Therapists for college students near San Francisco, CA

Many young adults are emerging from the direct and constant influence of parents or guardians, into a space where they have more control and responsibility for their own lives. In this stage of life, we are discovering who we are independent of those early influences and developing our own personal worldview. We are exploring new relationships and new interests as we prepare to launch into the workforce and set ourselves up for the future. With everything that is going on, you might be feeling intense stress or pressure. Maybe you feel like you’ve taken a wrong turn, are uncertain about next steps, or need a place to explore your possibilities. Many young people realize that they’ve been impacted by something in their past that they feel ready to explore or find freedom from. Perhaps you’ve discovered something about yourself in relationships with others that you’d like to understand better or change. Whatever your goals are, therapy provides a confidential, non-judgmental space to work through your experiences, discover your personal strengths and learn to choose a future that feels exciting for you.

Life can be complicated, messy, and painful. I try to foster an environment in which it feels safe to talk about all of that messiness. I believe the human connection we form through therapy is key to healing and growth. If you choose to work with me, I will use our connection to determine when and how to shift in and out of various roles, so you might experience me as many things: investigator, mentor, observer, coach, ally. But above all, we engage together as fellow human beings living in this complex world, with the shared endeavor of improving your well-being. Good therapy relies on the fit between you and me. If something about my profile resonated with you, I would love to talk more. If you’re not sure about therapy or about whether I can help, maybe we can figure that out together. I charge nothing for our first meeting for that very reason. I’d like to hear your story.

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Using a compassionate and client-centered approach, I support each person in working toward their goals at a pace that feels right for them. I prioritize understanding what you want to get out of therapy and I work with you to develop a plan to get there. Insight is an important part of therapy, and I balance this with helping you find ways to actually see changes in your life and relationships. Working with me will feel like we are actually "getting somewhere". I describe my style as open-minded, warm and empowering. I also like therapy to feel like a natural conversation and my personality is naturally grounded and down to earth. Clients often share with me that I'm able to accurately capture and reflect how they are feeling, and they also appreciate my willingness to challenge their stuck points. My approach is all about supporting you in gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, while also finding the courage to change old patterns that are no longer serving you.

We’re here to help anyone struggling with mental health to accelerate the healing process through music. Our founder Marlys Woods spent years using music to identify her emotions, but as she learned more about therapy, she realized that the one thing she relied on most to help her, was also keeping her stuck in unproductive, negative emotional states. Our mission is to teach everyone struggling with mental health how to stop using this powerful tool on a surface level, and start using music to create healthy life changes. We're working towards a society where we all know how to feel and face emotions and get to a place of freedom. ​

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Online or in-person, this is designated for individuals to process and explore their feelings, thoughts and beliefs. Typically, meetings are weekly or bi-weekly. This is a great option if you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or relationship issues. I help millennials and young adults explore the challenges in their life and find ways to more effectively manage feelings that are no longer serving them. I have worked with a lot of different populations in my career but I really love working with young professionals, undergraduate, and graduate students.

College can be a time of deep change and self-discovery, but it can also feel overwhelming, isolating, or uncertain. You might be navigating anxiety, grief, family challenges, creative blocks, or a sense of being stuck. Maybe you feel disconnected from yourself or unsure of your path. If you’re carrying a lot but don’t know where to put it, therapy can be a place to set things down, breathe, and figure out what comes next. I specialize in working with students who are introspective, creative, and thoughtful—those who feel things deeply and want to make sense of their experiences. Whether you’re struggling with self-doubt, life transitions, perfectionism, or the weight of unspoken emotions, I offer a space to explore, heal, and reconnect with your inner wisdom. My approach is warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative. Together, we work at your pace, uncovering patterns that no longer serve you and finding ways to move forward with clarity and self-trust. Our work may include mindfulness, creative expression, or simply meaningful conversations that help you feel more grounded.

I am a licensed psychologist with strong specialties in treating folks with eating disorders and anxiety. I also have extensive experience working with people with depression and relationship concerns. I am a compassionate, direct therapist. I work collaboratively with my patients to set and achieve their goals. These goals often include increased self-acceptance, as well as changes in mood, thought patterns, and behaviors. My therapy is rooted in empirically based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychodynamic theory, and neuroscience research. I develop customized strategies to help my patients manage painful thoughts and emotions, change unhelpful behaviors, and increase motivation. I also help cultivate self-compassion and self-understanding. Self-understanding promotes self-acceptance. When you allow yourself to be who you are, your inner critic has no leverage, and you move more easily toward a meaningful and fulfilling life. For most of my patients, this is the ultimate goal. Please go to my website for more information. My blog describes many of the concepts and strategies I use.

I love working with students who are struggling with adhd, their identity, the transition into adulthood, and the very real anxiety that comes from that! I've worked with clients who've suffered from trauma, mental health disorders, and lack of social acceptance. I love being a safe place were you can share what's impacting you and find acceptance, support, tools to help you take control of your life, and gain confidence in moving forward with your plans and dreams

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Are you feeling anxious, fearful, or sad? Do you struggle with negative self talk? Are family dynamics painful right now? I can help. I am well versed in the problems that college students from a variety of backgrounds face. I have over a decade of experience helping clients to better manage difficult feelings, improve relationships, and feel good about themselves. I use a variety of tools such as mindfulness, self-compassion practices, and other interventions that will help you express and process core emotions on a deeper level. I look forward to helping you feel better, gain insight, and work toward having a meaningful life.

I was trained at Yale and Columbia University, and I was a Clinical Associate Professor (affiliate) at Stanford University for 15 years. Recently, the American Psychology Association bestowed me the Fellow status, an honor for outstanding contributions to the field of psychology in Clinical Psychology (Division 12). I am also a full Professor at the California School of Professional Psychology. I am very experienced in working with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and on extremely challenging issues. In addition, I have trained and supervised hundreds of psychologists and therapists, including Ph.D. students and post-doctoral trainees in many universities and clinical settings.

I work with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, using a variety of methods to encourage change and growth. I understand it can be difficult to build trust and talk to a stranger about past or current traumas, stresses, and worries. I will make every effort to create a safe space to work through those events and issues, while providing support. It is always an honor for me to witness change, to be a part of growth and to see my clients thrive and find more of themselves.

Hi there! My name is Lucia Fernandez and I've been practicing for over 13 years now. I specialize in healthy anxiety, depression from a trauma informed lens and utilizing strengths to empower you through move through areas that make you feel stuck. I supervise MFT interns both in my practice and in the school system. I have provided crisis counseling and work with students and adults with high needs who are struggling with functioning in day to day life. I'm relatable and utilize a humanistic approach to help you feel at ease by considering your individual needs. My treatment approach is customizable to meet your mental health needs.

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Hi! Glad you’re here. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I enjoy working with kids, adults, couples and families. I earned my Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego in 2005, and completed a clinical internship in UCSD’s Department of Family Medicine. There I collaborated with physicians in the care of patients and their family members. To this day, I follow a “bio-psycho-social” systems approach- looking at a client’s physical health (bio), emotional health (psycho), and current relationships and support systems (social). Because relationships can be both a source of worry - and also our greatest asset- a genuine connection (with family, friends, coworkers, etc) truly fosters improved emotional health. Considering our current stressors from a “systems perspective” allows us to cultivate a deeper understanding of how our family interactions and social connections affect our daily lives. We can enrich those connections, develop healthier boundaries, and connect meaningfully with people in our lives in a way that does not leave us feeling as drained or anxious. While it is certainly essential to address current challenges or problems, it is just as important to simultaneously identify strengths and assets already residing within. Looking at how to utilize coping skills, or learning new ones, helps bolster resiliency and brings new change. We work toward responding to adversity by changing course, healing, using new coping skills and then continuing forward. The act of seeking help can often feel overwhelming for anyone; it helps to not do it alone. I do my best to offer guidance, support, and dedicated focus on developing an approach tailored to meet a client’s particular set of current needs.

Chelsea Sterling is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of San Diego. Her clinical experiences include providing individual therapy, group therapy, crisis counseling and psychosocial assessments through work in short-term acute residential treatment (START) programs, outpatient mental health clinics and an alcohol treatment facility. She is a certified Domestic Violence Counselor. Chelsea has expertise in the following modalities: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing and eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR).

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.

I’m a collaborative therapist passionate about working with people navigating anxiety, low self-esteem, OCD/phobias, and non-traditional relationship structures. I value building a strong therapeutic relationship with an approach that centers warmth, compassion, humor, and authenticity. I lead with curiosity to unravel whatever may be weighing on you and guide you in reaching alignment with your favorite version of yourself. Feel free to send me a message and we can schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit. I’m excited to meet you!