Therapists for college students near UCLA

Hi, I'm Katerina from Fire Poppy Therapy! I understand that we can't just "find 5 blue objects around me" to be able to deal with life's stressors, so let's work together to find some practical ways to process, cope, and thrive in the spaces you're in. I aim to make the therapy experience authentic and validating for those I work with. Believe it or not, you do know and have intuition of what's best for you, so we'll spend our time working to get the echoes of naysayers out of your head and amplifying the encouragement from yourself and others. The approach I take with our sessions is a more relaxed style and I use a variety of techniques to inform how I support you. I value practical self care and coping strategies, honoring your roots, and empowering my clients with knowledge about how their body and brain work. I also like to balance humor with reflection, encouragement with accountability. Check out my website for more info and/or send me an email if you'd like to set up a complimentary 15 minute Zoom meet-n-greet. Whether we work together or not, I hope you find what you need. [**side note for any clarification purposes] I'm firmly supportive of the following Communities in alpha order: Armenian, Congolese, Haitian, NHAAPI, Neurodiverse, Palestinian, PGM (People of the Global Majority), Pro-Liberation, Queer, Sudanese, SWANA.

Being the first in your family to navigate college and professional settings is filled with excitement, growth, transition, and joy. It can also be lonely, confusing, and stressful. Do you feel caught between two worlds (family and work/school)? Do you underestimate your value or worth in places where you experience prejudice and discrimination? Are you struggling to define or accept who you are and what you value based on tensions with family or your culture? When you are First Gen, there are often challenges in both your professional and personal life that are hard to understand and cope with but you don’t have to do it alone. Working together, we will be able to gain clarity on how your experiences are impacted by your personal and family history, your communities, and society as a whole. We will shine a spotlight on your strengths, build your confidence, and help you lean into how amazing you are. We will explore how to manage the sad, frustrating, uncomfortable, and anxious parts of your life in a way that builds you up and grounds you in your values. Existing in two worlds doesn’t have to mean separating your life. You can be your full self with anyone, anywhere. If you are ready to get started on the next stage of your First Gen journey, contact me today!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Hi, my name is Brandon Waugh and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based out of San Diego California and working with clients statewide via telehealth. I work with adults and specialize in anxiety, stress and depression using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Person Centered Therapy and a whole system perspective to help my clients work toward their mental health and life goals. My approach varies based on the needs of each of my clients. I most frequently use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Person Centered Therapy while maintaining a whole system perspective. This approach helps the client better understand their internal experiences both as influenced by their own history and beliefs as well as the environment in which they live. I have found that my approach works best with adults living with the experience of anxiety, stress and depression. We often work to cope with the stress of daily life, relationship difficulties or working toward a goal of creating a better life. My communication style is calm, accommodating, and personable. I want my clients to feel comfortable talking with me about anything, and I pride myself on my ability to listen without judgment. We will work together to explore the direction in which our time together will take. We will take the time to discover what we would like to accomplish and begin to explore the path toward these goals. In our first session together we will take the time to get to know one another. We will work to better understand the needs and goals being brought into our space together. We will also begin to explore some of the options to move forward in our journey toward these goals. I have always aspired to be a calming and helpful presence to those with whom I spend time. I feel nourished by the experience of aiding others on their path toward their goals and am looking forward to working with you in the near future.

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.

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.

Are you Autistic and/or ADHD and struggling in a world not designed for your neurotype? Or do you suspect that you may be Autistic and/or ADHD and want to work with a down-to-earth neurodivergent psychologist to find out? Are you looking for a therapist who gets the struggle? I offer collaborative and neurodiversity-affirming assessment and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) tailored to the needs of Autistic and ADHD clients. Assessment may help you better understand yourself or your child. I offer neurodiversity-affirming Autism and ADHD assessments for all ages, and have a special interest in clients whose autism and/or ADHD are masked by other factors such as high cognitive and/or verbal ability, gender, race, age, or other psychiatric diagnoses. DBT may help you understand and manage your thoughts, feelings, and behavior to align with your goals. I offer DBT (group-only or comprehensive DBT) tailored to the needs of Autistic clients, and am currently co-authoring a manual for Guilford Press on tailoring DBT for the needs of Autistic clients.

Are you navigating life between two worlds, balancing family and cultural expectations with your own sense of self? Perhaps you're a child of immigrants, first-generation, or someone far from home asking deeper questions about who you are and where you belong. I'm a bilingual (English/Tagalog) psychotherapist specializing in depth-oriented, Jungian therapy. I work with Filipino Americans, Asian Americans, immigrants, and first-generation individuals doing the meaningful, sometimes difficult work of building an authentic identity, one that honors where they come from while making room for who they are becoming. My approach is exploratory and relational. Drawing from Jungian psychology, psychodynamic therapy, and somatic awareness, I work with the unconscious patterns, cultural conditioning, and intergenerational stories that shape your present life. This includes dream work, active imagination, and close attention to the body's wisdom alongside the mind's. If this resonates, I'd love to connect. I offer a free 15-minute consultation — reach out and let's talk. I also offer Walk & Talk therapy for clients in the Cupertino and Silicon Valley area - sessions conducted outdoors in nature for those who find that movement supports their process. Ask me about it when you reach out.

I became a therapist because I genuinely love people. I believe we could all use a little help sometimes. We humans are complex and unique individuals with a wide range of emotions, and vast experiences that have, & continue to, shape us. My goal is to create a space conducive to safety, growth and acceptance. I support you, and am rooting for you! I believe collaboration is key in our work together, and that you are the expert on you. I create individualized treatment plans and curate interventions based on your likes and experiences. I will never force you to do, or talk about anything you don’t want to. I understand therapy can be an intimidating process, so I am happy to move at your pace. With that being said, I know how beneficial it can be to move outside of our comfort zones – so it is a part of my role to encourage you to do so. But as you confront any difficult emotions/experiences/new skills, I will be right there with you. I’m here for you. The therapeutic relationship is a unique and special one. I believe in being honest and authentic with you – as well as offering compassion and empathy. I like to tie in your likes and interests into treatment in order to make difficult concepts easy to understand and approach. I know what a difference it can make to feel heard and understood. I can provide a listening ear, paired with professional expertise in order to help you feel validated, and learn to understand & help yourself better. Just like you, I’m a human too. Although I can’t know exactly what you are feeling or dealing with, I do know what it’s like to feel angry, alone, discouraged, anxious or misunderstood. When life gets me down, I find peace through various ways, including – connecting with nature, hugging my cat, coloring, or watching one of my favorite movies.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Hi There! I'm Monica. Sometimes life feels hard—even when everything looks fine on the outside. You might be dealing with anxiety, worry, stress, depression, loss, grief, or self-doubt and wondering how to find your way back to feeling like yourself again. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. I offer a safe, judgment-free space where you can talk openly, feel heard, and begin to make sense of what you’re experiencing. With over 30 years of counseling experience, I help clients learn practical coping skills, manage difficult emotions, navigate life transitions, and build confidence from the inside out. While I welcome anyone seeking support, my heart is in working with women, especially those facing challenging life transitions or feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves. Reaching out for counseling takes courage. If you’re ready to take that first step, I’d love to connect with you.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Diaspora (dai·a·spr·uh) Therapy Group was founded by members of the BIPOC and QTPOC. We believe in authentic communication and living your truth. Our goal is to help you find your voice and take up space in a world that can be challenging to navigate. As individuals who have experienced these challenges firsthand, we're here to virtually "hold your hand" throughout your healing journey. Though we're based in San Diego, CA, we offer telehealth services throughout California and Arizona.

I became attracted to being a therapist after recovering from a difficult divorce and raising a child with childhood onset bipolar disorder. I benefited so greatly from therapy that realized that I wanted to offer the same support to others facing similar struggles. I approach therapy with a new client without an agenda. I meet my client where they are in the moment without judgement and with the ability to understand and share their feelings. I believe that I build trust and alliance with clients by not coming into session with an agenda and meeting them where they’re at without bias.

I believe that healing begins with a trusting, supportive relationship. My goal is to provide a safe, compassionate space where you feel seen, heard, and empowered. I am committed to walking alongside you as we work together toward greater insight, resilience, and wellbeing. Your growth matters to me, and I am here to support you every step of the way.

Do you… worry you’re disappointing the people you love? feel pulled between your own needs and everyone else’s expectations? wonder who you’d be if you stopped trying so hard to get everything right? You may have spent years adapting, achieving, and taking care of others. But beneath the anxiety, and doubt, there’s a quieter question waiting to be heard: What would it look like to let go? The idea of being your authentic self terrifies you, but part of you knows… something needs to change. Perhaps… • You’ve recently been diagnosed with ADHD or autism and are making sense of yourself in a new way. • You identify as an immigrant or third-culture adult trying to reconcile different cultures, values, and expectations. • You’ve spent much of your life battling anxiety, perfectionism, or the pressure to always do more. If you’re tired of coping and want to start living, I’m here for you.

Based in the SF Bay Area, I offer trauma-informed psychological treatment for post-traumatic stress, addiction, grief, anxiety, depression, and related life challenges, as well as support for positive growth and insight building. I primarily utilize a combination of EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and IFS (internal family systems) therapies to provide a somatic and source-focused approach to healing. I educate my clients on the universality of traumatic and addictive experiences. I define trauma broadly as any past experience that remains charged and disturbing, and thus has value in alleviating mental health challenges in the present. It's helpful to understand how traumatic and addictive elements exists in all of us and are not static, but rather ebb and flow as reverberations of past experiences (and those of our family of origin). l frame the looping amplification of addiction as stemming from a healthy evolutionary need to feel safe and easeful, but in a way that can become self-destructive through the distortion of trauma that resides in our nervous systems, until processed.

Hello! I love supporting young adults navigate the stressors of college and life changes! If you are feeling the effects of depression, anxiety, coping with chronic medical conditions, difficulties in relationships, trauma, fear, anger, guilt, grief or loss, we will work as a team to explore your concerns and work towards making positive changes in your life. Beginning or continuing your therapeutic growth and journey does not need to be an intimidating process, but one in which ultimate support, healing and connection is found. It is my goal to provide a collaborative experience of working together to create growth and change in a safe and supportive environment to help you meet your goals, discover your inner strengths and lead a more fulfilling life. If you are in a season of searching, self-exploration, and in need of brainstorming new solutions, you have already taken the bravest step! I am here to help you explore, heal, and work towards finding the meaning that you seek. The relationship between therapist and client is one of the most crucial elements for the success of therapy. It is SO important to find someone that feels right for your needs and who understands you! Don't hesitate to contact me for a free 15- 20 minute phone consultation where we can discuss and explore your personal needs and goals for therapy.

Hello! We are out a mental health office that offers outpatient therapy, psychiatry, Intensive Outpatient Psychotherapy, and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. Currently we only offer outpatient therapy by telehealth. Psychiatry and Ketamine Therapy can be in person or by telehealth. We offer ketamine injections, ketamine lozenges, and will soon offer Spravato (esketamine nasal spray).

I specialize in working with young adults, adults, and couples. I take an integrative, person-centered approach to therapy, believing that every client is unique and the expert on their own experiences. In session, you can expect a non-judgmental and welcoming environment where you can express your authentic self. I strive to foster rapport through a balance of both humor and conversation.