Therapists for college students near University of Southern California

I believe in the power of genuine connection and shared humor in therapy. My goal is to collaborate with you to create a path toward not only a better understanding of yourself but also greater self-compassion. I approach therapy through a relational psychodynamic lens, meaning I view well-being as deeply connected to our relationships, past experiences and cultural identities. I also believe that everything you have done that has led you to this moment has been an attempt to take care of yourself, whether or not it has yielded the results you hoped for. I enjoy supporting clients as they explore, gain insights, and create a more authentic sense of self. My clinical focus includes anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, and the complexities of identity and multiculturalism. If you seek a collaborative partner to understand how your past shapes your present and how to intentionally write your future, I invite you to connect with me.

My practice provides a space for you to be self-reflective, to learn, and grow into your potential.

Healing and growth often begin with feeling truly seen, heard, and understood. As a bilingual therapist fluent in both Vietnamese and English, I bring over 14 years of experience supporting individuals across multiple stages of life, with a special focus on older adults and young adults navigating life transitions, relationships, identity, grief, and emotional healing. Clients often appreciate that I’m not simply someone who nods and listens. I’m an active collaborator in the therapy process. Together, we explore the patterns, experiences, and beliefs that may be keeping you stuck so you can gain deeper insight, heal at the root, and move toward the version of yourself you want to become. Some of the most meaningful feedback I’ve received from clients includes: “I’ve never thought of it that way before,” “I could hear your voice echoing in my head and I knew what I needed to do,” and “You’ve opened my mind to things I never realized before.” Those moments of realization, when clients uncover the root of a pattern, reconnect with themselves, or discover purpose within painful experiences, are some of the most fulfilling parts of the work I do. My greatest joy is witnessing a person’s transformation toward deeper self-love, stronger self-trust, and greater discernment in how they move through relationships, choices, and life itself. I believe healing is not about becoming someone entirely new, but about returning to yourself with more clarity, compassion, and intention. Outside of the therapy room, I’m a proud plant mom, an actively involved auntie to my adorable niece and nephew, and currently obsessed with perfecting homemade matcha lattes. Small rituals like these remind me how healing often lives in the everyday moments.

Human sexuality is an endless source of self-knowledge through which we tap into our subconsciousness. In most people it is suppressed and hidden from our conscious minds due to the rigid cultural and religious belief systems along with our personal beliefs. Learning about ourselves through our sexual expressions will help some of us obtain wisdom and knowledge about who we are. Most of non-sexual issues stem from unhealthy self-perceptions, specifically from denying our own sexuality and freedom to express ourselves sexually. Ability to fully realize ourselves comes from expanding our consciousness through exploring our sexuality and sensuality.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Thanks for stopping by! I specialize in working with the following: Teen/Young Adult Issues- I help teens/young adults learn valuable skills that help them make sense of their thoughts, feelings, and values; this helps them be better equipped and empowered to make better decisions in their relationships, school, and work. Counseling with me can help teens and young adults build their confidence, bounce back from setbacks, focus on their goals, manage stress, and have healthy relationships. Men's Issues- Often, men appreciate practical tools that they can utilize to improve their lives right away. I like men to think of me as a mental personal trainer, rather than a traditional therapist. I support men with the following: anxiety, self-esteem, work performance, stress management, trauma/ptsd, and relationship issues. Athletes- As an avid athlete myself, I understand the importance of having a strong and healthy mental health when it comes to sport performance. I work with athletes who struggle with the following: measuring up with team mates, pre-game anxiety, substance use and coping, handling setbacks, injuries, balancing sports and life (ie. school, relationships).

Are you tired of repeating the same cycle, whether it’s addiction, depression, anxiety, or infidelity? Our skilled and compassionate therapists are here to help you finally break free, so you can live fully and joyfully. Led by Cory Anderson, LMFT, our therapists specialize in sex addiction recovery and helping spouses who have been betrayed by inifidelity. We often do trauma work to heal the root causes of addiction or disorders such as anxiety and depression. We also have therapists who work with children and teens. With multiple therapists at three locations (San Marcos, You don’t need to suffer alone. Contact our intake specialist, Elizabeth, today to learn more about our services or set up an initial consultation with a therapist.

Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes, even the strongest people amongst us need a little bit of help to work through some of life’s more challenging problems. Everyone has battles to fight and hurdles to overcome at some point. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, or any other issue, you should know that there is hope for a better tomorrow. You might be initially hesitant to seek out help and support for personal matters, but when you do, you will feel confident that you are taking a courageous first step towards getting to a better place and being a better you. If you’re interested in becoming a better, happier, more fulfilled you, get started and please get contact today!

Reframe Counseling The world may be a chaotic place, but it doesn't have to be. Counseling is a way for you to become your best self and to find answers inside of you. Jenna's job is to walk alongside you, ensuring you maximize your potential. When we get "stuck" in life, we can begin to feel lost and confused. Jenna's goal is to help you figure out what is making you feel "stuck," and collaboratively help you to make the necessary adjustments in your life to get "unstuck." Together, you will walk the path toward your new future. Her approach is client-centered and collaborative. Jenna utilizes various treatment modalities in her practice, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and The Gottman Method of Couples Therapy. Jenna believes that the therapeutic relationship and rapport building are vital in helping clients get the most out of their counseling experience. Her role is to help support her clients in creating attainable goals that they can succeed in accomplishing. Cambridge Dictionary defines “reframe” as a way “to change the way something is expressed or considered.” Simply speaking, a reframe is a different way to look at a situation. The goal of Jenna's work with her clients is to challenge oneself to identify negative thought patterns, validate and accept those thoughts and feelings, and begin to learn tools and coping skills in order to view those thoughts in a new, more positive light. Reframe Counseling describes the process of reworking one’s negative thought into a more healing and positive frame of mind.

Are you feeling stressed, overwhelmed, confused, or depressed? Are you feeling disconnected or lost as you navigate your college journey? Wondering if you may have impostor syndrome? Are you procrastinating and cannot find any motivation to study? Having family conflicts? Relationship issues? Boundary issues? You are not alone! I have experience working with people from all walks of life. I am here to support and collaborate with you to meet your needs and develop new skills to help you feel happier in life. There is no one-size-fits-all counseling approach. I have always used person-centered and integrated therapy approaches to help my clients, such as Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Solution-focused therapy, Narrative therapy, Play therapy, EMDR therapy, Brainspotting, Gottman Couple therapy and Art therapy. I have found that we are all unique individuals who have similar experiences but unique details in life. Since I began counseling, each modality and approach has its pros and cons; we cannot always rely on one modality or approach to handle every situation. Sometimes, being creative and flexible can help my clients better understand themselves. I have had many counselors in my life, from academic counselors to mental health counselors, and they all have brought me wisdom to help me identify my issues and have helped me realize nothing is more important than our health. Having healthy communication skills and learning about others’ cultures and practices can reduce anxiety between both parties. We often have various unique obstacles to face, but if we can be flexible to adapt to our challenges and find alternatives and resources, this can be our key to problem-solving and a huge step to our success.

Alex is one of the experienced therapists at SD Zen. He is a licensed clinical social worker with 10 years of experience and helps individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma. He has dedicated his career to supporting and empowering individuals to overcome their challenges and achieve their goals. Alex utilizes his experience in CBT, psychoanalysis, and family systems theory to guide his patients to their desired goals. Alex has a talent for creating a safe and welcoming space for his clients to share their struggles. He works collaboratively with them to develop personalized treatment plans that meet their specific needs.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Are you stuck? Your journey towards empowerment and freedom starts now. You will build the skills to overcome your personal struggles and with those you love. Everyone has capacity for positive growth. You will be provided with a genuine, empathic, and safe space to allow you to tap into your innate power for growth and development. Our early childhood experiences and attachment styles shape our personality and behavior. Working on your past relationships will help you gain insight into your current situation, then use that insight to reduce daily stress and find your way. My experience includes working with a diverse group of children, adults, and adolescents in the areas of relationships, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, anger management, coping skills, and emotional regulation. I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which is a very effective way to heal from traumatic memories or events.

Are you feeling stuck or overwhelmed? One key factor to predict positive change is the trust you have with your therapist. That is my goal. I utilize my cultural sensitivity to understand my clients' struggles. I have experience using mindfulness-based techniques and insight oriented approaches. I have worked with college students and older adults. Together, we will create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. I truly believe that we can profoundly better ourselves through the moments in our lives where we face challenges by defining how we will see the problem and take action, rather than letting the problem define how we see ourselves. I will work with you, as a member on your team, to help you live better.

Dr. Janelle van der Linde offers online trauma informed therapy and remote counseling to adults across California, including the San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose, and Los Angeles. Her work supports adult clients managing issues related to relationship issues, marriage, parenting, child development, infertility, adoption, life stress and transitions. Through personalized virtual therapy, Dr. van der Linde focuses on inner awareness, stress management, resilience building, and improvement in overall mental health. While providing evidence-based culturally responsive care, she is particularly known for her warm, collaborative approach. Before becoming a therapist, Dr. van der Linde led a clinical research operations organization (100+) in Silicon Valley, contributing to breakthrough biologic treatments now standard care in cancer and immunology. Married and raising two children, she balanced a demanding career, gaining insight into many pressures faced by high-achieving professionals. The daughter of an Ecuadorian immigrant and a first-generation American, who transitioned into clinical psychology as a second career, Dr. van der Linde understands each person’s journey is unique. She is dedicated to collaboratively fostering self-awareness and purposeful change, along with trauma informed, culturally responsive care. Specialities: Depression & Anxiety Stress Relationship Issues Parenting Marital/Interpersonal/Family Conflict Career and Life Transitions Infertility & Family Planning Post-Partum Depression Grief & Loss Adoption Career Counseling Divorce Infertility Men's Issues Women's Issues

Welcome! Pamela Berkinsky is a holistic psychotherapist experienced in working with individuals and couples in the areas of trauma, grief, depression, personal growth, self-esteem, anxiety and relationship challenges as well as spiritual and existential issues. She is an intuitive practitioner who blends psychotherapy with somatic based practices, as well as EMDR, and IFS with holistic practices including visualization, energy psychology, breath work and somatic movement practices She loves working with highly sensitive people. Her practice is LGBTQIA+ and poly affirming. She is deeply compassionate, and non-judgmental.

I help individuals grow toward healing and health through integrative therapy. Throughout the lifespan, many things can happen to interfere with our relational health- addiction, body image, trauma, depression, just to name a few- and I have experience guiding my clients through them all. Together, we will work towards you and/or your relationships becoming their most empowered and functional.

Happy Apple is known for its warm and highly experienced team of therapists who specialize in relationship concerns, both for individuals and couples, as well as the treatment of anxiety, depression, and EMDR for trauma. Most clients seek out Happy Apple to help them sort through internal conflict, relationship concerns, or for help managing stress caused by school, work, or a change in circumstances. Happy Apple therapists take an engaged approach, using science-backed approaches like CBT, DBT, and EFT to help clients find solutions and new ways to cope with anxiety, fear, depression, or worry.

I am a licensed professional counselor in California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Currently, I am doing remote counseling only. I have experience in trauma, anxiety, grief/loss, addiction, anger management and life transitions. I am multi-culturally sensitive and LGBTQIA+ affirming. I was born in El Paso, Texas and both my parents are Mexican-American. I am bilingual Spanish/English. I moved to California in 2021 after living in Arizona for 30 years where I was faculty at Phoenix College teaching Psychology, Sociology and Women's Studies. I have Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (ASU) and an MA in Counseling (OU). I believe life is not about the destination but about the journey. Sometimes we run into rough spots along the way. Let me walk beside you for a while until you get past the rough spots and are able to continue on your own. Counseling is a process that you control by telling me what you want to accomplish and then we work together to get there. Sharing your story with a stranger is sometimes hard. I want to be your ally in therapy and provide a safe space where you can talk and be yourself without fear of judgment. I promise to be honest with you and support you as you explore who you are and who you want to be. I will work to earn your trust and to shine a light on the road ahead as we travel.

Hi, I'm Dr. Monica. I know that life can sometimes feel overwhelming – whether it's the weight of anxiety, navigating grief, or dealing with the unexpected. With over 25 years of clinical experience, I offer compassionate, direct, and unstuffy support to help you feel more grounded and less stuck. I specialize in anxiety, pet loss and grief, and trauma, but also work with clients on relationship challenges, stress, and major life transitions. Therapy with me feels like having a real conversation – no judgment, just understanding. Together, we’ll untangle the thoughts that keep you up at night and work toward finding more calm, clarity, and even a little humor along the way. If you’re unsure about starting therapy, I offer a brief 15-minute consultation to help you decide if I’m the right fit for you. You're not alone in this, and I’d be honored to walk alongside you. I am authorized to provide virtual therapy in CA, TX and all PSYPACT participating states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).