Therapists for college students near San Francisco State University

Sometimes the journey of accomplishing your dreams, well, it isn't exactly as you thought it would be. Juggling academic stress, imposter syndrome, past trauma and family commitments can be overwhelming. Hi my name is Ceila (say-la) and I know too well how isolating the student experience can be, especially as a first generation college student. I hoped we can work together to help easy some of your recent struggles. I accept multiple insurances on Rula and Headway, feel free to reach out for a consultation.

For years I navigated the fast-paced world of tech, a path that provided stability but left a nagging sense of yearning. Through attending therapy myself, I began a long journey of self-discovery to finally recognize the person I truly wanted to be. This wasn’t just about a career change; it was about uncovering the voice I’d kept hidden and the connections I craved. Now, my passion lies in helping clients embark on their own journey to become their most authentic self. My goal is to create a supportive, non-judgmental environment in which clients can explore their thoughts and feelings freely. Whether you are contending with overwhelming emotions, seeking to improve your relationships, or struggling with a difficult life transition, I am here to help guide you towards greater understanding and resilience. With a compassionate and evidence-based approach, I am confident that we can work together to help you achieve your goals and lead a more fulfilling life. As a therapist, I leverage Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to empower clients to manage their emotional and behavioral struggles. During sessions, we will collaboratively identify unhelpful thinking patterns that contribute to negative emotions or problematic behaviors. We will then explore the evidence for and against these thoughts, fostering a more balanced and realistic perspective. My approach is grounded in meeting each individual where they are on their journey toward healing and growth. My background in traditional work environments allows me to uniquely connect with professionals and students facing work stress, burnout, or career dissatisfaction. Being a former video game developer who stays current on the latest trends, I also find that I easily connect with kids, young adults and teens.

Hey we get it. Life’s a lot right now. Between classes, work, family pressure, figuring out who you are, and trying to keep it together… it’s overwhelming. You might be anxious, stuck, burnt out, or just tired of pretending you're okay. At Freedom Within, we’re here to help you sort through all of it. Relationships, trauma, stress, identity, future plans, anxiety, we cover it all. No judgment. Just support that makes sense for where you’re at. We will help you cut through the BS and come out the other side with a better sense of self, identity and purpose. We have several different therapists and match you with the one who gets you. Someone you can feel safe talking to about even your most challenging struggles. We also offer nutrition counseling for those wanting to explore changes to diet and their impact on your mood and overall health! You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s figure it out together.

If someone asked you not to think for 10 minutes how hard would that be? Is overthinking about the “What Ifs” driving you to relentlessly check things over and over again? Are you determined to find certainty in an uncertain world? Do you frequently ask others repeatedly if something or someone is going to be OK? No matter how much you do a task or say a particular thing does peace of mind elude you? Does the compulsion to handwash, re-read, double-check, pray, or re-arrange items never provide lasting relief? Do you find yourself burdened by intrusive thoughts that strike against your will and preoccupy your mind for hours a day? OCD is characterized by unabating obsessions matched with intense mental or behavioral rituals to relieve the anxiety provoked. It is not treated by “talk therapy” but with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Through customized gradual exposures, ERP is an evidence-based method of intervention to reduce the severity of OCD symptoms. Exposure Therapy Designs is a telehealth practice that focuses on providing EMDR and ERP for individuals struggling with OCD and PTSD. Our clinicians offer evidence and strengths-based counseling with multicultural sensitivity. We are solutions-oriented and practice from a Solutions Focused Brief Therapy Model. ERP is a collaborative and creative approach to learning new skills and strategies to become comfortable with uncertainty and more confident in your ability to handle life’s unexpected challenges. My style is compassionate, client-centered, and culturally sensitive. Licensed in California and Massachusetts. Registered Out-of-State Telehealth provider for Florida. Research indicates that approximately 40 to 60 percent of OCD conditions have a trauma onset. Often talking about the trauma(s) can retraumatize a person. For that reason, Eye Movement and Desensitization Response (EMDR) and the Flash Technique are evidence-based treatment interventions utilized to resolve the severity of PTSD symptoms. Our treatment focus is on neurodivergent issues and gifted learners. Therapeutic style is evidenced and strength based, multiculturally sensitive, solutions oriented, client centered, and collaborative. You are the expert on you. Our role is to facilitate and support an awareness of how to implement changes to overcome unhelpful patterns in thinking and decision-making. We strive to see the whole person not just a list of symptoms. Understanding your unique background is key because therapy is not a cookie-cutter approach. Our team includes providers who are Certified Level One Solutions Focused Therapists and received specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Habit Reversal Training (HRT). We also have clinicians who have completed Basic training in EMDR and the Flash Technique. We work with individuals experiencing neurodivergent issues, gifted learners, individuals coping to manage life transitions, women’s mental health issues around shifting roles in family and career, and immigration/re-entry adjustment stressors. We have licensed therapists who can see individuals residing in California, Florida, Massachusetts and Virginia. However our Associate Clinicians are only able to see residents of California at this time. Individuals who have Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, Lyra, SpringHealth, or Sutter EAP benefits are able to use their health plan coverage to pay for sessions with our licensed clinician only. For everyone else we work with Mentaya, a platform that helps clients get money back on out-of-network therapy sessions. If you have out-of-network benefits, Mentaya will file claims and handle the insurance paperwork to make sure you get reimbursed. They charge a 5% fee per claim and have helped people get thousands of dollars back per year. You can sign up using this link: https://app.mentaya.com/register?p=XqKyUZD7e4vJZUJ89P3c Note: Mentaya's goal is to save you time and money. It's completely optional, and as your therapist, I do not benefit in any way from your participation. **Sliding scale rates available on a limited cash pay-only basis with our Associate Clinicians**

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.

Do you find yourself asking “why is life so fucking hard?” Are you experiencing challenges in life or a relationship? I specialize in working with adults that are feeling like their lives or relationships are off track. I will help you identify what is important to you, how to communicate your wants and needs, and how to start aligning your life with your values. Together, we will get to know you and what’s getting in the way of living the life you want. We will develop new ways of looking at your problems and create solutions together. We will talk about who you are, what your values are, and who you want to be moving forward. I believe we can change when we feel safe, cared for, and understood. I tailor my approach to your needs to address depression or anxiety caused by trauma, relationship issues, or other life challenges. Your services are about you & what you need. I’ll help you explore your life in a way that you feel understood and safe as you learn and grow. I know that life can be overwhelming. Sometimes what we need is a place to unload & get some fresh perspective (or a kick in the ass). I started my private practice because I wanted to create a life in line with my values. Are you ready for that life? Schedule a consult & lets see if we are good fit for each other. The consult is free, and so are the jokes!

I rely on an intersectional trauma-informed lens to approach the concerns you want to explore. I utilize a combination of interventions including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-focused Therapy, mindfulness exercises, and creative expression to support clients in deepening their wellness journey. 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.

We can find balance in creating meaning and honoring the stresses and grief that life has to offer, and decide together how to adaptively, intentionally, and meaningfully move forward in our lives. Help me understand your hurt, and you will no longer be alone in it. I would be honored to join you in your healing journey. Let's be intentional in our daily lives and create meaning in the "good" and "bad" days, as well as the "everything in between" days. I encourage you to consider how the way we think is the way we feel. Let's uncover the kernels of truth in our negative thinking and work to adopt more adaptive perspectives to regain power over our toughest critic: our own self. As we work together, I will balance meeting you where you are at and appropriately apply therapeutic interventions to challenge you. 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.

I became a therapist because I want to help people become their best selves. I always want to help you feel understood, safe, and supported, in a completely non-judgmental space, especially if these things are already lacking in your life. You should know that you can talk to me without fear of judgement and that I care about you, and all of my clients. I have experience with both children and adults. All ages are welcome! I make an effort to meet clients where they are and ask what they hope to gain from their time with me. I try to build trust by taking a nonjudgmental approach of positive regard for all my clients. I will tailor my approach to the situation and to what the client wants. For some that will mean more empathetic listening, for others it may mean more praise, positive feedback, coping skills, increasing awareness, reframing a situation or a certain level of coaching. I find that everyone is different and has different needs, so I adjust my approach accordingly. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope to see you soon!

"The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination" - Carl Rogers. As a therapist, I believe in helping clients find (or rediscover) their direction in living the life that best suits them. I also believe that one of the most important factors in therapy is the goodness of "fit" between therapist and client. Through the therapeutic process, I work towards helping clients learn insights about their life, which in turn help them to make better choices and find more overall satisfaction in their life. Past clients have mentioned finally feeling seen in their work with me, and enjoy my openness, genuine responses, and humor in session. I hope to help you in the same way, and to help you explore different facets of yourself, offer new insights, and help you build more skills to live a more fulfilling life. I am currently seeing new clients via teletherapy. Please reach out with any questions or concerns you might have.

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Life can be overwhelming and bring challenges that seem bigger than ourselves. This can lead us down rocky terrain. If you find yourself exhausted, unmotivated, anxious, depressed, feeling helpless or hopeless, know that it is okay to seek help. You can change your path. As a therapist it is my goal to meet my clients where they are on their path, to assist them in learning how to access their inner strengths, to practice self-compassion, and learn to overcome harmful narratives developed from past traumas. I work collaboratively with my clients to help them achieve their goals and live a more fulfilled life. Change can be uncomfortable but with a strong therapeutic relationship and support it can feel more manageable, empowering, and exciting. The core of my practice is a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, self compassion work, and mindfulness. I am also a registered art therapist allowing for therapeutic exploration through art for clients who are interested.

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.

You Don’t Have to Navigate College Alone College can be an exciting time of growth and possibility, but it can also bring unexpected stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. Sometimes, the experience of adjusting to college can feel even more complicated when you’re balancing the expectations and values of your culture, family, and community with the person you’re becoming. I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who specializes in supporting individuals through life transitions, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I understand that college is more than academics—it can be a time of figuring out who you are, where you belong, and how to create a life that feels authentic to you. My approach is collaborative, culturally responsive, and centered on you. I meet clients where they are and create a space where you can explore your experiences without judgment. Together, we can identify what matters to you, understand the experiences that may be affecting you, and work toward goals that you choose. Whether you’re struggling to adjust to college, feeling overwhelmed by expectations, navigating your cultural identity, coping with past experiences, or simply feeling stuck, therapy can be a space to slow down, make sense of what you’re experiencing, and reconnect with your sense of agency. You don’t have to have everything figured out before reaching out. Therapy can be a place to start.

My aim is to help clients understand how their history and programming influences patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. When insight and self-awareness of these patterns is established, we will develop ways to shift the combination of these things in a direction that is consistent with what is important or helpful. My experience has primarily been in a variety of outpatient mental health settings, including community mental health, intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization program, primary care integration, and private practice. 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.

As a dedicated bilingual (English/Spanish) speaking mental health practitioner, I am deeply committed to facilitating the emotional healing journey for adults. My practice is rooted in a person-centered philosophy, where I specialize in integrating a comprehensive array of therapeutic approaches. These include Internal Family Systems Therapy, Brief Strategic Family Therapy, the Gottman Method, Collaborative Couples Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Care. This eclectic mix of methodologies enables me to create a bespoke healing experience for each client, meticulously tailored to address their unique needs and challenges. My approach is inherently collaborative, emphasizing a partnership with individuals, families, and couples who entrust their care to me. By combining these diverse psychotherapy techniques, I aim to foster a nurturing and empathetic space that supports clients in navigating their emotional landscapes. It is a privilege to have worked with clients from almost every continent, including those from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. This global experience enriches my practice, enhancing my ability to understand and cater to various emotional and psychological needs. 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.

Our mission at Center for Modern Therapy is to help individuals and couples find understanding, growth, and balance in the complex lives we lead in today’s world. We all have multiple relationships that we engage in daily; relationships with our self, our partner, our child, or coworkers and friends, and some aspect of the environment (substances, food, exercise). These relationships all intersect at one point or another and we often find that striking balance with this is quite challenging. Often, we find ourselves in chaos, feeling dissatisfied and alone. Center for Modern Therapy is here to help you navigate these relationships, understand them, grow within them, and find balance among them. Our space is inviting and warm, and our highly skilled professionals will meet you where you’re at in your life, no matter where that is.

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I help women explore the complexities of mental health, womanhood, and modern life. I provide a safe space for women to share their challenges, triumphs, and experiences. I provide a range of psychotherapy services that empower women to take control of their mental health. I am committed to helping women reach their highest potential and live their best lives.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.