Therapists for college students near San Francisco State University

HeartWork Psychology offers individual therapy services to adolescents and adults. We promote wellness and vitality through integrative and personalized care. We believe that therapy is a collaborative process that can lead to powerful transformation and personal fulfillment. Our approach is to collaborate with you and use what matters most to you as a guide towards making important changes in your life. The specific strategies and tools that we offer help shift your relationship to difficult thoughts and feelings, and facilitate movement towards your personal goals. We have extensive training in evidence-based approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). We use these research-informed approaches within a culturally sensitive framework and strive to create a space that is respectful, warm, and welcoming to all. In an effort to promote social distancing and help slow the spread of COVID-19, we are currently conducting all therapy sessions via secure video or phone.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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.

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.

Note: I offer easy-to-use and secure remote video sessions. We all need help from time to time, and as a licensed psychotherapist I’m here to help you make things better. If you’re having problems that are tough to solve all by yourself, I’m here to share what I know, to help you figure out how you got here, and to work with you to change things. I specialize in an approach called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, or “CBT.” Your experience of therapy will be as practical and “user-friendly” as possible, so that you’re always clear about how we see the problem and how and why we’re making changes. We want to help you feel better as soon as possible, and stay that way.

My clinical approach is multi-disciplinary and rooted in psychodynamic theory, attachment theory, and humanistic psychology. I also have a background in integrative health and wellness, which can contribute to a more in-depth perspective on treatment. In addition, my work is relational and informed by the belief and the research that the essence of therapy is the relationship between the client and the therapist. It is this relationship that can encourage true and thorough transformation. My style is genuine, collaborative, interpersonal, direct, and non-judgemental, and I encourage clients to be true to themselves and transparent. Although treatment is based on an individual's needs and goals, primary objectives in treatment are to help clients (re)connect to their confidence and curiosity and to reinforce their capacity and resiliency.

People, life, and school are complex. It can be hard to figure out who you want to become while facing academic, family, or work pressure. As a recovering overachiever, I know how scary and foreign the world can be for a young adult just trying to become their own person. My role as a therapist is to provide you space (physical and emotional) to explore what you want for yourself and your life on your own terms. My approach emphasizes personal introspection, insight, and self-compassion in order to identify harmful thought patterns and behaviors. Together, we will find an approach that helps you heal from past experiences or cope with present challenges. I love working with young adults and being part of the lives they choose to pursue and the people they choose to become. This is your time to shine, so leave behind other people’s expectations, and step onto your own path. You’ve got this. Visit my website or give me a call to set up a free consultation; I would love to hear what’s happening for you.

I believe that we each possess a great deal of wisdom that offers guidance in simple (though not necessarily easy) ways for us to embody. Therapy can offer time and space to be heard, seen, and supported exactly as you are, so that you may find a way to move towards where you would like to go. Whatever brings you to therapy, my intention is to hold an open, curious and safe space for you to connect more deeply with your experience and for us to collaborate in finding ways to support you. Some of my areas of interest and experience include: life transitions, anxiety and depression, grief, relationship challenges, self-doubt/"inner critic" and perfectionism, searching for life goals and directions, personal growth. I was trained in Somatic Psychotherapy and also have a background in bodywork, approaching therapy from a holistic lens that welcomes the whole person.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I work primarily with adolescent and adult men who feel stuck and want more from life. Whether you're facing social difficulties, academic pressures, anxiety, family transitions, or adjusting to life away from home, I can help. Being a young adult is hard. Therapy is a safe place to discuss the things that are difficult to talk about with your family or friends.

I am passionate about helping people find ways to live their lives more fully. I take a holistic approach to therapy - believing that the mind and body are interconnected and equally important parts in the journey of growth and integration. I blend somatic therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Brainspotting, and mindfulness to help my clients connect to themselves more deeply and move towards a place of healing and self-compassion.

I provide objectivity, experience and compassion to help you understand what's happening in your life in a comfortable, non-judgmental environment. If change is what you identify as your desired goal, then that is the next step. I help people deal with life transitions, grief and loss and ongoing relationship stress. If you are living an uncomfortable or unsatisfying daily life, we can work together to clarify what isn't working and develop ways to improve your life!

I am a licensed clinical psychologist more than 20 years of experience with providing individual therapy and psychoeducational, neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic assessment services. I treat adolescents and adults who present with various struggles from normal life issues, stress, transitions, and relationship difficulties to more serious conditions and psychological problems. Some of the conditions and struggles which I treat include depression, anxiety, attention deficit, academic problems, transition/stage of life issues, interpersonal problems, professional struggles, and adjustment problems. I provide neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic assessment services with children, adolescents and adults. I have worked in a number of different clinical settings, providing brief and long-term individual therapy, crisis intervention, and supervision as well as neuropsychological assessment, cognitive functioning screening and psycho-diagnostic assessment. Individual Psychotherapy: I believe in a collaborative approach to therapy and consider the unique qualities and presenting situations of each individual within a larger context. I take an integrative approach to my work with clients, utilizing various principles and strategies that are associated with evidence-based therapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This may include mindfulness-based techniques, as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) techniques. I match my approach to each individual while providing a safe and supportive environment. I provide practical, direct, and useful strategies in a compassionate manner. I ask for feedback from patients and gather data in order to ensure that you are continually making progress while we are working together. I truly enjoy helping people make improvements to their daily life by assisting them develop strategies to manage their struggles. When we meet for individual psychotherapy, we will work together to develop the best treatment plan for you in therapy with the goal in mind to be able to reduce the frequency of sessions as your symptoms improve. We will use brief assessment measures on a weekly basis in order to monitor our progress working together and we will continually adjust our agenda as needed to meet your needs. Assessment Services: You may be seeking an assessment in order to explain and/or better understand your, or your child/adolescents’ difficulties, provide diagnostic clarification, obtain recommendations for appropriate interventions, receive reasonable and appropriate academic and/or professional accommodations, and to learn practical ways to help you/your child/loved ones function better in daily life. A referring professional, such as a mental health clinician, physician/pediatrician, or learning specialist, may be recommending that you obtain this evaluation. An assessment involves an in-depth clinical interview, school observation (when warranted), collateral contacts, review of records, administration of standardized tests, a comprehensive report, a detailed feedback session, as well as additional feedback to referring providers as needed. When working with an individual while conducting an assessment, I am working with you and collaborating with others (teachers, co-workers, tutors, mental heath providers, medical providers, loved ones, etc.) who know you well, in order to obtain as much information as possible. I then incorporate this knowledge with my expertise in interpreting the test data produced from our in-depth evaluation. This allows me to arrive at appropriate diagnoses, when warranted, and also to provide you with detailed recommendations as to how you may work to improve any areas of weakness. Recommendations for academic or professional accommodations are provided when warranted. Our main goal during the assessment process id to gain a clear and thorough understanding of your or your loved one’s strengths and limitations so that I may provide recommendation as how to improve quality of life.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Meaningful relationships are an essential part of fulfillment and happiness. I believe in the unique power of the relationship that develops between therapist and client. Through an exploration of this interaction, we can more wholly understand your past and current relationships and help shape future experiences. I work with people who are struggling in a variety of ways and are ready to dig in and do some difficult and deeply powerful work that will lead to greater choice and freedom. I view my opportunity to join individuals in their journey toward self-understanding as a great privilege and find the work exciting and gratifying. I am committed to working with culturally diverse individuals, couples, and families from every walk of life. While much of my experience has been centered on work within the LGBTQ community, I strive to create an open and affirmative space for all. I am particularly effective working with adults, young adults, and adolescents. Through my training at Stanford University and University of Chicago, I feel uniquely capable in addressing issues surrounding identity, work, and school. I provide individual, couple, and family psychotherapy at my office in Hayes Valley.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I have been a licensed Therapist for over 25 years. I have worked primarily with teens and young adults, but also with adults up through the age of 65. Much of my current practice is with young men, supporting them to overcome anxiety, depression, interpersonal and relationship challenges, life transitions, substance and alcohol use, and other related challenges. At this point I am only providing on-line therapy/telehealth. I offer free 15 minute consultations.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I specialize in deep, long-term therapy for people who want to better understand themselves, their relationships and the world around them. We all create patterns and parts of ourselves to survive as best we can in an unpredictable world. One of the most enriching endeavors to embark on is an explorations of ourselves in a deep and intentional way. It can be transcendental to work with someone to unravel behaviors and unconscious patterns and to begin to discover our essential selves.