Therapists for college students near 94132
Life can feel like a lot sometimes. Maybe you're anxious, overwhelmed, burned out, stuck in your head, or putting so much pressure on yourself that it's hard to enjoy anything anymore. You don't have to have everything figured out before coming to therapy. I'm a down-to-earth therapist who believes you don't need to be fixed. You need a space where you can be real. We can laugh, be honest about what's not working, and get to the root of what's keeping you stuck. I'll support you, challenge you when it's helpful, and we'll focus on practical changes that actually make a difference in your daily life. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, relationships, stress, self-esteem, trauma, or just trying to figure out who you are and where you're headed, we'll work together to help you feel more grounded, confident, and like yourself again. We'll do real work that creates real change.
As a Licensed Psychologist with more than 13 years of clinical experience, I have developed a strong passion towards helping students recognize their capabilities and collaboratively creating positive changes in their lives through our work together. I am able to discuss and treat a variety of mental health concerns by providing treatment from a multicultural lens. My areas of specialization include grief and loss, resilience factors, trauma, faith and spirituality concerns, racial/ethnic identity development, self-exploration, relational patterns/interpersonal relatedness, family of origin issues, assertiveness training, disability related issues, self-esteem, and providing support for students with adjustment concerns, anxiety, and depression. I hope I can be of support to you and look forward to connecting!
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.
You may be carrying generations of stories in your bones. You might be the first in your lineage to pause, to rest, to ask: What would it mean to live differently? Whether you’re unlearning survival patterns, tending to old wounds, or simply trying to hear your own voice beneath the noise. I want you to know that you don’t have to do it alone. As a queer, first-generation Mexican-American therapist and a daughter of immigrants, my approach is rooted in cultural humility, relational depth, and embodied compassion. I offer a space that honors all the parts of you— your strength, your softness, and your truth. My world is shaped by music, movement, language, and story, and I bring that spirit into our work together. I will witness you fiercely and gently. I will reflect back the person I see in front of me—resilient, intuitive, capable, and deserving of care that meets you where you are. Holding space for QTBIPOC clients, especially those navigating layered identities, is not only a privilege, but a responsibility I carry with reverence. I strive to offer a practice that is consistently affirming, culturally attuned, and radically safe. My work is for those who: Are first-generation or multi-generational cycle-breakers, seeking to redefine connection, boundaries, and belonging Hold intersecting identities with nuance Feel exhausted from performing, pleasing, or holding everything for everyone else Are healing from quiet trauma: emotional neglect, attachment wounds, chronic invisibility Long for a relational and soulful approach to therapy Values and Approach I hold a deep commitment to practicing therapy that is inclusive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and rooted in accessibility and transparency. These aren’t just values—they are living principles that guide every aspect of how I show up in the room with you. I believe that every story holds weight, and that it’s a sacred thing to be witnessed in your truth. Yet so many of us have never had the chance, or the safety, to be truly vulnerable. In our work together, I strive to create the kind of space where you can exhale. A space where we explore the roots of your experiences with curiosity and care, where old narratives are gently questioned, and where your body and mind are invited into healing through deep compassion. It is devastating when I hear that individuals have not had safe and productive experiences in therapy. This is not your fault. Many people, especially BIPOC and queer folks, have felt misunderstood, pathologized, or minimized by past providers. I’m passionate about offering reparative, empowering therapy to help you reclaim your voice and your worth and to provide a truly transformational experience for first-time therapygoers. We’ll make room for grief and joy, for dismantling what no longer serves you, and for building a more compassionate, grounded relationship with yourself. When you start, I simply ask you to arrive as you are and begin from where you presently stand. When not in session, I am reading in my local coffeeshop or moving my body through yoga and dance. I hope you don't mind that my two cats, Finnegan and Chaos, will occasionally make an appearance in our sessions. I can't wait to hold space for you!
One of the bravest things we can do is work to understand our own stories. While we are a product of our family, ancestors, environment, and society, we don't have to stay stuck in patterns that no longer serve us. We all have the ability to change and live a more balanced, meaningful life. You might be feeling stuck juggling school/work, other's expectations, and conflicts with family, or you might be struggling to find meaning as you go through life transitions, immigration, work and relationships. I am here to support you as we create a safe space for you to explore your journey and goals. I practice from a compassionate, trauma-informed, and strength-based approach. I offer a mix of Somatic, Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and mindfulness skills to assist you to connect with your body, identify your thinking patterns, be more aware of your feelings, develop better coping and communication skills, and find your own solutions. Taking the first step and starting therapy can be scary. I am so glad you are ready to embark on this journey towards change. I offer services in Portuguese, Spanish, English, and welcome clients of any ethnicity, gender and sexual identity. Let's schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation so we can find out if we are a good fit.
Empower Youth Therapy provides individualized therapy for college students navigating academic pressure, anxiety, relationship stress, identity development, transitions, and trauma. Our approach is warm, validating, and practical — focused on helping students understand themselves more deeply while building real-life coping skills they can use in classes, friendships, and daily routines. We serve students from San Joaquin Delta College, CSU Stanislaus, CSU East Bay, Sac State, and surrounding Central Valley / Bay Area campuses. We offer a non-judgmental space to talk honestly, process what’s overwhelming, and explore who you’re becoming — especially during transitions like moving away from home, choosing a major, or preparing for your next step after graduation. We also support executive functioning, stress management, and strengthening healthy habits. We offer individual therapy for college-age students. We accept insurance and private pay. Free 15-minute consultations are available.
Positive experiences with mental health care, both personally and through seeing its impact on those around me, inspired me to become a therapist. I value how it can meaningfully improve functioning and overall well-being, especially during times when people feel stuck or in need of additional support. This impact led me to pursue becoming a mental health therapist with the goal of providing that same support and guidance to others. My goal in helping clients is to support and empower them through the journey of healing and growth. I believe in providing a warm, trusting, and non-judgmental space that offers unconditional support and positive regard, helping clients feel comfortable sharing their feelings and experiences. Given my bi-racial and multi-cultural background, I believe it is essential to understand and incorporate the multi-faceted nature of each client’s context and background in order to effectively support them in working toward their therapeutic goals. In session, I offer a warm, collaborative, and safe environment grounded in respect, sensitivity, and compassion for every client I work with. When appropriate, I incorporate humor and positivity, while also validating the challenge and difficult areas of life for clients. I focus on empowering my clients using approaches that integrate person-centered therapy, strengths-based therapy, humanistic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). I take an eclectic and flexible approach to best suit the needs of each client. My aim is to provide a space to explore and understand clients’ unique personalities and experiences so I can equip them with the tools needed for long-term growth, resilience, and improved well-being. A fun personal fact is that I grew up in a military family, which gave me the opportunity to spend much of my childhood living abroad, including in Japan and Germany. Later, my education and early adult life took me to New York and Boston, but I love California the most and call it home now. I also am an animal lover, I love seeing client pets!
Have you been feeling anxious, sad, overwhelmed or stressed out lately? Perhaps fears, perfectionism, procrastination or struggles adjusting to changes in your life or relationships are preventing you from achieving your goals? I have a passion for working with young adults thru their college and early career years who are in need of support. Together we will help you create a strong emotional foundation and build tools to manage life's challenges. We’ll explore your patterns, uncover triggers and create personalized tools to help you feel better, more grounded, confident and in control. Seeking support is a sign of strength! Sessions available via telehealth to anyone located in California.
We are a team of therapists dedicated to providing a safe and collaborative environment to help you achieve your therapeutic goals and facilitate meaningful change in your life. We strive to provide multiculturally sensitive care and we welcome working with people from many different backgrounds, systems, and beliefs. Your individuality is important to us and we will work with you to form goals that fit for you and your needs.
I am warm & straight forward. I will ask you questions to help you find your own authentic answers. I work with adults & couples from a variety of communities who feel stuck, who want to understand themselves, heal & grow. I find importance in childhood wounds that affect our present day. I will help you reframe perspectives so you can look at things in a way which serve you better while connecting to parts of yourself you may have kept hidden. Boundaries are good for everyone. Establishing boundaries might feel uncomfortable, you may not even know you are entitled to have them or fear abandonment if you did, we can work on that. I speak plainly and provide a non-judgmental, safe environment where we can explore what's going on in your world at your pace using traditional talk therapy and/ or EMDR. I use an eclectic approach drawing on multiple theoretical orientations in order to tailor the most effective treatment for you to develop self love, learn new coping skills, heal and grow.Whether you are navigating relationship issues, life transitions or trying to understand why you are in pain, it is healing to be seen, heard & accepted.This is what I strive to create in our therapeutic relationship while you learn to break repetitive destructive patterns &develop a compassionate understanding of yourself. I am interested to learn about you
I am a board-certified psychiatrist and Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. For me, being a physician is more than a profession—it is a vocation to help indviduals flourish. My practice is devoted to students and young adults seeking thoughtful, individualized psychiatric care that extends beyond symptom relief. I provide comprehensive evaluations that consider medical, nutritional, lifestyle, and psychological factors—including laboratory testing when clinically appropriate—to identify the contributors to emotional and cognitive health. I also specialize in evidence-based de-prescribing for patients who wish to reduce or discontinue psychiatric medications for anxiety, attention difficulties, or substance use disorders. My approach is guided by precision, humility, and restraint: using the least intensive intervention necessary while drawing upon the full breadth of evidence-based medicine. Depending on each patient's needs and goals, I integrate psychotherapy, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, exercise, targeted supplementation, and, when appropriate, carefully selected medications into a personalized treatment plan. In addition to my clinical work, I have presented internationally on psychiatric deprescribing and medical ethics. My work has been recognized with awards from the American Psychiatric Association, the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, the American Psychoanalytic Association, and other leading professional organizations. I am the Founder & Medical Director of Verigrate Health. I am licensed to serve patients in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Lousiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.
I believe whole heartedly in the healing power of therapy because I’ve seen first hand how it has improved the lives of those I’ve worked with and how it has improved my life personally. I’m passionate about supporting my clients, aiding them in their healing journeys, and helping them live more fulfilling lives. I view my clients as experts in their own lives and work alongside them to uncover their inherent strengths, helping to build resilience and create the life they envision. I believe that gaining awareness and understanding of one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors fosters personal insight and motivation, promoting mental well-being. I draw on evidence-based, person centered, trauma-informed methods, integrating techniques such as motivational interviewing, mindfulness, psychoanalytical approaches, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to equip clients with the tools needed for healthy functioning and overall wellness.
Collectively We Heal supports high-achieving students and young adults—many from immigrant, queer, and creative communities—who feel anxious, burned out, or stuck beneath the surface. We work with stress, relationships, identity, trauma, and major life transitions, offering collaborative, culturally responsive care that honors each client’s lived experience and supports greater regulation, clarity, and confidence.
I understand that it can be nerve-racking to begin this process, and I commend you for taking your first steps in starting therapy! I'm a licensed therapist and I have been working in the field for over 20 years. I specialize in working with adults and teens, ages 15 and up. I am here to help you develop tools to cope, feel empowered and supported. Together, we can work towards improving your sleep, feeling less worried and anxious, improve self-esteem, and have healthier friendships and relationships. I utilize evidenced-based and strength-based interventions, including teaching mindfulness, that help people struggling with life adjustments, and issues such as women's health, school and work stress, anxiety, depression, and racial identity (such as helping multiracial people navigate stressors). While therapy can be challenging, we can still enjoy ourselves and even laugh in a safe and supportive space. I look forward to meeting you!
I work best with clients who have an intended goal and who are willing to do the work outside of session to achieve stated goals.
Do you always feel on edge? Did something traumatic happen? Trauma is a disruption to the nervous system that often creates patterns and loops that extend into many areas of a person's life. It can affect our bodies, our minds and the way we relate to other people. Sometimes the way people survive their trauma brings them more pain, adds to the chaos, and reinforces negative beliefs that perpetuate the cycle as well as causing other mental health issues grow- such as depression and anxiety. I work with people of various cultures, sexual orientations, and gender identities and know that trauma is non-discriminatory. Do you always feel on edge? Did something traumatic happen? Trauma is a disruption to the nervous system that often creates patterns and loops that extend into many areas of a person's life. It can affect our bodies, our minds and the way we relate to other people. Sometimes the way people survive their trauma brings them more pain, adds to the chaos, and reinforces negative beliefs that perpetuate the cycle as well as causing other mental health issues grow- such as depression and anxiety. I work with people of various cultures, sexual orientations, and gender identities and know that trauma is non-discriminatory. I work with clients to overcome their past, calm their bodies, and bring peace to their own lives. Therapy focuses on bolstering strengths so they can face their past and find new meaning in life. I utilize a variety of techniques, such as EMDR, grounding and meditation, somatic interventions, as well as talk therapy techniques such as CBT and DBT. I have over 10 years working with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, sexual abuse and child abuse. I can hold space for your healing and teach you how to hold that space for yourself. Join me to learn ways to care for yourself and move past the trauma that has been haunting you. You are a survivor, and I can help you become a thriver. The website listed in this website is to book a 15 minute consultation. If you would like to read more about me and my practice, please go to Amygrovenlmft.com.
Young adulthood is a time of growth, self-discovery, and life transitions. Whether you're in college, starting your career, or navigating relationships, therapy can provide guidance and tools for coping. Together we can discuss things such as relationship difficulties, values, identity, coping with anxiety or depression, body image struggles, connection to oneself and others, and patterns you are maybe starting to notice as you grow. My goal as a young adult therapist, which is similar to that of a teen therapist, is to create a safe relationship for exploration. A place where you can show up without preparation and as exactly who you are.
My educational, professional, and personal experiences, combined with a profound desire to help people heal and grow, are the foundation of my work as a psychotherapist. I provide a space where you are free to explore and share yourself. I strive to create an environment that allows you to safely discuss, reflect, uncover, and change. My ability to help people feel safe, accepted and welcome has been the cornerstone of my success as a psychotherapist. You may come as you are to address the things that are affecting you today.
If you are a student anywhere in California, who is having a hard time and you're open to working online, I could be a good fit for you. If there's something you're struggling with internally like adjusting to being in California, or you're having relationship issues with a partner, family or others, I aim to create a safe place for you to gain clarity and find a positive way forward. This could include developing more tools and better coping skills.
Are you facing changes that feel overwhelming, uncertain, or just plain exhausting? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it alone either. Through my work, I help support individuals and families through the inevitable shifts life brings—whether it’s welcoming a new baby, coping with divorce, relocating, transitioning into a blended family, or adjusting to a new phase of life like, going to college, getting a new job, or caring for aging parents. Transitions can be challenging and unsettling, but they also carry opportunities for growth, healing, and new beginnings. I offer a compassionate and collaborative space where you're seen as whole, already holding the wisdom to heal and grow. My approach invites you to reconnect with your resilience, explore the stories that shaped you, and discover the ones where your strength shines through—so you can reclaim your voice and choose what comes next. In seasons of change, feeling lost or unsure is completely human. I offer a nurturing space where your stories can unfold. As we uncover the strengths within you, we’ll begin to reshape your experience of belonging and safety. Growth often begins in the quiet moments of reflection, where trust can take root and new patterns of connection can bloom.