Therapists for college students near San Francisco, CA

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Oceanside Clinics is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing telehealth services across California. We are in-network with Aetna and Blue Shield.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience providing psychotherapy to adults in the Bay Area, both in non-profit agencies, schools and in my private practice. My therapeutic style is authentic, warm, supportive and interactive and my focus is to collaborate with my clients to create realistic goals, personal growth, and meaningful change. I am unique in that I balance listening and reflecting with offering concrete ideas and interventions, and am honest and straightforward when I sense resistance or ambivalence that might be keeping the client from moving forward. I am passionate about helping adults struggling with depression and anxiety as the symptoms can be extremely challenging to overcome and they can create significant emotional pain, isolation and affect quality of life. I also specialize in working with young adults, relationship issues, substance abuse, grief and life/career transitions. I feel that therapy is successful when my clients' goals have been reached, effective new coping strategies and communication styles have been developed and they are feeling more fulfilled in their career and personal life. Part of this journey often includes increasing self-care, creating a better work/life balance and focusing on how to experience more joy, gratitude and self-compassion despite life's many challenges. My therapeutic approach is to use an integrative model utilizing Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), psychodynamic therapy and mindfulness aimed at specific symptoms, patterns of behavior and unhelpful core beliefs. Feedback from the client is encouraged and welcomed during the therapeutic process, as I believe it creates a more collaborative and productive experience.

Claudia is a dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience working across diverse age groups, including children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Holding both a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare (MSW) from UCLA, Claudia is licensed in California and Colorado and is fluent in both English and Portuguese. Her expertise encompasses various evidence-based practices, including Family Structural Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), and Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP). Specializing in addressing issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment disorders, relationship challenges, low self-esteem, parenting, and the stresses of daily life, Claudia is committed to fostering positive transformation in the lives of her clients. Grounded in the belief that everyone possesses unique gifts and talents, Claudia encourages her clients to tap into their potential to effect change in their lives, communities, and beyond. Embracing the mantra, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world,” Claudia guides individuals to discover and empower themselves, enabling them to craft the fulfilling life they aspire to achieve. With a profound understanding of the human condition and genuine compassion, Claudia is dedicated to supporting her clients on their journey toward self-discovery and empowerment, ultimately helping them realize their full potential.

I was inspired by my mother who was always there for me. She spent time talking, guiding, supporting, encouraging, and nurturing me. She helped me get through difficult times in my life. She was a positive role model and cared and guided others. I know how one person can make a drastic difference in someone’s life. I have always wanted to help others and that is why I went into a helping profession. I am a good listener and utilize empathy. I validate your life experience and understand how that may impact your life. My goal is to help you feel understood and guide you on how to understand your thoughts and behaviors so you can make changes to improve your life. I like to start where the client is. I collaborate with client on identifying treatment goals that they want to work on. Respect, open communication, and self-determination is important in building trust in relationships. My goal is to help you feel safe, heard, and understood.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Navigating the challenges of college and young adulthood can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. I specialize in supporting college students, young adults, and children as they work through anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-esteem struggles, and relational challenges. My goal is to create a warm, safe, and judgment-free space where you can explore your emotions, gain clarity, and build the tools you need to thrive. Together, we’ll work at a pace that feels comfortable to you, helping you move toward greater confidence and well-being.

Overwhelmed with the stress and demands of trying to be successful? Spending too much time feeling anxious about close relationships and exams? Discussing the things that are getting you down, holding you back, with a therapist is often very helpful. I am a supportive listener who will guide you toward therapy goals without judgement or criticism. I support neurodivergent thinking, harnessing ADHD strengths, and encourage creative development.

Hello, my name is Jose Quiroz-Novela, and at the core of my work is the belief that healing happens in safe, affirming, and collaborative relationships. I am especially passionate about working with first-generation young adults, those within the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals balancing multiple cultural identities. I understand how systemic pressures, cultural values, and lived experiences intersect with mental health and with this foundation, I aim to provide a nonjudgmental environment where you can explore your experiences with honesty, self-compassion, and curiosity. In addition, serving as an adjunct instructor allows me to stay closely connected to current research, developmental theory, and emerging conversations in the field of mental health. My approach integrates Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to help clients better understand their patterns, strengthen coping skills, and reconnect with their resilience.

I provide a safe and nurturing environment where you can explore and understand your emotions, relationships, and personal challenges. I am dedicated to making a space in therapy for all of you: from struggles with depression and anxiety to relational woes and life's changes and challenges. Whether you are seeking support as a couple, for your child, or for you! I am here to guide you on your journey towards healing and growth. My goal is to help you know and enjoy yourself more deeply, so that you can do the same with others in your life.

Hi, I’m Kendal McDowell and I've been working in the field since 2019. I'm licensed in both CA and PA and I work specifically with college students and college athletes. Having been a college athlete myself, I'm familiar with the joys and stressors of collegiate life. College can be an exciting and eye opening experience, but sometimes it can also open our eyes to some things within ourselves or those around us we may not have noticed before. Together we’ll work to pin point what’s really going on. We’ll look deeper into areas that range from: relationships, anxiety, and depression. I’m here to help discover what’s causing symptoms or distress, and what we can do about it. We’ll spend time getting to know who you are and what could be missing, to bring more joy and happiness to life. Not sure yet? Reach out to set up a free 15-minute consult- no need to commit to a scheduled appointment right away! You can text/call (717-769-5510), or send me an email (kmcdowellcounseling@gmail.com) to set something up.

I am a bilingual therapist helping individuals dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, life-stage transitions, and other debilitating situations. My work is client-centered and culturally sensitive. I use evidence-based practices to provide focused treatment and positive outcomes. I incorporate solution-focused, narrative, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems techniques. Through talk therapy, I guide clients to overcome issues affecting their everyday lives. I work with individual adults addressing depression, anxiety, and trauma, and their effects on mood, functioning, and relationships. I focus on your strengths, thoughts, feelings, and dynamics for a healthier you. I also work with the LGBTQ community on youth-at-risk issues, coming-out, and exploring the lifestyle you want to create.

We feel it coming … just as we open our hearts, things shift. They start pulling away and we’re waiting for the breakup to come. We spend days and weeks ruminating about why it ended, what we did wrong. Why does this keep happening? When a relationship ends, the darkness that follows can overwhelm us — we’re left unmoored, disconnected. Our hearts are aching, and the person we relied for support is gone. As we’re left alone sorting through the pieces, old wounds may surface — I’ve been here before. Why do I keep finding myself back in this place? Am I broken? Friends and family may try to help with advice and distractions, but their words ring hallow. It’s too hard to engage in daily life when our hearts feel so heavy. We envision the relationships we want, but it feels so out of reach. There has to be another way. Relational therapy creates a space to slow down and understand what is keeping us from experiencing the relationships and the connection we want. We can slow down to explore what patterns continue to repeat and why. By understanding how we relate to ourselves and others, we can start shifting and responding before cycles repeat. This intention nurtures the connections and closeness we’re striving for. The vision is possible — you just need some help to reach it. Welcome to Flutter Relational Therapy! I’m Elizabeth and I understand the power of relationships. Humans are wired for connection — the pain that comes from disconnection is debilitating. We look for ways to cope that continue to isolate us — affairs, alcohol, screens, fights -- this exacerbates our suffering. The solve is in healthy, meaningful relationships. Relational therapy creates an intentional space that guides people towards the connections they want. Humans are complex and there is no one size model that fits us all… but by slowing down to understand our own why, we make sense of our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. This insight creates opportunities for growth and relating in different ways. When we understanding our hearts and our minds, we can shift our responses and restore our connections. The relationships we want for ourselves are in reach -- I can help you uncover your own road map to get there.

I offer individual therapy for people recovering from unhealthy relationships and interpersonal trauma. I also provide gender affirming therapy and WPATH letters for gender affirming surgeries. I create a supportive space in which you can feel seen, understood, and accepted, and in which your lived experience and your values are centered. I offer in-person therapy sessions in Portland, Oregon, and telehealth sessions throughout California and Oregon. I admire the bravery it takes to begin therapy. For those of us who have been harmed in relationships, it takes time to build trust. Together, we'll decide on a pace and process that feels safe and supportive. Visit flourishauthentically.com for more info and to request a free 15-minute call so you can decide if I'm the best fit for your healing journey. My experience and how I work: My work has been dedicated to serving survivors of unhealthy relationships and interpersonal trauma (e.g. intimate partner violence, sexual assault, community violence, immigration trauma, intergenerational trauma, and systemic and historical oppression). I’ve specialized in supporting people living with HIV/AIDS, complex health issues, chronic pain, and substance use in relationship to trauma. I’ve worked extensively with gender-expansive (Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, Genderqueer, etc.) clients and provided WPATH assessments/letters for gender affirming surgeries. I am a compassionate, experienced, and affirming therapist, working from a feminist and liberatory framework. I identify as a white, queer, cisgender able-bodied woman with lived experience relevant to my work. I think about identity, suffering, and healing in the context of the oppressive systems that impact peoples’ lives (e.g. patriarchy, white supremacy, homophobia, transphobia, racism, xenophobia, fatphobia, ableism, etc.), and understand that healing ourselves in turn benefits our loved ones and communities. I create a supportive space in which you can feel seen, understood, believed, and in which your lived experience and your values are centered. I am aware of the power dynamics that exist in a therapeutic relationship, especially when our identities differ, and welcome this often-avoided issue into the room. No need to perform or edit yourself. This is a chance to show up as your full brave self.

I am passionate about joining others on their journey towards healing and growth. Through my own experiences overcoming adversity and managing personal struggles, I became dedicated to pursuing a career as a therapist so that I can help others navigate their own difficulties. My goal is to create a non-judgmental and safe atmosphere in which you will feel comfortable exploring your own thoughts, emotions, and life experiences. I use a multi-model holistic approach, uniquely tailored to each individual. I am skilled in helping people cope with issues related to anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, and adjustment to life stressors. I have experience working with clients from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as the LGBTQ+ community. As a therapist, I prioritize your own personal goals and needs as you choose to express and address them. I have the utmost respect for the right of one’s self-determination. I provide undivided attention, thoughtful feedback, and hold a safe space for you to process whatever you would like to address. I am constantly aiming to ensure you feel empowered and comfortable to openly express your thoughts and emotions. This includes any changes that you would like from me and/or treatment. I consider rapport and therapeutic alliance as possibly the most important aspect of therapy and its effectiveness. I will meet you where you are at and proceed at your own pace. I am also transparent and welcome questions. I am open-minded, genuine, accepting, and deeply empathetic. I read each individual and explore whether you want to be challenged, given suggestions and ways to cope, or simply heard and validated. Therapy is an interactive experience in which you are the leader.

Charlie Health is a virtual behavioral health program for adolescents and young adults with moderate or severe mental health concerns or co-occurring substance use or eating disorders. Designed to meet the needs of those who require more than weekly therapy, our program combines curated group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy into personalized treatment programs. We are helping to serve those who are in crisis, or have been historically underserved, by eliminating the most significant treatment barriers: geographical and financial access. We work with nearly all commercial insurance nationwide and have no waitlist, thereby helping people access quality, evidence-based care regardless of insurance, location, or other barriers.

College can feel like a lot. Classes, deadlines, money, relationships, family pressure, and trying to figure out who you are all at once. When the stress keeps stacking up, it can feel hard to focus, sleep, or even slow your thoughts down. If your head feels like it’s constantly spinning, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to power through it by yourself. I work best with college students and young adults who feel overwhelmed, anxious, burned out, or stuck. That might look like anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, or just feeling off and not sure why. I offer virtual therapy for students in Illinois and California, with a focus on helping you feel more grounded, more in control, and more like yourself again. Therapy with me is practical, supportive, and collaborative. We focus on what’s actually getting in your way right now and what will help you feel better moving forward. You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting. If you’re ready for some relief and want support that meets you where you are, I’d be glad to work with you. When you’re ready, you can reach out by email or schedule a first session through therapywithmicah.com.

I have been described by clients and colleagues as non-judgmental, warm (but direct), validating, and compassionate - I'd like to think that's true, but who am I to say? In any case, my hope is to help people develop self-acceptance versus self-loathing, practice self-compassion versus self-criticism, heal past wounds or trauma that continue to cause pain today, and create a purpose-driven life built around values they care about. In my personal and professional experience, the more we can accept ourselves and our "flaws", the freer we are to make meaningful changes in our lives. I work with adults, couples, and sometimes groups. I work with all types of issues, but my specialties include adult children of narcissistic and/or abusive parents, trauma-related disorders, couples therapy, men and masculinity, managing anger, self compassion/acceptance, depression/anxiety, substance use/addiction, and cultural issues (family conflict, intergenerational trauma, issues of identity, etc.). Having been on the other side, I know it's sometimes hard to know what you need, so I offer free phone consultations to help get you started on your path. My website also has resources for self-help - feel free to browse through that as well. And I usually respond quicker to email, so please feel free to message me anytime and we can schedule a time to chat!

I am a PMHNP who graduated from Cal State LA’s MSN program. I have experience working in phase 1 and 2 clinical research helping develop new medicines for mental health patients. I also have my own family history of mental health issues. My ability to connect with my patients deeply inspires me to keep working in this field. I get to know every patient’s background, lifestyle, relationships, occupations, hobbies, stressors, and medication history very thoroughly to develop a holistic approach to create a plan with the patient to ensure effective care.

I have been in practice as a marriage and family therapist for nearly a decade, and focus on serving adolescents, college students, and young adults experiencing depression, anxiety, guilt, shame, loss, and co-occurring concerns. I emphasize self-compassion and self-acceptance in my therapeutic work, and tailor my treatment to help people create and live values-based lives that are congruent with their identities and goals. I am passionate about working with API and Indigenous students, and those transitioning to the mainland from Hawaii. Providing culturally competent services is a priority for me, and I take pride in continuously honing my multicultural counseling skillset. Outside of therapy, I enjoy trout fishing, hiking, and playing retro video games. Please note I offer telehealth sessions Monday through Thursday, and offer in-person sessions on Friday. Please contact me directly for in-person availability on Saturday. My telehealth fee is $175 and in-person is $200.