Therapists for college students near San Francisco, CA

I am inspired to work in the field of mental health care to support and validate individuals who maybe having a difficult time navigating through the stressors of life. I want individuals to live not just to exist. Active listening and validation is important for every individual in a therapy session. I not only practice active listening but ensure that I have heard not only the words but the emotion and intent from the client. I believe a strong therapeutic relationship starts with active listening and empathy. I want the individual to understand that therapy at times may bring up strong and difficult emotions and I will be there through this journey. Therapy is a safe space to explore the past, present and future without judgement.

https://www.ciis.edu/ciis-in-the-world/counseling-clinics/church-street-integral-counseling-center Church Street ICC offers low-fee counseling in many languages for adults, couples, families, seniors, adolescents, and children from across the San Francisco Bay Area. The sliding-fee scale is structured to accommodate people of all income levels and life situations. The caring, professional therapists at Church Street Integral Counseling Center take an integral approach to healing that connects the mind, body, and spirit, and honors the uniqueness of each person. Church Street is the country's only university-affiliated Gestalt/existential therapy center. Therapists are trained to focus on themes of difference and inclusion, offer a social justice perspective, and stress the importance of choice and awareness.

Over the last decade, I have been dedicated to providing compassionate and empathetic mental health care and working in the communities to reduce mental health stigma. To support my patients and community, I have had many roles, including volunteering at domestic abuse shelters, speaking for mental health organizations, facilitating campus support groups, and working as a psychiatric registered nurse. As a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I will continue my passion for providing quality mental health care for my patients, ensuring every patient feels supported and heard. I center around collaboration and empowerment. What inspires me to work in the mental health field is witnessing the resilience of those I serve. Every day, I see individuals overcome challenges and rediscover hope through compassionate, personalized care. Their journeys remind me that mental health care is about more than treating symptoms—it’s about empowering people to reclaim their lives. I am driven by the opportunity to create safe, supportive environments where patients feel heard, valued, and inspired to achieve their full potential. This work not only fuels my passion but also reaffirms my commitment to making a positive, lasting impact in the lives of others. My approach centers around collaboration, empowering patients to actively participate in treatment plans that best suit their goals and lifestyles. There is no ‘one size fits all’; every patient has different symptoms, beliefs, and needs. Building a therapeutic alliance and fostering an environment of trust and empathy are essential in my practice, ensuring each patient feels supported and understood. In addition, I practice holistic care and look at all aspects of my patient’s life to help improve their quality of life. Finally, I am passionate about Trauma-Informed Care as trauma is a nearly universal experience and patients should all be treated with sensitivity and care.

Hello, I am a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with experience in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care. I have an academic foundation in child development and psychology. I earned my Master’s degree in nursing with a focus on clinical nurse leadership. I am driven by my passion for mental health and committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care to support individuals on their journey toward improved mental well-being. After working inpatient/acute care medical floors for several years, I became inspired to work within the field of psychiatry and providing care to those who struggle with mental health issues related to chronic conditions and helping people through difficult stages in their lives. My goal is to meet each patient at whichever stage they are and deliver care that will provide them safety and lead them to a more stable, healthier life. I strive to give each person their best chance at achieving success. Each patient is provided an individualized plan of care. We collaborate to reach the safest and best treatment options for you, including education and appropriate follow-up care.

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialized in treating mood, anxiety, cognitive, trauma-related, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. I graduated from University of California, San Francisco, where I obtained a Master of Science in Nursing as a PMHNP. Prior to this, I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of California, San Diego, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from California State University, Fullerton. I have a long-held a passion for mental healthcare and have worked with individuals of all ages in a variety of settings within psychiatry, including inpatient, outpatient, PHP/IOP, mobile healthcare and research. My interest in mental health care began during my high school years simply as a fascination with psychology and neuropsychological processes. As I progressed through my education, this grew into a desire to be part of a field that seeks to increase awareness of and decrease stigma surrounding an often-overlooked, but vital, part of health. I value taking a collaborative approach with clients to create a thorough, individualized, and evidence-based treatment plan that best meets their specific needs and goals. I am a strong proponent of the philosophy that health is multifactorial, made up of physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual facets, and believe the emphasis needed on any one of those facets is unique to each individual. All psychiatry providers at Foresight have specialized experience in treating a wide range of common mental health conditions, including but not limited to ADHD, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, depression, and PTSD. In addition, I specialize in the following areas: academic stress, behavior addictions (shopping, sex, etc), deprescribing, holistic approaches to psychiatry, somatic symptoms disorders, trauma-informed care, anger management, dissociative disorders, first responders, grief, men’s issues, racial identity, self harming (non-suicidal self injurious behavior), transgender care

I am very passionate about meeting people where they are at. I truly believe that each individual is doing their best with what they have and what resources are available to them. The compassion that I have for others has led to me to invest in groups that are near and dear to me personally. I am committed to serving those that have felt out of place, are underrepresented, and those that experience prejudice due to various elements of their identity. I believe that all individuals have the ability to seek growth, connect to their values, and are generally trying to do their best with the cards that life has dealt them. My hope as a therapist is that I can provide you with a genuine, authentic, and safe connection that provides a space for you to tap into your ability to heal and live a life that is fulfilling. I will be an ally from a non judgmental stance and respect your own individual sense of agency. I will also collaborate with you on your journey to wholeness no matter what stage of the journey you are on. I am committed to providing culturally sensitive and holistic therapy that takes into consideration one’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual self.

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Hi, I’m Joanna — welcome in. As a trauma-informed therapist, I provide integrative psychotherapy, interweaving therapeutic methods including Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). My priority is building a relationship based on safety, trust, and respect, where you feel accepted and challenged to grow in new and meaningful ways. Together, we will blend conversation, mindfulness, and body-based practices to help you uncover your authentic self, challenge old patterns, and create space for new possibilities. An integrative approach to therapy means that you get support that is as unique as you are. I tailor my approach to create a holistic treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. Whether you're dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, or done trying to fit into a mold — I'm here to support you with warmth, intuition, and empathy.

Hello and Welcome! Are you a couple needing to strengthen communication, navigate conflict effectively, and break free from long‑standing gridlock? I’m Rocio Vaca, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 17 years of experience, and I help you deepen friendship, build emotional intimacy, and create shared meaning. Are you exploring your identity, preparing to come out, struggling with self‑acceptance, or navigating gender‑affirming care? Together, we can build healthy coping strategies, strengthen resilience, and address symptoms of anxiety, depression, or stress while supporting a stronger sense of self. I help clients find relief from overwhelming thoughts, emotional exhaustion, & daily stress by identifying triggers, emotional regulation, & building coping skills. I also support children/ teens with OCD, trauma, low self‑esteem, & assertiveness challenges often from being bullied, helping them understand emotions/cognitions, build confidence & boundaries. I view therapy as a collaborative and individualized process—one that builds practical skills while fostering insight, emotional healing, and growth. Clients often describe my style as warm, grounded, and down‑to‑earth, creating a space where they feel supported, understood, and empowered throughout their therapeutic journey.

If you are feeling stuck, disconnected, or having trouble coping with anxiety or depression, you are not alone. You may be struggling to find balance in your life, or noticing that attachment and trauma from childhood is impacting you presently. Perhaps you recently lost a loved one, are navigating a new chapter of life that has you feeling anxious, or just feel like you are stuck in a rut and need someone to talk to. I work with adults and teens/adolescents on addressing anxiety and depression, unpacking past experiences, improving emotional regulation, building healthy boundaries with loved ones, healthy self-esteem, and more. As a therapist, I provide a challenge-support environment where I encourage you to reflect and explore your values while providing empathy, warmth, and humor. Therapy can be scary because we are asked to go outside our comfort zones, but growth stems from change. I utilize a myriad of theoretical approaches to find a style that works best for you. For LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals, I provide gender and sexuality affirming therapy and can work with you on identity exploration, navigating queer relationships, or coping with the impact of stigma, discrimination, and bias. My therapy office is an accepting and safe space for queer folk.

Congratulations in starting this journey! Initially reaching out for support is often one of the most challenging steps of treatment. I love working with clients who have found the courage to take on that first obstacle and started looking for help. I believe in people where they are at in terms of their emotional lives and working to guide them where they want to be. I love working with people who are willing to put in effort to reduce their own suffering and lead a more authentic life.

My areas of emphasis are relationships, trans-affirming care, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ concerns, trauma, anxiety, sexuality, multi-ethnic/cultural identity & college-related concerns. I support my clients in unlearning shame, setting boundaries without guilt, embracing their identities and cultures with pride, and build more authentic, fulfilling relationships. I offer a compassionate space where you can safely explore yourself, challenge old patterns, and develop new ways of responding that support healing, confidence and lasting change. In addition to psychotherapy, I provide WPATH assessments and letters for gender affirming surgeries. Therapy with me is collaborative, affirming, and driven by the desire to support you in healing through your resilience and empowerment. I integrate psychodynamic and action-oriented methods and my approach is liberation-based, anti-racist and trauma-informed.

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Hi, I'm Ava (she/they). I'm a therapist specializing in the treatment of OCD, eating disorders, and trauma. I'm particularly passionate about providing therapy to the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. As someone who is part of these communities, I have firsthand experience with difficulty finding a therapist who truly “gets” me without making assumptions or generalizations.

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The first step in any journey takes the courage to start. And you already have! You're here. I know there is still a lot of shame around being vulnerable and asking for help. We live in a world that often demands perfection, high expectations, and pushing ourselves to the max. Struggling with depression, anger, or trauma does not make you a failure. It makes you human. I believe we all have the innate ability to heal ourselves, and therapy can support you in finding that clarity and empowerment. I specialize in adults with anger management, anxiety, depression & trauma. I'd love to help! Contact me today!

I find it an honor to be let into people’s lives to support them in ways that they may not have the opportunity or ability at the moment. It is a meaningful and rewarding experience to be able to help others as others have been there for me. I try to create an open and inviting atmosphere to be yourself where you will be met with active listening and honest conversation while you freely express yourself. I am a transparent person and will consistently show up with the same energy and integrated approach combined with the use of life experience, humor, and education to help build a custom self care plan to thrive in.

Hi, and welcome! My name is Katelyn, I am a therapist with a background working in university counseling centers. I enjoy supporting students, through the unique challenges of college life. Now in private practice with CoCal Counseling, I continue to help students navigate stress, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions through online sessions. My goal is to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can gain insight, build resilience, and find strategies to thrive both academically and personally. Let’s work together to help you feel more confident, connected, and grounded. You don’t have to navigate this season of your life alone.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience providing psychotherapy to adults in the Bay Area, both in non-profit agencies, schools and in my private practice. My therapeutic style is authentic, warm, supportive and interactive and my focus is to collaborate with my clients to create realistic goals, personal growth, and meaningful change. I am unique in that I balance listening and reflecting with offering concrete ideas and interventions, and am honest and straightforward when I sense resistance or ambivalence that might be keeping the client from moving forward. I am passionate about helping adults struggling with depression and anxiety as the symptoms can be extremely challenging to overcome and they can create significant emotional pain, isolation and affect quality of life. I also specialize in working with young adults, relationship issues, substance abuse, grief and life/career transitions. I feel that therapy is successful when my clients' goals have been reached, effective new coping strategies and communication styles have been developed and they are feeling more fulfilled in their career and personal life. Part of this journey often includes increasing self-care, creating a better work/life balance and focusing on how to experience more joy, gratitude and self-compassion despite life's many challenges. My therapeutic approach is to use an integrative model utilizing Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), psychodynamic therapy and mindfulness aimed at specific symptoms, patterns of behavior and unhelpful core beliefs. Feedback from the client is encouraged and welcomed during the therapeutic process, as I believe it creates a more collaborative and productive experience.

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.