Therapists for college students near University of Southern California

Positive experiences with mental health care, both personally and through seeing its impact on those around me, inspired me to become a therapist. I value how it can meaningfully improve functioning and overall well-being, especially during times when people feel stuck or in need of additional support. This impact led me to pursue becoming a mental health therapist with the goal of providing that same support and guidance to others. My goal in helping clients is to support and empower them through the journey of healing and growth. I believe in providing a warm, trusting, and non-judgmental space that offers unconditional support and positive regard, helping clients feel comfortable sharing their feelings and experiences. Given my bi-racial and multi-cultural background, I believe it is essential to understand and incorporate the multi-faceted nature of each client’s context and background in order to effectively support them in working toward their therapeutic goals. In session, I offer a warm, collaborative, and safe environment grounded in respect, sensitivity, and compassion for every client I work with. When appropriate, I incorporate humor and positivity, while also validating the challenge and difficult areas of life for clients. I focus on empowering my clients using approaches that integrate person-centered therapy, strengths-based therapy, humanistic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). I take an eclectic and flexible approach to best suit the needs of each client. My aim is to provide a space to explore and understand clients’ unique personalities and experiences so I can equip them with the tools needed for long-term growth, resilience, and improved well-being. A fun personal fact is that I grew up in a military family, which gave me the opportunity to spend much of my childhood living abroad, including in Japan and Germany. Later, my education and early adult life took me to New York and Boston, but I love California the most and call it home now. I also am an animal lover, I love seeing client pets!

Better Mindset Therapy strives to create an authentic, welcoming atmosphere for her clients to explore their lives in a new way. She has experience helping children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-esteem, coping skills, and more. Here we use the therapeutic relationship to explore your early life experiences and bring unconscious thoughts and patterns into the conscious awareness.

Psychology is a fascinating field and I am passionate about helping people achieve their best selves. I have been practicing therapy for many years and in that time it has been a joy for me to see people find their joy and hope, and thrive! I believe in a collaborative working relationship and thus I approach therapy with a curious mind as we explore and discuss. I like to encourage self-empowerment, agency and independence and I like to check in with clients to confirm what I hear and give them the final say over their choice and life; I am merely the guide. I believe in practicing therapy collaboratively, working together where we will explore and discover the roadblocks and difficulties that brought them into therapy, and introducing new perspectives that will assist them in finding new ways to resolve their challenges. This is a recovery journey and I am merely the guide to assist each client in finding their best selves.

Being the first in your family to navigate college and professional settings is filled with excitement, growth, transition, and joy. It can also be lonely, confusing, and stressful. Do you feel caught between two worlds (family and work/school)? Do you underestimate your value or worth in places where you experience prejudice and discrimination? Are you struggling to define or accept who you are and what you value based on tensions with family or your culture? When you are First Gen, there are often challenges in both your professional and personal life that are hard to understand and cope with but you don’t have to do it alone. Working together, we will be able to gain clarity on how your experiences are impacted by your personal and family history, your communities, and society as a whole. We will shine a spotlight on your strengths, build your confidence, and help you lean into how amazing you are. We will explore how to manage the sad, frustrating, uncomfortable, and anxious parts of your life in a way that builds you up and grounds you in your values. Existing in two worlds doesn’t have to mean separating your life. You can be your full self with anyone, anywhere. If you are ready to get started on the next stage of your First Gen journey, contact me today!

Heather Ward, MA, LMFT, PMH-C, is a licensed therapist with deep roots in college campus mental health, having provided counseling and wellness support across multiple higher education settings in the Los Angeles area. Trained at the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education, Heather has worked at Pierce College, West LA College, and California State University, Northridge, where she managed large student caseloads, coordinated care with multidisciplinary campus teams, and developed workshops focused on building healthy relationships and emotional resilience. Heather brings a warm, collaborative style and a nonjudgmental presence to her work with students navigating depression, anxiety, identity shifts, and the pressures of academic life. She draws from attachment-based, psychodynamic, and mindfulness-oriented approaches to help clients build emotional regulation skills and strengthen their sense of self during pivotal life transitions. Earlier in her career, Heather also contributed to campus mental health from an administrative lens, developing and implementing strategic mental health and counseling initiatives at UCLA Extension — giving her a uniquely well-rounded perspective on how students are supported at an institutional level. Heather is committed to culturally sensitive, inclusive care and has experience supporting diverse student populations across community college and university settings.

Allowing others to feel heard, understood, and valued is very important to me. I feel everyone deserves to be met with compassion and empathy, especially when seeking support. While it’s not my place to give advice, I will always ensure that the therapy space is safe to explore thoughts, ideas, and feelings in a way that feels supportive and non-judgmental. I will push and challenge when needed, as a way to support growth and positive change. I’ll follow you and want you want to work on. I’ll provide direction as needed, but ultimately you’re the one that decides what therapy is about, given it falls within my scope of practice. My style will fluctuate based on your needs; I’m a bit “loosey-goosey”, but I’ve found that it helps me work with lots of different people and meet a variety of needs!

As someone from an underserved population who struggled to connect to resources, I understand how important mental health services are for our overall well-being. I believe it’s vital to challenge the stigma of mental health and create an environment where you feel understood and heard. Life has many challenges and transitions, and I am passionate about supporting others in their healing journey. I provide mental health services for anxiety, depression, and life transitions, as well as interpersonal relationships and challenges. I also value advocacy, an often underutilized tool that can support your life, and help clients connect to community resources and social supports. I believe collaboration is vital in the therapeutic process and I strive to work with clients to provide services that cater to their needs. I aid clients in building skills and tools that will benefit them in their healing journey. Throughout the treatment process, I make sure to aid clients in feeling comfortable communicating as therapy has been seen as a scary process for many. I use humor when clinically appropriate along with working to meet clients where they are and aid clients in understanding clinical issues in relatable terms. I love engaging in my nerdy side; whether it be reading, gaming, or discussing worlds and stories where helping the world is at a far grander and fantastic scale. I love connecting with others about their passions as I love connecting to my own outside of work.

I'm Morgan, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of California. I hold a sports background at the elite level and 9 years of experience as a helping professional in various settings which include at a private neuropsychology clinic, serving the community in Santa Clara County, public schools as a Counselor on Campus, and with individuals- both kids and adults alike- who have gone through profound marginalization and disempowering experiences. • Certificate in Montreal Cognitive Assessment MoCA • National Academy of Sports Medicine-Performance Enhancement Specialist Certified NASM-PES *My rates reflect the student discount fee, with sliding scale options offered as well. You may contact me here: https://care.headway.co/providers/morgan-brown?utm_source=pem&utm_medium=direct_link&utm_campaign=212683

Feeling lost, anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, alone? Figuring out how you feel, what you want, or who you are is just plain difficult, especially in the world we're living in now. Add to that a difficult personal history and doing 'well' can feel nearly impossible. You don't have to carry this all on your own. I became a therapist through my work in the arts and teaching meditation. I help clients develop a healthy inner life, relate to others deeply, and find meaning in their lives. My approach is relational, psychodynamic, Buddhist-based, and creative. My specialties include relationship issues, life transitions, grief, anxiety, depression, and existential dilemmas. I work with individual adults, couples, and facilitate interpersonal process groups. If you’re struggling with relationship issues: connecting with yourself or with others, experiencing grief, anxiety, or depression, or suffering through an existential dilemma, please reach out.

I have always wanted to make a positive impact and in my journey to figuring out what that was, I realized I enjoyed providing people with emotional support and that is when I decided to become a mental health therapist. This is a safe, nonjudgmental space. What is it that you need to feel heard and understood? I do not come from an expert stance. I believe you are the expert in your life and we are both coming together to work collaboratively on how to help you along your life journey.

I am Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 8 years of experience providing psychotherapy to individuals and families. I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling and Social Change from San Diego State University and my Master’s of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of La Verne. I have extensive experience working with clients across the lifespan, with a primary focus on supporting individuals navigating Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD, often in conjunction with co-occurring mood disorders. My background is rooted in behavioral work, including providing social skills training and addressing social anxiety among children on the spectrum. Additionally, I have experience working with victims of crime of all ages, supporting them in processing and healing from trauma.

I am inspired to work in the field of mental health care because of my passion for fostering meaningful change in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. My dedication to helping individuals build on their strengths and navigate challenges allows me to empower them to heal, grow, and thrive. Guided by empathy, I aim to create a space where people can feel understood and supported in their journey toward better mental health. To ensure clients feel heard and understood in sessions, I create a safe, non-judgmental space where they can express themselves openly. I approach each session with empathy, active listening, and cultural humility, tailoring my support to honor the unique experiences of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ2+ individuals, low-income families, children, adolescents, and trauma survivors. By validating their feelings, recognizing their strengths, and fostering trust, I help clients feel truly understood and supported throughout their journey. I build trust and a strong therapeutic alliance by creating a warm, non-judgmental, and compassionate environment where clients feel safe to share their experiences. I honor each client’s unique strengths, values, and goals, fostering a sense of partnership and mutual respect. This approach helps establish a strong foundation for meaningful growth and healing, allowing clients to feel supported and understood throughout the therapeutic process.

My journey into the field of mental health began with a deep seated passion for understanding human behavior and relationships. Through my exposure to stories of resilience and recovery shared by individuals who had benefited from therapy and my own personal journey into healing, I became inspired to pursue a career in marriage and family therapy, where I could make a tangible impact on people’s lives by helping them to navigate complex emotional and interpersonal issues. The opportunity to facilitate positive change and foster healthy relationships is what ultimately inspires and motivates me every day and for the past decade that I have been helping individuals and couples. Throughout my career I have been privileged to work with diverse populations and have built an earnest interest to the importance of cultural sensitivities. To ensure that you feel heard and understood, I prioritize creating a safe and non-judgmental space where you can express yourself freely. Active listening is at the core of my practice-I pay close attention to verbal and no-verbal cues, which allows me to grasp the nuances of your experiences. I strive to maintain an open dialogue to help you remain encouraged to communicate openly about your thoughts and feelings. By showing empathy and providing feedback tailored to your specific situations, I can align my therapeutic approach to fit your unique needs. My therapeutic approach is integrative, blending evidence-based practices such as DBT, Attachment-based, EFT, Trauma-informed, Schema Therapy, Somatic psychotherapy, Humanistic, Existential and Narrative. Building trust and a solid therapeutic alliance is fundamental to successful therapy. I begin by establishing rapport from the very first session, showing genuine care and concern for your well-being. Transparency is key-I clearly outline the therapy process and encourage questions, which helps demystify what therapy entails and sets mutual expectations. consistency, reliability and collaboration in our interactions further reinforce trust in the process. By maintaining confidentiality and showing respect for boundaries we can cultivate a confidential and supportive environment. I aspire to involve you in setting therapy goals and developing strategies while reinforcing your agency in our journey together. Through consistency, empathy, and active collaboration, I aim to build a lasting partnership that supports your healing journey. Lic # 132196

I love being a Mental health Therapist. I have been licensed as a Marriage and family child therapist, since January, 5 1985. I have worked in private practice and with Medical groups to provide the best mental health care available to each individual and to our community. I enjoy working with individuals, families, and with adolescents to improve daily functioning and improved mental health. I see each client as an individual with past experiences that only they can share their own history. It is very important to listen to what the client has experienced and to share their history. Trust and an empathetic relationship is paramount to have the client feel heard and safe.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Whether you are coping with loss, relationship challenges, emotional neglect, abuse, or systemic stress, you do not have to navigate healing alone. I strive to create a compassionate, supportive space where clients can build autonomy, strengthen coping skills, and develop emotional resilience. My goal is to help my clients better understand how chronic stress impacts emotional well-being and to develop the skills to create meaningful, lasting change. The part I love about this field is seeing my clients transform into the person they've fought hard to become. I have witnessed the impact of mental health needs within my community, therefore, I will support you no matter your class, population, or race. If you've made it this far, thank you for your time. I hope I am a good fit for you! Regards A. LCSW

I am passionate about helping clients obtained their Highest Potential. I believe in, and have benefited from, therapy to overcome life challenges including childhood trauma. I am an advocate for a client centered therapeutic relationship and enjoy working with individuals from different socioeconomic levels as well as cultural and religious backgrounds. I have a strong belief in the benefits of cultural humility creating a safe, nonjudgmental environment for my clients to process their feelings, guide their discovery, learn new skills; which in turn enables them to work towards healing and achieving goals. I am grounded in Spiritual Depth Psychology and cultivate a non-judgmental compassionate space in which the client feels safe. I practice mindfulness in the session and show warms and non-judgment, no matter is shared. I acknowledge if misunderstanding occur and repair ruptures with transparency and humility.

I am double-board certified; Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I am also A Reiki / Karuna Practitioner and Healing Touch Practitioner. I am currently taking one year course in Compassionate Inquiry which a therapy approach addressing root causes of trauma and addictions. I guide patients to connect with their strengths to empower them and install hope as well as witness their healing process, growth, and transformation. These have been the most rewarding and inspiring aspects of working in mental health care. Since every patient is an unique individual, I approach each patient holistically, as the whole including their physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental body.

I accept most major insurances. Please visit my website to schedule time with me! Hi, I’m Alvaro, a licensed professional clinical counselor based in San Diego. If you are dealing with anxiety, ADHD, stress during big life changes, or trying to make sense of college and everything that comes with it, I can help you sort through it. In our sessions you will get real conversation and practical tools, not just theory. We will look at what is getting in your way and work together on what feels manageable right now. You do not have to handle everything on your own. I have worked with people from many different backgrounds, and your story is welcome here. My goal is to offer a space where you feel heard, supported, and able to grow.

My name is Betel, and I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist providing telehealth services to individual adults, adolescents, couples, and families living anywhere in the state of California. I practice a humanistic and existential form of therapy, in which the art of nonjudgmental self-awareness is central. Through a process of sustained, open curiosity, my clients learn to renew contact with what they have exiled within. This experience of returning to one’s whole human nature brings increased choice, responsibility, spontaneity to their lives. As a guide, I also use depth and process-oriented techniques from gestalt, somatic, and mindfulness traditions. Therapy is a relationship and a dialogue. I show up with a style that is gentle but honest, and full of reverence for all the light & shadow that make up a human life. I especially welcome those that are pursuing matters related to identity, creativity, or major life transitions.