Therapists for college students near University of Southern California

I am a board-certified psychiatrist and Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. For me, being a physician is more than a profession—it is a vocation to help indviduals flourish. My practice is devoted to students and young adults seeking thoughtful, individualized psychiatric care that extends beyond symptom relief. I provide comprehensive evaluations that consider medical, nutritional, lifestyle, and psychological factors—including laboratory testing when clinically appropriate—to identify the contributors to emotional and cognitive health. I also specialize in evidence-based de-prescribing for patients who wish to reduce or discontinue psychiatric medications for anxiety, attention difficulties, or substance use disorders. My approach is guided by precision, humility, and restraint: using the least intensive intervention necessary while drawing upon the full breadth of evidence-based medicine. Depending on each patient's needs and goals, I integrate psychotherapy, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, exercise, targeted supplementation, and, when appropriate, carefully selected medications into a personalized treatment plan. In addition to my clinical work, I have presented internationally on psychiatric deprescribing and medical ethics. My work has been recognized with awards from the American Psychiatric Association, the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, the American Psychoanalytic Association, and other leading professional organizations. I am the Founder & Medical Director of Verigrate Health. I am licensed to serve patients in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Lousiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.

The world is in upheaval but I believe in the common thread of humanity and I think acknowledging the agency we have over our own lives is one of the most important tasks we all share right now which we often need help with. Most of us have found ourselves vulnerable to the anguish of uncertainty in our lives, and it is my privilege as a therapist to help others work on living more directed, conscious & meaningful lives. My role as a therapist is to facilitate a safe space that embraces vulnerability and is accountable, honest, and authentic. I encourage feedback while embracing a non-judgmental approach, and believe in the power of the therapeutic alliance to affect deep and abiding change. My intention is to humbly hold a safe space for my clients and to utilize the skills, education, and training I have to offer them alternative ways of assessing, defining, and managing the various challenges in their lives. I believe in the lived experiences of my clients and make an effort to build trust in open and non-intrusive ways. I am a proponent of seeking self-regulation through nature and enjoy spending time outside to find balance in my daily life. This aligns with my therapeutic approach, which recognizes the profound impact of the environment on mental well-being and utilizes grounding techniques inspired by the natural world to help reduce stress, depression, and anxiety.

I am warm & straight forward. I will ask you questions to help you find your own authentic answers. I work with adults & couples from a variety of communities who feel stuck, who want to understand themselves, heal & grow. I find importance in childhood wounds that affect our present day. I will help you reframe perspectives so you can look at things in a way which serve you better while connecting to parts of yourself you may have kept hidden. Boundaries are good for everyone. Establishing boundaries might feel uncomfortable, you may not even know you are entitled to have them or fear abandonment if you did, we can work on that. I speak plainly and provide a non-judgmental, safe environment where we can explore what's going on in your world at your pace using traditional talk therapy and/ or EMDR. I use an eclectic approach drawing on multiple theoretical orientations in order to tailor the most effective treatment for you to develop self love, learn new coping skills, heal and grow.Whether you are navigating relationship issues, life transitions or trying to understand why you are in pain, it is healing to be seen, heard & accepted.This is what I strive to create in our therapeutic relationship while you learn to break repetitive destructive patterns &develop a compassionate understanding of yourself. I am interested to learn about you

Having had the pleasure of working with college students at Santa Clara University, SJSU, and UCLA, I help people feel better by addressing the specific concerns that bring them to therapy. I aim to listen carefully and offer a safe space to explore what’s on your mind, with the goal of helping you get what you want from therapy and feel more like yourself again. My work often focuses on relieving emotional distress, deepening connection to one’s feelings, gaining insight into recurring challenges, and fostering a greater sense of self-alignment and vitality. I've had the opportunity to help folks address many challenges in therapy from anxiety, depression, loss, and relationship challenges to questions about one's identity, life transitions, and processing difficult experiences from childhood. This approach to therapy is called psychodynamic. In my approach, I incorporate many principles from AEDP and have also been trained in other modalities such as CBT, ACT, and DBT. I sometimes draw from these modalities when someone may want to develop coping skills to deal with life’s ups and downs as they work towards their goals for therapy. I also welcome people to bring up issues of race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, pertinent political issues as well as any other aspects of their culture or themselves they wish to share, explore, or better understand in therapy.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

A desire to uplift others and highlight their strengths is what inspires me to work in the field of mental health care. I ensure that clients feel heard and understood in sessions through asking reflective questions to better understand their inner world and perspectives and creating a space that allows client to share their thoughts without judgment. It is important for me to make the client feel that they are the expert of their own issues and that we are collaborating together to shed light to solutions. I focus on client’s strengths and interests throughout our work, not just the struggles of their issues.

Perhaps you struggle with feelings of worry and restlessness, which interferes with your daily life and your quality of sleep. Maybe you also live with a chronic pain issue or condition, like chronic migraines, back pain, or something else that causes frequent discomfort. You have a lot of ambitious ideas and thoughts, but struggle with implementation of them due to stress, pain, and fears of failure. Sometimes these feelings and physical sensations can seem unbearable, unrelenting and paralyzing. You sometimes may wonder if you are all alone in these feelings. I work with my clients using techniques that will best suit their specific individualized needs. I use a collaborative approach, since I believe you are the expert of your own life. I believe that the therapeutic relationship can be a significant force in facilitating positive changes, therefore, making sure that we are on the same page is always important. There is hope for feeling better. Please don't hesitate to reach out! I offer free 15-minute consultations to ensure a good fit.

I work best with those who are committed to their healing and wellbeing journey. My practice is holistic focused with a body-mind-spirit connection. I work from an Energy Psychology framework and include Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT/Tapping) to support healing in the energy body system. I have a passion for the integration of indigenous practices into modern psychology. I offer a free 20 min phone initial consultation. Please refer to my website for more information.

My name is Samantha Harrold (she/her) and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Art Therapist, Certified in The Trauma Conscious Yoga Method. I provide art and somatic therapies via telehealth to residents throughout the beautiful state of California. I work with highly sensitive persons (HSPs), the LGBTQIA+ community as well as those exploring monogamy or consensual nonmonogamy relationship styles. I specialize in PTSD, Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (c-PTSD) and relational trauma, especially that which shows up as difficulty asserting oneself, an exaggerated sense of responsibility, and exaggerated experience of shame/guilt. I believe that all humans want and deserve to live a life free from suffering. Everyone has innate wisdom and goodness. Sometimes early life experiences and stressful or traumatic life events make it feel as if Anxiety, Fear and Depression have taken over, instead of just being emotions we experience, and parts of ourselves that do not define our whole. Therapy can help us understand that these and other painful emotions will not last forever, and that even though we may not have had control over our past, we do have the ability to build a future of resiliency, compassion and strength- A life you are passionate about.

I am a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, who has worked several clinical specialties including the pediatric unit, pediatric intensive care unit, adult medical-surgical unit, telemetry unit, adult inpatient psychiatry unit, and postpartum unit as a registered nurse. I received my Master of Science in Nursing from Azusa Pacific University in 2020. After graduation, I completed a one-year residency for the Veteran Affairs in Sacramento and worked with veterans with severe mental illnesses, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder. I have provided psychotropic medication management in a mental health clinic, inpatient mental health units and providing psychiatric consults on medical units for two years. For the past year, I have been working at Foresight Mental Health and provided medication management while treating the whole person through a holistic mindset. I became inspired to work in the field of mental health care as I worked in several specialties of nursing and I naturally gravitated toward working with patients, who have mental health concerns. I learned the importance of listening to my patients first and then advocate for my patient’s wellbeing by partnering with them to create an individualized treatment plan that focuses on improving their overall quality of life. I have learned how to implement active listening and supportive therapy to collaborate with patients to provide them with optimal mental health outcomes. Motivational interviewing skills are are utilized to identify areas of resistance toward previous treatment to offer holistic treatment options.

Aloha! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with many years’ experience who provides help with psychotherapy to various populations in both inpatient and outpatient settings. I live in Oregon and am licensed in Oregon, Hawaii, and California and love developing trusting rapport with my patients from all different cultures and backgrounds. While I offer a patient-centered approach to each individual, I really enjoy helping families and groups who might be struggling with issues including Addiction, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bipolar, and Schizophrenia. I am known for my empathy, encouragement, and gentle humor in supporting patients as we explore new thoughts and behaviors. I believe each person has the right to be heard in a safe, non-judgmental manner, and have found that utilizing various therapy modalities closely aligned to the individual have been very successful in helping to reach each patient’s highest potential. I am especially versed in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused, and other cooperative modalities that empower people to overcome the effects of Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD), Depression, and relationship challenges. I love using my empathy and therapeutic ear to really listen and discern what is being communicated. Trust is paramount. I recognize that being in therapy asks people to be open, and thus vulnerable. You are not alone. I look forward to hearing from you!

I am a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, trained with a dual emphasis on intervention through psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. During my healthcare career, I have worked with diverse patient populations including oncology, pediatrics, telemetry, and patients with extensive medical needs in addition to psychiatric needs. I am inspired by a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of those struggling with their mental health by helping them navigate mental health challenges. I know that everyone has a unique story and challenges, and because of this, I work together with clients to make a care plan individualized for them. My goal is to help you achieve your goals.

Hi, I'm Brandi Walker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and owner of B.O.L.D.L.Y. Therapy. I provide psychotherapy services to California and Oregon residents. I work to help clients obtain and retain quality mental health by providing useful psychotherapy services delivered with empathy, authenticity, flexibility, and professionalism. I provide clients with a safe confidential therapeutic space to discuss concerns, feel valued, and supported.​ I provide supportive psychotherapy services using a solution-focused approach that targets client's immediate needs, while highlighting client's strengths and resources, in efforts to alleviate mental problems and improve their overall life. I will work together with clients to improve their mental health in hopes to create opportunities for clients to learn and grow into the person they want to be. You can learn more about me at my website www.boldlytherapy.com

I worked in the college counseling setting for many years, and left it private practice and for a better life-work balance. In my practice, I mostly work with active duty servicemembers and their families; however, my heart still beats for the college students. I would describe myself as a multiculturally-focused, feminist, strength-based relational therapist. I am queer and gender-affirming therapist and I do a lot of trauma work.

Have stress and anxiety affected how you show up in work/school or in relationships with family and friends? Over time, constant exposure to work or life stressors can accumulate until we can no longer ignore the signs, and we recognize that something needs to be done. I am trained in EMDR therapy from an EMDRIA approved training to treat various levels of traumatic or difficult experiences. In EMDR therapy we can look at how your past experiences have impacted your view of self and others. Often times, our bodies can hold on to stress that we are not aware of, which is why the mind-body connection will be important in our work together in you healing from trauma and stress. I can also provide Christian counseling upon request. If you’re interested in learning more the next step is to call or email to set up a free 15 to 20-minute phone consultation. Looking forward to hearing from you!

"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."

Welcome to my practice! I'm Kristen Ackerman, LMFT. I understand that college can be a rollercoaster of experiences. Whether you're riding the highs of newfound freedom or managing the lows of homesickness and academic stress, I'm here to offer support every step of the way. I specialize in helping individuals like you adjust to the transition of moving away from home, finding your footing amidst academic demands, and striking a balance between your studies and social life. Whether you're seeking to develop meaningful friendships or intimate relationships, I'm here to lend a listening ear and provide guidance. Navigating peer pressure is also a common challenge in college life, and I'm here to help you tackle those situations with confidence. Additionally, I have extensive experience supporting individuals dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, self-esteem issues, and identity exploration. No matter what you're facing, you don't have to go through it alone. I understand that finances can be tight for students, which is why I offer flexible rate options. My goal is to make therapy accessible and affordable for everyone who needs it. My therapy services are personalized to meet your unique needs. I utilize evidence-based practices such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness, while also integrating talk therapy for comprehensive support. I strive to create an environment where you feel comfortable and empowered to explore and grow. If you're ready to take the first step towards personal growth and making lasting changes, I invite you to reach out for a free consultation. Whether you prefer to call, email, or text, I'm here to support you on your journey.

I’ve always been drawn to understanding people’s stories and helping them navigate life’s challenges. My goal is to create a space where clients feel truly seen and supported. I’m passionate about helping individuals recognize their own strengths, build resilience, and feel empowered in their journey. Ensuring that individuals feel heard and understood is a core principle of effective therapy. This involves creating a safe, nonjudgmental space, using reflective listening, and applying evidence based approaches to accurately understand and respond to each person’s experiences. Ongoing feedback and open communication are essential in maintaining a therapeutic environment that supports growth and clarity. Everyone has their own pace and process, and part of building a strong working relationship is honoring that. Trust develops over time through consistency, openness, and respect. The focus is on creating a space where someone can show up as they are, without pressure or judgment, and feel supported in a way that fits their needs and goals. It’s about meeting people where they are and moving forward together from there.

My path to becoming a therapist was shaped by a deep curiosity about human behavior and a genuine desire to support others through life’s challenges. I’ve always been drawn to understanding how our experiences, relationships, and inner worlds shape who we are. Over time, this evolved into a passion for helping people feel less alone, more understood, and more empowered in their lives—especially during vulnerable seasons like the perinatal period or times of emotional overwhelm. I strive to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are—without fear of judgment. I listen with intention, reflect with care, and ask thoughtful questions to truly understand your experiences. By integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and somatic approaches, I help you connect not just with your thoughts, but also with your emotions and body. My goal is for you to feel seen, validated, and supported every step of the way. Working together is a collaborative process. We’ll move at your pace, focusing on what feels most important to you. In our sessions, we’ll explore patterns, build coping skills, and develop practical tools you can use in your daily life. Trust is built through consistency, openness, and respect—I show up authentically, and I invite you to do the same. Over time, this creates a strong therapeutic relationship where growth and healing can unfold naturally. Outside of my work, I’m someone who deeply appreciates the little things—whether it’s a good cup of coffee, time in nature, or moments of quiet reflection. I believe that small joys can have a big impact on our well-being, and I try to bring that same sense of balance and presence into both my life and my work.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.