Therapists for college students near San Francisco, CA

Hi! I'm a therapist specializing in anxiety, childhood emotional neglect, trauma, and grief/loss. My clients often come to me feeling stuck, disconnected from themselves, or emotionally dysregulated. Our sessions will be a space where you can slow down and check in with yourself - whether that means getting curious about your past, processing the week, exploring practical tools/coping strategies, or simply allowing yourself to exhale and just be. As a biracial Black and Taiwanese American raised in Taiwan, I understand how culture can can shape our upbringing and sense of self. I use an approach that blends talk therapy with somatic (body-based) practices in order to address your symptoms from multiple angles. Our work together will be shaped by your background, values, needs, and goals. Please feel free to call or email so I can check your session cost with insurance, and/or use the link below to book a free phone consultation. I'm looking forward to connecting with you! https://calendly.com/monicaashley07/30min

Many of the students I work with feel overwhelmed trying to figure out who they are and what they want, especially in a time that feels uncertain and constantly changing. You might be thinking about your future while also holding awareness of things like climate change, global crises, or instability in the world, which can make everything feel heavier or harder to make sense of. Some students I work with are dealing with habits like skin picking or hair pulling, while others feel burnt out, anxious, or like they’re trying to keep up but struggling internally. I take a relational and systemic approach, looking at both what’s happening internally and the larger context you’re living in, while also offering practical tools to support change. Many of my clients are thoughtful and aware, trying to make sense of themselves and the world around them. Therapy can be a space to slow things down and find ways to move forward that feel more grounded and realistic.

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You want to appear successful & like you have it “all together” but deep down are struggling to feel confident in who you are and are struggling with past challenging experiences. You may be fed up with making mistakes and feeling like a failure - leading to being isolated and disappointed. You might not even remember a time things didn’t feel this way. But one thing is for sure: you’re ready for some relief. You’re ready to manage stress effectively. You’re ready to overcome your overwhelming thoughts. Most of all, you’re ready to feel empowered and confident to take on life’s high and lows. Clients come to me looking for a therapist who can be a place of connection and vulnerability, because therapy should be a place where you feel safe and seen. Sessions with focus on developing life skills through self-reflection and connection. Together, we create meaningful relationships with others, navigate stress, and discover empowerment. And we always go at your pace, never pushing to a place you don’t feel ready to be. As an experienced young adult therapist, I believe that you are worthy of a place to release your emotions, be understood, and given the tools to not only survive, but thrive. You don’t have to continue to struggle in managing it all, and you don’t have to do it alone. Call me today for a 15 minute consult call. I can’t wait to hear from you.

Life can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re carrying pain, anger, or uncertainty about who you are or where you’re going. You don’t have to face it alone. Therapy is a space to feel seen, to be heard, and to grow without judgment. If you’re ready to explore new ways of thinking, feeling, and showing up in your life, I’d be honored to walk beside you. I’m a Latino therapist who grew up in Los Angeles, and I know firsthand how powerful therapy can be. I offer a space where you can speak honestly, be challenged with care, and feel supported as you work toward lasting change. Sessions are consistent, client-centered, and deeply personal.

I help teens and adults who struggle to connect or communicate with their parents, friends or partners. They might spend too much time on social media, struggle to feel good about themselves, have low self-esteem, have a hard time with setting boundaries, or struggle to put their needs before others. They might date people they wish they didn’t, but don’t know how to end things, or stop patterns of behavior. They may struggle with managing school life, work life, home life or social life. I enjoy working with these clients and helping them find ways to have a better and more balanced life. I can help you by making you feel comfortable and safe in my office to tell me anything that weighs on you, or keeps you up at night. I will provide you a judgement-free space where you can talk, yell, swear, laugh or cry through the many emotions, and ups and downs that get thrown at you in life. I can also hype you up and hold you accountable. Quit second guessing yourself that you "don't really need therapy", or that things really "aren't that bad." You don't need to justify needing additional support right now. Sometimes simply talking to someone once a week is all we need to feel better, and you deserve to feel better. You deserve to feel heard, understood and validated.

Are you struggling with grief and loss, infertility, divorce, or past trauma from unhealthy personal or family relationships? Have these life stressors left you feeling fearful or lonely, struggling at work, or disconnected from what brings you joy? Do you feel exhausted, hopeless, or defeated by just trying to get through the day or go "back to normal" when life feels anything but? Do you question why this terrible thing happened and wonder if life can ever get better? Now more than ever, adults and teens are feeling overwhelmed about working through grief and loss, finding healthy relationships, and staying hopeful during tough life changes. I believe each person has the potential for healing, connection, and building healthier relationships with a good support systems. In my practice I provide individual therapy to help people experiencing different kinds of grief, loss and/or relationship related trauma. My approach incudes setting a couple of goals and identifying root causes of your pain. Next, I help you choose some new strategies and tools you can use to build more tolerance and acceptance for these painful life event(s). I offer compassionate, warm, and client-driven therapy treatment so you can begin creating healthier and more fulfilling relationships with yourself and others. Contact me today to book a free consultation to get started

Life isn’t what you expected. Something happened. Something happened that you never imagined would happen to YOU and it threw all of your life plans off course. Or maybe you look in the mirror today and just don’t recognize the person you see. Either way, your life has taken a turn and you’re in territory you never prepared for, never anticipated. You feel lost, scared, and alone. Guess what? You’re not. I can help you process the unexpected, regain control of yourself, and move forward to create life-altering change and establish a reality that is probably better than you can visualize right now. All you have to do is reach out. Together we'll identify what isn't working for you anymore (maybe it never has). We’ll direct attention to the solutions - working together to create a treatment plan, a way forward, using a combination of evidence-based practices. You deserve specialized care. I can provide that along with a caring, non-judgmental, safe space to explore and grow. I provide video psychotherapy to people in CA and WI. Want a free 10 minute phone consultation? Please call or email today to schedule!

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I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California with a passion for helping people grow into their most authentic selves while navigating the real challenges of everyday life. College can be an exciting yet difficult time. If you are needing support navigating new transitions at school, preparing for graduation or entering the job field I am ready to work alongside you. I work with clients who are managing big emotions, feeling stuck, or struggling in their relationships and sense of self. I use a blend of DBT, Internal Family Systems, and Narrative Therapy to help you make sense of your past, understand your patterns, and build new ways of coping so you can feel more grounded, confident, and in control.

Do you ever feel like no matter what you do, it’s never enough? Maybe you’re caught in cycles of people-pleasing, anxiety, or perfectionism—always showing up for others but still questioning your own worth. On the outside you may look like you’re holding it together, but inside you’re exhausted. If you long for authentic relationships and the confidence to feel secure in yourself, therapy can help. Our work together is deeper than surface-level talk therapy. Through IFS and a warm, supportive approach, I’ll help you uncover the root of what’s keeping you stuck. Clients often say I bring a calming, compassionate presence while also gently challenging them to see things in new ways. I specialize in helping high-achievers in Bakersfield and across California heal the roots of shame, anxiety, and people-pleasing. My goal is for you to feel more confident, connected, and at peace with yourself. If you’re ready to take that first step toward lasting change, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.

Dr. Vargas specializes in the treatment of depression, emotion dysregulation, trauma, and anxiety among teens and adults. She provides Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based therapies. She works with people experiencing the consequences of minoritization, including racial trauma, acculturative, and minority stress. She is an LGBTQ+ affirming provider. Provee terapia en español. Dr. Vargas completed her postdoctoral training at UCLA and predoctoral clinical internship at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. She received her PhD and MPH from the University of Southern California and her BA from McGill University.

Are you someone who typically "has it all together," yet is struggling underneath the surface? Do you find yourself easily overwhelmed with stress, anxiety, or other difficult emotions? Maybe you struggle seeking out support, even during times of challenge or transition. You're ready to feel at peace and to know your worth. Your teens and twenties are full of possibility, growth, and challenge. You’re exploring your identity, your future, and how you fit in - which can be simultaneously exciting and terrifying. Whatever it is you’re dealing with - stress over school, relationship challenges, substance use, family conflict, anxiety, depression, etc - therapy can help. I don’t practice one-size-fits-all therapy. Each person is unique, and comes to therapy for different reasons. You’ll find that our counseling sessions feel collaborative and supportive, honoring your personal strengths and drawing on authenticity, humor, and compassion to help you reach your goals. I typically see clients online via video sessions, but if you're in San Diego, we can also meet at a local park or beach for a walking/Ecotherapy session!

Are you ready to take your life back? Has it felt out of control with recent changes or continued stressors/triggers that you just can't figure out how to manage? Is this impacting your job, your ability to complete schoolwork, your relationships, or perhaps other aspects of your life that are important to you? Let's work on this together. Reaching out for help may feel scary but I can help you stand in your power.

I help couples and individuals explore the depths of their feelings, calm their anxieties, and find peace for the past so they can improve the quality of their lives and relationships. I’m the type of therapist who helps take your most complicated feelings and guides you to unravel them at your own pace, so you can find peace and simplicity in your life again. My clients come to me with relationship issues (i.e. infidelity, communication, intimacy and trust issues), high anxiety, needing help with current or past traumas, and having problems with their loved ones or peers in a variety of different ways. My specialties include working with couples who have problems with communication, intimacy, infidelity, trust or wanting to build a better connection. I also work with individuals who suffer from anxiety, trauma and PTSD, as well as those who suffer from intergenerational trauma, and cultural identity issues. I will listen to you without bias and judgment, and help you solve any issues you have in your relationships and with yourself. I can teach you the skills you need to calm your anxieties, speak your truth, and explore your emotions and feelings – all in a safe space. I hope to help my clients build and renew hope and create space for growth in their life.

Allison Rice is a Marriage and Family Therapist in the Bay Area who has a special passion for adolescents, teens, and young adults. She aspires to provide support in areas of development, reaching milestones, boundaries, co-dependency, anxiety, depression, and challenging relationships. Allison’s other areas of focus include helping athletes, individuals with ADHD, single parents, and parenting issues. Allison has many years of experience working in health care and therefore possesses a strong passion in supporting patients with past or present medical and health issues related to cancer, neurological impairments, orthopedic injuries, and emotional and physical trauma.

When was the last time you had a moment to take a step back and think about if you're living the life you actually want to live? That third (or fifth, or seventh) cup of coffee may help you keep your head above water, but it can't give you the space or energy to figure out where to start, let alone where to go. Therapy is a space to figure out what’s not working, and give you the tools you need to build the life you want. More than that, therapy can be the space to figure out how you can be the person that you really want to be. You deserve therapy that is tailored exactly to you, because your goals and your dreams are unique. I specialize in working with people struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, and eating disorders, and especially those who identify as LGBTQ+. We'll work together to help you process and overcome the pain and obstacles that keep you from being the person that you want to be, so that you can fully participate in and enjoy your own life. Brandon Sanderson wrote "the most important step a person can take is always the next one." You've already taken the first one by looking at therapists to contact! If you think I'll be a good fit for you, send me an email to set up a free consultation. You don't have to take the next steps alone.

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." - Victor E. Frankl Making the decision to seek therapy is often a deeply personal one and something that you may not have come to easily. The unknown aspects of therapy can be intimidating, but I am here to create a safe and accepting environment where you can embrace your true self, with all its vulnerabilities and honesty. My belief in the innate power of every individual to grow and transform their lives fuels my passion for therapy. I am dedicated to fostering a collaborative and open-minded relationship with you. As the master of your own life, I see myself as a tool, utilizing my expertise to help you discover the best possible version of yourself and your life. On a personal note, I hold a BA in Psychology and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy. Working with individuals who are ready to confront their challenges and make positive changes is my true calling. Our life experiences can have far-reaching implications, affecting relationships, work or school performance, self-image, and overall beliefs about oneself and the world. I enjoy working with diverse clients, including teens, young adults, singles, parents, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. While I take my work seriously, I am, by nature, a truly laid-back person and strive to make you feel welcomed and supported throughout our journey together. In the words of Abraham Maslow, "In any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety." I commend you for taking that first step forward.

Survivor of trauma. Struggling with addiction. Creative. Do at least two of these three describe you? If you're struggling to get sober, you're fearful about the impact sobriety might have on your creativity (and life in general). If you're in early sobriety, you're trying to gain your footing in a new landscape. If you're a trauma survivor, you're confused as to why your insight & sensitivity aren't helping you get to that light at the end of the tunnel. What do you do if your pain is too great to manage on your own? Working with me, you will be accepted & listened to carefully & perceptively. You will feel much more grounded & centered. I adapt my style to fit you and aim to treat you with a balance of gentleness and active encouragement.

I work with people in transition or who are preparing for change. Artists, actors and writers. Those in bereavement. Or who are living with a catastrophic health-related diagnosis, recent or of long duration. Caregivers. Mental health interns who need to explore their own issues in order to practice mindfully. Folks who are using substances more than they want. People who want to decrease their distress but who also have a curiosity about its sources. People who want to talk with someone about the most important thing in the world, perhaps to discover what that is. My specialty is the intuitive analysis of what is most important to you. My experience has shown me that we carry within us the answers we're looking for. My skill is in eliciting these answers and reflecting them back to you so you recognize them. I've been trained in Depth psychology, Narrative psychology and Cognitive Behavior therapy, in dream analysis and evidence-based practices like Seeking Safety. In addition to private practice I've directed multiple community mental health and recovery programs, as well as provided training and clinical supervision to new therapists.