Therapists for college students near San Diego, CA
Azad Galustian
I have been working in the field of mental health for many years and have extensive experience working with adults in various settings and environments. I use a strengths-based approach and attempt to work with my clients on the topics and issues they want to and are ready to explore. I have extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), Trauma focused CBT, and motivational interviewing. 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.
Serena Galloway, PhD at GPS.Inc
Hi, I'm Dr. Serena. I help clients who are struggling with anxieties and self-doubt by exploring what's getting in the way, where the fears are coming from, and how your existing strengths can help shift you out of feeling stuck. This might look like mix of using what is working for you with creating new strategies. I also consider how family expectations, values, and culture play a role in how you are trying to show up at school as well as in your relationships. I use my experience in providing couples therapy to help individuals figure out what they want, how to communicate that effectively, and navigate conflict so that you can feel seen and supported by the people in your life. Want to see if we are a good fit? Schedule a 15min consultation call on my booking website: https://serena-galloway.clientsecure.me . I'll answer your questions and we can set up virtual sessions that fit your schedule. I look forward to hearing from you 🌻
Gregory Gooden
I once heard someone doing a lecture say, “we know what we believe when we hear what we say.” This would definitely inform the kind of therapy you would experience with me. I view the client as the one who has the answers, and we’re working together to solve a mystery. One of my roles is to help my client tell the story, point out clues being overlooked, gently challenge entrenched beliefs, provide unconditional positive regard, and help the client make sense of their difficulties and their world. Our work together would be collaborative. I’m not a “sit, nod, and take notes” therapist. I’m interactive, and socratic, and relational. I view thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from a lens of curiosity; wondering what beliefs are behind them; helping to root out dynamics that help those things persist. Often we are stuck in a distorted comfort in familiar pain and we simply cannot see it without someone reflecting that in the room. I am an integrative (drawing from multiple therapeutic orientations) humanist-existential therapist; an enthusiastic cheerleader. I will bring humor and validation into the session. I’m passionate about brain chemistry. I am social-justice oriented. I am also trauma-informed. While I work in many different focuses of psychotherapy, I find that the most pervasive themes in my work with clients include: adjustment to life changes, problems with alcohol and substance use (and the way that co-occurring mental health issues interact with it), LGBTQIA+ topics, issues of neurodiversity, anxiety and depression, personality disorders, identity & esteem development, and healthy relationships of all shapes and sizes. I am experienced, both professionally and personally, working with a variety of relationship configurations and am highly comfortable talking about issues of sex positivity and non-standard definitions of families and relationships such as polyamory and non-monogamy. I am a licensed therapist, an addiction professional, a bit of a technology geek, and a fellow traveler in recovery. In addition to those things, I am Compliance Officer at an all women’s addiction treatment center where I’ve worked in various capacities ranging from counselor to director since 2010. I have also been an adjunct professor in the Master’s program at Pacific Oaks College, an adjunct professor for Glendale College’s Drug Studies program, and I served on the board of the California Association for Drug/Alcohol Educators (CAADE). I am a member of CAMFT at both the state level and in the San Gabriel Valley chapter.
Xiaoting Joyce, MS, LMFT
Deep within, I believe everyone holds the keys to a life of profound meaning and joy. By discerning their dreams and charting their personal journeys, my clients unlock doors to lives they cherish all the more. In the wise words of Carl Jung, 'Man's task is to become conscious of the contents that press upward from the unconscious.
Welcoming Soul Therapy - Naomi Kimmelman, LMFT
Welcome! If you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, life's uncertainties, grief, or struggling to find your footing in relationships and big decisions, then you're in the right place. I work with people who are carrying a lot and are ready for something to shift. This might also include busting through low self esteem or imposter syndrome and addressing childhood & trauma healing. Whether these struggles are long-standing or recently intensified, you don't have to navigate this alone.
Jodie Ross-Mordaunt
For as long as I can remember, I have been intrinsically motivated to help people understand themselves and how they interact with one another. I am inspired to do meaningful work in my life and human behavior and relationships have been at the forefront of that passion. I appreciate the uniqueness of each person. Therapist-client fit is essential for meaningful therapy and I encourage transparency and honest feedback and use a relational approach to develop trust. I draw from several therapeutic approaches to find what is most helpful for you. I create a safe space where you don’t feel judged and collaborate with you on your goals. I validate you and demonstrate a genuine understanding of your needs. I am sensitive to your cultural background.
Boldly Therapy
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
Jeanie Vetter
Feeling stuck or overwhelmed in just one part of your life can often start to affect other aspects of your existence. Low self-esteem or depression can creep into relationships, anxiety can keep you up all night, or relationship issues can impact how well you perform in school. Your past experiences are a filter through which you see the present moment and it can sometimes feel very confusing. When you don’t want to worry your family or friends or find it just too difficult to share with them, negative thoughts can leave you feeling especially alone and isolated and as if no one could possibly understand what you're experiencing. You are not your symptoms. Being heard and seen in a safe, compassionate and culturally sensitive environment can help you make sense of how you're feeling - especially when that treatment is tailored to your needs. My priority is to empower you to reach your goals by helping heal the emotional wounds that are holding you back or causing you pain.
Adriana Valdez
Hi, I am a first generation Latina and the first to graduate from college in my family. I decided I wanted to be a therapist when I took my first sociology class in community college at Pasadena City College, where my life changed thanks to the support and guidance I received from my counselor and the PUENTE Project. I am now a proud private practice owner who has two children who have taught me more than any school program could. Both of my kids have learning disabilities and one is autistic. I have dedicated most of my time to learning how to navigate the educational system and advocating for their educational needs. Because of my personal experiences with my children, I am dedicated to supporting autistic individuals through neuro-affirming therapy and have guided many people in discovering and embracing their own neurodivergence. I have worked with many clients to help them access school and work accommodations and to develop personalized sensory self-care strategies. If you feel under a lot of stress, like you are working harder than the average student only to play catch up, feel burnt out no matter how you take care of yourself, and constantly feel disconnected even from friends and family, I am here to help you figure things out, one thing at a time. If you are a student who is under a lot of stress and is experiencing anxiety and/or depression, I am here to help. Or who feels alone and disconnected from others, I am here to help.
Heidi Aguilar
I am a mother of two boys and a wife with over 10 years of experience in psychiatry. My training spans various settings, including inpatient care, crisis units, the mother-baby unit, and academia as a lecturer. I have a particular interest in working with children, adolescents, and the perinatal population. What inspires me most in my work are the patients and their stories—helping individuals make progress and improve their quality of life. I believe in meeting each patient where they are, holding space for them, and listening to their needs as part of the healing process.
Joshua DeWeese
In my private practice, my clients present with a wide array of clinical concerns, including life transitions, identity issues, and mental disorders. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who approaches therapy with a trauma informed and culturally sensitive lens. I have been a resident of Los Angeles for five years, and in 2018 I earned my Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California. Since graduating I have worked extensively in community mental health settings with adults diagnosed with substance use disorders and severe and persistent mental illnesses, as well as survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. I understand the role that one's identity plays into one's life experience. Whatever your identity may be, I will treat you with dignity and respect, and I maintain a non-judgmental attitude in my work with my clients. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Madeline berg
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Hanna Avnon, LCSW
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Marcella Stanley
College is a season of tremendous growth, change, and possibility—but it can also be the first time you're asked to answer one of life's biggest questions: Who am I? Between academic pressure, changing relationships, family expectations, and uncertainty about the future, it's easy to feel overwhelmed or disconnected from yourself. I received my Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC). My clinical training focusing on children, adolescents, and families has given me a strong understanding of how our earliest relationships and life experiences continue to shape our emotions, relationships, and sense of identity into young adulthood. This developmental perspective allows me to help college students explore both the challenges they're facing today and the deeper patterns that may be contributing to them. Together, we'll build insight, strengthen resilience, and help you feel more grounded, confident, and connected to yourself as you navigate this important stage of life.
Helen Crew
I’m a first-generation Latina, bilingual (English/Spanish) therapist who works with young adults and adults navigating anxiety, relationships, family stress, identity, and the many transitions life brings. I understand that life doesn’t always go according to plan, and sometimes we find ourselves trying to navigate changes we never expected. I’m especially passionate about women’s mental health and supporting women through the many layers of womanhood—from relationships and identity to pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, loss, and the everyday demands of caring for others while trying not to lose yourself in the process. My approach is warm, direct, and solution-focused. I’ll listen and validate your experience, but I’ll also challenge you when needed because I believe therapy should help you create meaningful change—not just talk about what isn’t working. I accept insurance to help make therapy more accessible. To learn more about my approach, specialties, and availability please visit my website.
Alexandra Rubalcaba
I have extensive experience working to reduce challenging behaviors related to ADHD, ASD, and other special needs. I believe true healing is an integrative approach that begins at the quantum level and then transcends perceptions, updates belief systems, and aligns more fully with the authentic self. My service in mental health is to challenge an individual to reach their optimal potential but also meet them where they are today. I integrate foundational principles of Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). 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.
Marian Salley LCSW LLC
My practice is dedicated to working with people who are seeking emotional emancipation. They desire to claim or reclaim their lives after traumatic experiences or relational struggles that have left them feeling down, anxious, lonely, confused or scared and often don't really know how to begin to be different in the midst of all of these feelings. Working with me means exploring together the experiences that make you who you are by looking both at what your life is like today and how your past is informing that life. From this vantage, you can learn to make choices for yourself, freeing the yourself to engage in a life of your own making. I offer a free consultation and my fee is $300.
Justin Leazenby
My approach to therapy involves moving towards collaborative change and using scientifically supported treatments to help clients achieve the change they want to see in their lives, whether it be emotional, behavioral, in their thinking, or in their relationships. Because our past informs our present, treatment may involve clients both exploring past experiences along with working towards in-the-moment changes to help accomplish their desired goals. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Theraperspectives Counseling
Theraperspectives Counseling supports students and emerging adults navigating anxiety, burnout, identity exploration, neurodivergence, relationship concerns, life transitions, and the challenges of balancing competing responsibilities. We offer a collaborative and supportive space to better understand yourself, build resilience, and move through life’s complexities with greater clarity and confidence.
Paige Reinstein
Hi, I’m Paige. I’m a Therapist (APCC) with three years of experience providing school-based mental health services to teenage clients. I specialize in working with neurodivergent and/ or LGBTQ+ clients across California through telehealth, as well as offering in-person sessions in Culver City. I bring lived experience into my work. I understand firsthand how identity, systems, and pressures can intersect in complex ways, and I strive to create a space where clients feel genuinely seen, affirmed, and understood. I have extensive experience supporting clients navigating burnout, low “motivation,” impulsive behaviors, relationship stress, and self-esteem challenges. My approach is grounded in relational modalities, and I prioritize building strong, authentic connections with children, teens, and adults to support meaningful and lasting growth. I also believe therapy doesn’t have to feel stiff or overly clinical—there’s room for jokes and connection in the process. Looking forward to connecting. Offering Remote all of California or in-person near Culver City.