Therapists for college students near University of Southern California

I work with adults (18+) who are having difficulties with depression, anxiety, and stress. These difficulties can often create problems in our relationships, self-care, self-esteem, and functioning at work or school. I am here to support you with these challenges. Looking for a therapist can be difficult in addition to facing current struggles in our life. Feel free to call for a free 15-minute consultation to see what I can do for you. I earned my doctorate in clinical psychology in Chicago. I have specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy for trauma. I also teach skills that include increasing awareness with mindfulness, tolerating distress, regulating difficult emotions, and being more effective in relationships. I approach therapy by helping you identify what you want your life to look like and then working through any of the barriers that get in the way of achieving what you want. I am eager to get to know you. Let's work together to help you with developing new coping skills, challenging negative self-talk, and moving you closer to achieving your goals.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Reaching out for help can be one of the hardest things to do when you're struggling the most. What if no one understands you or you feel judged? How do you know you can trust them to take you seriously or care? I understand that these are natural fears when you're sharing the hurt and vulnerable parts of yourself. For this reason, my goal is to make sure you feel safe and heard by providing an empathetic and judgement-free space regardless of your background. As a licensed clinical social worker, I have experience working with young and older adults of diverse backgrounds through issues related to identity, life transitions, depression, and anxiety. I also work with couples of all sexual orientations to improve communication, intimacy, and develop a more empathic understanding of each other.

Looking for help with medicines and/or therapy? We've got you! Our group of psychiatrists is dedicated to helping you while you're away at school. We see folks in CA, IL, MA, NY, and TX. There are appointments available right away - no 6 month wait. Send us a message and we'll figure out how to help.

Hello! We are out a mental health office that offers outpatient therapy, psychiatry, Intensive Outpatient Psychotherapy, and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. Currently we only offer outpatient therapy by telehealth. Psychiatry and Ketamine Therapy can be in person or by telehealth. We offer ketamine injections, ketamine lozenges, and will soon offer Spravato (esketamine nasal spray).

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Starting or continuing college can be exciting, overwhelming, and everything in between. Whether you’re navigating new independence, academic pressures, identity exploration, or unexpected challenges, it’s a lot to hold on your own. For years, I’ve supported my community in a variety of settings—from community clinics to crisis counseling—and I understand how life transitions can impact mental health. I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ students and those experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life changes. My time as a 911 crisis counselor especially taught me how to hold space during some of life’s most difficult moments. In my practice, you’ll find a safe, nonjudgmental environment where your story matters. I use a mix of evidence-based approaches, tailored to your unique needs, all grounded in a humanistic framework that values self-exploration, growth, and discovering your full potential. Together, we can work on building insight, breaking unhelpful patterns, and creating new ways forward—so you leave each session feeling more grounded, confident, and ready for what’s next.

Hi, I’m Julie! I’m so glad you’re here. I identify as a cisgender Latina woman and am proud of my Puerto Rican heritage. I love working with college-aged adults navigating the big transitions of this stage—figuring out who you are, what you value, and how to manage all the pressures that come with it. If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm, you’re not alone—and therapy can help. My approach combines practical coping skills with deeper exploration of your thoughts, emotions, and the many parts that make you who you are. I believe we all carry an innate inner wisdom, and my goal is to help you reconnect with yours—building self-trust, compassion, and healing from within. I look forward to connecting and supporting you on your journey.

Hello, my name is Heather Pederson. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Diego and am so glad you are here. Seeking help can potentially feel daunting, exposing, and overwhelming. It can also be our first steps toward repair, healing, and growth. I have found that people are so very strong, courageous, and hard-working, and still need some help when things get hard. I believe therapy can be a unique chance to discover parts of ourselves we forgot about, allow healing for the tender parts, and find new ways of interacting with ourselves and our loved ones that allow for deeper understanding and connection. I work with individuals and couples who often struggle with: a feeling of something between angry, sad, and fear that doesn’t have a name, as well as feelings of overwhelm, worry and stress that gets between them and their preferred lives. I seek to create opportunities in therapy to connect more deeply with the truest parts of yourself so that you can then connect more deeply with your purpose, values, and trusted others. I am trained in Emotionally-Focused Therapy (Externship with Sue Johnson, Core Skills to become Certified in progress), a Certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, Trauma Informed Care, and a graduate of Bethel Seminary San Diego with an M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy. Please contact me with any questions you might have regarding therapy. I work with college students (extensive experience working on college campuses), couples, individuals, premarital/pre-engagement, relational distress, trauma, and anxiety.

I know it can be daunting reaching out for therapy - to let in support, to try to find the right fit, to allocate the resources & time. When I was a senior in college, therapy truly saved my life - but I so remember how long it took for me to be able to make that first call. So props to you for exploring! If we end up working together, you will likely share a lot about you. So here’s a little bit about me: I’m a white (French, British, and German heritage), queer, cis-woman from a middle-class background who is able-bodied (with some lived experience of chronic illness). I’m often dreamy, sensitive, irritable, passionate, anxious, patient, funny. I love humor, music, sour gummy worms, Rihanna, poetry, shoes, crying, and books. I’m passionate about social justice and art. I grew up in a coastal town so the ocean feels like home. I startle easily. I love singing and songwriting. Some of the big themes I’ve grappled with during this lifetime are: grief & loss; sexuality & sexual orientation; gender; body image and eating disorders; depression; anxiety; addiction and relationships with family members struggling with addiction; containment; perfection; co-dependence & attachment; sexual trauma; disconnection from creativity; betrayal, infidelity, & trust; monogamy & ethical non-monogamy; suicidality. And here's a bit about my therapy practice: I offer therapy for individuals & partners experiencing a broad range of life challenges. And, I have extensive experience in supporting folks as they navigate the following content areas: communication & relationship issues; grief & loss; identity; trauma; sexual orientation, sexuality & sensuality; creativity; systems & lived experiences of oppression; anxiety & fear; depression; co-dependence; addiction; infidelity, betrayal & trust; and inner-child work. I’m sex-positive, queer, and poly- & kink-affirming, and welcome all ethnic & racial identities & positionalities. The therapy that I offer is depth-oriented and strongly rooted in Gestalt & somatic modalities, as well as intersectional feminism. It is trauma-informed and client-centered. For those that are interested, I also enjoy using intuition, creativity, and the imaginal realms (imagery, visualization, experiential exercises, art, dreamwork, etc.) to support our explorations. If none of that means anything to you (understandable!), here's a *hopefully* less-jargon-y description of how I approach my work as a therapist: I fervently believe that you (and only you) are the authority of your experience. I am here to offer my curiosities, intuition, and reflections — in dialogue with you — to help you explore and discover your truth. I am interested in meeting you wherever you are in the present moment, supporting you to increase your awareness. It is my belief that only by increasing our awareness can we increase our felt experiences of agency and choice…which in turn allows us to live a more empowered, aligned, compassionate, and enlivened life. I care deeply about creating a safe container in our therapeutic relationship — to respect boundaries, to always track for consent and choice, to unambivalently welcome all parts of you, to fervently support both your safety and aliveness. I am passionate about and invested in exploring power, positionality, and privilege. I welcome and support difference, and am committed to efforts to not perpetuate authoritarian and oppressive systems in the therapeutic relationship. I honor & trust the massively creative and adaptive survival strategies that you have developed to keep you safe. And, I also honor the ways that the habitual enacting of those survival strategies may no longer be serving you — that your circumstances and capacities may have outgrown these mechanisms, and that you may need some support in this vulnerable re-emergence into the world. I will sit with you in your suffering. I’m not afraid of the darkness, or of your shadow. I will go to the depths with you. And stay there, in the underworld, with you for as long as you need…until you emerge anew on the other side. I believe that, together, we can co-create a homecoming for you. That our work can guide you home to your innate nature — to your authentic expression of your many parts of self. To your passion and presence and joy. To your aliveness. To feeling deeply nurtured and nourished. A return to self in which you come to truly and intimately know yourself for the first time. I so looking forward to hearing from you & seeing if we might be a good fit to work together, should you choose to reach out!

Are you stuck? Your journey towards empowerment and freedom starts now. You will build the skills to overcome your personal struggles and with those you love. Everyone has capacity for positive growth. You will be provided with a genuine, empathic, and safe space to allow you to tap into your innate power for growth and development. Our early childhood experiences and attachment styles shape our personality and behavior. Working on your past relationships will help you gain insight into your current situation, then use that insight to reduce daily stress and find your way. My experience includes working with a diverse group of children, adults, and adolescents in the areas of relationships, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, anger management, coping skills, and emotional regulation. I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which is a very effective way to heal from traumatic memories or events.

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About My Practice College can be an exciting time, but it can also bring a lot of pressure - academically, socially, personally, and emotionally. You may be doing well on the outside while feeling overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, or unsure of what comes next. I’m a licensed psychotherapist who works with young adults navigating stress, anxiety, relationships, self-confidence, transitions, and the pressure to succeed. My approach combines psychotherapy, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and neuroscience-informed strategies to help you better understand yourself and create meaningful change. Therapy with me is collaborative, practical, and judgment-free. You don’t have to wait until things feel unmanageable to reach out. Whether you're struggling with a specific challenge or simply know that something needs to shift, therapy can be a space to slow down, gain perspective, and figure out what you need. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, emotionally resilient, and able to move through college and into adulthood in a way that feels genuinely like your own.

Empowering Individuals to Overcome Life's Challenges and Build a Stronger Future With over 15 years of experience in behavioral health, I specialize in helping individuals navigate life's toughest challenges, from loneliness and insecurities to trauma, anxiety, and relationship issues. As a Licensed Clinician (LCPC, LPC, LPCC, LMHC) licensed in multiple states, including AZ, CA, FL, GA, KS, LA, MO, NJ, SC, and TX, I offer a wealth of expertise in addressing a wide range of mental health concerns. My goal is to guide you in building self-confidence, restoring your sense of worth, and breaking free from the stigma that often surrounds mental health. I believe that everyone deserves to feel heard, valued, and empowered, no matter their struggles. I offer a compassionate, evidence-based approach to healing and growth, creating a safe and supportive space where you can express yourself openly without fear of judgment. My counseling style is built on empathy, active listening, and unwavering support, providing you with practical strategies and direct feedback that fosters self-awareness and personal transformation. Together, we’ll work through the obstacles holding you back and create a roadmap for a brighter, more fulfilling future. I am dedicated to walking alongside you on your journey toward wellness. Let’s tackle the challenges together and build the life you deserve—one step at a time. Take the first step and schedule an appointment to get started.

I’m Dr. Abu-Rus, a clinical psychologist available to see patients anywhere in California. I know reaching out for therapy can feel strange—like acknowledging something’s wrong when you’ve spent so much energy trying to hold it together. As a mom, USAF Veteran, and psychologist, I work with people navigating trauma, new parenthood, or depression that doesn’t always make sense on the surface. You might feel irritable, numb, anxious, or unsure of who you are anymore. You’re not too much. You’re not broken. And you don’t have to carry this alone. I specialize in trauma, postpartum stress, and depression that feels heavy or hard to explain. I use proven therapies like CPT, PE, ACT, and IPT to help you feel safer, more grounded, and more in control. My approach is structured but deeply human—tailored to what matters most to you. If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or just ready for something to shift, I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can see if we’re a good fit. Therapy doesn’t have to be overwhelming, I’ll walk you through the next steps. Send a message or email to get started. Or schedule directly into my calendar! Click on my website to see availability.

I graduated from UMass Medical school and was trained in adult psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. Prior to going to medical school I received a Masters in Teaching from Boston University and worked as a teacher. This unique background affects my approach to psychiatry. I believe that a good psychiatrist should work with you to help you learn about yourself and your mental health. I am trained in a variety of therapeutic styles including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), psychodynamic therapy, supportive therapy, and Gottman style couples/relationship therapy. During my time at CHA I worked extensively with the Gender and Sexuality Clinic to serve patients of diverse sexual and gender identities. I also co-lead a group therapy for individuals in polyamorous and non-monogamous relationships. I have taught at the American Psychiatric Association’s specialized rotation for HIV Psychiatry, including lectures on how to provide effective telepsychiatry, and I have presented at a national meeting on teaching providers how to better work with patients to prescribe medications. I am a licensed physician in Massachusetts, New York, and California. I offer in person appointments in Somerville, MA as well as secure telehealth appointments to those residing in Massachusetts, New York, and California. In addition to medication management I offer individual and relationship/couples therapy.

You are so tired of feeling worried all the time. You worry about what others think of you, if you are doing a good enough job at work, if something bad is going to happen to you…the list goes on. In your daily life, you are a high performer and on the outside everything looks fine; but on the inside, you feel trapped with your own thoughts, and like you can never relax. You want to wake up in the morning and feel calm and confident to tackle the day ahead. You long to finally be able to enjoy your time spent with loved ones and be present — rather than being consumed by feelings of anxiety and racing thoughts. You CAN live the life you've always envisioned - feeling calm and present in your life, and exuding confidence. After overcoming an anxiety disorder through personal therapy myself, I know how debilitating it can feel to live life in this way. You don't have to continue living this way, and you don't have to keep trying to figure it out alone. I can help you. I offer a wide array of different techniques that allows me to tailor therapy to your specific goals and needs. Clients that work with me appreciate my honesty, expertise, and ability to relate to them as a human being. Schedule your free consultation today and let's help you find joy in your life again!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Are you looking to reignite that spark in your eyes that you felt was lost a long time ago? Could you be feeling lost and seeking a way to find your sense of direction? Do you feel that your relationship has not been the same as it was years ago and you may need guidance on what to do with your partner? By working with me, you may not have to face these challenges on your own. I work with an array of different populations including young adults, college students, transitional-age youth, domestic violence survivors, undocumented immigrants, individuals struggling with major depression and anxiety, and couples. Other areas of interest include helping individuals heal from codependency and breakups, providing support for culturally sensitive-issues impacting the Asian American community, and providing solidarity as an LGBTQ+ ally. If you are interested, I invite you to contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration and I hope we can connect soon!