Therapists for college students near San Diego, CA
I work with clients who are asking "Who am I, apart from the things I've done, as a student, or the job I have?" The work that we'll do together will help you to create a renewed sense of purpose and meaning through empathetic, insightful therapy. Whether you're grappling with burnout, the complexities of relationships, work-life balance, life transition, anxiety, grief, or depression, I will design treatment that matches your unique circumstances and helps you thrive in the world.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I once heard someone doing a lecture say, “we know what we believe when we hear what we say.” This would definitely inform the kind of therapy you would experience with me. I view the client as the one who has the answers, and we’re working together to solve a mystery. One of my roles is to help my client tell the story, point out clues being overlooked, gently challenge entrenched beliefs, provide unconditional positive regard, and help the client make sense of their difficulties and their world. Our work together would be collaborative. I’m not a “sit, nod, and take notes” therapist. I’m interactive, and socratic, and relational. I view thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from a lens of curiosity; wondering what beliefs are behind them; helping to root out dynamics that help those things persist. Often we are stuck in a distorted comfort in familiar pain and we simply cannot see it without someone reflecting that in the room. I am an integrative (drawing from multiple therapeutic orientations) humanist-existential therapist; an enthusiastic cheerleader. I will bring humor and validation into the session. I’m passionate about brain chemistry. I am social-justice oriented. I am also trauma-informed. While I work in many different focuses of psychotherapy, I find that the most pervasive themes in my work with clients include: adjustment to life changes, problems with alcohol and substance use (and the way that co-occurring mental health issues interact with it), LGBTQIA+ topics, issues of neurodiversity, anxiety and depression, personality disorders, identity & esteem development, and healthy relationships of all shapes and sizes. I am experienced, both professionally and personally, working with a variety of relationship configurations and am highly comfortable talking about issues of sex positivity and non-standard definitions of families and relationships such as polyamory and non-monogamy. I am a licensed therapist, an addiction professional, a bit of a technology geek, and a fellow traveler in recovery. In addition to those things, I am Compliance Officer at an all women’s addiction treatment center where I’ve worked in various capacities ranging from counselor to director since 2010. I have also been an adjunct professor in the Master’s program at Pacific Oaks College, an adjunct professor for Glendale College’s Drug Studies program, and I served on the board of the California Association for Drug/Alcohol Educators (CAADE). I am a member of CAMFT at both the state level and in the San Gabriel Valley chapter.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I am a mental health expert committed to helping people learn how their family systems and relationships impact their sense of self. I treat couples, parents, and families whether biological or adoptive through a whole systems approach. I believe in taking a family systems, collaborative approach to helping clients/families reach their goals.
I support high-achieving professionals and students in Orange County and virtually across California in managing anxiety, stress, perfectionism, and burnout. Together, we’ll tackle setting boundaries, achieving work-life balance, overcoming people-pleasing tendencies, and navigating the pressure of high expectations. The goal isn't to give up optimizing your routine or lower your ambitions, but rather to find a sustainable, cohesive way to meet your demands without being run into the ground. My approach blends warmth, humor, and a nonjudgmental space where you can feel truly seen. Therapy works best when it’s based in genuine connection. A place where you don’t have to pretend to “have it all together.” I make no claims to perfection, and I won't hold you that claim either. Whether it’s workaholism, overwhelm, or simply finding balance, support is just one click away. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
The origins of many psychotherapeutic approaches come from a Eurocentric and Male perspective. The very history of psychology as well as current diagnostic criteria are guided by Eurocentric standards. Intersectionality challenges the history of psychology, the therapeutic approaches, as well as the DSM (the therapist "bible") by encouraging a clinician to take a step back and look at all the identities that present with each and every client. Intersectionality in therapy allows for a more well rounded and appropriate form of treatment that takes into account the impact of discrimination on our emotional well being as well as the resiliency and strength that can come with our identities
Are you experiencing anxiety, overwhelm, meltdowns, shutdowns, “stuckness”, or dissociation? Are you grappling with personal, relational, work/study, social anxiety, or existential stress? Have you been masking for a really long time and now ready to uncover/explore/embrace who you really are? I believe in the power of an authentic therapeutic relationship; I show up as a real person with the tools and experience to work with you on cultivating the life you want to live. I embrace the opportunity to work with out-of-the-box thinkers and processors, neurodivergent or highly sensitive individuals, LGBTQIA+ folx, and creatives (or creative curious) of all kinds. We work with sensory sensitivities, nervous system regulation, improving relationships with ourselves and others, and improving symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, overwhelm, dissociation and fatigue, and honoring self expression. My therapy practice is grounded in integrative Somatic Psychotherapy, Multicultural Attachment-Based and Systemic therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and expressive arts. In our sessions, we can use evidence-based techniques with a holistic body-mind focus, as well as creative tools and expression, depending on what resonates in our work together.
You’re insightful, self-aware, and driven—but the same old patterns keep taking over, no matter how much you try to change. Maybe you overanalyze relationships, struggle with a relentless inner critic, or overwork to outrun self-doubt. On the outside, you appear capable and accomplished, but beneath the surface you feel anxious, burned out, or stuck in patterns that haven’t shifted. You’re skilled at intellectualizing your problems, yet connecting with your body and deeper emotions feels harder. Part of you wants to be seen and understood, while another part holds back, unsure if it’s safe to express what you truly need. I specialize in working with young adults and creatives who want to move beyond insight and create deep, lasting change. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, we’ll explore the protective “parts” within you so the patterns driving anxiety, burnout, and relational struggles can finally begin to shift. Healing at the root is possible. Together, we’ll work to break the cycles that keep you feeling stuck so you can move toward greater clarity, self-trust, and freedom in your life and relationships. If this resonates with you, I invite you to reach out to schedule a free consultation.
DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC I AM OFFERING VIDEO SESSIONS. I have worked collaboratively with UCSF medical students, doctors, interns, residents, nurses and dental students for over 20 years in both individual and couples therapy. I understand the milieu that you practice and study in. I am an active and collaborative therapist and strive to build developmentally appropriate interventions to meet the needs of clients throughout the lifecycle. About half my practice is dedicated to couples work and half to individuals assisting in all aspects of communication, sexuality, reproductive challenges, parenting and work/life balance. I have expertise in trauma, mood disorders, anxiety, grief and relational issues. Send an email or call for a free 15 minute consultation.
For 5 years, I worked as the college therapist for a fashion and design college in San Francisco and have helps students first hand manage stress, perfectionism, anxieties, depression, and relationship challenges. College can be exciting, overwhelming, and exhuasting, especially when navigating external stresses at home and in the world. Finding support can be a great way to deepen skills that you can carry with you for years. As a multicultural and inclusive therapist and EMDR trained, I will help you develop skills to relate more effectively with your anxieties and sense of self and navigate the complexities in this stage of your life. My approach is collaborative, warm and engaging. I have a knack for quickly understanding your story, connecting the dots, and getting to work right away. By the end of our first session, I’ll share a clear plan for how we’ll move forward together.
Whether you experience anxiety, depression, or conflict in your marital or parent-child relationships; I can help you! I’m here to help in your journey of healing and restoration! Therapy can be that safe space you’ve been looking for in which you can openly unload your heart and experience non-judgmental support and genuine connection. Together we can explore where you currently are, what you would like your future to look like, and how we can work together to help you get there. I know it is important for you to find a therapist you can connect and work well with. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California and Michigan. I am South African and bilingual in Afrikaans. My educational background includes a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, or have a history of trauma, grief, or loss? Are you struggling with life transitions, as well as interpersonal relationships? Looking for someone who is non-judgmental, thoughtful, genuine, and active? Then look no further! It would be an honor to help guide you on your journey toward self-healing. My name is Gabrielle Powell and I am an Associate Clinical Social Worker #90673, supervised by Denise M. Williams, LMFT92559. As a therapist at the Well-Play Wellbeing & Counseling Center, my intention is to assist you in becoming more self-aware, while utilizing your inner strengths to help you cope with life's ups and downs. I can also help you align your decision-making with your values, in order to create healthy relationships with yourself and others. I tailor the therapeutic experience to each individual's unique needs, strengths, and circumstances. This is achieved by utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy, client-centered approach, motivational interviewing, strengths-based approach, and mindfulness techniques. In other words, I am going to show you how to use your strengths to overcome your challenges.
Do you desire to move through frustrations, grief or pain, but are unable to do it alone? I'd like to help. Whether the conflict is revealing itself in a personal struggle or with a relationship difficulty, I can come along side you to move towards healing, peace and hope. I offer an interactive, practical approach to counseling. Together we'll discover your strengths, as well as the behaviors that are causing you pain, stress and difficulty. We will also develop goals to create the change you want for your life and relationships. I have a passion for working with individuals and couples; guiding and exploring their relational and emotional difficulties.
Life happens. Everything is running smoothly in our lives and then something occurs that throws us off balance: a relationship breakup, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, divorce, or a trauma. Instead of a single event, it can also be the buildup of stress or the accumulation of various life experiences. Sometimes we just want to learn more about ourselves. It can even be a wound from our past from which we have difficulty healing. All of us experience obstacles in our lives that can become overwhelming. With whatever difficulties you may be facing, we can work together to achieve your therapeutic goals, whether they be to lessen the experience of unpleasant feelings or to better understand what you are going through. It is my goal that you feel more empowered so that you can live a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Genesis (Gene) Vasconez is a board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in mental health care. She aims to improve the health and wellness of her patients by partnering with them and their care teams. She addresses challenges related to mental health disorders, including addiction, by following a trauma-informed model. She approaches each session to foster trust by listening to her patients and ensuring they have a choice and voice. Cultural humility, acceptance, safety, and compassion are at the core of her care. Gene received her bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from San Francisco State University and her nursing and master’s degree from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She has been a part of multiple research studies focusing on addiction, psychotic disorders, suicide, and depression. She also teaches nurse practitioner students at UCSF during their community internship. Clinically she has experience in setting such as psychiatric emergency/urgent care, community clinics, and private practices. Gene is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She also serves as a San Francisco Behavioral Health Commission commissioner.