Therapists for college students near San Diego State University

I am a psychologist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I have spent the past 10 years working with folks who are excited and curious about how they can learn to best care for themselves. In general, I tend work with clients who are looking for support around their career goals, including transitioning out of or into a career, finding a better work-school-life balance, establishing or refreshing professional skills/communication, or navigating the experience of college/career integration. I have a particular passion for working with clients in "helping" industries or in training, including healthcare, healthcare administration, mental health, and teaching. I also work regularly with clients who are struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mood regulation concerns. I have experience working with students, especially as they are exploring the next phase of their life. Transitions are sometimes moments of great growth and self-discovery, and often accompanied by great pain and confusion. I think addressing both side of the coin honestly and with support can help us navigate the tough stuff with a sense of clarity and hope. I currently work in a private practice clinic, and provide talk-therapy from a variety of clinical orientations. I usually go for a somewhat down-to-Earth approach when first working with someone: taking the time to learn more about what is and isn't working in their lives, thinking collaboratively with them about what some attainable long-term goals might look like, and then allowing us to settle into the process of engaging and tracking areas of growth as our work develops. Therapy is such a unique and personal process. This should work with and for you, even if it's not always easy. I'm open to meeting you and learning more...even if we aren't a great fit. I'm also happy to support your process in finding that next-right-one. I do my best to respond to voicemails and emails within 24 hours during the work week, and follow-up on all weekend inquiries by end of business on Mondays.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I serve clients across California through secure and convenient telehealth visits bringing personalized care to you, wherever you are. My goal is to make psychiatric care feel accessible, judgment-free, and genuinely supportive. I specialize in working with adults navigating anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. My approach is integrative — combining medication management with education, mindfulness, and supportive therapy. I take time to understand the whole picture using a bio-psycho-social lens: looking at how biological factors (like vitamin deficiencies or hormonal imbalances), psychological stressors (like trauma or burnout), and social dynamics (like school or work pressure) all impact mental health. Before becoming a nurse practitioner, I spent several years as a registered nurse, and I’ve worked extensively in both inpatient psychiatry and as a clinical consultant. My training and experience allow me to treat each person as a whole not as a list of symptoms, and to create care plans that are practical, empowering, and tailored to you. Outside of work, I love traveling and spending time with my son and family. These connections remind me of the importance of balance, joy, and meaningful relationships — values I bring into my work every day. Here, you're not just receiving treatment — you're being seen, heard, and supported as a whole person. My mission is to help you move from just surviving to truly thriving.

I currently have limited availability; please reach out to inquire of openings (as of 06/17/2026). Growing up Asian American in San Francisco, I had the privilege of feeling like “the majority” rather than feeling like “the minority.” When my mental health took a turn in my teen years, I was fortunate to have an Asian school-based therapist who reminded me of a “cool Asian aunt.” I remember feeling at ease seeing someone who looked like me in a space I thought was only meant for white people or people who were “that crazy.” This therapist showed me that therapy could be warm, kind, and even involve the humor I needed to say the hard stuff. She showed me that people like us could receive support and care through a listening ear. (I thought the only kind of care Asian elders gave was via cut fruit.) Years later, I hope to share this same safe experience as the person now sitting in the therapist’s chair. Whether you are living out your parents’ dreams or just trying to make it through the week, I can help you explore whether your path aligns with your values and supports your growth. I promise I won’t sass you the way my former Asian auntie-like therapist might, but I’ll make sure we keep it light where it needs to be, and hold space where it’s dark. We will discover who you are and what you need, with the utmost care (and a dash of humor, because therapy is hard enough as it is).

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.

My practice is infused with warmth, care, and heart. Since childhood, I've held a deep curiosity for the relationships that make up our world. I greatly admire and honor these connections - whether between caregivers and children, friends, romantic partners, or animals we see in nature. This curiosity led me to become a relational therapist, where I now have the privilege of walking alongside individuals and couples on their journeys, creating an environment that brings to light the connection that has always existed between us and guiding relationships toward deeper, more resilient roots together. Integrative and relational in nature, the therapeutic work I do incorporates somatics, person-centered therapy, and mindfulness practices. I hold the belief that we all carry our own innate wisdom, and as such, I create space in the therapeutic relationship for my clients to be the experts on themselves and to articulate their needs, wants, and experiences in a safe, nurturing environment. The focus within my work is less on fixing and more on accompanying your human-ness. In addition to the work I do with couples, I am passionate about providing care to those navigating the journey to parenthood. This love for the perinatal space and supporting future and new parents started when I was a child and would spend a great deal of time caring for young children in my community and connecting with their caregivers. Since, this passion has expanded through advocacy work in the paid parental leave space and training I’ve completed as a Postpartum Doula. This beautiful time of transition into parenthood brings about inevitable change, and it is a true joy and privilege of mine to hold a nurturing space for people to process these changes, cultivate connection during a time when community is needed, and heal. I'm not a parent myself at this stage in my life, yet I feel deeply called to this meaningful work of supporting individuals and couples as they navigate these profound life transitions.

As women, we are naturally attuned to the needs of those around us. We don’t think twice about nurturing and loving our people - whether they be our own children, parents, friends, or coworkers. And lately, doesn’t it seem like all of our people need us in one way or another? After the year that we’ve had, it’s no wonder that so many of us are running on empty. Whenever you go on a flight, there is a safety video where an oxygen mask comes down for each passenger in an emergency. You are instructed to put it on yourself before you reach over and put it on your child. This order of priorities can apply to all areas of our lives too. You can’t take care of the people you love well until you take care of yourself first. In the therapy room, there is no topic too trivial or complex. I am here to follow where your thoughts and your heart go, and we will discover how it is you have come to feel this way. Awareness is the first step to creating lasting change. Through therapy, I help my clients understand that their perceived shame and struggle are actually badges of honor and courage. No matter your past or your current circumstances, you deserve to experience life richly and fully. You are in the driver’s seat of your mental health and your life. Thank you for trusting me to be a part of your journey.

Hi there, I'm Marianna! My name is Marianna Birdsong. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Southern California and working with clients statewide via telehealth. I work with the adult population and specialize in anxiety, stress, and life changes, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy to help my clients make progress and start feeling better.

Professional Introduction for College Students Hello! I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) dedicated to supporting students as they navigate the unique pressures of academic life. I earned my Master's degree in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing with honors from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and I am passionate about providing a safe, transparent, non-judgmental space for the student community. College is a period of immense growth, but it can also bring significant challenges. Whether you are dealing with the weight of depression, the persistent pull of anxiety, the challenges of ADHD, the complexities of PTSD, or struggles with substance use (SUD), please know that you do not have to face these hurdles alone. My approach is centered on dignity, efficacy, and equity, ensuring that your individual identity, values, and cultural background are always honored. I offer comprehensive, evidence-based care that integrates both psychotherapy and medication management to help you achieve optimal health and academic success. My goal is to empower you with the tools and support needed to recover and thrive during your college journey and beyond.

My name is Kimberley Durr, and I am a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I graduated from Rush University College of Nursing in Chicago, IL and am board certified. I evaluate and treat mental health disorders across the lifespan with medication and have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. I am most experienced in mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, and schizophrenia but have experience in other neurodevelopmental, eating, substance use disorders. In my practice I approach each person individually and holistically. I incorporate his/her life's narrative and preferences when developing treatment plans and provide psychoeducation regarding my diagnostic impression. I offer a compassionate, gentle approach to patient care and provide guidance that is evidence based. I became a nurse simply because I like helping those in need. It brings me great joy and satisfaction to know I am making a difference in someone's life. I eventually found a position working in mental health and never looked back. I was a psychiatric nurse for a few years before pursuing my role as a nurse practitioner. This field can be challenging but rewarding, and I am determined to improve the lives of others. This first session involves getting to know each other and gathering history and collateral information when needed. I develop a case formulation, provide psychoeducation, and offer medication if appropriate. Sometimes labs are also ordered.

I offer straightforward help with anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. It starts by developing a holistic understanding of your situation and history. With that shared perspective, we'll work together to find the best way to resolve your current challenges. Our work together may involve finding a kinder way of relating to yourself and more effective ways of connecting with others and getting their support. If it requires developing new skills, I offer help through mindfulness, breathing practices, biofeedback, relaxation, and thought management. I'm confident that by learning to think and act differently, and addressing obstacles to change, you will gain more control over your life and start feeling better.

As a QTPOC clinician, my passion is working with folks who experience multilayered marginalized identities to help us all learn, grow, and evolve.

Hi there! There's a special place in my heart for young adults who are starting college and their lives and careers. I'd like to be that trusted adult in your life whom you can come to for guidance. I respect my client's decisions and autonomy. College can be a difficult time in a person's life navigating school, friendships and just being an adult. Don't get discouraged by the rate fee, I accept most insurances and will gladly offer a sliding scale if needed. I have been treating clients since 2014. My private practice is established in Camarillo, CA and I serve clients through tele-health and in-office. Safety allows for exploration. Come on, let's explore together. I offer a free 15 min. phone consultation to see if I would be a good fit for you. Hablo Español.

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.

At Clarity CBT & DBT Center, expert therapists provide exceptional treatment for youth, young adults, and their families facing mental health challenges such as mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, selective mutism, self-harm, and more. Clarity’s approach is rooted in science and flexibly delivered. Through collaborative efforts with patients, Clarity’s team uses scienced-backed methods to help patients achieve a meaningful life. Clarity CBT & DBT Center offers services in California, Colorado, Florida, and Rhode Island.

I offer Counseling, Education and Consultation services in the area of Family Formation, specializing in the area of Adoption. I provide counseling to pre-adoptive and adoptive parents, expectant/birth parents, and adoptees, covering an array of topics. I am pleased to have expanded my practice to incorporate expertise in building Meaningful Post-Adoption Relationships and Search and Reunion Support. I also work with clients in the area of Infertility, Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I am warm, direct and collaborative and bring a genuine curiosity and empathy to my work with clients. I use a relational psychodynamic approach with a focus on present moment bodily and emotional experience to help work through difficulties, release unhelpful patterns and help clients feel more creative and free in their lives. In my work with young adults I specialize in: difficulties with trust, anxiety and panic, depression, navigating decisions, interpersonal trauma, relationship problems, substance or behavioral challenges as well as those who want to experience more intimacy, authenticity and fulfillment in their lives.

You’ve been holding it together the best you can, but you are tired. Exhausted from the constant worry, waiting for the next shoe to drop, and never feeling like you’re enough. Sleepless nights, self criticism, and gripping anxiety may make sense given everything you’ve been through, but you are ready to find some relief and start caring for yourself as much as you care for those around you. I help women and teen girls feel confident that they can handle what life throws their way, to feel empowered to honor their needs and boundaries, and to overcome the past to find new patterns of relating to themselves and others. Together we can compassionately untangle what it is that gets in the way of living the life you long for and reconnect to a more easeful, connected, and authentic way of being in the world. I specialize in supporting survivors of trauma, caregivers, and social and environmental justice activists seeking sustainable involvement in movements for change. Schedule a free consultation with me (online booking available through my website) to start shifting the patterns that keep you from feeling calm, confident, and connected to your 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!