Therapists for college students near San Diego State University
Do you often feel unheard, unseen, or unimportant within your relationships? Maybe you identify as hyper-independent or a people-pleaser, finding it hard to prioritize your own needs and often overthinking interactions. These patterns can feel isolating and deeply anxiety-provoking, and they often have roots in complex trauma, such as childhood abuse or growing up in environments where emotional needs were minimized or unmet. Perhaps you already “logically” connected these dots, yet you still feel stuck. That’s because complex trauma lives in the body and nervous system, not just the logical brain. I specialize in trauma-processing therapy, including EMDR, to help you safely process traumatic experiences and release the emotional burdens that come with them. I also integrate Narrative Therapy to help you reconnect with a sense of identity that reflects your true values, voice, and strengths. Therapy with me feels collaborative, safe, meaningful, and relieving. As a fourth-generation Japanese American therapist, I understand how cultural expectations around family, responsibility, and respect can make healing feel complicated. I help clients explore ways to preserve their emotional well-being, while still honoring the relationships and values that matter most to them. If you’re ready to break old patterns, feel more confident in yourself, and strengthen your relationships, I hear you and I see you. You don’t have to navigate these challenges alone.
"If you are struggling to sit with difficult emotions and would like support, I can help. My mission is to empower you to learn how to turn towards your pain to find healing, instead of running away to endure long-term suffering. This process is done by teaching you how to sit with difficult emotions. When you can learn how to sit with difficult emotions, you can then begin to process them and to heal through them. As you begin to heal, you can then start to make peace with the past, let go of it, and bring joy in to the present. This enables you to turn slowly and gently towards the future where you can start to feel whole again. As a result, you begin to develop a deeper and more meaningful connection within yourself and with others."
I specialize in integrative therapy, which is a progressive form of psychotherapy that combines different therapeutic tools and approaches to fit the needs of each individual client. This means treatment is customized to meet your needs. We will work together to identify and address the source of your discomfort or distress, then develop strategies to promote change that make a difference — in mood – in relationships – in life. Psychotherapy is helpful for a variety of clinical disorders, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD and interpersonal difficulties. My clinical specialties include anxiety disorders, healing after trauma, gender and sexual identity (LGBTQIA+ Affirmation therapy), and much more. I believe in the potential for emotional and individual growth, striving to provide a safe and warm environment in which client can explore and thrive. My work has been with individuals from many different cultural backgrounds in inpatient, outpatient, residential, and private practice settings.
Hello, my name is Heather Pederson. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Diego and am so glad you are here. Seeking help can potentially feel daunting, exposing, and overwhelming. It can also be our first steps toward repair, healing, and growth. I have found that people are so very strong, courageous, and hard-working, and still need some help when things get hard. I believe therapy can be a unique chance to discover parts of ourselves we forgot about, allow healing for the tender parts, and find new ways of interacting with ourselves and our loved ones that allow for deeper understanding and connection. I work with individuals and couples who often struggle with: a feeling of something between angry, sad, and fear that doesn’t have a name, as well as feelings of overwhelm, worry and stress that gets between them and their preferred lives. I seek to create opportunities in therapy to connect more deeply with the truest parts of yourself so that you can then connect more deeply with your purpose, values, and trusted others. I am trained in Emotionally-Focused Therapy (Externship with Sue Johnson, Core Skills to become Certified in progress), a Certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, Trauma Informed Care, and a graduate of Bethel Seminary San Diego with an M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy. Please contact me with any questions you might have regarding therapy. I work with college students (extensive experience working on college campuses), couples, individuals, premarital/pre-engagement, relational distress, trauma, and anxiety.
There’s a lot happening in our world right now. If you’re finding yourself struggling with adjusting to life changes, experiencing low mood, or feeling challenged in a relationship, you don’t have to hold this alone. In therapy, I create a space where you can be your authentic self, in the safety of a therapeutic relationship where you feel heard, understood, and cared for. I have a warm therapeutic approach that is collaborative so we can work together towards the heart of what you are needing. I have an integrative, depth-focused approach, and specialized training in trauma, EMDR, depression, anxiety, perfectionism, and building self-compassion. It’s vulnerable to start therapy, but at times we all feel terrified, overwhelmed, or realize things aren’t working as well as they could. Allowing a therapist to join you on your journey can help turn these times of crisis into opportunities for growth and healing. Visit my website to schedule an initial consultation so we can talk about what's possible. I look forward to speaking with you.
Our agency strives to empower students on their quest to achieve balance between their academic studies and personal lives. Our strength based approach enables our clients to develop strategies that are healthy and serve as the foundation for effective life long coping skills. Our expertise in learning disabilities, autism, ADHD and educationally related anxiety, depression, and ethnically diverse learners supports our efforts to individualize treatment and assessment plans to meet the unique needs of our clients. We look forward to partnering with you on your educational journey!
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What To Expect At Your Visit: Walking Together Down the Path To the Life You Desire Perhaps you're down or anxious - maybe you're unsure about the future of a relationship, or just feel that you aren't living the life you were meant to lead. Whatever your needs may be, we are here to offer support. Therapy is a process of growth and self-discovery, and during sessions I promote behavioral transformation by encouraging the adoption of new attitudes and behaviors to create the outcome YOU desire. We have the tools and professional experience to help you get on your ideal track.
Welcome! My name is Rachel and I work with young adults who are navigating the effects of traumatic experiences. I believe that anything that overwhelms our capacity to cope and move forward can be traumatic, and this often shows up as anxiety, chronic disconnection, or feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. I help clients become more aware of body sensations, thinking traps, and response patterns to stressful situations. We will collaborate to move towards a life where you feel more centered and connected with your self, your values, and the world around you. I approach therapy from a holistic perspective and include experiential, present-focused exercises in sessions to help deepen the mind-body connection and equip clients with tools to use in daily life. I love to walk alongside my clients towards feeling more grounded, authentic, and alive, moving at a pace that feels safe and gentle. If you are looking to reconnect with your vitality and resilience in a compassionate space, I would love to connect and see if we are a good fit. I offer virtual and in-person therapy, with the option for walk and talk sessions.
We are Waves, a trans and queer centered group practice. We offer trauma informed and anti-racist, EMDR, yoga therapy, and talk therapy to support our clients, ages 11 and up with a special focus on college and graduate students. We are a neurodivergent - affirming practice. After all, our founder, that's me, Abi, is an ADHDer. Abi Weissman, Psy.D. (they/she) is a psychologist and a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist who is back in school to further her yoga therapy skills. They focuses on EMDR and yoga therapy, helping clients understand themselves and find their joy in their fabulousness. Abi has a special focus on ADHD, queer and trans-ness, and Judaism. Camilla Williams, Ph.D., (she, her, hers) psychologist, is a whiz with college students, having worked in a college counseling center for many years and teaching at a post-bac psychology program (outside of her work at Waves). She is also a first generation college student herself. She is fluent in ASL and is a CODA (adult child of a Deaf adult). Plus, she's just awesome and easy to communicate with.
Hello and welcome to Bellator Psychological. We created the trauma clinic that the San Diego Police and Fire departments use for their intensive PTSD care. We are expert providers of trauma care and other mental health issues that can interfere with success and daily functioning. If you’re looking for quality Private Counseling sessions with providers who care, then you’ve come to the right place. We guide our patients every step of the way and implement methods to help them develop new attitudes towards all of life’s most complex matters. Clearing away obstacles and dysfunction can occur faster than expected and allow us to engage life with a clear mind, a healthy view, and joy. We specialize in treating trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, moral injury, crisis, codependency, substance abuse, and family/relational. We are trained in the evidence-based trauma therapies highly recommended by the American Psychological Association for treating PTSD, including CPT, PE, and EMDR. Whether you are looking for intensive treatment or personal growth, most clients discover their ability to reach far beyond the basic skills necessary to achieve their initial goals. There can be a lot of joy in understanding ourselves and growing into the person that we can be proud of. The journey is judgement free and at any pace that we need to take it.
Wellness Therapy of San Diego is committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based psychological services to promote individual growth and relief from distress by providing wrap-around services meeting our clients’ various needs. The clinicians at Wellness Therapy of San Diego specialize in the treatment individuals across the lifespan using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and associated treatments. In addition to psychotherapy, the practice offers expert services in medication management and psychological assessments.
I work with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, using a variety of methods to encourage change and growth. I understand it can be difficult to build trust and talk to a stranger about past or current traumas, stresses, and worries. I will make every effort to create a safe space to work through those events and issues, while providing support. It is always an honor for me to witness change, to be a part of growth and to see my clients thrive and find more of themselves.
We at Affirming Therapy Center are offering TeleTherapy services (by phone or video sessions for individuals and by video sessions for relationship therapy). If you have circumstances where TeleTherapy is too limiting for your mental health care needs, we are also offering the option of in-person sessions, along with additional safety protocol and procedures in place. We understand that you may feel anxiety and stress from the uncertainty of your situation, or depression from isolation, and that you may be experiencing relationship challenges or struggling with being single in a time of social distancing. If you need additional support and are looking to start therapy, please reach out to us. We are here for you! Move from what’s now to what’s next. If you are like most people, there’s no magic moment when you find yourself saying, “I’m ready for therapy.” But there comes a time when you begin to get tired of living with things the way they are, and enough is enough. If this is where you find yourself now, you are ready for what’s next. Like any first step on a new path, the beginning of the therapeutic journey may feel unfamiliar. We know, because we have traveled this road to find the whole places in ourselves. If you are looking for more or longing for change, we can help you start the process and walk that path. Visiting the Affirming Therapy Center website indicates that you are seeking a more fulfilling and satisfying life. We can guide you as we move forward to your better place. Contact us now to get started!
College life is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming. Between academics, relationships, family pressures, and figuring out who you are, it’s easy to feel stressed, anxious, or alone. Maybe you're struggling with a breakup, grieving someone you’ve lost, feeling disconnected from friends, or just totally burnt out. Maybe you’re questioning your path or feeling like no one really “gets” what you're going through. These moments can feel heavy—but you don’t have to carry them on your own. Reaching out for support isn’t a weakness—it’s a powerful step toward growth and clarity. I'm here to help you tap into your strengths, make sense of the challenges you're facing, and start building the kind of life and relationships that actually feel good and grounded. I specialize in working with college students, young adults, and teens—and I’m passionate about helping you navigate this messy, meaningful chapter of your life. In our work together, you’ll find a space where you can be honest, feel heard, and take real steps toward feeling more confident, connected, and at peace. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, grief, academic stress, identity questions, or relationship struggles, I’m here to walk alongside you. If you’re ready for something to shift, I invite you to reach out. You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.
If you are looking for an individual to LISTEN to you about YOUR issues. You found her. We will work in a collaborative environment. What this means is that I will meet you wherever you are on your journey. Who knows YOU the best? YOU DO. That’s what you bring to the table. We will explore different ways to increase the benefits that you’ve always wanted from life. Therapy is scary. Change is scary. But you know what’s not scary? Feeling comfortable in your own body and mind. Feeling like who you are truly meant to me. Feeling content with life and yourself every day. My job is to guide you through your therapeutic journey. I have two goals: 1. To help you reach your goals. 2. To help you have the life you’ve always wanted. As a therapist and Clinical Social Worker, I have worked with many individuals who have struggled with the roles they play in their families, work, friendships or even how they see themselves. My passion is helping individuals find whom they’ve always dreamt of being and guiding them to their authentic selves through multiple modalities. Contact me today.
I work with adults (18+) who are having difficulties with depression, anxiety, and stress. These difficulties can often create problems in our relationships, self-care, self-esteem, and functioning at work or school. I am here to support you with these challenges. Looking for a therapist can be difficult in addition to facing current struggles in our life. Feel free to call for a free 15-minute consultation to see what I can do for you. I earned my doctorate in clinical psychology in Chicago. I have specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy for trauma. I also teach skills that include increasing awareness with mindfulness, tolerating distress, regulating difficult emotions, and being more effective in relationships. I approach therapy by helping you identify what you want your life to look like and then working through any of the barriers that get in the way of achieving what you want. I am eager to get to know you. Let's work together to help you with developing new coping skills, challenging negative self-talk, and moving you closer to achieving your goals.
Hello and welcome! My name is Arielle and I am a trauma-sensitive somatic psychotherapist and psychedelic consultant. I offer a warm, sincere, and supportive space for you to intentionally explore the roots of painful memories, emotions, sensations, and thoughts that you are ready to process and move beyond. I specialize in working with people seeking healing from complex trauma, childhood abuse and neglect, sexual and domestic violence, parental loss, and complex grief. I also support people who are intentionally preparing to sit with plant medicine for healing purposes or who have journeyed recently and are looking to integrate their experiences further. If you feel like your needs align with the spaces I hold, I invite you to reach out to me.
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"I am here to get it right, not to be right" - Brene Brown. My role as a therapist is to listen with both an open mind and open heart as well as validate and understand your own lived experiences. I believe you are the expert of your life and posses many beautiful strengths that are yet to be uncovered. Sometimes when we are struggling with symptoms related to our mental health, we may feel out of control and powerless, I want to help you fight back against some of those negative thoughts we experience and feel confident in not only yourself, but in your ability to implement your communication and coping skills when needed. I have experience working with individuals whom have experienced trauma and are struggling with symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I enjoy working with clients on regaining their sense of safety and helping them better understand their mind/body response to trauma. I am trained in TF-CBT & EMDR. I provide services in both English and Spanish. I strive to help my clients not only have positive connections with others, but also with themselves, promoting the importance of self love. I strive to create a safe environment for healing, growing, learning, and maybe doing some unlearning of old habits that no longer serve us.