Therapists for college students near Los Angeles, CA
When people are challenged with changes that affect the ability to manage stressors, there comes a time for positive change and support. I am passionate about focusing on the healing process, whether it involves the challenges of exploring maladaptive behaviors or the triggers of trauma. I help my clients, who include children, adults, and families to find healthy coping mechanisms and self-autonomy which will lead to positive perceptions. This, in turn, creates personal identification and self-worth, thus creating healthy relationships. I have been in the field of social services for the past 26 years and practicing therapy for the past 10 years with extensive and diverse work with children and adults. There is not one single approach for each individual, so I have trained in different modalities to tailor to the needs of those seeking help. This includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-focused therapy, Narrative Therapy, background with trauma focused approach, Seeking Safety (modality for trauma and substance abuse) training, anger management, and play therapy for children. The therapeutic relationship is essential in the beginning stages of sessions because my purpose is to assist the individual in therapy to change his or her life for the better. This involves developing trust, respect, and congruence with empathy and genuineness. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
My aim is to help clients understand how their history and programming influences patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. When insight and self-awareness of these patterns is established, we will develop ways to shift the combination of these things in a direction that is consistent with what is important or helpful. My experience has primarily been in a variety of outpatient mental health settings, including community mental health, intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization program, primary care integration, and private practice. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
My therapeutic approach stems from a person centered lens that views all with a fundamental respect and a belief that we carry strengths from our unique histories. I've worked with individuals from Latinx, LGBTQ+, and neurodiverse communities to manage stressors utilizing CBT, trauma informed care, and a strengths based approach. My past experience includes community and private mental health settings working with individuals experiencing challenges related to anxiety, depression, and stressful life circumstances. I welcome all individuals to learn how to cope with the curve balls that life throws at us. My hope is that through collaboration, commitment, and connection in therapy, we will develop a safe path for clarity. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Do things feel off track and overwhelming this semester? Procrastination, imposter syndrome, lack of academic focus, feeling socially awkward, breakups, friend drama, existential fear of what comes after graduation, family conflict, relationship communication breakdown, feeling like everyone else has it together but you, roommate boundary issues, school/work/social out of balance? Yep, that sounds hard. Let's talk. While I do specialize in the treatment of anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, and life transitions, there may be additional or underlying challenges that cause you to feel frustrated, unmotivated, overwhelmed, ashamed, or sad. Whatever your struggles, together we can help you better understand what’s going on and what may be getting in the way of change and feeling more like yourself. My approach to our therapy will be goal directed, and the strategies and techniques that we will utilize are research based; CBT, ERP, mindfulness, to name a few. You will leave each session with action items, and we will work together as a team. I will bring to our work substantive training, many years of practice, patience, empathy, curiosity, and reliability. ACCEPTING CLIENTS IN: CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, FLORIDA, TEXAS
In therapy, I utilize evidence-based treatment modalities and specialize in family therapy, couples therapy, addiction, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. My approach incorporates a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to the needs of each client. My goal is to develop a therapeutic relationship where trust, vulnerability, and safety can be experienced, allowing each client to grow at their level of comfort. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
I have experience working with all demographics but mostly with adults that struggle with a variety of issues, including (but not limited to) depression, anxiety, bipolar and psychotic disorders, stress management, family conflicts, relationship, behavioral and other mental health problems. My approach to you as a client is simple, meet you where you are. I use an eclectic theoretical approach that fits your needs, and one that makes you feel the most comfortable. I believe while seeking help you have goals to attain and it is my job to help you get there. It is my honor to use my expertise, skills, and knowledge to support you in that journey. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Through my various experiences working in outpatient substance use programs, school-based settings, forensic mental health, and clinic-based work with various populations and age ranges, I have pursued my passion for supporting individuals in changing their lives and implementing healthy coping skills for long-term recovery. My experiences in the past have taught me the importance of witnessing great pain and great joy. I believe we cannot have one without the other. I want to equip my clients with the hope that it is normal to feel any and every kind of emotion but also give them tools to cope effectively and learn from those emotions. My approach to therapy is to provide a safe and trusting environment to uncover those human emotions, find what works or does not work, and collaborate to reach new and healthier goals for life. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Hello there! In my approach to therapy, I emphasize empathy and active listening, creating a compassionate environment where my clients feel heard and validated, fostering a safe space for exploration and growth. I also incorporate positive self-talk and affirmations, encouraging clients to build resilience and self-esteem. My communication style is characterized by warmth, active listening, and empathy. I foster an open and non-judgmental atmosphere, encouraging clients to express themselves freely. My compassionate approach combines encouragement and positive reinforcement, helping clients feel supported as they explore their thoughts and feelings.
I’m a Mindfulness expert dedicated to teaching skills to reduce anxiety , stress and binge eating disorders. I enjoy helping people learn how to build healthier relationships with themselves , food and their bodies. I work with all people in a nonjudgmental manner with a large LGBTQIA+ clientele. I believe in taking a collaborative approach to helping clients reach their goals. I’m passionate about working with individuals struggling with life changes, self -love, eating disorders, and relationship stress. If you’d like to schedule a free consultation with me, please send an appointment request. I look forward to hearing from you.
Life is full of moving pieces, and maintaining balance, relationships, healthy boundaries, self-esteem, and so many more often feels difficult. I am committed to developing a transparent, safe, and collaborative relationship with my clients. Feeling overwhelmed by current or past trauma(s), depression, anxiety, or a burden you have carried through life can be helped through the therapeutic relationship process. You are the expert on your own life, and I don’t take that for granted. Together, we will find the best path for your therapy journey. I will strive to help you develop new ways of thinking and support you in finding peace and confidence to help you create the life you want and deserve. I’ve spent over a decade working with clients from diverse backgrounds and settings, and it became clear that no one type of therapy fits everyone. I approach relationships with my clients warmly, mindfully, and compassionately. Our life experiences often shape the pattern of our thoughts and behaviors and perspective of adult life. Each of us brings our own stories to therapy, and would be an honor to learn about yours.
Working in metal health for over a decade, I realized I would ask more questions about the person than I was trained to know what to do. I knew I wanted to help people more and decided to further my education to be able to do that. Clients need to feel heard and understood. I would initially ask how they would like to feel heard and understood. I would naturally reflect back on what clients have stated to ensure I heard their words correctly. I would also ask if I understood their words correctly to confirm. Working together is collaborative. Building trust looks like me asking questions to see the client’s experience and what support looks like to them. It is listening to their stories and hearing what the client would like to work on as far as goals and supporting them to do so.
I specialize in working with young adults, teens, caregivers, and families navigating overwhelm, transitions, chronic stress, and challenging relationship dynamics. I provide therapy to help restore stability and trust for those who have experienced trauma or relational wounds such as loss, chronic invalidation, coercive control, neglect, and abuse. I also work with athletes and performance-driven individuals whose ambition, discipline, and high standards fuel their lives yet may conceal pain. I integrate a sports psychology lens when achievement pressure intersects with self-concept, trauma, or burnout. I support high-level performers facing intense demands, competitive dynamics, setbacks, identity shifts, and life beyond sport, drawing on my experience as a former Division I collegiate athlete. Seeking support is a meaningful step. From the start of our work together, we will create a space that feels grounded, intentional, and deeply human, with open and honest communication at its foundation. I invite you to reach out for a free consultation call to explore whether we are a good fit.
Seeking out therapy is a sign of strength and you deserve a safe place for discovery. Ultimately therapy is a journey of exploration. I strive to create a therapeutic environment where you genuinely feel understood, heard, and seen in a compassionate, non-judgmental space. Our work together can explore and navigate through your concerns to reach a more meaningful and fulfilling life while reaching your extraordinary potential.
I work best with students who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or unsure of themselves while navigating school, relationships, work, or major life changes. You might be holding a lot together on the outside while feeling emotionally drained or stuck on the inside. If you’re looking for therapy that feels warm, supportive, and collaborative—where you can go at your own pace—we may be a good fit.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Washington. With years of experience in outpatient and residential mental health settings, I specialize in medication management and psychotherapy for individuals across the lifespan. I have a strong background in treating substance use disorders, implementing Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and leading innovative programs such as ketamine therapy. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and rooted in evidence-based care, aiming to empower patients on their mental health journey. I am passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and helping individuals lead fulfilling lives. My experience in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care has reinforced my belief in the power of comprehensive, patient-centered treatment. I am especially inspired by the resilience of my patients and the opportunity to provide them with support, tools, and interventions that improve their well-being. I take a holistic and individualized approach, considering each patient’s unique needs, background, and goals. I engage in shared decision-making, providing education about treatment options and working collaboratively to develop a plan that aligns with their values. I integrate medication management with supportive psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications to ensure well-rounded care.
Who I Work Best With: Most of my clients are people who've gotten really good at functioning — and really tired of it. You've probably figured out how to hold things together, stay busy, keep up. But something isn't working anymore. Maybe you're exhausted in a way you can't explain. Maybe you're finally asking questions you've been pushing down for years — about who you are, what you believe, how you want to love, or why your brain works the way it does. A lot of people I work with are navigating things like anxiety, depression, identity, relationships that don't fit a neat box, or a major life shift — faith deconstruction, a breakup, figuring out you're neurodivergent later in life. Some are just trying to get through the week without falling apart. If that's you, we'd probably work well together. What Working With Me Looks Like: I'm not going to sit quietly and just reflect things back at you. I'm also not the worksheet-and-homework type. My style is pretty collaborative and direct — I'll gently push back when I think it'll actually help, and I'll meet you where you are. I have 15 years of experience working with new parents and kids before becoming a therapist, which means I come in with a lot of real-world, people-first perspective. I also have personal experience with religious deconstruction — so if you're untangling a faith background or questioning things you were raised to believe, I genuinely get it, not just clinically. I work especially well with people who are neurodivergent, queer or questioning, in non-traditional relationships (like polyamory or ENM), or somewhere in the middle of a big life change. You don't have to have it figured out to reach out.
I work with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and relationship struggles. I have a special focus on athletes, performers, and creatives hitting walls, performance blocks, creative freezes, and the trauma quietly running the show from backstage. If you know you're capable of more but something keeps getting in the way, that's exactly where we dig in. I'm mindfulness-based, DBT-informed, and solution-focused, and certified in Brainspotting and Play Therapy. These two approaches reach places that talk therapy alone sometimes can't. Think of them as secret passageways to what's already inside you. My approach is collaborative, grounded, and completely tailored to you: no therapy-speak, just honest conversation, real tools, and a little humor when it helps. Whatever you're carrying, we'll figure out together, building on your strengths at your pace.
Early on, friends would often come to me for advice, and they told me I was a good listener. That made me curious about becoming a therapist. But once I started studying psychology, I realized therapy isn’t really about giving advice. It’s more about helping people explore their experiences, understand themselves better, and find their own solutions. Making sure you feel heard and understood is really important to me. One of the main ways I try to do that is by listening closely and reflecting back what I’m hearing, so we can check that I’m understanding you the way you intend. I’ll also ask questions to help clarify things and give you space to talk at your own pace. If at any point something I say doesn’t feel right or I misunderstand you, I really welcome you telling me so we can adjust together. My goal is for this to be a space where you feel comfortable sharing openly Building trust is really something that develops over time. My role is to create a space where you feel respected, not judged, and able to speak openly. I try to do that by listening carefully, being honest and consistent, and checking in with you about how our work together is feeling. If something isn’t working for you, we can talk about it and adjust. Therapy works best when it’s collaborative, so we’ll be figuring things out together. I really enjoy writing when I have the time and motivation for it. It’s something I’ve always found helps me think and reflect. Lately I’ve also been on a bit of a health kick—going on walks and taking some quiet time to myself. I’ve found it’s a really nice way to reset and clear my mind.
Dr. Brandon Heimberg is a licensed clinical psychologist in California. He specializes in the clinical and forensic neuropsychological assessment of traumatic brain injury, medical conditions and psychiatric conditions. Aside from comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, Dr. Heimberg provides evidence-based psychological treatment and cognitive rehabilitation services for individuals with attention, memory, other cognitive challenges, and other medical conditions. Dr. Heimberg earned his Master of Science degree in clinical psychology, followed by his Doctorate of Psychology at California Lutheran University. He received advanced training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) under a grant-funded DBT training collaboration between Dr. Jamie Bedics and the creator of DBT, Dr. Marsha Linehan. Dr. Heimberg further honed these skills in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy in his externship at Ventura County Behavioral Health, treating and assessing complex psychiatric conditions and leading skills training groups using DBT principles. Dr. Heimberg completed an advanced clinical practica in neuropsychological assessment at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he saw both geriatric and neurooncology patients. Dr. Heimberg then completed a neuropsychology internship at the VA Illiana Healthcare System (APA-Accredited, Division 40), emphasizing outpatient and inpatient neuropsychological assessment and treatment of Vietnam-era Veterans. He returned to UCLA to complete a two-year clinical neuropsychology postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine within the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, performing neuropsychological evaluations and cognitive rehabilitation for post 9-11 era Veterans for UCLA Operation Mend, as well as complex medical and psychiatric, neuropsychological evaluations in the Medical Psychology Assessment Center (MPAC). Dr. Heimberg has been on various research teams at UCLA within the departments of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuro-oncology, where he has co-authored papers featured in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Oxford Press Society for NeuroOncology. Additionally, Dr. Heimberg co-authored the cognitive training manual for UCLA Operation Mend's Balanced Recovery And Integrated Neuroscience (BRAIN) and Substance Abuse intensive treatment programs.