Therapists for college students near UCLA
Marilyn Harding
I believe in the formation of a safe, healing, and supportive therapeutic relationship as the foundation of a healthy environment to explore positive growth and change. My approach entails collaborating with you on your path toward a deeper understanding of your strengths, resilience, and authentic self. As every person is unique, I employ a variety of techniques that are tailored to the realization of goals, while incorporating awareness and sensitivity to cultural diversity. We will work together on problem-solving, and toward facilitating a sense of empowerment and well-being. My clinical tools include mindfulness skills, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution-focused therapy. Having had a music background as a violinist, I will listen to you intently, and we will work together toward finding a life that is meaningful to you. I feel truly honored to be a therapist, and be part of your journey toward healing and self-actualization. I’m looking forward to meeting you! I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Anna Garcia
I have many years of clinical experience, working with individuals, couples, teens, adults with a variety of life issues and behavioral health conditions. I use multiple evidence-based methods that assist in facilitating wellness, personal growth and alleviating distress quickly. 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.
Mary-Jo Foresta
My passion is working with adults who are struggling with depression, anxiety, and/or substance use disorders. I have an orientation that is holistic, and client centered. My approach is informed by several theoretical frameworks including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Trauma and Substance Abuse. I believe what leads people to seek therapy is the feeling of uncertainty about life choices, the ineffective behavioral and thinking patterns that are acted on over and over again. These patterns can show up in our relationship to ourselves, to substances, and especially to others. I approach therapy with the genuine belief that all people are worthy and capable of breaking these patterns and creating healthy relationships with themselves, with others and creating an authentic life. Inner work is the principle that facilitates insight, that assists with identifying ineffective behaviors and thoughts, and overcoming them to create a life worth living. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Lindsay Conner
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. I have been working in this field since 2012, and I have expertise and experience treating depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, trauma, postpartum, marital issues including infidelity, and more. My clinical framework tends to be a Cognitive Behavioral approach as well as a solution focused approach. I believe that you are the driver of your life, and I am the passenger, providing direction, support and guidance. I have clinical training that include Cognitive Behavior Therapy for anxiety with The Beck Institute, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional through PESI, and just recently completed a Dialectical Behavior Therapy training through Behavioral Tech. I believe that therapy is something that everyone can benefit from, but therapy is also difficult as it is an active process wherein I will aid you to change some of your old ways of thinking and coping in the hopes of finding mental peace. 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.
Susanne Fux-Cortes
I was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and moved to the San Diego area at the age of three. I am fortunate to be fully fluent in English and Spanish. Living in a bicultural home and in a very multicultural environment, I have been privileged to be part of the border culture, a subculture in itself. My own personal and professional experiences have allowed me the opportunity to understand the importance of cultural, socio-economic, gender, and racial-related issues. I can empathize, if not relate to them all. My hope and commitment to my clients are to guide them through their journey towards self-awareness and wellbeing. My goal is to provide them with the necessary tools (I like to think of therapy as a safe place where the clients build their toolbox) that will help them manage current and future life challenges. I would be honored to participate in your journey of self-awareness, wellbeing and overall emotional health. 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.
Margo Rankins
My counseling style is very warm and interactive. I treat everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I believe in meeting everyone where they are, within their own unique experiences, and provide a safe, non-judgmental space to work on self-healing. 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.
Jefferson Pou
Therapy is challenging as it puts one in a vulnerable position. I believe it takes courage and a willingness to confront challenges in one’s life. To do so, my therapeutic approach takes a non-judgmental, compassionate, and curious stance to foster safety to grow and take on challenges yet feel accepted in where you are. My therapeutic approach is grounded in an integration of clients’ unique backgrounds, clinical expertise, and evidence-based treatments. With a mix of both my therapeutic approach and training, I hope to foster a collaborative relationship that is built on trust and safety to empower my clients to utilize skills learned in therapy to effectively manage their presenting issues. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Alexis Johnson
Through my various experiences working in outpatient substance use programs, school-based settings, forensic mental health, and clinic-based work with various populations and age ranges, I have pursued my passion for supporting individuals in changing their lives and implementing healthy coping skills for long-term recovery. My experiences in the past have taught me the importance of witnessing great pain and great joy. I believe we cannot have one without the other. I want to equip my clients with the hope that it is normal to feel any and every kind of emotion but also give them tools to cope effectively and learn from those emotions. My approach to therapy is to provide a safe and trusting environment to uncover those human emotions, find what works or does not work, and collaborate to reach new and healthier goals for life. 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.
Jilleen Jarrett
I emphasize helping clients learn concrete skills for managing distressing thoughts and feelings, including its mindfulness component. I have over 20 years of experience working with diverse populations who have a variety of presenting problems. While I am versed in numerous evidence based modalities, I most frequently utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I appreciate that ACT is a transdiagnostic approach with high success rates among clients who are limited to a few sessions as well as those who benefit from long term therapy. Additionally, the importance of the therapeutic relationship is not to be underestimated. I am often described by my clients as someone who is easy to open up to, warm, a good listener, supportive and someone with a good sense of humor. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
Khiet Truong
I am passionate about my work with adults who struggle to live in the in-between worlds (e.g., cultural and gender identity, work, family, relationships, etc.). I believe that transformation occurs within a blanket of emotional security. Therefore, it is crucial for me to curate a compassionate and safe therapeutic space for my clients as they experience difficult emotions in the moment. I practice from a strength-based approach in which I view you as the expert in your lived experience. Together, I will co-create a support system that is unique to your individual healing journey. You are safe here. As an immigrant and first-generation college student myself, I feel deeply about the unique challenges and stressors to code-switch from one culture to another in order to fit in. The experience of ""otherness"" feels significantly isolating and leaves one questioning their ""enoughness."" Your bicultural experience is enough. And your mental health matters. I'd feel tremendous gratitude to provide culturally sensitive care and celebrate you in your whole humanity. 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.
Reannon Ketabian
I consider myself to be a solution-focused therapist. I practice results-driven therapy, which means we will complete assessments regularly to make sure you are getting the results that you desire. I have extensive experience treating trauma of all kinds including sexual assault, childhood trauma, single incident trauma, survivors of mass shootings, intimate partner violence, birth trauma, infertility, and cumulative career stress. I work with adults and young adults who are motivated to feel better. I have worked with first responders and their families, as well as victims of crime for my entire career and I am able to provide culturally competent care to these populations. 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.
Kylie Swaleh
I am certified in utilizing interventions from multisystemic therapy, which specializes in working with families and adolescents that may be experiencing behavioral concerns with aggression, lack of following rules or boundaries in the home or community, commercial sexual exploitation, and substance abuse. I specialize in empowering clients to work on increasing their insightfulness and targeting attainable goals for their desired outcomes for counseling. I provide a safe environment to discuss strategies to help clients cope with their emotional obstacles so they can be better prepared to find effective solutions to their unique challenges. I can utilize interventions that are commonly utilized in multisystemic therapy to help empower caregivers to increase their parental hierarchy in the home to help decrease their adolescent’s at-risk behaviors. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.
N Melissa Ramirez Hernandez
If you want to learn skills to cope with anxiety and depression, then this is the place for you. I specialize in supporting young adults navigate the complex layers of generational trauma. I use a client-center approach and when appropriate, we’ll incorporate holistic practices or collaborate with other health professionals like doctors and nutritionists. By integrating therapeutic techniques, I aim to help balance the weight of your cultural heritage with the demands of a new world; honoring your past while building your future.
Manifest Your Therapy
I help people who are going through any life transitions and stress to live a better, happier and more fulfilling life. Have you been feeling overwhelmed with spiraling thought patterns related to life, work, relationships, big decisions, all of it? I'll support you in finding your path to healing through exploration and processing. Therapy can provide you with insight on clearing the fog and gaining some clarity to where you want to go and who you want to be. I look forward to getting to know you and supporting your growth.
Arpi Isayan, LCSW, EMDR Therapist
Many of my clients come to me feeling overwhelmed, defeated, stuck, anxious, and stressed. Whether it's academic pressure, relationship struggles, or uncertainty about the future, I provide personalized support to help them build confidence, reduce stress, and create lasting change. Using tools like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), we’ll explore their thoughts, feelings, and past experiences in a safe and comfortable way. My goal is to help clients break free from negative thinking, build self-esteem, and find more stability in both their personal and academic lives. Whether clients are dealing with burnout, feeling lost, or need to regain control, I’m here to support clients in creating the life they want and deserve.
Janelle Rivera
I've been there. I've had days where it's hard to get out of bed.. when you've laid awake yet another night trying to calm your anxieties and racing thoughts. When people tell you "maybe you should talk to someone"... I've been there. Scrolling and looking at tons of therapist profiles to start a journey to find relief or to find a therapist that's a better fit. Yup. Been there. A little bit about me: BA Psychology - University of California Santa Barbara MSW - New York University Over 18 years of experience starting in foster care social work, then onto being an individual, couples, and group therapist. I've also done medical/hospital social work. I specialize in addressing anxiety, depression, grief, and perinatal/postpartum issues. I believe that progress in therapy is 85% the relationship between the therapist and client and 15% therapeutic intervention. Like I said in the beginning, I've been there. I know what it's like to need help, relief, and support. It's possible to feel better and get to where you want to be. When you're ready, I'm here.
Brenda Contreras
I help young adults manage the overwhelming stress of expectations, pressure, change and anxiety that can feel paralyzing. I come with no judgment, help you learn ways to manage this and feel better. I am here to help you and this is one big step to feeling better.
Sharon Benjamin, LMFT
You may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns that are hard to shift. Whether you're facing depression, relationship stress, family conflict, or painful thoughts that won’t let up, therapy offers a space to feel supported and understood. You don’t have to go through it alone. College life can bring its own unique pressures. Therapy provides a space to process what you're feeling, build coping tools, and find clarity in the middle of it all. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness. It’s a strong and meaningful step toward healing, growth, and creating the life you want.
Dr. Brandon Yip, PsyD JD
Dr. Yip is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California and specializes in Forensic and Neuropsychology. Dr. Yip takes a collaborative approach to therapy. This approach starts at identifying the roots of the problem by understanding the individual’s social environment, daily needs, obstacles, and daily life. Dr. Yip draws from a variety of treatment modalities to facilitate change through a collaborative process of insight building, goal setting, and reflection.
Davina Saleh
I specialize in supporting young adults, such as college and grad students, facing challenges like academic stress, major life transitions, self-doubt, and unlearning old patterns. Maybe you’re a high achiever struggling with anxiety and burnout, or you’re feeling stuck and unsure of your next steps. Whatever it is, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Therapy with me is a space to bring the mess, sort through the stress, and find what actually works for you. If that sounds like what you need, book a free consult with me at the website at the bottom of this page! [ You can learn more about me at davinasalehlcsw.com ]