Therapists for college students near Los Angeles, CA

For many of us, the hardest challenge to overcome is to ask for help. If you're reading this, you've already found the courage to start becoming the best version of yourself. While as an individual you are unique, none of us are perfect and we all experience conflict, hardships, and a variety of emotions. I believe our life experiences as well as cultural background influence the way in which we interact with the world. I am a strong proponent of collaboration and I view the therapeutic relationship as a team. I have daytime availability Monday through Thursday. If you feel overwhelmed with all of the changes in your life and in the world around you, or conversely feel numb and detached, let's talk. I practice with a variety of clients, however I specialize in teens and adults experiencing the effects of life changes and transitions, codependency, relationship issues, and managing work/life balance. I have a gentle approach to building relationships combined with down to earth 'real talk' about what can help you feel better. I often incorporate mindfulness techniques into our work together, and am someone who's open to feedback and learning about your unique perspective on the world.

Therapy for adolescents and families- counseling to know yourself and Act Like You! Therapy can help bring about mindful change, by clarifying what is most important.

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Are constant changes making you feel lost and disconnected from loved ones? You're not alone. Many college students feel the same way—lonely, unworthy, and sometimes just getting out of bed feels impossible. I get it, and I'm here to help you navigate through it. Let’s work together to find fulfillment in your life. We’ll focus on managing your emotions, building healthy relationships, and understanding your past and present to empower you to live authentically. I believe in your ability to heal and grow. I offer teletherapy sessions designed to fit into your busy college schedule. My approach is compassionate and nonjudgmental, prioritizing your needs and goals. I strive to create a supportive environment that encourages personal growth and positivity. I'm excited to meet you—come as you are, and let’s heal together!

I believe my clients know themselves better than anyone else. I work to help my clients define and achieve their goals in a time-sensitive manner. I do not believe therapy has to take a long time; most of my clients graduate within 3-6 months. In my professional work, my deepest rewards come from seeing my clients become energized and passionate about their lives. I see myself as a coach or guide applying effective cognitive and behavioral techniques to help my clients find their way to mental health and happiness.

Hi! I'm Justine Short, MS, LMFT. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. For over 10 years, I continue to have a passion for helping people in finding their inner strength in order to make positive and lasting life changes. I view my role as a therapist to walk alongside and guide others to reach their full potential. My desire is to help others become self-aware, feel confident, and reach for hope so that they can thrive in their everyday lives.

Laurén (she/her, they/them) supports people of all ages experiencing a variety of mental health concerns including eating issues & disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, and problematic sexual behaviors.. Her therapeutic approach is client-centered, trauma-informed, and strength-based. In her work, she uses modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), family based treatment (FBT), emotion focused therapy (EFT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Laurén believes the therapeutic relationship is essential to fostering change, and attends to this connection throughout treatment. She is gender affirming in all of her care, and personally identifies as queer. Professional Experience Laurén’s clinical experience extends across the lifespan, including children, young adults, adults, couples, and families. Laurén spent ten years working in eating disorder treatment centers and supporting eating disorder clinicians in private practice. She approaches therapy with appreciation for each individual’s innate strengths and a desire to partner with them to support attainment of their goals. As a social worker, she is uniquely trained to view the individual from a systems framework, meaning in treatment she accounts for the impact of being a part of their family, community, institution, etc. Laurén believes all people are doing their best with the tools they have. Laurén has a diverse background of work and life experience outside of clinical practice. She has experience as an eating disorder recovery coach which she weaves into her therapy practice when appropriate. She has also worked as a sex educator, which taught her much about the spectrum of sexual behaviors and identities, gender expression, communication and consent, and sexual challenges. Laurén identifies as queer and Health At Every Size aligned, providing an inclusive safe space for all bodies, foods, genders, relationships, and sexualities. In addition to professional background, her personal life has taught her much about resilience and effective coping in the face of adversity. When Laurén’s not working, she enjoys spending time at the beach, gardening, traveling, listening to live music, thrifting, and spending time with her family and pets. Services Provided Laurén provides therapy to individuals, couples, and families residing in California. Supervised my Theresa Chesnut LCSW

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I'm glad you're here! My work is firmly rooted in existential humanism, meaning the search for meaning and self-realization is central to our work together. I believe you are the expert on yourself and your experience, and it is my great honor to walk with you on your path. I specialize in providing LGBTQ+ competent psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families. The relationship we will build collaboratively in session will aid you on your healing journey. I am skilled at creating a non-judgmental environment and accepting you where you are, no matter where that is, as we work to shine a light on what once seemed too dark to face.

Welcome! My name is Hannah (she/her/hers). I’m an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. My passion lies in fostering healing and resilience, particularly for survivors of childhood abuse, sexual assault, abusive relationships, mass violence, religious trauma and other traumatic experiences. I also work with clients struggling with attachment issues and mood disorders. For couples, I offer emotion-focused and psychodynamic couples therapy. I have extensive experience providing therapy to individuals and couples. I base my work in Psychodynamic Therapy and Existential-Humanistic Therapy. I also use Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure and Schema Therapy. I am currently training in EMDR and Hypnotherapy. I aim to provide comprehensive support tailored to each individual’s needs. At the core of my approach is a commitment to understanding each client’s unique experiences and worldviews, shaping a therapeutic journey that cultivates authenticity, meaning, and growth. It’s truly an honor to walk alongside clients on their path to healing.

Life transitions can be overwhelming, especially during the college years when so much is changing at once. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, relationship challenges, chronic health concerns, or trauma from the past, you don’t have to face it alone. I help students build confidence, balance, and emotional resilience through compassionate and evidence-based therapy. My goal is to help you better understand yourself, heal from what’s holding you back, and move forward with a stronger sense of peace and purpose.

I believe therapy is a creative endeavor. Having a space to speak freely and be heard with care and attention can provide a person with more internal space for lived experience, emotion, thought and desire. In psychotherapy, you can express your thoughts and feelings and gain insight into some of the unconscious sources of your conflicts. I will provide an attentive ear and a thoughtful mind. Together we can create a collaborative space wherein you can bring your self more fully. My goal is to create a supportive and safe space for clients to talk openly and feel understood. I also believe it is important to help clients connect issues and learn to have compassion for themselves. Along with increasing self-awareness and symptom relief, one of the most important gifts that therapy offers is the hope and possibility for real growth and change.

I am accepting new clients who may be feeling challenged by PTSD, substance misuse, system-impacted, institutionally traumatized and/or suffer from ADHD and/or Autism.

The backbone of my work is relational – meaning, the relationship between us is at the core of therapy. My training and experience have led me to believe that therapy is not "one size fits all", nor is it one therapist fits all. I will approach your situation, open to discovering what kind of therapeutic relationship will work for you at this time. I have training and experience in the following methods: CBT, Trauma Focused CBT, PCIT, and Narrative Therapy. After a thorough assessment, I typically like to collaborate with clients on the method that would work best considering the symptoms. In a typical session, clients can expect to feel heard and validated while tackling goals towards a happier life.

Hi! Glad you’re here. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I enjoy working with kids, adults, couples and families. I earned my Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego in 2005, and completed a clinical internship in UCSD’s Department of Family Medicine. There I collaborated with physicians in the care of patients and their family members. To this day, I follow a “bio-psycho-social” systems approach- looking at a client’s physical health (bio), emotional health (psycho), and current relationships and support systems (social). Because relationships can be both a source of worry - and also our greatest asset- a genuine connection (with family, friends, coworkers, etc) truly fosters improved emotional health. Considering our current stressors from a “systems perspective” allows us to cultivate a deeper understanding of how our family interactions and social connections affect our daily lives. We can enrich those connections, develop healthier boundaries, and connect meaningfully with people in our lives in a way that does not leave us feeling as drained or anxious. While it is certainly essential to address current challenges or problems, it is just as important to simultaneously identify strengths and assets already residing within. Looking at how to utilize coping skills, or learning new ones, helps bolster resiliency and brings new change. We work toward responding to adversity by changing course, healing, using new coping skills and then continuing forward. The act of seeking help can often feel overwhelming for anyone; it helps to not do it alone. I do my best to offer guidance, support, and dedicated focus on developing an approach tailored to meet a client’s particular set of current needs.

In the therapeutic space, I aim to help clients develop a deeper understanding of their difficulties through exploration of historical and interpersonal experiences. As a product of this exploration, we identify patterns in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that play a role in the development and maintenance of stress. With this new insight and understanding, and the application of specific coping skills and strategies, we are able to collaboratively work toward making the changes they desire in their lives. I enjoy working with individuals of all backgrounds and specialize in: depression, anxiety, grief/loss, cultural issues, and relational difficulties. As a South Asian immigrant, I am passionate about working with immigrants and adult children of immigrants who experience stressors such as: balancing a bicultural/multicultural identity, coping with generational trauma, navigating the barriers of a new country, and managing family expectations vs individual/personal desires. I also enjoy helping couples who seek to understand how personal family dynamics and experiences impact their relationship, or simply desire to enhance feelings of connectedness through healthy emotional expression, communication, and effective conflict resolution.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I very much enjoy working with college students in helping them navigate this time of transition from home to independent adulthood. Many college students I work with experience anxiety, chronic worrying, overwhelm, perfectionism, self-criticism, social anxiety, low self-esteem, distractibility, relationship issues, depression, academic struggles, feeling lost or unsure of their career path, and other obstacles that get in the way of reaching their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally. However, many students I work with find that these obstacles to be growth opportunities to develop greater self-awareness, inner alignment, and transformation that can lead to a more fulfilling, effective, and satisfying experiences in college and thereafter. Although this time in life can bring forth challenges that may seem insurmountable at times, I have generally experienced college students to be very insightful, bright, and resilient, and because of this, I delight in working with them! In addition to psychotherapy, I specialize in providing testing and assessments. Some college students often come to me because they have been diagnosed with a learning difference or ADHD in the past and they need an updated evaluation. Other college students come to me because they suspect they may have an undiagnosed learning difference or ADHD. Because of this, they would like to better understand their learning profile, including strengths and weaknesses, in order to receive the best support, such as specialized tutoring, executive functioning coaching, and accommodations on tests and assignments. I have been providing different types of assessments for several decades and in various contexts, and many students currently come to me from UCSF's dyslexia center, where I am listed as a referral: https://dyslexia.ucsf.edu/resources. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions regarding therapy or assessments. I am happy to provide you a free 30-mintue phone consultation!

With parents from two different continents and a childhood in a third, I am a product of globalization. I am incredibly curious about how we exist and make choices in this increasingly complex world of enmeshed culture and fractured identities. Knowing I wanted to approach therapy in a unique manner, I studied Drama Therapy. With that knowledge base, and previous experience in improvisational theater and fine art, my approach veers toward the embodied, the sensory, and the creative. I work mostly conversationally, but enjoy tangents into creative expression to bypass well-worn defensive structures of the overly-relied-on brain.