Therapists for college students near Los Angeles, CA

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Sonia Duran is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a bilingual/bicultural Behavioral Health Professional (English/Spanish). Sonia graduated in 2006 with a BA in psychology and she earned her Master of Social Work in 2011 from the University of Missouri. Sonia brings a variety of intervention modalities to her practice, including Problem-Solving Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness-based approaches. Her passion is to bring healing to communities and individuals who have been through traumatic/stressful emotional experiences. Sonia brings an empowerment, understanding and strengths-based approach to her practice. Sonia enjoys spending time with her loved ones, spending time in nature, traveling and meeting new friends.

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College can be a daunting experience, for many the first time away from home. Imagine feeling in control of your life again and confident in yourself to leave your house, dorm, or apartment and not worry about what others think about you. Like your living space but not your housemates so much suddenly? We can help you learn how to set better boundaries and communicate them to others more adaptively so that you can enjoy your space and those you're living with, again. Imagine feeling able to manage your emotions enough to get through a whole day and not feel controlled by them. Imagine having your life back. It’s possible. One of the hardest things about finding a therapist is the concern about feeling judged for needing help. Know that my role is only in empowering you to remember what you are capable of, and I do so from a very supportive and nonjudgmental approach. Let's explore together what is blocking you from feeling able to fix this on your own. My approach is meant to create a safe space in which you feel comfortable processing the feelings that have been preventing you from achieving your goals for yourself. I help you achieve those short-term goals that bring you here, while planting seeds of empowerment so that one day you will feel self-confident and capable on your own once again. Over the years I've had many clients from a variety of backgrounds let me know they have found me to be the "safest" and "easiest person to talk to" about uncomfortable things, I'm just one human doing my best to help other humans through their own Life journey. Shoot a message or call w/ any questions you may have. Free 15 min ph consults. LBTQIA affirming.

I am a double board-certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, and provide psychotherapy and personalized medication treatment. The core of my work is to provide a safe environment, where we build a strong and trusting relationship. I will help you explore your own story, current life challenges and open up possibilities for change in your life. Where medication can help, we can consider that option together. I consider ongoing therapy as an important part of optimizing any treatment with medication that can change your mood and behavior.

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I believe that psychotherapy is fundamentally about discovering a deeper sense of personal meaning, self-understanding, and self-acceptance. Together, within the therapeutic relationship, we will pay attention to the stuck places with curiosity and compassion so that over time you may come to know and understand your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a new and enlivened way. I work collaboratively with those facing various difficulties and life transitions, as well as those looking to enter a more exploratory therapy to enhance self-understanding. I work within an anti-racist and gender affirming framework and am guided by psychodynamic, relational, and trauma-informed principles. I welcome undergrad and graduate students to my practice and will work with you to deepen understanding of how early experiences may be shaping current circumstances, address present day concerns, and develop tools for making real and lasting change.

**ALL SESSIONS CURRENTLY PROVIDED VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE** Are you new to college and feeling overwhelmed? Maybe, you are having a difficult time focusing and it’s impacting your grades. Perhaps, you’re unsure what you want to major in or don’t know what you want to do after graduation. Or, you’re struggling with finding motivation, missing classes, or falling behind. While school comes easy for some college students, others need more help in finding their strengths, passion, and people. You may be struggling with your mood, ability to focus, or work-life balance. Or, you might have trouble with time management, organization, and managing a heavy schoolwork load. Whatever the cause of your current struggles, an experienced therapist can help you find balance, feel better, and develop the skills you need to feel more successful. There is no need to continue to struggle alone. Seeking help does not mean you are weak, but rather that you are committed to reaching your goals and getting the most out of your life. Therapy can help you to feel better and get your life back on track. Having a safe place to vent and problem solve can be pivotal in helping you thrive. You can learn to manage your responsibilities, build strong relationships, learn healthy boundaries, manage big feelings, and increase your self-esteem. Clients tell me that I am different from other therapists. There are therapists that will simply sit and listen to you. I am not one of those therapists. I will listen and support you AND I will challenge you to work towards building a life that lights you up. We will laugh, cry, and have fun together, all while getting the tough work done! I offer the experience, knowledge, and skills to help you work through whatever issues are getting in your way. If you're ready start feeling better, I'm ready to help!

Are you looking to have a deeper connection with yourself and others? Are you ready for a change? Therapy is about reestablishing a healthy connection with yourself, so you can make conscious and healthy choices. We will identify actionable goals for you to feel a sense of direction. Common areas my clients seek support for are: coping with anxiety and depression symptoms, relocation anxiety, impostor syndrome, relationship issues, body image, and work stress, We will release the old stories and receive a fresh new perspective to move forward. I will provide you with the tools you need to get through the challenges you face. My approach is warm, interactive and collaborative. I use an evidence-based approach called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which consistently brings clarity, relief, and meaning to my clients. CBT is validated by research and provides results quickly when you’re willing to look within, embrace discomfort, and take action between sessions. If you are feeling lost, stuck, anxious and need to promote balance and well-being, I can help you move through the challenge you face. I offer a safe, non-judgemental and validating approach. Call or email me to set up a free consultation so we can determine if I am a good fit for your needs. I look forward to hearing from you!

“I’m the loneliest girl in the world,” you think to yourself while lying in bed at night. Your parents, partner, and friends are of absolutely no help. In fact, when you go to them with your problems, they only make things worse—offering their BS life advice or making it all about themselves. Ugh. Once again, you feel alone—utterly alone. Your heart breaks when a friend cancels plans and then you criticize yourself vehemently for being “so sensitive” and for expecting so much of others. To comfort yourself, you seek food, booze, or zoning out on Netflix but nothing works. What’s a 20-something girl with her whole life ahead of her to do? It may feel like this is “it” for the rest of your life—a lonely existence—but it’s not. I help women just like you to attain the connection, confidence, and contentment you crave. By working through what lead to your loneliness, feeling “all the feels,” and finding ways to show up for yourself, you will transform from being utterly lonely to simply…happy. You’ve been feeling lonely for far too long. It’s time, sis. Nothing’s worked but therapy will. Pick up the phone and give me a call. I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation for you to ask questions and make sure we have “good vibes.” Next, we will schedule our initial session and officially put an end to your lonely existence.

I work best with college students who are starting to notice how perfectionism, people-pleasing, or pressure to achieve affects their mental health. Many grew up feeling like they had to be “the strong one” or keep the peace at home, and now those same patterns show up in school, relationships, or self-worth. They’re ready to understand themselves better, heal from the past, and feel more grounded in who they are.

Many people begin therapy feeling emotionally exhausted, stuck, or unsure of where they belong. This can be especially true for those navigating multiple cultures, identities, and expectations at once. When family values, cultural norms, and personal needs don’t fully align, it’s common to feel pulled in different directions—or to quietly lose touch with yourself. Over time, this strain may show up as burnout, anxiety, relationship stress, or a lingering sense that something isn’t quite right, even if everything looks “fine” on the outside. I take a collaborative, culturally responsive approach to therapy that honors the complexity of your lived experience. I don’t believe there is one “right” way to feel, heal, or move forward—especially when identity, family dynamics, and cultural expectations play such a central role in your life. My work integrates evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion-Focused Therapy, family systems therapy, and person-centered approaches. Together, we will make sense of patterns shaped by your past experiences and relationships while building practical coping skills that support meaningful, sustainable change. I earned my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco. During graduate training, I completed my internship at Gateway Public Schools, where I worked with adolescents ages 11–18. In this role, I supported students navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, and a wide range of family-related and personal challenges, gaining hands-on experience working within complex systems that impact young people’s emotional well-being. Over time, clients often gain greater emotional clarity, self-trust, and a stronger sense of agency—feeling more empowered to live in ways that feel authentic rather than obligatory. Therapy is a space where you don’t have to choose between parts of yourself—you can bring all of you into the room. My goal is to create a supportive and affirming therapeutic space where you feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood. We will explore how family dynamics, identity development, and cultural influences have shaped your experiences, while also focusing on what matters most to you moving forward. Outside of therapy, I value humor, perspective, and taking meaningful chances in life. One quote that resonates with me is: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky — Michael Scott. This mindset reflects my belief in growth, courage, and the importance of showing up for yourself—even when the next step feels uncertain.

I am a bilingual licensed Marriage and Family therapist. I am dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges and build stronger, more resilient relationships. With a warm and non-judgmental approach, I create a safe space for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I believe in empowering individuals to achieve independence, confidence, and success in their daily lives. Through my education and work experience, I personalize and create interventions with the collaboration of the client.

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Its NOT easy to be a college student! Along with your achievements there could be a lot of stress, anxiety, frustration, and burnout due to various reasons! Being a parent of college going kids, I can hear you very well! Are you feeling stressed out, anxious, sad, abandoned, humiliated, unheard, hurt, lonely? Do you feel like people have taken advantage of you & nobody cares about you? Are you tired of hearing "get over with it"? The burnout can be devastating. Emotional wounds and trauma affect the rest of our life if left unattended and untreated. It manifests in the form of lack of concentration, sadness, low self-esteem, challenges in occupation, unstable relationships to name a few. DO NOT WORRY and do not wait to seek help for emotional pain/ injury as you wouldn't for physical injury. It's never too late to seek help! I will help you to thrive through the campus successfully! My mission is to help you to create insight into your present situation in relation to your past experiences and to empower you and/or your family to create the desired future! I specialize in working with college students (young adults), adults, couples, and families. I also work with grief & loss and immigrants' acculturation issues. Don't wait to take charge of your life! I offer free 20 minute phone consultation to check if we are the right fit. You can call me at (858)280-6030

I provide objectivity, experience and compassion to help you understand what's happening in your life in a comfortable, non-judgmental environment. If change is what you identify as your desired goal, then that is the next step. I help people deal with life transitions, grief and loss and ongoing relationship stress. If you are living an uncomfortable or unsatisfying daily life, we can work together to clarify what isn't working and develop ways to improve your life!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.