Therapists for college students near San Diego, CA

For the past 35 years, I have been helping people explore and work through barriers to living and loving well. If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, therapy can provide space to understand and experience ourselves in a new way. I work with people to change the way they think about and experience the challenges they face, to effect positive change and resilience. I can work with you to navigate the ups and downs of anxiety and depression, the hopes and fears of life transitions, the joys and challenges of creative pursuit, the pain of grief and loss, and the wounds of trauma, abuse, and oppression. I work with adults and young adults and people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. I have particular interest and experience in working with people in the helping professions and people going through transitions such as career, parenthood and relationship (e.g. divorce) transitions. In addition, I also work with people to help resolve and move through creative blocks, including those who struggle with the question of whether they are or can be creative and those struggling with questions of spiritual identity and practice. My approach is warm, compassionate, and collaborative. I believe in creating a therapeutic experience responsive to your unique needs and life situation and respectful of your strengths. We can work to help you understand yourself better, identify and shift patterns that no longer serve you, and develop ways to increase your sense of well-being.

Through a warm, mindful, and compassionate approach to therapy, I aim to foster a welcoming and safe space for you to explore your journey to meaningful healing and self-discovery. Welcome, my name is Vi! I hold different marginalized identities as a woman of color, an immigrant from Việt Nam, a former international student; and have lived experience with anxiety, depression, trauma, racism, and oppression. I also hold privileged identities: able-bodied, cisgender, straight, Christian, and grew up in a middle-class family. These identities allow me to discover life through these intersectional lenses, and I am grateful for all of them. Through my own healing journey, I instantly learned clinicians with similar identities and cultural backgrounds who could fully facilitate a space of growth in my identity as an Asian immigrant woman was lacking. This disheartening experience fueled my passion to provide a space to highlight and honor immigrant and AAPI experiences through my work as a licensed clinical psychologist. It is a privilege and blessing for me to be able to provide the space that was previously unavailable, and to collaborate with international students, immigrants, and AAPI-identified folks, as well as individuals who occupy an intersection of their identity that is marked by marginalization and oppression.

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My name is Mayra Almanza, owner and founder of Contigo Counseling Inc. I've been in the mental health field for over 10 years. My goal is to provide equitable and accessible service for all. My focus is working with BIPOC individuals who would benefit from being with a therapist that may be able to understand their experience based on that shared identity.

I am Jamula (Jamalah) Taylor; a woman, a mother, and a therapist. I became a therapist to help people who look like me to be okay with being vulnerable and to support their healing. I am a member of Growth and Change Counseling. We understand that our mental health conditions are related to the break down in our relationships and that we can’t simply make depression, anxiety, or other problems go away by simply treating the symptoms. We have to get down to the roots of the problems in order to help people effectively heal. There is no problem I am not willing and able to face with you. Call me, it starts with a conversation!

I became a therapist because I want to help people become their best selves. I always want to help you feel understood, safe, and supported, in a completely non-judgmental space, especially if these things are already lacking in your life. You should know that you can talk to me without fear of judgement and that I care about you, and all of my clients. I have experience with both children and adults. All ages are welcome! I make an effort to meet clients where they are and ask what they hope to gain from their time with me. I try to build trust by taking a nonjudgmental approach of positive regard for all my clients. I will tailor my approach to the situation and to what the client wants. For some that will mean more empathetic listening, for others it may mean more praise, positive feedback, coping skills, increasing awareness, reframing a situation or a certain level of coaching. I find that everyone is different and has different needs, so I adjust my approach accordingly. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope to see you soon!

Psychology is a fascinating field and I am passionate about helping people achieve their best selves. I have been practicing therapy for many years and in that time it has been a joy for me to see people find their joy and hope, and thrive! I believe in a collaborative working relationship and thus I approach therapy with a curious mind as we explore and discuss. I like to encourage self-empowerment, agency and independence and I like to check in with clients to confirm what I hear and give them the final say over their choice and life; I am merely the guide. I believe in practicing therapy collaboratively, working together where we will explore and discover the roadblocks and difficulties that brought them into therapy, and introducing new perspectives that will assist them in finding new ways to resolve their challenges. This is a recovery journey and I am merely the guide to assist each client in finding their best selves.

Hey, I’m Sadé (pronounced Shah-day). I know therapy can feel intimidating, I get it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just need someone to talk to, I’m here to offer a process that moves at your pace and centers your needs. As a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Intern, I support individuals, teens, couples, and families in facing whatever life brings big or small. My goal is to create a space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to work through whatever challenges you're facing. I’m especially passionate about working with those navigating anxiety, depression, self-esteem struggles, relationship challenges whether romantic, family, or platonic, breakups, life transitions, PTSD, attachment wounds, emotional regulation, burnout, and cultural identity concerns.

Anxiety is taking up more space in your life than you’d like. On the outside, things look successful—people rely on you, and you generally handle what’s in front of you. But internally, it can feel very different. Your mind replays conversations late at night. You hold yourself to impossibly high standards. That critical inner voice is quick to point out what you should have done better. Even when you accomplish something meaningful, it rarely feels like enough. You may be someone who was labeled “gifted” or high-achieving early on. You’re thoughtful, capable, and used to performing well under pressure. Yet the constant drive to get it right can leave you exhausted. You might notice tension in your body that never quite goes away, difficulty truly relaxing, or moments when your reactions feel stronger than they should. You understand your patterns—you may have even done therapy before—but insight alone hasn’t fully created the change you’re looking for. In our work together, we move beyond simply talking about the problem. I integrate EMDR and somatic-informed approaches to help your nervous system process experiences that may still be driving anxiety, perfectionism, or emotional intensity beneath the surface. When the body has a chance to settle, the mind often follows. Therapy becomes less about “figuring it out” and more about creating meaningful, embodied change. Our sessions are collaborative, focused, and respectful of your time and intelligence. I provide a calm, professional space where you can slow down without losing momentum. Together, we clarify what matters most to you and work toward a life that feels grounded, balanced, and genuinely fulfilling—not just successful on paper. If you’re ready for therapy that goes deeper than insight alone and supports lasting change, I’d be glad to connect. I invite you to schedule a free consultation through my website.

Exhausted by the way you think about yourself? We are often (if not always) our own worst enemies. Whether this pattern has caused you problems with guilt, shame, anxiety, depression, addiction or you name it - the starting point is generally the same. When we embark on the project of therapy you will be asked to put your painful thoughts and feelings into words. As the process unfolds, the strength and fervor used to overthink and condemn yourself will become accessible to use productively in reaching your goals.

One of the bravest things we can do is work to understand our own stories. While we are a product of our family, ancestors, environment, and society, we don't have to stay stuck in patterns that no longer serve us. We all have the ability to change and live a more balanced, meaningful life. You might be feeling stuck juggling school/work, other's expectations, and conflicts with family, or you might be struggling to find meaning as you go through life transitions, immigration, work and relationships. I am here to support you as we create a safe space for you to explore your journey and goals. I practice from a compassionate, trauma-informed, and strength-based approach. I offer a mix of Somatic, Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and mindfulness skills to assist you to connect with your body, identify your thinking patterns, be more aware of your feelings, develop better coping and communication skills, and find your own solutions. Taking the first step and starting therapy can be scary. I am so glad you are ready to embark on this journey towards change. I offer services in Portuguese, Spanish, English, and welcome clients of any ethnicity, gender and sexual identity. Let's schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation so we can find out if we are a good fit.

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I am a young adult & child and adolescent psychiatrist who specialize in working with college students. I think of my patients in a holistic way- using medications, lifestyle interventions, and talk therapy. I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, and spent my childhood in Irvine. I completed most of my education on the east coast. I went to Johns Hopkins and double majored in history and public health. After college, I attended the University of Maryland for medical school. After living in Baltimore for eight years, I wanted a change of scenery and moved to New Hampshire to complete my residency training at Dartmouth. During my training at Dartmouth, I had opportunities to work with high-achieving teens and families who attended Dartmouth College with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, and perfectionism issues. After surviving long winter storms, I returned to my hometown and completed the child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UC Irvine. I have a passion for and experience working with college students, Asian American families, and teens with LGBT backgrounds. In my free time, I like to hike, run, and kayak. Coffee is my favorite drink, and I make pour-overs every morning. As a first-generation Korean American immigrant myself, I have understood what immigrant or second-generation students go through in college and the pressures of balancing academics and family expectations. I also enjoy working with patients to explore their identities, including gender issues, sexual orientation, religion, and careers. I am double board-certified in adult and child & adolescent psychiatry.

Hello! I love working with college students and young adults. I am located within walking distance from Chapman University. If you are looking for a therapist with some sass who curses but also knows how to be nurturing, look no further. I consider myself a trauma therapist and I am certified in EMDR and trained in Internal Family Systems at the IFS Institute. I love learning and am often taking new trainings so I can support my clients better. I am very passionate about what I do. Recently, my focus has been on IFS and Polyvagal Theory. IFS is a type of therapy that helps us understand that we have different parts inside of us that conflict with one another at times. It is sort of similar to inner child work although that is a bit reductive. Polyvagal Theory is looking at what is happening in the body, namely the autonomic nervous system. I also really enjoy focusing on attachment and my thesis from when I was in grad school was on attachment.

I specialize in transitional aged youth (18-26) and work best with highly sensitive people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, and intense and unmanageable relationships.

You have taken a big and brave first step into bettering yourself and addressing your mental well-being. I have worked with individuals from various different backgrounds and identities treating a wide array of mental conditions. In our collaborative work together, we will process and explore barriers that may be inhibiting you from your full human potential. Counseling can feel like a scary and overwhelming experience, but know that this is the first step to bettering yourself. Counseling can improve both your personal relationships with family and friends and give you a sense of fulfillment in your life. Together we can build a working relationship to discover ways to reduce your current condition while examining patterns that affect your interpersonal relationships based on cognitive processes. I practice from a psychodynamic framework, which is defined as exploring people's emotions, thoughts, motivations, and behaviors that are outside of our awareness. *Please note that I am only seeing students via Telehealth as my practice is now 100% remote.* My areas of interests and expertise include working with adults, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, work burnout, trauma, interpersonal relationships, men and masculinities, gender identity, new fatherhood, porn addiction, and self-compassion. I aim to create a safe space to process aspects that may seem like a hindrance to reaching your full potential.

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Seeing clients overcome their struggles and/or building further insights about themselves, inspires my drive to work in mental health care. I enjoy seeing the progress of clients and their resiliency throughout their treatment. During sessions, I use active listening skills to ensure that clients feel heard. I also continuously reflect back to clients to ensure they are being understood. If needed, I will ask for clarification to ensure I obtain accurate information given that it can play an important role in their treatment. I am transparent with clients about the structure of treatment. I provide the space for clients to share their interests and information about themselves. I also provide clients with time to share delicate information to respect their need for comfort throughout their treatment.

I am a former 1st-gen student who is passionate about supporting individuals as they navigate higher education. Whether that means breaking out of problematic patterns, having better relationships, or living a more fulfilled life, I am here to walk with folks through that journey. My approach is relational, strengths-based, and eclectic, as I try my best to provide culturally-responsive care that recognizes not just the individual, but the systems and contexts they are living within. I support students experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, perfectionism, self-esteem issues, and more. I specialize in BIPOC and college mental health and provide individual virtual therapy as well as ADHD and Learning Disability testing.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.