Therapists for college students near 90089

I became a therapist because I believe healing happens in spaces where you feel truly seen, heard, and safe. My approach to therapy is warm, relational, and deeply human. I show up as my authentic self so you can feel free to do the same – without judgment, pressure, or pretense. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or unsure of your next step, we will move at a pace that feels steady and supportive for you. Together, we create a space where vulnerability feels safe, growth feels possible, and lasting change feels attainable. Above all, I want you to feel that you don’t have to carry everything alone anymore. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, respected, and genuinely understood from the very beginning. I approach therapy with warmth, authenticity, and steady presence, helping you feel supported while also empowered to grow. Therapy with me is collaborative and personalized. I draw from evidence-based approaches while tailoring our work to your unique needs and goals. I want you to feel that you are not alone — and that meaningful, sustainable change is possible. I deeply believe in nervous system resets… and I’m usually the first one to step outside for a few deep breaths.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience working with adults with depression, anxiety, work stress, self esteem and relationship issues.

As a bilingual therapist with over a decade of experience, I'm dedicated to guiding individuals through challenges like depression, anxiety, life transitions, and conflict, as well as helping them process daily stressors. My approach is client-centered, believing you're the expert on your own life; I act as a coach, helping you achieve your goals. Our sessions are comfortable yet effective, integrating evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness to help you find clarity, peace, and lasting positive change. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.

Early on, friends would often come to me for advice, and they told me I was a good listener. That made me curious about becoming a therapist. But once I started studying psychology, I realized therapy isn’t really about giving advice. It’s more about helping people explore their experiences, understand themselves better, and find their own solutions. Making sure you feel heard and understood is really important to me. One of the main ways I try to do that is by listening closely and reflecting back what I’m hearing, so we can check that I’m understanding you the way you intend. I’ll also ask questions to help clarify things and give you space to talk at your own pace. If at any point something I say doesn’t feel right or I misunderstand you, I really welcome you telling me so we can adjust together. My goal is for this to be a space where you feel comfortable sharing openly Building trust is really something that develops over time. My role is to create a space where you feel respected, not judged, and able to speak openly. I try to do that by listening carefully, being honest and consistent, and checking in with you about how our work together is feeling. If something isn’t working for you, we can talk about it and adjust. Therapy works best when it’s collaborative, so we’ll be figuring things out together. I really enjoy writing when I have the time and motivation for it. It’s something I’ve always found helps me think and reflect. Lately I’ve also been on a bit of a health kick—going on walks and taking some quiet time to myself. I’ve found it’s a really nice way to reset and clear my mind.

As a therapist with both a personal and professional understanding of trauma, military service, and the LGBTQIA+ community, I’m well aware of the strength required to overcome hardships. That’s why I’m so inspired by my clients’ resilience and their commitment to healing. It’s an honor to stand beside them as they face the tough work of processing adversity, healing trauma and practicing a new way to fight through life’s challenges. I approach therapy with a no-nonsense, trauma-informed, and inclusive mindset. My goal is to create a space where clients feel safe, but also pushed to dig deep and face their realities. I listen closely to their stories, and together, we confront the hard truths. We reshape self-narratives, understanding that the way we speak and think about ourselves, others and the world shapes the way we live. I believe trust in the therapeutic relationship is built through respect. There is no hierarchy in therapy, but rather two people working together for change. I believe in giving clients the space to lead, while collaborating with them to confront patterns and beliefs that no longer serve them. My hope is that every client takes ownership and control over their own healing, with each step being a move toward real, lasting growth.

I am duly certified as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner. I became a RN in 2006 and a family nurse practitioner in 2012. After working in family medicine, I became very passionate about mental health. I felt called to serve those who were often overlooked. Therefore, I got my board certification in psychiatry/mental health in 2018 and pursued psychiatry full time. I have been working at Foresight Mental Health since 2021. I’m inspired to work in mental health because of how rewarding it is. Being able to help someone through a life transition and be part of that journey to help them navigate it is a privilege. I strive to treat my patients as my own friends and family, as they are putting their trust in me to help them navigate through life transitions. My approach is collaborative and supportive and I aim to provide health services that place emphasis on both care and cure. Mental health is such a big part of our overall health, therefore I strive to eliminate the gap between behavioral and physical health and focus on improving overall health & wellness. My focus is to help my patients be as healthy and happy as possible.

I’m really passionate about mental health and I genuinely enjoy helping people work through their challenges and find ways to improve their lives. I work to make a real difference by being someone who listens and supports clients in a way that helps them feel understood and empowered. I want to help them build the tools and confidence they need to handle whatever comes their way. My goal is to create a space where they feel comfortable exploring their feelings and making positive changes in their lives. I often use CBT which is highly effective in helping clients identify and alter dysfunctional thought patterns and behaviors. This approach is beneficial for addressing anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders. I also incorporate aspects of DBT, especially the mindfulness and emotion regulation parts. These techniques provides clients with practical skills to manage their emotions and relationships more effectively. PCT and ACT are also central to my practice. t’s important to me that clients feel heard and valued in our sessions and help clients stay present and committed to making positive changes, even when things get tough. I enjoy working with diverse communities such as minority and marginalized communities, refugees and immigrants, individuals experiencing homelessness, people with substance use disorders, caregivers, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, veterans, survivors of trauma and domestic violence, elderly populations, individuals with chronic illnesses, and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. My aim is always to provide tailored, empathetic support that meets the specific needs of each client. Throughout my career, I’ve had the chance to work with all sorts of people, from children in kindergarten, teens, adults and trauma survivors. These experiences have really shown me how strong and resilient people can be. Personally, dealing with my own challenges has taught me the power of empathy and creating a safe space for clients. I always aim to stay updated with the latest therapy techniques to give my clients the best support possible on their healing journeys.

For 14 years, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside teens and adults through some of life’s hardest moments. I especially love supporting people navigating trauma, anxiety, and depression, along with the emotional, family, and relationship challenges that often come with them. Whatever brought you to therapy, you’ve found a warm and caring place to start. Wherever you are in your journey, you don’t have to figure it out alone, and I’d be honored to help you find your way forward.

We support college and graduate students navigating stress, anxiety, mood concerns, burnout, and major life transitions. Our clinician-led team offers compassionate, evidence-based mental health care in a collaborative and nonjudgmental space, helping students build coping skills, resilience, and confidence as they balance academics, relationships, and personal growth.

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!

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.

My personal background, culture, and values play a large role in my inspiration to be a therapist. I recognize how everyone has their own history, which will shape who they are and how they react to positive and negative situations. My cultural and educational background are a constant reminder of the importance of empathy when hearing someone’s individual story. I’m passionate about helping others who need support in current childhood challenges, processing childhood trauma, creating healthy communication habits to form strong relationships, and processing the impact of anxiety and depression. We will be working as a team to help you get closer to the goals you want to meet. With strength based approaches, I hope to empower you to reflect on your emotions and utilize the learned skills to start implementing them into your life, outside of our sessions. My priority is to include your own background, experiences, and values to set goals for treatment. Communication is key in all relationships and is necessary to feel safe and understood in your treatment. Building rapport is a vital part of beginning the trust between a client and a therapist. During my first session with adults, I like to review your goals and expectations of treatment, as well as any previous experiences in therapy, as those can shape our view of treatment. I want to make sure I take your most important values into account in order to create a safe therapeutic environment. From my experiences, children and teens have a harder time building that trust. Therefore, my first session with them includes a whole session dedicated to getting to know one another with an ice breaker activity. I find this helps form the foundation to that safe space to begin opening up.

“I didn’t find therapy, therapy found me.” I believe my own journey through various stages of life, as a teacher, coach, confidant, and parent, provided me a deep calling and inspiration to serve and support people from all walks of life as a therapist. I thoroughly enjoy the therapeutic process and empowering clients to reach their goals and beyond. It’s imperative that as a therapist, I am curious to know my client and give them the nonjudgmental space to express their issues, concerns, emotions, etc. I am an attentive listener who inspires the client to take the steering wheel of where they want to go. Through collaborative work together and keeping an open mind, I will be there for the client to explore what will work best for them and how they will get there. I approach therapy as client-centered, every person has their own story, their own experiences in life. With an empathetic ear and through the client’s self-exploration and goals in mind, I like to practice an integrative perspective that may intertwine the client’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Creating a safe and supportive environment will allow for a positive therapeutic environment and promote growth.

Hi! I’m Jen, a therapist living & working in Santa Monica, CA. I offer in-person and virtual therapy for teens, adults, and couples, with a special focus on supporting college students navigating life’s big transitions. College can feel like a constant pressure to have it all figured out, like keeping up with classes, planning your future, maintaining relationships, becoming independent. It’s easy to go on autopilot and miss the internal struggles happening under the surface. In our work together, we’ll take a closer look at the patterns, beliefs, and experiences shaping how you move through the world - not with judgment, but with curiosity. That might mean noticing how the past shows up in the present, tuning into what actually feels good (which often gets overlooked), or learning how to ask for what you need with more confidence and empathy. I know firsthand what it’s like to seem “fine” on the outside while feeling overwhelmed inside. My own experiences navigating high-pressure environments, family dynamics, and personal growth have shown me how powerful it is to have a space for reflection, connection, and honest support. My approach is insight-driven, relational, and strength-based. This means we'll work on understanding why you do what you do, not to label it, but to learn from it, and build on the strengths you already bring to the table. The relationship we build in therapy becomes a space to practice things like vulnerability, setting boundaries, and getting your needs met, so that over time, the changes you make here can ripple into your everyday life — in classes, friendships, dating, and beyond.

Find Your Balance, Center for Growth & Change Inc. Real support for real life—because college isn’t easy. Balancing school, work, relationships, and your future can feel overwhelming—and you don’t have to figure it out alone. At FYBC, we provide therapy that meets you where you are, whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, burnout, relationship challenges, or just feeling “off” and not sure why. We make getting started simple, with flexible scheduling, insurance options, and a team that truly understands the pressures students face today. Whether you need short-term support or a space to grow long-term, we’re here to help you build clarity, confidence, and balance in your life. You don’t need to wait until things get really bad to talk to someone. If something feels off, that’s enough. Please feel free to contact us directly for any questions at 818-927-0478 and send your referrals to this link: https://www.findyourbalancecenter.com/referral

Welcome! My name is Erin and I am a therapist who loves working with college and grad students going through transition, building identity and community, or seeking support during difficult chapters. I aim to help my clients listen closely to the guidance of their inner voice as they find a way forward from confusion towards a vision of life that feels exciting. My approach is warm and collaborative, grounded in narrative therapy and a post-traumatic growth lens. I have years of experience supporting people through depression, anxiety, trauma, and social anxiety and isolation. I also emphasize community building and creativity as essential pillars of mental health. Together we'll find the approach that helps you move toward a life that feels more fully alive. I love being a therapist and am honored to do this work. If you think we would be a good fit, fill out the contact form on this page and we will be in touch!

Tiffany Milbourne-James is dedicated to supporting individuals in managing their health and mental challenges. In initial sessions, Tiffany begins with introductions and explores each person's unique challenges to develop a tailored plan for ongoing work together. She incorporates motivational interviewing and utilizes a strength-based, mindfulness-based, solution-focused, and emotional regulation approach to therapy. Tiffany is known for her creativity, flexibility, and awareness, always adapting to meet the specific needs of every individual.

From the very first meeting, I approach each client with a deep respect for their lived experience and an understanding that beginning therapy can feel both vulnerable and courageous. My intention in that initial session is to create a space that feels grounded, collaborative, and nonjudgmental, where clients can begin to share at their own pace. I focus on listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, and gaining a holistic understanding of what brings them in, while also attending to their strengths, values, and hopes for change. Establishing a sense of safety and trust is central, as I view the therapeutic relationship itself as a meaningful foundation for growth. My path toward becoming a therapist was shaped by a longstanding curiosity about human behavior, emotional resilience, and the ways people make meaning of their experiences. Over time, this curiosity evolved into a commitment to supporting others through life’s challenges in a purposeful and compassionate way. I have been particularly inspired by witnessing how individuals can develop insight, shift patterns, and reconnect with their sense of agency when provided with the right support. This work continues to be deeply meaningful to me, as it allows me to walk alongside clients as they navigate change, cultivate self-understanding, and move toward greater well-being. I approach the development of trust and a strong therapeutic alliance as an intentional, ongoing process grounded in consistency, transparency, and genuine attunement. I prioritize active listening and strive to understand the client’s experience from their perspective, reflecting both content and emotion to communicate empathy and validation. I am mindful to move at a pace that feels comfortable for the client, recognizing that trust develops over time and cannot be rushed. Ultimately, I view the therapeutic alliance as the foundation of effective therapy, and I remain committed to fostering a relationship in which clients feel seen, heard, and empowered throughout their process. One personal detail I sometimes share is my appreciation for incorporating music into my daily routine as a way to feel grounded and centered. I find that music can be a simple yet meaningful way to regulate mood, create a sense of calm, and reconnect with the present moment.

My inspiration to work in the mental health field is to meet the individuals I serve where they are at in their mental health journey. My drive is to provide understanding, empathy, and knowledge to the individuals I work with and to empower them to improve their quality of life. I hope to impact those I serve in a positive way, help them find their strengths, talents and learn to love themselves. Before I was a therapist, I was a certified nurse assistant. As a certified nurse assistant, I saw many of my clients in their most vulnerable state, and alone. I came to find out through my experience that even though I helped my clients with their daily activities, the most important aspect of my job was listening to my clients with an empathetic ear and being by their side during their hardest times. Once I realized I made more of a difference by just listening to my client’s feelings and being there for them, I realized my purpose was to become a therapist. I enjoy building trust and a strong therapeutic alliance with my clients by meeting the client where they are at in their recovery, by utilizing humor and providing a safe and empathic environment for clients to share. The methods, approaches and philosophies I use in treatment to build trust with clients are motivational interviewing, crisis interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused-based therapy, narrative therapy, role-play therapy, strength-based approach, behavioral theory, system theory, empowerment theory, and social theory. I have had the honor to build trust and work with all ages, 0-99 years old. I enjoy working with all people from all backgrounds. I have a background working with children and teens in the foster care system, aging adults in skilled nursing home facilities, individuals in mental health stabilization care, and in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. I am someone who truly values life and believes in making the most of every opportunity to grow and learn. I enjoy learning new things and continuously expanding my knowledge, both personally and professionally. Staying active in my community is very important to me, especially when it comes to advocating for and supporting the people I serve. I take pride in being involved, listening to others’ needs, and working to help create positive change. My passion for helping others, combined with my love for learning and community involvement, motivates me to continue growing and making a meaningful impact wherever I can.

To the strong ones, You’re the one everyone leans on—but who do you lean on when the weight gets too heavy? You’ve built a life around being the reliable one, the fixer, and the steady hand in every storm. Whether in your career or your family, you are the person with the answers, the one who 'carries it well.' But high-functioning isn't the same as high-flourishing, and the pressure to maintain that strong exterior has become a silent tax on your peace of mind. Being the 'strong one' is a lonely place to be. While you’re busy taking care of the world, your own needs have become an after-thought. You deserve a space where you don’t have to perform, hold the posture, or take care of anyone else. We specialize in working with high-capacity individuals who are ready to trade "performing strength" for authentic resilience. Our approach is a blend of deep empathy and direct, results-oriented insight. This is your sanctuary—a place to deconstruct the pressure to have all the answers and finally breathe. You’ve taken care of everyone else long enough. It’s time someone held the space for you. Contact us today to schedule your free 15 minute phone consultation.