Therapists for college students near University of Southern California

Life can have it’s shares of ups and downs , but you don’t have to manage it while feeling alone and overwhelmed. I provide a safe, supportive space for you to deal with challenges, process your emotions and recognize your strengths, so that life feels manageable and even joyful. I particularly enjoy working with college students who have unique developmental challenges as they manage so many pressures and demands and navigate the responsibilities of adulthood. Therapy strives to help develop and maintain good self-care and healthy coping mechanisms. We work together to develop and achieve goals specific to resolving the issues you are wanting to work through. My approach is client-centered. I meet each client where they are at in their life. My work is predominantly grounded in Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy weaving in Mindful Based approaches

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.

Hi people! Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, a traumatic experience -- or just dealing with the ups and downs of college life -- we help with that! We're seasoned professionals who have been through the school of hard knocks ourselves, so we know how tough life can be sometimes. We'll bring the best experience, training, and even some tech-savvy support with us to make sure you get what you need. Get connected with a member of our team today!

As a youth, I recall many instances when I experienced intense anxiety, depression, even suicidal thoughts, – but I did so in isolation, without adequate support. Mental health services were not available and not commonly accessed in my community. As a young woman I used dance and movement, and other forms of creative expression (such as writing and singing), as my means to manage emotions. I became a psychotherapist to ensure that I could be supportive to those in similar situations – to help support people in not feeling alone with the difficult aspects of life and relationships. No one should have to fight their mental health battles alone. The integration of somatic (body-focused) psychotherapy has allowed me to support others while giving them the gift that I have discovered through a life of movement – the gift of understanding the role of the body in allowing for healing. Through the use of the body in psychotherapy clients can learn how to find balance in their mind while finding peace in their emotional landscape. I believe I support clients in feeling heard and understood through using a deep curiosity to delve into each aspect of their lives. I use a collaborative approach to support clients from exactly where they are starting from. I listen intently for new ways of hearing the shared information, the client’s story. In this process, I ask questions to weave together the thread of their thoughts and concerns as it creates a path towards their progress and growth. I hold the larger picture of who they are to support the process of highlighting insights into ways of getting from where they are to where they want to be. In this way, I am deeply understanding their process of growth while empowering them to make changes in their life. I use a warm and engaging process of building connection with clients. I find it is important to face and embrace our emotional selves, allowing ourselves to be fully authentic to cultivate growth. I foster an environment that supports this authenticity and growth through using my own eccentric and eclectic approach. From within the safety of this relationship I am able to challenge clients with humor while creating space for depth. I am able to flow with what is relevant in the moment while holding their expanded story to support.

My experience covers a wide variety of presenting concerns and backgrounds. Working for a decade in higher education I spent a great deal of time with high achievers who were managing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship and identity concerns. I am a strengths based, person centered therapist at my core, who utilizes perspectives and interventions from many areas of treatment, e.g., identity development models, systems theory, interpersonal and cognitive behavioral therapy. I believe people often have the answers for themselves if given the proper conditions for reflection and growth.

College life is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming. Between academics, relationships, family pressures, and figuring out who you are, it’s easy to feel stressed, anxious, or alone. Maybe you're struggling with a breakup, grieving someone you’ve lost, feeling disconnected from friends, or just totally burnt out. Maybe you’re questioning your path or feeling like no one really “gets” what you're going through. These moments can feel heavy—but you don’t have to carry them on your own. Reaching out for support isn’t a weakness—it’s a powerful step toward growth and clarity. I'm here to help you tap into your strengths, make sense of the challenges you're facing, and start building the kind of life and relationships that actually feel good and grounded. I specialize in working with college students, young adults, and teens—and I’m passionate about helping you navigate this messy, meaningful chapter of your life. In our work together, you’ll find a space where you can be honest, feel heard, and take real steps toward feeling more confident, connected, and at peace. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, grief, academic stress, identity questions, or relationship struggles, I’m here to walk alongside you. If you’re ready for something to shift, I invite you to reach out. You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.

Dr. Ugo Ndubaku is a doctorate-prepared Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who specializes in integrative psychiatry and holistic therapy. Dr. Ndubaku supports clients whose mental health takes a toll on their everyday wellness. She aims to provide compassionate and comprehensive care for all clients. Dr. Ndubaku begins getting to know a client by learning about their backgrounds and what brings them to her care. She seeks to understand the client’s symptoms and how these symptoms impact their lives. When appropriate, Dr. Ndubaku prescribes medication to help clients feel more comfortable and less distressed throughout their regular routines. She pairs this with integrative psychotherapy as she encourages clients to take alternate perspectives into consideration. Her goal is to find an individualized plan to address each client’s needs directly.

Are you ready to unpack and understand how painful past experiences might be impacting your life? Do you want to decrease suffering and feel more balanced? You’re not alone. Creating awareness of how distressing past experiences show up in your life will empower you to break the cycle and create a more fulfilling life. I aim to help you improve your overall quality of life and feel more connected to yourself, others, and the world around you. Together, we will approach your past with curiosity and compassion. I specialize in treating trauma concerns, including PTSD and complicated grief, relationship concerns, and older adults encountering issues associated with the later stages of life. While practicing a person-centered approach, my aim is to establish an environment of safety in which you can be vulnerable and explore your difficult personal experiences. I draw upon a variety of modalities, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavioral therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other mindfulness-based approaches. I’m glad you’re here. If you are ready to embrace the therapeutic process and move towards recovery, I’m here to support you. Please give me a call and we can set up a free consultation. Let’s get started.

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Starting therapy is a big step—one that takes courage. College can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Maybe you're struggling with the weight of past experiences, feeling lost about your future, or dealing with relationship challenges that leave you unsure of where you stand. Balancing all of this while trying to keep up with school and daily life can feel like too much to handle on your own. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Therapy is a space where you can bring your full self—your worries, frustrations, hopes, and uncertainties—without fear of judgment. My goal is to help you make sense of what feels messy, reconnect with your strengths, and navigate the challenges that are holding you back. I specialize in working with college students and understand the unique struggles that come with this stage of life. If you're curious about how therapy might help, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. Feel free to check out my website or send me an email with any questions. No matter what you're facing, you're not alone, and I'm here to support you.

Are you facing changes that feel overwhelming, uncertain, or just plain exhausting? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it alone either. Through my work, I help support individuals and families through the inevitable shifts life brings—whether it’s welcoming a new baby, coping with divorce, relocating, transitioning into a blended family, or adjusting to a new phase of life like, going to college, getting a new job, or caring for aging parents. Transitions can be challenging and unsettling, but they also carry opportunities for growth, healing, and new beginnings. I offer a compassionate and collaborative space where you're seen as whole, already holding the wisdom to heal and grow. My approach invites you to reconnect with your resilience, explore the stories that shaped you, and discover the ones where your strength shines through—so you can reclaim your voice and choose what comes next. In seasons of change, feeling lost or unsure is completely human. I offer a nurturing space where your stories can unfold. As we uncover the strengths within you, we’ll begin to reshape your experience of belonging and safety. Growth often begins in the quiet moments of reflection, where trust can take root and new patterns of connection can bloom.

Seeking feminist, body-neutral, LGBTQIA+ celebrating depth therapy? Society, culture, family, school are all imperfect & most of us have some stuff to unpack, process, & heal. Maybe you’ve come to a point where you know these old narratives aren’t serving you & you want to create more joy, freedom, and liberation in your life & community moving forward. Culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sex, & sexuality all impact the stories we are told about who we can be, should be & are. These narratives affect how we think about ourselves & require time, attention & care to unpack, process & heal. Life has been coming at us all at hyper-speed for the past few years, and it's normal to need some help. You may be feeling stuck, stressed, depressed, exhausted, unworthy, guilty, lost & not knowing why you don’t feel better yet. I use a collaborative approach that includes interventions from ACT, SFT, CBT, and MBSR through a feminist narrative lens to foster safety, skills & resilience. I aim to provide an environment of curiosity where your whole self can be recognized, affirmed, and celebrated. My work is affirming of enm, poly, kink, & bdsm. If this resonated with you we are probably a great fit & you’re in the right place :) Please get in touch via phone or email to arrange a 15-minute consultation and we’ll make sure it’s great fit, I’ll answer any questions you may have, & if its not I’m happy to help guide you through the process of finding someone who is. ** You can also directly book a consult call via my website www.LaurenMatern.com ** Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #140681 Supervised and Employed by: Dylan Cimbura-Hernandez, LMFT #120829

Life can be overwhelming and bring challenges that seem bigger than ourselves. This can lead us down rocky terrain. If you find yourself exhausted, unmotivated, anxious, depressed, feeling helpless or hopeless, know that it is okay to seek help. You can change your path. As a therapist it is my goal to meet my clients where they are on their path, to assist them in learning how to access their inner strengths, to practice self-compassion, and learn to overcome harmful narratives developed from past traumas. I work collaboratively with my clients to help them achieve their goals and live a more fulfilled life. Change can be uncomfortable but with a strong therapeutic relationship and support it can feel more manageable, empowering, and exciting. The core of my practice is a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, self compassion work, and mindfulness. I am also a registered art therapist allowing for therapeutic exploration through art for clients who are interested.

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly—what is essential is invisible to the eye” (The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry). As a therapist, I work to see people with my heart and hold a hopeful space of unconditional compassion and empathy. As a trauma survivor with personal experiences in therapy, I’m aware of how vulnerable and uncertain starting with a new therapist can be. I honor the courage and openness it takes to begin any healing process. Creating safety in the therapeutic relationship is essential to me. I believe everyone has the capacity for healing already within them, and I work to empower people to connect with themselves and their unique strengths. I believe we are relational beings, and our different experiences with attachment can have profound effects on us. I value flexibility and creativity in my therapeutic style, and I draw from and integrate diverse approaches to discover what resonates with each different person. It is important to me to be intentional and considerate when holding space for culture and how different forces of marginalization affect mental health, and I work to be culturally responsive and attuned. My approach is continuously curious and trauma-informed, and one of my many passions is affirmatively supporting people around intergenerational trauma and attachment wounds. As a therapist and a human being, I try to embody a tree. This means moving slow, breathing deep, and being grounded enough to nourish connection. My favorite place on earth is the old growth forest! I also love to surf and meditate, and I appreciate breathwork and somatic/body-based techniques along my own healing path. I’ve been working in mental health for about thirteen years. I received my bachelor’s degree in English from University of California, Santa Barbara, and I finished my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at California State University, Long Beach, where I also started writing poems for people on an old typewriter. I view therapy as a poetic process where someone gets to tell their story and shape its continuation to best honor their soul. We all need to be heard, seen, and believed in, and as a therapist, I work to cultivate this heartfelt connection.

My clients are vibrant, interesting, intelligent, and high-functioning people who sometimes face challenges with overthinking, self-esteem, emotional regulation, maintaining relationships, and self-compassion. People often reach out to me when they’re struggling to navigate a life transition, work or school-related stress, establishing boundaries and/or balance, or are seeking support in shifting patterns that are no longer serving them. I have worked with young adults, millennials, elders, tech professionals, non-profit professionals, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as caregivers and people living with chronic pain. My approach draws from various therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness. This allows me to tailor our sessions to your unique needs and preferences. My goal is to create a secure therapeutic relationship where you can freely explore all parts of yourself. In recognition of the importance of accessibility, I offer tele-health therapy sessions. This means you can receive support from the comfort of your own space, making mental health care more accessible and convenient for you. I understand that finding a therapist can be an overwhelming process. I value the time and energy that you are putting into seeking the best support for you and would welcome an opportunity to speak in an initial free 15-minute consultation to see if we’re a fit for working together.

Are you feeling stressed? Do you wake up moody? Is your anger affecting your loved ones? Has your addiction isolated you? I offer quality, personalized, empathic counseling to adults and teens as well as couples and families. You may come in for face-to-face appointments or use video conferencing or phone calls. ​My clinical focus includes: *Relationship issues *Depression and anxiety *Anger *Addictions Improve your quality of life today. You can feel better.

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My practice is grounded in a humanistic and client-centered approach, which means that you, as the individual, are at the heart of our therapeutic work. I specialize in addressing a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, gender identity exploration, queer-related issues, and the impact of race trauma. I understand that each person's experience is unique, and I am committed to providing a safe, non-judgmental space where your voice is heard and valued. In our work together, we'll focus on processing your thoughts and emotions, helping you gain clarity and understanding. Whether you're dealing with complex challenges, seeking to understand yourself better, or in need of support, my role is to provide the guidance and tools that align with your unique journey. I hope to create a space where you can explore and grow at your own pace. I'm here to support you as you navigate your path, offering insights and strategies to help meet to your individual needs.

People make the decision to engage in therapy for a multitude of reasons, all of which are valid. Some people may be ambivalent about making changes in their lives, while others might feel eager and ready to start the process. Regardless of where you find yourself on that continuum, I am here to support you. Although my background has mainly been focused around eating and body image, I see clients who are experiencing a variety of concerns: relationship issues, anxiety/depression, life transitions, unhappiness, etc. Prior to private practice, I worked with undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard University Counseling and Mental Health Service, with a specialty in supporting student-athletes and individuals with eating and body image concerns. I have also worked in psychiatric inpatient programs as well as eating disorder treatment programs. My therapeutic style is integrative, which means that our work together will draw on various approaches determined by your concerns and goals. My hope is for us to build a trusting relationship that will allow for honest reflection, helpful challenge, and ultimately positive change so that you may be able to lead a more fulfilling life.

Welcome to my practice! If psychiatric symptoms are causing you pain and limiting your life, I want to help. I offer telepsychiatric medication management services to adult patients (ages 18 years+) who reside in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Washington state. Specialties include treating members of Sexual and Gender Minorities / 2SLGBTQIA+, emerging/young adult populations, creative professionals, and educators. I bring to clinic an abiding commitment to offering my patients kind, affirming, personalized psychiatric care. I do not prescribe controlled substances. The practice is in-network with select insurance companies in CA, IL, MA, NY, OR, and WA. I also accept self-pay patients from CA, IL, MA, NY, OR, and WA who may be able to collect reimbursement from their insurance companies, if they have out-of-network benefits.