Therapists for college students near University of Southern California

What do you do when what everyone calls "the best years of your life' just aren't?? The transition from home to college is an exciting one, but one that brings with it many new experiences...leaving home (sometimes for the first time), living more independently, meeting a whole world of new people, and learning more about yourself...your strengths and weaknesses. As a college student you often face adversities such as a lack of stability, increased social and pressures, and a strong push towards academic hyper-achievement. Together with familial and social (media) pressure college students often experience changes in sleep, eating and energy patterns, irritability, a loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, and substance abuse. Knowing when you need support, and taking the initiative to actually get that help is an important first step in figuring things out. Whether you are dealing with anxiety, depression, homesickness, finding your people or just trying to figure yourself out I hope that I can help.

Do you find yourself feeling anxious all the time? Are you feeling depressed and struggle with getting through the day? Life can be confusing and chaotic at times especially when you are dealing with mental health issues. My goal as a therapist is to provide a therapeutic environment that is safe and comfortable to facilitate progress and resolution of different issues in life that can be difficult.

I trained in Boston. Boston College was my graduate school, Beth Israel Hospital the site of my clinical education, and MIT, where I was a Senior Research Associate, the start of my professional career. In 1976, I emerged a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts and began a practice treating young people, couples, and families. I also worked as a community therapist with teachers, parents, and students, to help integrate three Boston's public schools. In California I completed additional training and was licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist. I acquired experience in different approaches to treatment including, Cognitive Behaviorism, Family Systems, Narrative, Object Relations, Solution Focused, and Strategic therapy. I have extensive experience working with artists, trauma victims and addicts. I also train interns at a community mental health clinic. This was not my first career. I worked as an editor and a documentary filmmaker. The skills I developed became invaluable to me as a therapist. I learned to listen–for what is said but also for what is left unsaid--and to recognize the impact that social structures have on our life stories.

We all have the capacity for healing through self-discovery, self-awareness, and community. My role is to ease clients into a journey of healing, becoming more authentic in their creative works and relationships, and challenging inner dialogue that does not serve them by finding compassion and empathy for themselves. I engage my clients by creating a safe space where we can collaboratively work on developing a more intimate relationship with the "inner self." I'm a warm, intuitive, empathetic, and connected therapist who can be a witness to your journey. I primarily work from anti-racist, trauma-informed, attachment and somatic modes of therapy paying close attention to clients’ varying identities, intersection of these identities, and understanding their experience from a socio-cultural perspective. Mind-body connections, ancestral wisdom, social justice and multiculturalism are central to my approach. My passion and experience lies in working with young adults, artists and creatives, individuals from the BIPOC and LGBTQIA community, women, and partners engaging in family planning. I have significant experience in guiding individuals seeking gender confirming treatment, navigating medical systems, and exploring gender and sexual orientation identity.

Virtual IOP Mental Healthcare for College Students, 18-25 Lightfully U gives college students access to evidence-based, clinical mental healthcare like never before. Broadening access to care and providing flexible program options, Lightfully’s Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program accommodates busy college students with unique needs and schedules. Lightfully’s online program is as effective as treatment provided in person, with the advantage of convenience and privacy.

As a dedicated mental health professional, I am committed to guiding adolescents and young adults. My practice is deeply rooted in systemic thinking, seamlessly blending psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and attachment-based approaches to deliver a nuanced and tailored intervention. In cultivating a warm and collaborative environment, I facilitate a process where clients explore personal and relational intricacies, fostering insights for a more fulfilling life. Rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach, I acknowledge the uniqueness of each client in treatment planning. Navigating trauma, codependency, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and OCD, my practice emphasizes the impact of traumatic events and recognizes the influential role of relationships on an individual level. Embark on the journey of transformative growth by reaching out for support. Remember, you don't have to face things alone; you are the expert of your own life, and you hold the power to make transformative change. In this journey, I'm here to empathetically walk alongside you, offering understanding and guidance every step of the way.

Being a young person in this world can be exciting, painful, scary, and awe-inspiring (sometimes all at once!) and I’m here to hold space for the paradoxes and messiness of life. My intention is to help you reclaim and accept the parts of yourself that you’re afraid or ashamed of — and we all have those parts. If you're struggling, we'll gently explore the roots of your pain and find ways to suffer less. I feel strongly that boxes and assumptions have no place in the therapy room, and I’m dedicated to creating a space where all aspects of your identity will be recognized and can be safely explored. I have experience supporting people with depression, anxiety, career changes, relationship challenges, family issues, chronic illness, grief, gender and sexuality exploration, and neurodivergence (including autism and ADHD). I especially enjoy working with members of the LGBTQIA2S community, of which I'm a proud member.

I am a Los Angeles based psychotherapist and counselor committed to supporting my clients on their journey of learning and personal growth. My areas of focus include working with adults who are facing difficult life transitions or facing challenges in their relationships. I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. My clinical experiences range from providing individual psychotherapy to adults in outpatient clinics, and crisis intervention and group psychotherapy with adults and adolescents in inpatient psychiatric hospitals. I have also worked with our homeless population across LA County, providing outreach, brief psychotherapy, and referrals to community resources and mental health services. My approach when working with all clients is client-centered and strengths-based. I value the person-in-environment perspective, so I can better understand my clients and their mental health in the context of their environment, and not just through their behavior and psyche.

Struggling to achieve a semblance of work-life balance while juggling the demands of a heavy academic courseload, and research, training, teaching, and employment opportunities? It is a privilege to work together with college and graduate students on increasing a sense of well-being and actualizing potential. I typically work with clients who are looking to live their best life in both the personal and academic realms, often focusing on goals related to academic success, career/post-college life decisions, dating, and relationships. I earned my doctorate from Fordham University in New York, and have had a wide variety of clinical experiences throughout my training and career, including work in community mental health clinics, and public and private schools. My experiences working with college and graduate students in a college counseling center in Brooklyn, NY, and my own experiences as a college and graduate student, sparked my enthusiasm for providing quality and compassionate therapy for those on an academic journey. I aim to partner with you on building upon strengths while creating a manageable action plan to help you explore the solutions you seek, and improve outcomes and quality of life. I offer in-person sessions at my office in West LA, as well as via telehealth.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges, struggling with relationships, or facing uncertainty about the future? I specialize in working with young adults who are juggling many responsibilities and are seeking relief from anxiety and stress. Together we develop effective coping strategies, improve emotional well-being, and foster resilience. If you need help navigating a difficult time in your life, like the end of a relationship or figuring how to find a healthy school/life balance, I offer both the compassion and the skills that can lead to symptom relief. Please reach out for a free consultation. I have sliding scale fees so please don't let financial hardship stop you from reaching out!

Anxiety, stress and burnout are among the most common struggles people face, yet so many continue to carry them in silence. For those living with it, the pain is very real. It is waking up each morning already feeling trapped in your own thoughts, your body locked in a constant fight or flight state you cannot seem to shut off. It is lying down at night desperate for rest, only to wake up the next day still exhausted, as though no amount of effort ever brings true relief. If this feels familiar, know that you are not alone. These experiences are more than symptoms, they are part of the weight you have been carrying every single day. I help college students and young adults break free from the relentless grip of anxiety and stress by creating highly personalized, evidence-based programs that guide them toward clarity and control. In therapy, you will uncover what is happening in your body, understand why it occurs, and learn to use a range of effective tools so anxiety no longer controls your life. If you are ready to take charge of your anxiety and begin living life on your own terms, I encourage you to reach out for support. Therapy can be the turning point you’ve been searching for, offering tools to navigate stress, burnout, and overwhelming thoughts so you no longer have to face them alone or accept them as your reality.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

We are a group of compassionate clinicians specializing in anxiety, depression and relational issues. Our dedicated team of therapists is focus on providing skills to enhance your life.

Do you find yourself feeling anxious, nervous, or on edge? Perhaps you have racing thoughts, trouble controlling your thoughts, or constantly thinking about the same thing. Have you feel sad, lonely, or questioning the meaning of life? You may think no one could possibly imagine the pain and hurt you’re feeling. Why did this have to happen? He or she didn’t deserve to die? I can’t believe I’ll never see them again. Perhaps you’ve experienced a Trauma. You may still feel on edge, have trouble relaxing and have painful past memories or nightmares making it hard to sleep at night. Sometimes people just don’t get it. You know you have Anger problems, but it’s not like you don’t want to change. You are trying to work on this. You just don't know how or where to start. The good news is there are coping tools and therapy strategies that can help to reduce your racing and uncontrollable thought. Just think about how it could feel to have someone that could help you throughout this process. Chanes are you want to go about your daily day without crying, feeling guilty or breaking down. You want to just enjoy your life without being interrupted by past painful memories. If you could just get to sleep, that would be a dream in itself. You want to be in control of your feelings. I can help you with these things by providing you with coping skills, a safe space to process your thoughts, explore your emotions, and address your anger. Let me show you how to continue living your life during this difficult time. I can teach you therapy strategies and techniques to help you through difficult times too. I can also teach you skills to manage your anger, identify your triggers, and to handle conflicts. Making the decision to get therapy is the first step. Please click on the link to view my website and to complete my contact form so you can schedule your free consultation.

College can be a time of major change - new pressures, big decisions, and lots of uncertainty. If you're feeling stuck or in transition, we’ll work together to clarify what you want, what’s getting in the way, and how to build more self-trust. You'll learn to feel more grounded, even when things in school or life feel unclear or in-between.

I believe that we all have the capacity to heal. Circumstances, isolation, trauma, stress, and life challenges can all blur this inner knowing from view. Through a holistic lens that recognizes the importance of the mind-body-soul connection, I can assist you in uncovering and working through patterns, thoughts, and experiences that are no longer serving you while re-awakening joy, connection, curiosity, and ease. I believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship as a catalyst for reflection, change, and growth. It is my honor to hold space for healing and self-discovery to unfold. My style is warm, compassionate, attuned, and a little irreverent at times. As a queer, mixed, woman, I understand that therapy is a political act. The personal, social, cultural, and political forces that contribute to and constrain your well-being are all of concern in the therapy room. Originally from the East Coast, I earned my master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University. Before going into private practice, I worked in school and community mental health settings where I collaborated with clients from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds navigating depression, anxiety, self-harm, and substance use. I am trained in EMDR, Relational Psychodynamic Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, and certified as a 200-hour certified yoga teacher. As someone who has sat on the therapy couch myself, I understand the vulnerability and courage it takes to reach out. Schedule a free phone consultation if you'd like to connect and determine if we are the right fit.

We provide clinical outpatient treatment programs to young adults on a college track with mental health and substance use disorders. Our Intensive Outpatient Program uses evidence-based practices and peer-based support to help students heal and ultimately thrive in school and life. We believe college students deserve mental health treatment options that work with their collegiate lifestyle. Students in need of support can choose from our in-person and virtual Intensive Outpatient Programs for mental health or substance use treatment, available to all young adults in California on a college track. Developed in partnership with students, universities and clinical experts, these programs make it possible for students to work through their challenges while staying in school, so they can thrive through graduation and beyond.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the challenges you are facing in life? Whether you are in need of positive ways to cope with your current circumstances or a safe place to finally address the traumatic and emotional pain that you have been unable to recover from, I am here to help. My style is actively collaborative and grounded in helping clients develop insight on how to live their most authentic lives. Through cognitive behavioral therapy and highly effective mindfulness techniques, allow me to equip you with the tools you need to work through life's challenges, deepen your understanding of your life experiences, and develop resilience in the process. If you are ready to partner with a professional who is committed to helping you get started on developing a renewed mindset, overcoming debilitating symptoms, and regaining control of your story, I invite you to start your journey with me today by scheduling a free 15-minute consultation.

Therapy can be Fun, Freeing, and Inspiring. (I get back to everyone within 12 hours.) You're hesitant since it's your first time in therapy; perhaps you have given up hope. You feel empty, hopeless, and lost. Every day is a struggle due to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Maybe you have past family trauma that you haven't dealt with. Maybe there are cultural confines that have left you or your child feeling frustrated and hurt. I help people who are dealing with depression and anxiety experience a sense purpose by helping them find the voice that they never knew they had so that they can be more self-supportive. My goal is to empower you to take control of your life by dealing with the issues that have not been resolved or those that you fail to be aware of. It could be scary and uncomfortable but growth happens when we are in an uncomfortable state. I can promise you that I will be your ally during this journey of growth and discovery (and have some laughs too).