Therapists for college students near San Francisco State University

APPROACH As a psychotherapist, I am committed to helping you realize what you most want from life: fulfilling relationships, relief from self-defeating cycles, and self confidence. Working with me brings the clarity, guidance, and support you need to overcome barriers to contentment. My style is candid and astute, coupled with warmth and humor. I listen deeply and creatively so I can offer a new lens and insight to patterns that have been keeping you stuck. I help you maintain motivation and hope, even in the face of challenge. EXPERIENCE I am a licensed clinical psychologist with 20+ years experience working individuals, couples, and families. I use well-founded as well as innovative psychotherapeutic strategies including cognitive-behavioral techniques and psychodynamic approaches. In addition, I provide consultation and supervision to mental health providers.

We give young adults a safe space to explore what it means to become a grown, responsible adult. We help identify what’s important to them, visualize a healthy, productive future, and work with them to develop the tools to achieve both their daily goals and their big-picture goals for life. Each person has a unique concept of what a healthy and productive future looks like. We work with our young adult patients to help them discover that for themselves. Young adults having problems getting started in life – the failure to launch syndrome – and college students trying to find their way are ideally suited to benefit from our young adult IOP. The transition from adolescence to adulthood can be intimidating. For a person with a significant mental health disorder, it may feel overwhelming. We get that, one hundred percent. We’re patient, compassionate, and understanding. We help patients who feel lost find themselves. We help patients who feel scared develop the confidence and strength to move forward and face the challenges of life – and adulthood – head-on. We prioritize finding joy in life and creating a daily routine which, over time, creates the foundation for a healthy and productive future.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with transitional-age youth and adults adjusting to significant life transitions such as leaving home, attending college, building careers, beginning or ending relationships, parenthood, empty nest, and retirement. Much of my training has been in contemporary psychodynamic theory,  relational theory and strength-based models. For over seven years, I worked in a Bay Area high school with high-risk youth, which gave me a deep understanding of how the experiences of adolescents impact our lives and shape our identity.  I also have over 8 years of experience working with law students as they navigate law school, the bar exam, and the first few years of their careers. I use an integrated approach to best meet the needs of each individual client. I aim to create a safe and supportive environment for clients to make positive and lasting change.

I am a psychotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience in a variety of settings. I received my psychotherapy training at the San Francisco State University and graduated in 2012. After working at a private counseling center for 6 years, I opened my private practice in 2018 as a licensed marriage and family therapist. I specialize in working with LGBTQ+ adults and Asian adults. My areas of interests include gay/lesbian and gender issues, sexuality. I have history of interest in issues of race and culture and their intersection with psychoanalysis.

Hi ! Thanks for stopping by. Life can feel so confusing and hard to navigate at times. I work to help you learn more about yourself so you can better navigate the challenges in life. When we build awareness of our experiences we have more possibilities for change. I use a non-judgemental, supportive approach and aim to help you create space and develop tools to feel more at home with yourself. I look forward to learning how I can best support you in whatever you are going through right now.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

We are a group practice located in Berkeley, California. We provide in person sessions in Berkeley and online therapy in California, Hawaii, Florida, and Virginia. We specialize in supporting college students as they navigate academics, relationships, stress, loneliness, depression, anxiety, burnout, and more. Our therapists are warm and highly skilled in providing research-backed psychotherapy techniques including: Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Mindfulness and Positive Psychology Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) ​

What is it you need the most, in order to feel more satisfied with your life, to grow as a person, to grow closer to others, or to feel less anxious or depressed? We cannot always see ourselves clearly from the inside looking out. It can be very helpful to work with a professional therapist with specialized skill and training to discover, work through, and resolve complex experiences we carry with us that can negatively impact our life in ways that are difficult to comprehend on our own.

My practice was an oddity before COVID. Now it just makes sense. I meet most of my clients outdoors, on the hiking trails of the Berkeley and Oakland Redwoods. I of course also work with people online, too, but prefer to at least meet once or twice a month in-person: webcams are quite convenient, but still a 2D version of ourselves; it's definitely not ideal for the sort of conversational depth & breadth that we may embark on together. Put more plainly: Talking about the most stressful, anxiety producing, depressing, &/or shame-inducing stuff is best done in person, not online. Take a look at my website to get more of a feel for whether my practice may be a fit for you, and of course, don't hesitate to send an email or txt msg if you have questions: 415.823.1760

Students often come to Reframe CBT feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, overthinking, or pressure to succeed. Many are thoughtful and motivated, but get stuck in patterns of second-guessing themselves, replaying situations, or trying to figure things out before they can move forward. This can make it hard to focus, sleep, or feel confident in themselves. Our approach is collaborative and straightforward. We help students understand what’s driving these patterns and give them practical tools to respond differently—so they’re not stuck in their head as much and can move through school and daily life with more confidence and ease.

Eating disorders can feel hopeless, but they aren’t. Whether this is your first time seeking help, or your umpteenth time, I believe that everyone can recover. There are many reasons eating disorders are invited into your life. Just as there are many reasons why a person develops an eating disorder, the way you recover will be just as unique. If there was a one size fits all solution, that would perhaps be as deceptive as the problem itself. Whether it’s perfectionism, judgment, loneliness, self-improvement, health, fear, family issues… Together we will discover what invites these problems into your life, and begin to find what recovery means for them. I have been in the battle with food and weight, caught in the war zone of an eating disorder, and come out the other side. Now recovered, I love working with individuals and their loved ones to find their own version of recovery, and find out what is keeping you stuck from living the life you desire. Through conversations, we will create space to discover your preferences, hopes and desires. Many of my clients have described me as the “anti-therapist,” which is a description I wear with pride. I bring enthusiasm, improvisation, imagination, and creativity into each session. My ability to think outside the nine dots and ask questions that others may not enables me to develop creative solutions with clients to help untangle what many would consider to be complicated problems. I believe in (and embrace) experimentation: the freedom to test things out and see how they fit, to explore the various facets of yourself, and to allow for complexities, and contradictions, and messiness… all the stuff the eating disorder hates and recovery needs. Eating disorders, are strong, they need something stronger to overpower them. I want to help discover what that is for you.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

*Serving clients in California, Pennsylvania & North Carolina via teletherapy* I imagine you're looking for help, maybe a kind and guiding mental health professional wherever you are on your healing journey. Perhaps you've felt confused, misunderstood, unseen, overwhelmed with the constant pressures and stresses of this current moment. You may be struggling with shame, self-hatred, a lack of belonging, imposter syndrome. You might feel nervous about asking for help. I welcome the chance to work together in personalized, culturally sensitive, and confidential virtual therapy. As a multicultural and multiethnic cisfemale therapist of color, I seek to understand who you are, your worldview, and your environment. Once you reach out to me, I'll invite you to set up a consultation to discuss your needs, what's going on and how we may work together. We'll get to know each other a little. I'll also invite your questions and perspectives on what you're looking for in a therapist. Together we can help you heal, create a space to honor and respect who you are, and support a life of meaningful connection and empowerment. Contact me or schedule an initial consultation via the secure client portal https://ashleyaclemft.clientsecure.me/!

Even baddies get saddies — and anxiety, right? I get it as I’ve been there and it’s no fun trying to figure things out yourself. Therapy with me isn't about finding a band-aid to make your feelings go away. We’ll take time to understand why you feel, experience, and express emotions the way you do. Don't worry, we’ll go at a pace you feel comfortable with, if/when you're ready to go there. Finding ways to deal with the worries, sadness, stress, burnout, and self-doubts is another important part of therapy and isn’t one-size-fits-all. We’ll take time to unpack everything and tailor things to what your needs are. There are probably things, like old memories and experiences, that have stuck with you for some time. They might impact your self-esteem, your relationships, and how you move about in your life on a daily basis. We’ll work through any obstacles to help you move forward by taming that self-judgy voice of yours and so much more. If any of this sounds relatable at all, let’s schedule a brief phone or video call to see if we'd vibe together. You could tell me more about what you’ve been dealing with and what you're hoping to get out of therapy. I'll share with you how we could work towards your goals together.

While I see people for many types of reasons, I usually see clients individually that are looking to work on a present centered issue. These typically include school issues, work stress, relationship problems, or difficulty coping with anxiety / depression symptoms. In graduate school I was part of the sports psychology department. During this time I assisted in two different research studies. The first examined flow states in athletes (getting in "the zone"). The second study examined the effects of concussions in athletes. I draw upon these experiences to help students focus and stay motivated. I also had a side job in graduate school where I helped coach college students that had difficulty adjusting to college life. These practical, real world skills are something I continue to teach to this day. When meeting with a client, I keep the atmosphere relaxed and inviting. I want people to feel comfortable, but also know they are receiving "evidence based" care. This means what I say in our meetings is supported by research. That is why I use treatments that incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques. These treatments are supported by current research and have a high rate of success.

I specialize in chronic stress and trauma that disabled, neurodivergent, queer, and trans folks and their loved ones experience. I am an anti-oppressive therapist: no AI, no diagnosis without consent, and no calling the police. I have a 3 hour cancellation policy to increase access for chronically ill, sick, and disabled folks. Together we can explore topics of ableism, grief, and identity. Family, friendship, or individual sessions. My specialties include gender exploration, chronic illness, medical trauma, and caregiver support.

I am a licensed clinician (CA LMFT 1187995) currently accepting new clients at Hidden Quest Therapy! My practice is tailored for individuals who self-identify as Geeks & Gamers, Artists & Creatives, or Spiritual seekers. I specialize in utilizing Geek & Video Game Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Spirituality to support clients in cultivating the strengths they have developed within the symbolic, inner worlds of their passions and interests. Together, we work to extend these strengths into other areas of their lives with the goal of feeling just as capable, connected to community, and called to a greater purpose in the outer world.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Each person comes to therapy for unique and personal reasons. You may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or undervalued in your relationships or career choices. You might be very good at taking care of others, but don’t pay as much attention to yourself. You may not fit into conventional categories with how you identify, or how others relate to you. I am a licensed clinical psychologist who empowers folks like you to connect to their authentic selves and make meaningful changes in their life. I frequently work with graduate students, and specialize in working with underrepresented communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ clients, creative thinkers, artists and activists. I welcome clients of all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, races, faiths, and abilities.