Therapists for college students near 94132

During my clinical training at a college counseling center, I worked closely with students navigating anxiety, self-doubt, emotional overwhelm, relationship difficulties, trauma, academic pressures, and major life transitions. I also currently serve as a clinical supervisor for doctoral trainees in a graduate psychology program. As a contributing author in a Cambridge Scholars Publishing volume exploring the transcultural unconscious, I am especially attentive to the ways psychological suffering can emerge across emotional, relational, somatic, cultural, ancestral, and intergenerational layers—particularly for individuals navigating between multiple cultural worlds, identities, or systems of meaning. In addition to my clinical work, I draw insight from four decades of lived experience across business, music, holistic practices, and cross-cultural traditions, which continue to inform my understanding of psychological resilience, creativity, identity, and the complexity of human experience. Many of the individuals I work with appear highly capable on the outside while privately struggling with a persistent sense of disconnection from themselves or uncertainty about who they are beyond achievement and external expectations. If you are trying to meet academic, familial, cultural, or social demands while also struggling with questions of identity, self-worth, meaning, or belonging, therapy can offer a space where your inner life is approached with greater curiosity and depth rather than reduced to productivity or performance. Therapy may also help you develop the psychological flexibility to hold the tension between external expectations and your own emerging questions about identity, meaning, and authenticity without forcing one side of yourself to disappear. I work particularly well with students and young adults who are psychologically curious and interested in understanding the deeper patterns shaping their emotional lives. This may especially resonate if you tend to organize your inner life and external world primarily through thinking, analysis, and intellectual understanding. The capacity to reflect, reason, and make meaning from complexity can be a profound strength that supports resilience, creativity, and achievement. At the same time, thinking can sometimes become a way of creating distance from emotional or somatic experience, especially when vulnerability or relational life once felt difficult to navigate. You may genuinely enjoy ideas, self-reflection, and intellectual exploration, while also sensing that certain emotional experiences remain difficult to access, articulate, or fully feel. Together, we may explore how early relational experiences, unconscious dynamics, cultural and family histories, and internalized expectations influence your self-esteem, relationships, perfectionism, emotional regulation, and sense of meaning or purpose. My approach is psychodynamic and depth-oriented while also integrating evidence-based trauma treatment, including EMDR. Therapy is not only focused on symptom reduction, but also on helping you develop a more reflective and compassionate relationship with yourself. I value both the importance of making practical progress in daily life and the longer process of psychological development that unfolds as your inner and outer worlds begin to come into deeper dialogue. For many young adults, this stage of life involves more than adapting to social expectations—it can also become an important period of questioning, identity formation, and emotional integration. Therapy can provide a space for you to think deeply, process difficult experiences, and cultivate a more grounded and genuine sense of self.

My journey to becoming a psychotherapist began when I was thirteen years old. I remember listening to my radio every night just as I was falling asleep. It wasn’t music I was listening to, but a psychologist who ran a call-in talk program. Troubled listeners would call in seeking the good doctor’s advice and in just a few minutes time, they were soon at ease by her reassuring words. I thought, “What a wonderful job that must be; to help so many people in feeling heard and connected with a caring human being. I’d like to do that too!” The same issues that plagued those callers are still around today; feeling alone, confused, different, unloved, a sense of hopelessness. The list goes on. What inspires me to work in mental health care is my desire to help make the lives of others much easier, less burdened, more worth living. To make certain that my clients feel accurately heard and understood, I check in with them often throughout our sessions. This can be done by sharing with them what I think I heard them say and then by checking in with them to make sure this is fairly accurate or if I was off the mark. I learned long ago that if I don’t get it quite right, my client’s are quick to correct me! This is usually a positive. If I get it wrong and seek clarification, it’s my hope that I convey my genuine interest in my client’s experience and that they are worth the extra effort to be understood. Trust and a strong therapeutic alliance between client and therapist are two aspects of therapy I find to be essential for meaningful work to take place. I do this by starting and ending sessions at our agreed upon time, curating a mutually agreed upon treatment plan and perhaps most of all, relating with all of my clients as my equals. I see ours as a dimly lit journey we’re walking together. Our only difference is, I am carrying the lantern helping us to see ahead. When appropriate, I’ve even been known to share a personal story involving myself if that story will help drive home a particular point.

Have any of these thoughts ever crossed your mind? I don’t have time to take care of myself the way that I’d like to. I just can't keep up. Setting boundaries is hard. I don’t know what I’m feeling or why. These are normal thoughts for humans to experience. I hear these thoughts often and know how to provide support. I utilize evidence-based approaches including CBT & DBT to support clients in reaching their goals. I help you to develop increased self-awareness and have access to tools that you can use in your relationships, to better manage stress and to improve your overall confidence. I'm so glad that you are taking the time to invest in yourself! I provide a free consultation so you can get to know me and determine if we would be a good fit. If for some reason we are not, I will happily provide you with some more appropriate resources!

I became a therapist because I deeply believe in the power of healing, growth and change. Through my own experiences, I have come to understand the value and profound impact that compassionate support and a safe, nonjudgmental space can have on someone’s well-being. I knew I wanted to provide that for others—whether it’s through offering guidance, a listening ear, or the tools needed to overcome difficult moments. My approach to therapy is rooted in deep empathy, active listening, and respect for your unique experience. I am here to truly hear you—without judgment, without rushing to solutions. I believe in meeting you where you are, and I will always create a safe, open space where you feel comfortable expressing your thoughts and feelings. At the same time, part of feeling truly understood sometimes means gently challenging patterns or thoughts that may not be serving you or guiding you to the life you want to live. It’s my belief that this balance of listening deeply and challenging constructively is key to creating lasting change. Working together will be a collaborative partnership. I will be here to offer support and understanding, but also challenge you in ways that help you move forward. It’s a journey of mutual respect, trust, and deep care, and I’m committed to patiently walking alongside you through every step.

We have seen our clients face their fears and get their lives back. Our goal is to provide clients with the solutions they need to live a productive, enjoyable life. We offer concrete tools and techniques that truly reduce symptoms. Our Intensive Outpatient program (IOP) is a shorter-term intensive treatment option that consistently provides clients with long-term symptom reduction. Our specialized program is designed to support individuals (eight years and older) who suffer from Anxiety, OCD, and related diagnoses. The IOP program is three hours per day, Monday through Friday. This level of treatment helps provide clients with more significant outcomes, more consistently in a shorter time period than traditional outpatient sessions. Our programs are evidence-based practices, which means we stay current with scientific research. Our staff is highly trained in implementing exposure-based therapy, the gold standard for obsessive-compulsive, anxiety, and related disorders treatment.

The students I help often experience anxiety in social relationships or work/academic related performance. They often share a lack of confidence and feeling doubtful about their competency going out into the “real world.” I help identify and enhance the qualities and strengths each client brings into therapy. By looking back at past distress or trauma, we are more able to see the present and future with more hope and optimism.

College can be exciting, but also overwhelming. If you’re feeling anxious, down, or stuck in your relationships, you’re not alone and support is available. I help students work through challenges like anxiety, depression, and relationship stress in a safe, laid-back space where you can be yourself. I take a whole-person approach to healing, focusing on the connection between mind, body, and soul. Together, we’ll build on your strengths and help you feel more balanced, empowered, and in control of your life. My goal is to support your growth, help you feel heard, and walk with you through whatever you’re facing.

As a first-generation Filipino-American and the oldest child of immigrant parents, I am passionate about destigmatizing mental health. I believe people are inherently resilient but sometimes need space to tap into this resiliency. Providing this space drives my work, and I am grateful to witness my clients’ healing journeys. Therapy can be scary, so I strive to make the therapeutic space warm and safe by listening without judgment and having a calm presence. I truly believe in meeting my clients where they are at. I try to create an environment where my clients feel like they have control over what they share and how much they share. I believe my clients are the experts of their lives, while I have certain tools and knowledge to help them be the best version of themselves. My clients are the ones in the drivers seat and I strive to build trust at their pace. Sessions are collaborative and I consistently check in about how my clients are feeling about their overall progress in therapy.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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 help clients who are feeling stuck in a state of stress, are struggling to feel connected, and dealing with low-self worth. We’ll process trauma and difficult emotions using a mind-body approach. I work with clients to understand the root of their symptoms and how the past impacted them so that they can regulate their nervous system, improve their self-worth, and get out of that survival state and into the present moment. I’m certified in Brainspotting which is a tool that allows us to process difficult emotions and past experiences that our minds and bodies may be holding onto (and keeping us stuck). I am an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist and am passionate about working with helpers (people who prioritize something else over themselves). Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation call today (:

I work with unique, creative, and driven individuals. I work with people who are overachievers, people pleasers, and overthinkers. I work with neurodivergent, anxious, and highly sensitive people. I work with social justice warriors, allies, and 2Slgbtqia+ people. I work with people who are seeking therapy to figure themselves out, process some unresolved trauma, and gain skills to live the life that they seek for themselves.

Life isn’t a straight line. It’s hills and valleys – moments where you’re climbing, coasting, or just trying to catch your breath. We get it. We’ve been there too. And we believe no one should have to walk that terrain alone. Everybody deserves quality mental health and access to wellness. With warmth, humor, and zero judgment, we help you navigate your unique path with more clarity, confidence, and compassion.

At Full Vida Therapy, we work with college students who feel overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or unsure of who they are or where they’re headed. Whether you're struggling with academic pressure, relationship stress, anxiety, trauma, or life transitions, we’re here to support you. Many of our clients are navigating big changes—new independence, identity shifts, burnout, or the feeling that they’re “supposed to have it all figured out.” Therapy with us is a place to slow down, make sense of what you’re feeling, and build real tools for coping, communication, and confidence. We offer online therapy across California, making it easy to get support from wherever you are—no commute, no judgment, just a supportive space to be yourself and grow.

Hello, I consider myself a collaborative therapist who will be as helpful as possible in the process of therapy, I really enjoy and love working with young adults who are adapting to new environments, dealing with stress and relationships, please feel free to ask me anything

Feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of who you really are? College can be exciting—but it can also feel like too much. Maybe you’ve always been the one who holds it all together, gets straight A’s, and never lets anyone see you struggle. But now, you're anxious all the time, you're exhausted from trying to be “on” 24/7, and even small things feel like a big deal. You might feel pressure to meet expectations—yours or your family’s—and you’re starting to wonder if any of it really feels like you. Maybe you feel like you’re constantly performing. Like you can’t ever fully relax. Or maybe you’re starting to ask big questions about your identity, your future, your values—and it’s scary to realize you don’t have all the answers yet. You don’t have to figure it out alone. I work with college students who are high achievers, perfectionists, and deep thinkers—especially those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, burnout, or questions around identity and family dynamics. In therapy, you can slow down, breathe, and start untangling the pressure from what you really want. We’ll work together to help you feel more grounded, more like yourself, and more in control of your life. Sessions are confidential, affirming, and tailored to who you are—not who others expect you to be. I provide inclusive and affirming care and create a space where you don’t have to explain or defend your experiences. Online sessions available for students in CA & WA. In-person sessions available in Santa Monica, CA. If this sounds like what you need, reach out. Things can be different—and therapy is a good place to start.

My ideal client is someone that’s ready to delve deeper. This person may be struggling to get out of bed or may be overwhelmed by their thoughts. Perhaps these habits impact their motivation or energy levels. This person may notice that their self-doubt interferes with their goals and overall meaning in life. My specialties include depression, and anxiety. My goal is to create a safe and non-judgmental space so that you can learn to cope with difficult feelings, and develop a sense of confidence in yourself. I have successfully worked with athletes and their performance anxiety. One of my favorite parts about working with clients is seeing their own resilience, their ability to witness their own capabilities. It's meaningful to work alongside my clients and to provide them with the skills to work through whatever challenges come their way. If you feel as though my approach fits with you, I'd love to chat over the phone. My therapeutic approach is psychodynamic and relational, meaning that my focus is not on symptom-reduction. Instead, our work together is long-term, delving deeper into childhood wounds and how these present themselves today. This work might take two to three years. Of course, this may vary from individual to individual. Because psychotherapy is based on trust, meeting on a weekly-basis is key. I am excited that you are open to making this commitment to yourself and to the therapeutic process. Groups Offered: Setting Boundaries With Others, Mindfulness For Those Who Are Skeptical About Meditation, Identifying & Expressing Emotions.

Positive experiences with mental health care, both personally and through seeing its impact on those around me, inspired me to become a therapist. I value how it can meaningfully improve functioning and overall well-being, especially during times when people feel stuck or in need of additional support. This impact led me to pursue becoming a mental health therapist with the goal of providing that same support and guidance to others. My goal in helping clients is to support and empower them through the journey of healing and growth. I believe in providing a warm, trusting, and non-judgmental space that offers unconditional support and positive regard, helping clients feel comfortable sharing their feelings and experiences. Given my bi-racial and multi-cultural background, I believe it is essential to understand and incorporate the multi-faceted nature of each client’s context and background in order to effectively support them in working toward their therapeutic goals. In session, I offer a warm, collaborative, and safe environment grounded in respect, sensitivity, and compassion for every client I work with. When appropriate, I incorporate humor and positivity, while also validating the challenge and difficult areas of life for clients. I focus on empowering my clients using approaches that integrate person-centered therapy, strengths-based therapy, humanistic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). I take an eclectic and flexible approach to best suit the needs of each client. My aim is to provide a space to explore and understand clients’ unique personalities and experiences so I can equip them with the tools needed for long-term growth, resilience, and improved well-being. A fun personal fact is that I grew up in a military family, which gave me the opportunity to spend much of my childhood living abroad, including in Japan and Germany. Later, my education and early adult life took me to New York and Boston, but I love California the most and call it home now. I also am an animal lover, I love seeing client pets!

Life shouldn’t be this hard. You’re feeling more and more anxious and sad, perseverating on thoughts/ past issues that don’t serve you. You feel like life is passing you by. You know the kind of life you want but you can’t seem to get there. You’ve heard about mindfulness and meditation but you don’t know where to start. You want a better future for yourself that includes love, fun, meaningful school/ work and balance. There is good news. I have helped many people who’ve been sad or anxious, develop tools to help them live a life of fulfillment. Together, we'll uncover what's keeping you stuck and we will work toward rebuilding your life. You can experience happiness and contentment again. If you are ready for some real results, call or email me today. I’m happy to provide you with a free 15-minute consultation to make sure we’re a good match and you feel comfortable. I understand what you’re going through, and I know I can help. Call me today to get started.

Being a student is demanding. Add athletics, performances, or other high-pressure activities, and it can feel like you're constantly balancing expectations from every direction. You may be managing anxiety, stress, performance pressure, perfectionism, injury recovery, relationship challenges, or simply trying to figure out who you are beyond your sport. Whatever brings you here, you don't have to navigate it alone. I'm Buffy, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with advanced training and certification in Sports Social Work. I specialize in supporting student-athletes and young adults through the unique challenges that come with balancing academics, athletics, and everyday life. Using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and strengths-based interventions, we'll work together to better understand your experiences, develop practical coping skills, and build resilience, confidence, and emotional well-being. My goal is to help you thrive—not just in your sport, but in every area of your life.