carry this alone. If anxiety, depression, or people-pleasing—trying to make others happy—take over, I’m here: open, steady, ready to help. I work with adults facing life transitions, work stress, family conflict, and low confidence. My style is warm, direct, and collaborative. We’ll make sense of what’s happening and build practical skills. Using CBT and DBT, we’ll calm your nervous system, set boundaries, and move forward with clarity. You’ll be met with respect, curiosity, and a plan that fits you. Ready? Reach out—we’ll start where you are. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Joel Lopez
I am a bilingual therapist helping individuals dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, life-stage transitions, and other debilitating situations. My work is client-centered and culturally sensitive. I use evidence-based practices to provide focused treatment and positive outcomes. I incorporate solution-focused, narrative, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems techniques. Through talk therapy, I guide clients to overcome issues affecting their everyday lives. I work with individual adults addressing depression, anxiety, and trauma, and their effects on mood, functioning, and relationships. I focus on your strengths, thoughts, feelings, and dynamics for a healthier you. I also work with the LGBTQ community on youth-at-risk issues, coming-out, and exploring the lifestyle you want to create.
Mariam Tahiry
I have experience working with a diverse population including individuals with different cultural backgrounds. My approach to therapy is to provide compassionate and nonjudgmental support. I respect that clients are the experts of themselves and work collaboratively with clients to help problem solve and teach new skills. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Ami Patel
My clients often appreciate how we can create a safe space where they can comfortably share their experiences. Clients typically enjoy learning and developing practical tools in order to create an improved lifestyle. In building a deeper connection, we can explore the tools you currently use, and collectively figure out the ones that work for you, as well as those that may need to be updated. I work primarily from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Psychodynamic lens as I believe that our thoughts are connected to our behavior, mood, and engagement in life (school, work, relationships), therefore building a healthier mindset is key to transformation. I also incorporate the use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to build upon a "toolbox" of coping skills to learn how to manage mood, relationships, and stress successfully. Together, we will identify patterns throughout your life, create a plan of action, and come to a place where you feel stronger, confident, and capable of significant change. If you feel that you are ready to take charge of your life, and create a new path that invites in strength, tranquility, and pleasure...whatever it is you may be looking for, I'm here to support you through this journey. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Lisa Robertson Veyssiere
My clinical experience specifically includes working with the families of individuals with a severe mental illness diagnosis, bereavement counseling (including situations of violent or traumatic loss), and infertility. I also work with individuals who are anticipating or experiencing stress related to high-conflict divorce. I work with clients who have generally crafted an intentional life, often one marked by good judgment, predictably optimistic outcomes, and plenty of agency. A life that works… right up until it doesn’t. I have a special place in my heart for clients who would rather be doing almost anything else with their time than go to therapy. If you are someone who has an aversion to dredging up slings and arrows, I can relate. My clinical orientation is psychodynamic and eclectic; some clients might want to engage in psychotherapy, which can be a longer-term process, but many clients, especially those experiencing grief, are relieved to learn that short-term and solution-focused counseling are often highly effective. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Bonnie Driessel
I am experienced working in community mental health as well as both inpatient and outpatient settings. My approach to treatment is based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques and coping skills. I also utilize holistic therapy approaches including mindfulness and relaxation techniques to address the mind body connection. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.