Therapists for college students near San Diego State University

Hi! I'm a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in working with college students across a range of concerns. College can bring a lot of unexpected demands, struggles, and adjustments, and it can be helpful to speak with someone who can join alongside you as you navigate these experiences. While I specialize in working with stress/anxiety, neurodivergence (e.g., ADHD and Autism), and relationship conflict, I've worked with many college students on their overall adjustment to college life. My therapeutic approach is warm and relational and is grounded in an attachment-based framework. In therapy, we often include a focus on both deepening insight and self-understanding (answering the "why?" questions) with practical tools and strategies you can use to get you to where you want to be (supporting you with the "what now?" focus). I use a self-compassionate lens in my work and integrate evidence-based approaches that are tailored to your individual needs. If you'd like to learn more about my approach or see if we could be a good fit, reach out today for a free consultation call. I look forward to speaking with you.

I provide mental health support to students and young adults who are going through life transitions and want to ensure that therapy is accessible, affordable and safe to a culturally and diverse population. I work with students and young adults to help them cope and manage mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, emotional dysregulation, and other conditions. I want to share my experience in providing emotional support, helping students through challenging times, and teaching students strategies to manage stress so that they can grow, develop and thrive!

I became a therapist because I believe healing happens in spaces where you feel truly seen, heard, and safe. My approach to therapy is warm, relational, and deeply human. I show up as my authentic self so you can feel free to do the same – without judgment, pressure, or pretense. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or unsure of your next step, we will move at a pace that feels steady and supportive for you. Together, we create a space where vulnerability feels safe, growth feels possible, and lasting change feels attainable. Above all, I want you to feel that you don’t have to carry everything alone anymore. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, respected, and genuinely understood from the very beginning. I approach therapy with warmth, authenticity, and steady presence, helping you feel supported while also empowered to grow. Therapy with me is collaborative and personalized. I draw from evidence-based approaches while tailoring our work to your unique needs and goals. I want you to feel that you are not alone — and that meaningful, sustainable change is possible. I deeply believe in nervous system resets… and I’m usually the first one to step outside for a few deep breaths.

I’m Dr. Tanya Diaz, a licensed clinical psychologist, first-generation bilingual Latina, mother, and the founder of my private practice. I’m passionate about providing culturally responsive, evidence-based therapy to adults of all ages, with a special focus on those experiencing anxiety or recovering from trauma. You’re doing your best, but still feel disconnected, anxious, or on edge. From the outside, it may look like you have everything together. You show up for others, are responsible, and can point to accomplishments in your life. But inside, something doesn’t feel quite right. You overthink decisions, say yes when you really want to say no, or feel pressure to take care of everyone else before yourself. Over time, this can take a real toll and cause tense muscles, stomach discomfort, poor sleep, fatigue, or a lingering sense of dissatisfaction that’s hard to explain. Many of our emotional reactions and patterns happen outside our awareness. Therapy creates space to slow down, stay curious, and better understand what's happening beneath the day-to-day surface. It's an opportunity to get to know a deeper self, and with that often comes feeling more grounded, connected, and aligned with yourself. Many of the women and men I work with are thoughtful, responsible, and used to being the ones others depend on. Therapy with Dr. Diaz can be a place of support, and where you don't have to carry it all yourself. She'll provide guidance and warmth as she helps you get to the root of your concerns.

Combining the imagination of a poet with the skills of a psychologist, Dr. Owen (she/her) is an engaged and active listener. She sees the goal of therapy as helping students reduce current distress, resolve symptoms, and enhance their sense of passion and purpose. Dr. Owen uses insight-oriented and existential perspectives to deepen conversations, including informed consideration of family, societal, racial, gender/sexual orientation, and cultural dynamics that may be impacting you. This approach helps provide a through-line of inquiry across sessions. To help people start feeling better in the short-term, Dr. Owen uses the skill-sets of cognitive-behavioral therapy, trauma-informed practice, mindfulness, and somatic work to address things impacting your ability to function in school and to work toward feeling better day to Dr. Owen is a secular therapist who also specializes in working with exvangelicals—people who have grown up in or left fundamentalist religious churches or spiritual groups—as well as anyone who is on a path of deconstruction, i.e., deeply examining their religious/spiritual beliefs or faith. Dr. Owen has been in academia herself, having worked at a community college, a state university, and a small, highly selective liberal arts college, so she understands things unique to academia you may be struggling with. Common issues include navigating political issues with graduate students, undergrad challenges such as choosing a major and dating, worries about career, and working through cultural and identity issues. For students residing in Hawai’i, Dr. Owen is able to accept HMSA insurance.

In these challenging times, I am inspired by helping clients find their strengths and provide a safe space for healing to achieve their mental health goals. I am dedicated to helping individuals achieve emotional well-being, personal growth, and life balance. As a Filipino American Therapist, I aim to understand unique challenges and different cultural perspectives, providing compassion and culturally affirming space for clients of all backgrounds. I approach each session with warmth, understanding, and respect to all clients, while establishing clear boundaries and allowing clients to open up at their own pace.

If you're looking for a kind and compassionate yet smart and straightforward counselor, give me a call. I specialize in teenagers and young adults with anxiety and depression, especially with estrangement issues such as conflict with parents, divorced and/or deployed parents, as well as career planning. I am a Christian and can offer help from a biblical perspective if desired. My other specialties are older adults and military/veterans. My previous career was as a diplomat for the U.S. Department of State.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, non-judgmental, and action-oriented. I practice evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). CBT focuses on changing problematic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT provides skills for regulating emotions and behaviors and improving relationships. Cultivating compassion can help you learn to face the challenges in your life with courage, wisdom, and kindness. I can help you improve well-being and life satisfaction and establish more compassionate relationships with yourself and others. In therapy together, I will listen closely and without judgment, helping you to uncover and pursue what you value most. I will help you change ingrained, self-defeating patterns and replace them with new, healthier ways of meeting needs. And I will offer you tools, support, and therapeutic techniques with your personal needs and preferences in mind.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

As a recent college graduate, I know how hard it is to not get behind or feel burnt out while trying to go to school and deal with daily life stressors at the same time. I am here to help clients navigate through their struggles, learn about themselves, and grow into the best versions of themselves. I am here to tend to each client's unique needs and help them on their journey of bettering themselves.

If you are sensitive, creative, trying to do it all for yourself and for others, but lonely and stuck about how to resolve the paradox, my practice is for you. Does the following sound familiar? "I will just do everything myself. I can want others, but I mustn’t truly need them…or upset them.” I do my best work with those who can want deeper human contacts in life but who feel uncertainty or conflict about opening up fully and about serving themselves. Your gifts might include: sensory, aesthetic, and emotional sensitivity, intellectual curiosity, desire for fairness and justice, creative and spiritual / philosophical interests, teaching / writing, having ideals, enthusiasm (when interested), and a good first impression (when you feel safe and well). Still, you may have slipped into people-pleasing, social anxiety or reluctance, uncertainty about dependency and safety, disappointed or resentful exhaustion, under-assertion, quiet envy / jealousy, variable or confused boundaries, withdrawal after setbacks, perfectionism, procrastination, or unexplained body symptoms If the above sounds like what you have been feeling and trying to cope with, get in touch with me for some knowledgeable, understanding help in a safe-yet-engaging environment. I am patient, intently listening, insightful about subtleties, and gently persistent. I have faith you can develop a healthy interdependence with life and others. I am here to hang in with you as you make the time to digest help and faith and then make some new moves. It will be worth it!

Hi! We are a group practice located in San Clemente, Ca. We offer in person and telehealth appointments. Holder Wellness is in network with Cigna and we offer EMDR therapy as well as talk therapy. We work with clients who are experiencing relationship challenges or need guidance working through specific issues. Contact us for a consultation.

College can be exciting and full of new experiences, but it can also bring a lot of pressure. Between academics, relationships, and figuring out your future, it is easy to feel stressed, anxious, or unsure of yourself. Therapy offers a chance to slow down, reflect, and work through whatever feels heavy right now. My approach is warm, collaborative, and culturally aware. I focus on helping students manage stress, anxiety, and relationship challenges while building self-understanding and confidence. Sessions are available online for students across California, and my goal is to make therapy a supportive space where you can be heard and find balance.

I became a therapist because I’ve always been passionate about helping people discover their strengths and navigate life’s challenges with confidence. Throughout my career working with children, adolescents, and adults in behavioral health, I’ve seen how powerful it is when someone has a safe, supportive space to process their experiences without judgment. I believe that meaningful change happens when people feel genuinely understood and empowered to build on their own strengths. My goal is to help clients develop practical skills, increase self-awareness, and create lasting change that extends beyond our sessions. I believe the most effective therapy is collaborative. I make it a priority to listen carefully to each client’s experiences, understand what matters most to them, and work together to create goals that feel meaningful and achievable. I regularly check in to make sure our sessions are meeting their needs and encourage honest feedback throughout the process. Every client is different, so I tailor my approach to fit their unique personality, strengths, and preferences while creating a space where they can be open, ask questions, and feel respected every step of the way. Building trust starts with creating a safe, welcoming environment where clients know they don’t have to have everything figured out before coming to therapy. I approach each person with curiosity, compassion, and respect, allowing them to move at a pace that feels comfortable while gently encouraging growth. I enjoy using practical tools, relatable examples, humor when appropriate, and evidence-based strategies to help clients better understand themselves and develop skills they can use in everyday life. My goal is for therapy to feel like a partnership where we celebrate progress, learn from setbacks, and work together toward the life they want to build. Outside of work, I enjoy staying active, spending time outdoors, and playing strategy and adventure video games. I also enjoy exploring new places and finding opportunities to recharge in nature. These hobbies remind me of the importance of balance, curiosity, and making time for activities that help us manage stress and stay connected to what we enjoy—something I often encourage clients to prioritize in their own lives.

You wonder what it may look and feel like to trust and know yourself better, especially with recent life events or transitions, like college and young adulthood! You seek guidance to overcome recurrent self doubt, passive-aggressive, or avoidant behaviors- familiar patterns in your family and past relationships. For the past 18 years, I have provided compassionate, person-centered therapy to adults (college/20's, middle age, and older adults) navigating life transitions, relationship changes and challenges, and mood disorders. Clients appreciate my ability to listen and support them with kindness, cultural understanding, and non-judgment, while offering feedback and resources. Whether you’ve tried therapy before or this is new to you, understanding yourself and being supported through life changes and challenges builds your resilience and confidence! Being a 1st generation Asian American immigrant, parent, spouse, and social worker has shaped my capacity to appreciate and support clients with navigating complex seasons of change.

Seeking out therapy is a sign of strength and you deserve a safe place for discovery. Ultimately therapy is a journey of exploration. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where you genuinely feel understood, heard, and seen in a compassionate, non-judgmental space. Our work together can explore and navigate through your concerns to reach a more meaningful and fulfilling life while reaching your extraordinary potential.

I find it an honor to be let into people’s lives to support them in ways that they may not have the opportunity or ability at the moment. It is a meaningful and rewarding experience to be able to help others as others have been there for me. I try to create an open and inviting atmosphere to be yourself where you will be met with active listening and honest conversation while you freely express yourself. I am a transparent person and will consistently show up with the same energy and integrated approach combined with the use of life experience, humor, and education to help build a custom self care plan to thrive in.

Many struggle with anxiety and depression, and this is not uncommon. Whether it be nervousness, sadness, relational difficulties, or feeling like we aren't where we are "supposed to be" in life, there are many obstacles that cause us to feel "stuck." My job as a therapist is to help you get "unstuck" by aiding you in better understanding the underlying factors contributing to these difficulties, many of which are often rooted in thinking habits and relational patterns. My primary focus is on anxiety and depression, and how the combination of unhealthy thinking and unhealthy relational patterns cause us to feel anxious and depressed. I have additional training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) both of which are approaches proven to assist with anxiety and depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the connection between how we think and our mood, and Interpersonal Therapy focuses on the connection between how we relate to others and our mood. I understand that you are busy, and therefore offer early morning and evening hours, and I am also available through telehealth. Many find telehealth convenient, as you can be anywhere in the state, and we can still meet.

Where the healing begins...takes personal courage. Often times, it is not easy to ask for help because our fears of being judged. No longer do you have to suffer alone or in silence from: trauma, addictions, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, divorce or relationship difficulties. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 17 years of experience who will compassionately & effectively assist you through the counseling process. The "RDH Factor" of being able to Reveal, Deal, and Heal will provide empowerment. Working with clients to find relief & make changes towards freedom in making decisions & choices is a passion of mine. I assist individuals, couples, and families navigate the journey of life. My expertise is in: substance abuse, marital problems, divorce, childhood/sexual trauma, domestic violence, adoption & family conflict. I am Certified in EMDR, an evidenced based therapy that treats trauma, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, and pain to alliviate psychological distress. Do not stay stuck in undesirable thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are getting in the way of healing. I am here to help you today by offering a free 15 minute phone consultation to answer any concerns you may have. The healing begins now...

The human mind is a fascinating place. I am constantly in awe of how deeply intricate and nuanced it is. I know that for many of us it doesn’t always feel this way. The hardships of life can, over time, make the mind into an unpleasant, stressful, and even terrifying place. My goal is to help make therapy, and the journey of exploring and understanding your mind, a less daunting process. I want to join you and guide you in peeling back the layers, making sense of the chaos, and finding safety and peace in your mind. For me, the key ingredient to effective therapy is curiosity. I want you to not only feel that I am listening to you, but that I am interested in what you have to say. I work to create a therapeutic environment where you feel that we are working collaboratively to understand the difficulties in your life, and to identify what you need to feel more capable and fulfilled. My style of therapy focuses on accessing and exploring the wisdom that already exists in your mind and nervous system, and interpreting it in the context of your past and present experiences. Nothing is more important in the therapy process than the relationship between therapist and client. Little can be accomplished in terms of exploring and understanding your mind unless you feel some degree of trust and safety with your therapist. I understand that trust needs to be earned, and that a sense of safety takes time to develop. I strive to nurture these by prioritizing consistency and honesty in all of our interactions. I want you to know and feel, above all, that I am on your side, and to have a clear understanding of the work we are doing together.