Therapists for college students near Los Angeles, CA

**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!

I work with non-linear thinkers who are searching for a therapist with intuitive wisdom who cherishes the divergent path. I specializes in connecting with ADHDers who have always felt different even if others couldn't tell. My clients are notoriously curious and adept improvisors, who are playfully creative, but they still feel perpetually out-of-sync with the world around them. They charm others with their insight and levity, and save the biting criticisms for themselves. So they end up feeling like anxious imposters, waiting to be exposed. Acquiescing to others has helped you get by without too many catastrophes, but deep down you can't keep convincing yourself that you're okay with just getting by. There's a deeper itch that's beckoning you into an alternative way of being. Yes, still different, but personal, integrated, aligned with your soul. I approach therapy as the life-changing work that it is, and while there's a serious commitment to exploring one's psyche, it doesn't mean you or I are required to take ourselves too seriously. Excavating one's own lived experience and the difficulty of navigating a world not built for you is not for the faint of heart, yet we continue to be curious, adapt, and play. I am intentional in creating and holding space for clients to find and share a more authentic version of themselves. Clients are well-met when they bring curiosity about their distinct approach to life, courage to speak what has been left unsaid, and compassion to nurture a deeper truth about themselves.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Encouragers Counseling & Training Centers is a 501c3 nonprofit counseling center that provides mental health services in person or via Telehealth. Our clinicians are specially trained to address issues of trauma, addiction, anxiety, and depression. We are have 2 offices located in Southern California (Corona and Murrieta). Check our website to learn more: EncouragersUSA.org

I’ve been in private practice for almost 20 years. Something that sets me apart from a lot of other therapists is my strong commitment to having a good match between therapist and client. If I’m not the right match, I will try and help you find someone who is. I work collaboratively with my clients to form a relationship that feels supportive, while at the same time, helping to stretch their capacity in whatever area(s) they may be wanting to work on. I am warm and kind and non-judgmental, and also very honest and real.

College life can be tough whether it's your class schedule, balancing your time as a student athlete, making new friends, or dealing with unexpected obstacles or traumas. I offer a strength-based, empathic, and collaborative approach when working with clients. This includes providing EMDR Therapy as well as utilizing other trauma informed approaches, such as DBT and Trauma Focused-CBT. These tools can help you cope with depression, anxiety, stress, life challenges, and changes. I strive to build a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to heal, develop healthy coping skills, feel empowered, and grow. I look forward to working with you!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

We now offer an Intensive Outpatient Mental health program! This program is 3 days each week and currently serves individuals who are 18+. We utilize a lot of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to teach our patients tools they can utilize in their daily lives. Program is currently virtual. Ocean Psychiatry provides additional types of mental health services. Individual therapy, family and couples therapy, psychiatry, TMS and Spravato.

You want to heal your past but you don’t know how to do it alone. You want to be able to talk about what you have been through or are facing now without blame or shame. What would it be like to feel better in your relationship with yourself, with your partner, and with God? I offer the benefit of my professional experience and training combined with compassion and insight from God’s Word. Through counseling I can facilitate healing, improved communication, increase connection, and understanding.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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.

Pragmatic Solutions Psychotherapy is an individual practice founded to bring quality treatment to adults struggling with childhood onset trauma, adult trauma, depression, anxiety, distress related to health conditions, difficulty adjusting to major life issues, problems with self-worth, relationship issues, and more. I practice from a trauma-informed approach and can help you overcome early life stressors that may continue to bother you in your relationships with others and in your daily functioning. Much of the distress in dealing with mental health struggles comes from a lack of knowledge about the disorder you are experiencing, symptoms associated with it, and how to confront these symptoms in a way that brings about healing and growth. As my name suggests, I like to provide practical and tangible skills clients can use out of the office to help bring about change.

I am a licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience working with adults, adolescents, children, and families. I know that change is hard and seeking support is brave. It is a privilege to be alongside you in your journey towards becoming the person you want to be and living the life you want to live. Our therapy will be a space where it is okay to show up as your authentic self and share your feelings. We will collaborate to identify and work towards the changes you want to see in your life, brainstorm ways to overcome patterns you may feel stuck in, and support you in gaining the insight needed to foster progress. I have experience supporting clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, perfectionism, school and work stress, self-esteem, attachment, and interpersonal and family relationships. My approach aims to be relational, strength-based, and trauma-informed. I strive to bring empathy, humor, and a nonjudgmental approach to the therapy space to support you in your journey. I use an integrative, holistic approach that pulls from different therapeutic specialties that we will tailor specifically to your identified wants and needs - such as narrative therapy, family systems, mind-body connection, solution-focused, and emotion and person-centered.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Whether you're starting college, moving to a new city, exploring career paths, or navigating relationships, this chapter is filled with major transitions. It's a time of asking big questions—about identity, belonging, purpose, and connection. And while this growth can be exciting, it often comes with anxiety, self-doubt, loneliness, or feeling lost along the way. Maybe You’re: -Feeling anxious, unmotivated, or unsure of what you want -Constantly comparing yourself to others and struggling with self-worth -Feeling disconnected from friends, unsure about your relationship, or lonely in a new city -Confused about career direction or struggling to make major life decisions -Navigating identity, sexuality, or finding your place -Afraid of making the wrong choice or not living up to expectations -Dealing with difficult family dynamics or crises -Overwhelmed by the state of the world and unsure how to move forward with purpose My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and non-pathologizing. That means I believe that what you’re experiencing isn’t a personal failing—it’s a natural reaction to the larger systems you’re living within. Together, we’ll unravel where your patterns come from, the ways they’ve protected you, and how you can begin to explore new ways of being. We might: -Get curious about your beliefs around success, identity, and self-worth -Explore how family or cultural expectations have shaped you -Understand the relationship between mind and body -Work through shame, fear, or grief that keeps you stuck -Identify your values and true desires, regardless of external pressures or expectations -Begin to take notice of the patterns that are no longer serving you Whether you’re starting college, building a career, or simply trying to figure out your next -step, you don’t have to do it alone.

At Empowered Path Clinical Counseling, PC, we create a safe, welcoming space where you can be yourself without judgment. Many of the clients we work with have felt out of place, silenced, or unsure where to turn for support. You might be navigating stress, relationship challenges, identity questions, or past experiences that still affect you today. We understand how overwhelming life can feel, especially when you’re balancing school, work, relationships, and your own well-being. Our therapists are here to listen, help you sort through your thoughts and emotions, and give you practical tools you can use right away. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, identity exploration, past trauma, or just a general sense of feeling “stuck,” we focus on helping you feel heard, supported, and empowered to make positive changes. We especially welcome students from the LGBTQIA+ community, people exploring their identities, and anyone who has felt left out or misunderstood. This is your space to be seen, understood, and supported as you move toward a life that feels more like you.

If you've experienced frustration and anxiety, you might wonder whether it's always going to be like this. Life doesn't have to be this way anymore. I've developed helpful tools and resources to help you experience relief and work toward healing. I walk you step-by-step through practical approaches to regaining confidence in yourself and relationships around you. I offer therapy in person in Irvine, CA and also through a convenient online format to residents in California. Coaching sessions are available for international client's. My website can address any questions you might have, or you can call or email me to schedule a free initial consultation.

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’m a counselor with a deep commitment to helping people navigate the complex, often painful moments that life can bring. Life doesn’t always unfold the way we imagined. Struggles like anxiety, addiction, or simply feeling stuck can leave us overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of how to move forward. If you’re experiencing that, you’re not alone. I’m here to help you uncover what might be holding you back—whether it’s unresolved trauma, the stress of change, or a buildup of emotional weight that’s become too heavy to carry on your own. My therapeutic approach draws from depth psychology, with a strong emphasis on emotional processing and attachment. Together, we’ll work toward building a more compassionate relationship with yourself—one that creates room for healing, growth, and renewed possibility. I hold two Master’s degrees in Counseling Psychology—one from the University of Kansas and another from Pacifica Graduate Institute—and my approach is grounded in both academic training and a genuine passion for this work. I believe that meaningful therapy starts with feeling safe, seen, and supported. The process of change can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be something you face alone. I’m here to walk alongside you as we gently explore the patterns and experiences that have shaped your life—and to help you move toward the life you want to create. If you’re curious about working together, I offer a free 15-minute consultation by phone. It’s a chance for us to connect and see if we’re a good fit.