Therapists for college students near 90095

I was inspired to become a therapist through my genuine interest in understanding people and supporting them during difficult moments in their lives. I’ve always believed that with the right support, insight, and compassion, people are capable of growth and meaningful change. Being a therapist allows me to walk alongside others as they navigate challenges, discover their strengths, and work toward a life that feels more balanced and fulfilling. I focus on creating a space where you feel safe, respected, and genuinely listened to. I do this through active listening, asking thoughtful questions, and reflecting back what I hear to ensure I understand your experiences accurately. I also check in regularly to make sure our work feels helpful and aligned with your goals. Therapy is collaborative, and your voice guides the process. My role is to support you with curiosity, compassion, and consistency so you feel heard and understood throughout our work together. Working together looks collaborative, supportive, and paced to your comfort level. We start by building trust through consistency, transparency, and respect, making sure you understand the process and feel safe asking questions or sharing feedback. I work to create a nonjudgmental space where your experiences are honored, and we move at a pace that feels right for you. Over time, trust grows as you feel heard, supported, and see our work align with your goals and needs.

As a therapist, I’m here to be supportive of your goals and help you feel confident in taking your next step towards rediscovering you. I believe in being authentic and invite you to come as you are by being your true self. I’ll help challenge your perspective and reframe any unhelpful thinking that may be getting in the way of your life. Life is already difficult with enough uncertainty in the world, but having a safe place to talk freely about yourself and the things that impact you is greatly needed. My clients are typically women, BIPOC, LGBTQ and others that are looking for a place to take the mask off, improve their self-identity and esteem, improve their relationships, and take steps toward building the best versions of themselves.

Hello and welcome to my page! My name is Erlynn and I have a MSW, concentration in Individuals, Families and Groups from SFSU. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California since 2015. I received a BA in Psychology, emphasis in Clinical and Developmental Psychology from UCSC. I have 20 plus years of post-grad work experience in the mental health field, working with people who are from the LGBTQ+ community, have Stress and Anxiety, ADD/ADHD, ASD, Depression, Relationship Issues, and Coping with Life Changes. My specialties include: Trauma and PTSD, Separation and Loss, Self-Harm, Suicidal Ideation, Anger Management, Mood Disorders and Eating Disorders. I believe that the first step of healing is self-discovery and the development of personal goals to overcome challenges. My intentions are to instill hope and inspiration and to empower you to be able to move on. Remember that You are resilient and determined to change for the positivity. My purpose is to provide a safe zone and a non-judgmental environment. If you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here to support you.

My approach to therapy is rooted in compassion, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the challenges individuals face today. Whether you're dealing with stress, anxiety, perfectionism, or just feeling stuck, this is a space where you don’t have to go through it alone. I believe therapy works best when we work as a team. Together, we’ll explore what support looks like for you emotionally, academically, socially, and beyond. My goal is to help you understand yourself better, build on your strengths, and create a path that feels true to who you are and where you want to go. This process is about you, and I’m here to walk alongside you every step of the way.

I am passionate about helping clients obtained their Highest Potential. I believe in, and have benefited from, therapy to overcome life challenges including childhood trauma. I am an advocate for a client centered therapeutic relationship and enjoy working with individuals from different socioeconomic levels as well as cultural and religious backgrounds. I have a strong belief in the benefits of cultural humility creating a safe, nonjudgmental environment for my clients to process their feelings, guide their discovery, learn new skills; which in turn enables them to work towards healing and achieving goals. I am grounded in Spiritual Depth Psychology and cultivate a non-judgmental compassionate space in which the client feels safe. I practice mindfulness in the session and show warms and non-judgment, no matter is shared. I acknowledge if misunderstanding occur and repair ruptures with transparency and humility.

Being able to help others learn how to thrive, not just survive, in their lives and find fulfilment are just a few of the reasons I love my job! Change can feel like hard work and I‘m honored to be able to help make change more accessible to those wanting to grow into their potential. I strive to provide a safe place to empower and encourage members in finding and growing into your best you. My techniques are highly strength-based and I use collaboration with members to reach their goals. You are the expert of you and I am here to help you build awareness and skills that fit for you and your needs. I specialize in an eclectic mode of therapy which means I like to create a session that is unique to you, your needs, and your goals. I use evidence-based skills and practices from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Humanistic or Person-Centered Therapy. I am a believer in the holistic treatment of the mind-body-spirit connection and a strong advocate for self-care and awareness. I work with individual adults with many experiences and life circumstances such as medical or chronic health and pain issues, burnout (work or personal), ethical non-monogamous relationships, and much more.

What inspired me to become a therapist is a deep curiosity about people, healing, and how change happens through connection and experience. My work has been shaped by an integrative background that includes Depth Psychology, trauma-informed care, Polyvagal Theory, CBT, ACT, Positive Psychology, Family Systems work, and experience with somatic and experiential approaches, including equine-assisted work and the arts. I’ve also been influenced by academic and lived experiences exploring culture, creativity, and recovery, including work on trauma, addiction recovery, and meaning-making after distress. I aim to make sure you feel heard by really slowing down and staying present with both your words and your emotional experience. I tend to check in often to make sure I’m understanding you correctly and that we’re capturing what feels most important to you. My approach is grounded in attunement, curiosity, and creating a space where your experience is taken seriously without judgment or rushing toward solutions. Working together is a collaborative and relational process that unfolds over time. I draw from somatic, experiential, and trauma-informed frameworks, and we focus on building safety, consistency, and trust first. I often integrate mind-body awareness, reflective dialogue, and practical strategies depending on your needs. My background also includes teaching dance, mindfulness, yoga, and meditation to veterans, as well as exploring nonverbal communication and relational dynamics through equine work and movement-based practices. All of this informs how I help clients feel grounded, understood, and supported as they move toward meaningful change at their own pace. I earned my first degree at UW Madison. Sometimes to break the ice with couples, I will let them know that I taught ballroom dancing though mini courses and the University extension to help pay college living expenses. In those days, I often wore combat boots to teach.

What inspired me to become a therapist was my own personal experience with therapy as a young child. I wanted to help other people with their journey to become mentally healthy, mindful, and self-aware for a new lifestyle that is encouraging and fulfilling to them. My goal is to create a safe space for clients during sessions by being an observant, nonjudgmental, and an empathetic therapist. My philosophy is “Aim Small to Hit Big”, which means to be present in the moment and set small attainable goals for yourself to build upon your successes and celebrate accomplishments one goal at a time.

I find inspiration in helping others that are struggling with mental health problems. My clients have my attention, support, and feel heard and validated. I also collaborate with them to address their problems or distress. As a registered therapist, I strive to meet the client where they are at in life and help them move forward in their individual goals. I work with people from all age groups, religious and cultural backgrounds, states of life (pregnancy), and the LGBTQ population. I have experience working with individuals suffering from a wide range of mental health disorders, grief and loss, trauma symptomatology, medical conditions, and dual diagnoses. I have a passion for reaching out, connecting and relieving mental suffering. I have specialized training working in the following areas: CBT, DBT, Clinical Sexology training in Florida, and TRAUMA training in SEP (Somatic Experiencing Practitioner), EMDR. I have worked with couples using the Gottman method, attachment issues and communication skills. My PhD is in international psychology and I enjoy working with people from all backgrounds.

I am passionate about helping people be the best versions of themselves. I am excited to help people find the tools to reach their personal goals along with processing the events and situations that come up in life as they arise. I have worked with clients from all walks of life and in low to high acuity environments. The tools that I support clients with can save lives and dramatically change people’s quality of life. I try to meet every client where they are at in each session, exploring the things that matter to them. I want every client that I work with to feel seen and validated from their own perspective. Trust with my clients is built through consistency and collaboration. I want everyone that I work with to feel like I am a part of their team and support network to help them navigate life’s challenges together.

I love being able to combine my passions for helping others, creativity, and understanding why people think, feel, and behave as they do! I believe therapy should be a collaborative relationship where we are working together on an issue, rather than me being The Expert. Instead, you are the expert on what it is like to be you in your life. I may share my perspective on what I believe may be going on and ask you to reflect on its accuracy and relevance to your experience. I take my job in the helping profession seriously. Consistent studies on why psychotherapy works indicate that the therapeutic relationship is the most important variable determining therapeutic outcomes. I relate to you as a regular person with education, training, and experience that I am eager to share with you to help you feel safe and understood. I occasionally will share relevant experiences either from past anonymous clients or from personal experience to normalize, validate, and help you feel that you are not alone in your pain.

I was inspired to become a therapist as a young child, with the value of wanting to help others. Early in my career I had many mentors who encouraged me to become a therapist, they believed in me. In some moment, I realized I wanted to help people believe in themselves and to see their own possibilities. Validation is one of the most important tools I value as a therapist and as a person. I use the phrase, validate the other person’s reality that may be different from your own. I teach clients to self validate, to know what you experienced is true and real. I value the process of creating this safe space where one can see themselves just as they are. I ask for feedback to see if how I respond through validation fits for the client, if they felt heard and validated. My first response is over time. I think trust is built with consistency. I tend to follow a consistent pattern in session, I try to have a beginning, middle and end to every session. The beginning can be more of a welcoming and social experience. The middle can be sharing and revealing the deeper part of a person and what they are going through. This can feel emotional and intense at times. The end, is closure. I will help a client have some closure at the end of every session. I talk to the client about next steps, how will you spend the time after the session, and confirm when we will meet next.

Thank you for taking the time to consider me in choosing a support person for yourself or family member. I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist dedicated to providing effective, specialized psychological services for Adolescents and Adults. I facilitate Psychological Evaluations/Testing, Psychotherapy, and Mental Health/Performance Coaching. I take an Individualized, Empowerment and Wellness-based approach whereby I incorporate brief, solutions focused interventions to address the overall psychological needs of a person or family to help reduce suffering and bring about optimal Well-being and long-term Recovery.

As someone who has experienced mental health both in myself and my loved ones, I feel inspired to provide care that is comforting, compassionate, and free of judgment. I am driven by being a support to those who need it, helping you improve, and guiding you towards fulfillment and your goals. I ensure you feel heard and respected by creating a comfortable environment where, together, we can explore the uncomfortable. I value establishing trust with you and I allow each client to set their own pace while I compassionately move you forward. I practice a talk therapy approach with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy influences. I am proud of my ability to establish trust and a strong therapeutic alliance with my clients. I do this by using humor and empowerment while also utilizing a direct approach. I recognize how difficult vulnerability can be so I do my best to create an environment that feels safe and enjoyable. I enter each session without judgment as I want to honor you and your experiences. I prioritize you feeling comfortable while sharing your innermost thoughts so, together, we can put the pieces back together and fortify your mental space.

Seeking help says a lot about you! It means you are open to becoming the best version of you; strong, authentic, balanced. My objective is to provide you with realistic tools for problem solving stressors, while reconnecting you to what truly matters in your life. My background in trauma work allows me to incorporate evidence based interventions and techniques to help adjust your thoughts about yourself and to minimize unhelpful habits that are keeping you from feeling whole. I incorporate grounding work as a way to connect mind, body, heart and spirit, and foster a sense of hope. I have been told I am "Minnesota nice", (a midwesterner at heart...I admit). I am a strong listener and lead with empathy, as I believe a trusting relationship aids in your healing. (p.s...sometimes you might catch a glimpse of my dog Guinness nearby he is a great listener too!) I know when to challenge, and when to allow for space. I have worked with dual diagnosis, addiction, learning disability/neurodivergent, first responders, veterans, couples/families, youth, students and artists.

I was inspired to be a therapist because of my own experience in therapy. I saw the benefits from my own sessions and worked with my therapist to work towards my goal of getting into graduate school. Now I want to help people the same way my first therapist helped me find what I was passionate in and also help those who might also feel stuck too. My style is one of collaboration and brainstorming together to figure out what solutions will help your unique situation. I always respect that you’re the expert of your life and I am here to help you figure out what clicks. I treat my therapy sessions as a casual conversation space and I use humor and analogies to get my examples and points across. Also as a video game enjoyer I use a lot of examples from that area of my life in creative ways to help emphasize or get certain points across in a different way. I’m a huge nerd so I love all things related to gaming, anime, superheroes, Dungeons and Dragons and card games. I’m a big enjoyer of fantasy and Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite series that got me hooked into that genre. Currently enjoying Frieren and slowly finishing season 2.

I specialize in helping adults work through unresolved trauma, depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, problem gambling, hoarding, phobias, and grief. I also support clients with stress management and navigating life’s everyday challenges. I am trained in EMDR, NARM, and IFS and my approach is warm, supportive, and collaborative. I am licensed to provide telehealth services to clients in both California and North Carolina. I strive to create a nonjudgmental and caring environment where you can feel safe to explore what’s holding you back and begin moving toward meaningful change. Whether you're just starting your therapy journey or returning after time away, I’ll meet you where you are and tailor your treatment to your specific needs and goals. I’m passionate about this work because I have the privilege of walking beside people on their healing journey. Witnessing the shift from feeling stuck in painful patterns to gaining true freedom and self-understanding is something I never take for granted. Therapy isn’t about being “fixed”—it’s about being heard, seen, and supported as you grow and heal.

Therapy for Coming Home to Yourself There are seasons in life when the ways we’ve learned to survive no longer serve the lives we’re trying to create. You may understand yourself intellectually and still feel disconnected from your body. You may know what you should do and still find yourself repeating familiar patterns. You may be functioning on the outside while something inside you is asking for a deeper kind of change. Therapy can be a place to listen to that deeper voice. My approach is integrative and grounded in the understanding that healing happens across mind, body, relationship, and meaning. I draw from somatic and mindfulness-based practices, psychotherapy, spiritual principles, and perspectives that honor the wisdom of culture, community, and our connection to the natural world. Rather than focusing solely on what is wrong, we explore what your experiences have taught you to believe, how those experiences live in your body and relationships, and what becomes possible when you begin to relate to yourself differently. My role is not to tell you who to become. It is to help you develop the awareness, compassion, and discernment to hear yourself more clearly—and to make choices that are increasingly aligned with who you are and what matters to you. Healing is not always about becoming someone new. Sometimes it is about returning to yourself. If this feels like the right approach for you, please reach out and let’s get to know one another!

Starting or continuing college can be exciting, overwhelming, and everything in between. Whether you’re navigating new independence, academic pressures, identity exploration, or unexpected challenges, it’s a lot to hold on your own. For years, I’ve supported my community in a variety of settings—from community clinics to crisis counseling—and I understand how life transitions can impact mental health. I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ students and those experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life changes. My time as a 911 crisis counselor especially taught me how to hold space during some of life’s most difficult moments. In my practice, you’ll find a safe, nonjudgmental environment where your story matters. I use a mix of evidence-based approaches, tailored to your unique needs, all grounded in a humanistic framework that values self-exploration, growth, and discovering your full potential. Together, we can work on building insight, breaking unhelpful patterns, and creating new ways forward—so you leave each session feeling more grounded, confident, and ready for what’s next.

Feeling anxious, stuck, or burned out? I help college students move through anxiety, eating struggles, body image stress, and relationship ups and downs. Therapy with me is about more than just “coping” — we get to the root so you can feel lighter, trust yourself more, and actually enjoy life again. I’ve worked with clients all over the world, using approaches that help you truly heal and create lasting change. My goal is to help you feel more capable of handling life’s challenges while also making space for the positive, nourishing parts of your life.