Therapists for college students near University of Southern California
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I like to work with motivated and intelligent clients who want to grow and excel. I take a strength-based approach and focus on identifying themes and patterns in your life and coming up with a concrete action plan.
Hi! Glad you’re here. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I enjoy working with kids, adults, couples and families. I earned my Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego in 2005, and completed a clinical internship in UCSD’s Department of Family Medicine. There I collaborated with physicians in the care of patients and their family members. To this day, I follow a “bio-psycho-social” systems approach- looking at a client’s physical health (bio), emotional health (psycho), and current relationships and support systems (social). Because relationships can be both a source of worry - and also our greatest asset- a genuine connection (with family, friends, coworkers, etc) truly fosters improved emotional health. Considering our current stressors from a “systems perspective” allows us to cultivate a deeper understanding of how our family interactions and social connections affect our daily lives. We can enrich those connections, develop healthier boundaries, and connect meaningfully with people in our lives in a way that does not leave us feeling as drained or anxious. While it is certainly essential to address current challenges or problems, it is just as important to simultaneously identify strengths and assets already residing within. Looking at how to utilize coping skills, or learning new ones, helps bolster resiliency and brings new change. We work toward responding to adversity by changing course, healing, using new coping skills and then continuing forward. The act of seeking help can often feel overwhelming for anyone; it helps to not do it alone. I do my best to offer guidance, support, and dedicated focus on developing an approach tailored to meet a client’s particular set of current needs.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I’m a first-generation Latina, with a BA in Psychology from San Diego State and a MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary. I am a member of Growth and Change Counseling and passionate about helping people experience results quickly and meaningfully. At Growth and Change, all therapists implement the same foundational approach that has produced our reputation for effectiveness. I deal with every issue and I am fluent in English and Spanish.
Are you ready to take the first step toward living the life you always wanted? Would you like to start making changes in your life so you can become your best-self? Our mission is to help every client live a happy and fulfilling life, full of meaning and purpose. We set specific, measurable, and attainable treatment goals so you will start seeing progress right away. We have several clinicians from various backgrounds and will match you with the clinician who you feel is a good fit for you. We offer virtual sessions so we are able to meet anytime, wherever you are.
About My Practice I'm Dr. Dorcas A. Jansen, a licensed psychologist with a PhD and Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) designation. My practice is dedicated to supporting individuals navigating the complexities of both athletic performance and mental health challenges. I offer telehealth sessions during evenings and weekends, providing flexibility to accommodate busy student schedules. Who I Work Best With I specialize in working with: Student-Athletes: Individuals striving to enhance their performance, manage the pressures of competition, and maintain balance between academics and athletics. As a former Division I Track and Field athlete, I understand firsthand the unique challenges faced by student-athletes. Students Facing Mental Health Challenges: Those dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or stress management issues. I provide a safe and confidential environment to explore these experiences, build self-awareness, and cultivate self-compassion. Individuals Exploring Racial Identity: Students seeking to understand and navigate their racial identity within various contexts. My commitment to social justice and multiculturalism is central to my work, ensuring culturally sensitive support. My Approach I employ an integrative therapeutic approach, combining: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): To develop coping skills and improve emotional regulation. Interpersonal Process Therapy: To foster authentic connections and emphasize the importance of community and support. Mindfulness Strategies: To enhance self-awareness and present-moment focus. My goal is to tailor these modalities to meet each client's unique needs, promoting overall mental wellness. Getting Started I offer a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your goals and how we might work together. Sessions are priced at $200, and I accept various insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare, among others. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please visit drdorcas.com
I very much enjoy working with college students in helping them navigate this time of transition from home to independent adulthood. Many college students I work with experience anxiety, chronic worrying, overwhelm, perfectionism, self-criticism, social anxiety, low self-esteem, distractibility, relationship issues, depression, academic struggles, feeling lost or unsure of their career path, and other obstacles that get in the way of reaching their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally. However, many students I work with find that these obstacles to be growth opportunities to develop greater self-awareness, inner alignment, and transformation that can lead to a more fulfilling, effective, and satisfying experiences in college and thereafter. Although this time in life can bring forth challenges that may seem insurmountable at times, I have generally experienced college students to be very insightful, bright, and resilient, and because of this, I delight in working with them! In addition to psychotherapy, I specialize in providing testing and assessments. Some college students often come to me because they have been diagnosed with a learning difference or ADHD in the past and they need an updated evaluation. Other college students come to me because they suspect they may have an undiagnosed learning difference or ADHD. Because of this, they would like to better understand their learning profile, including strengths and weaknesses, in order to receive the best support, such as specialized tutoring, executive functioning coaching, and accommodations on tests and assignments. I have been providing different types of assessments for several decades and in various contexts, and many students currently come to me from UCSF's dyslexia center, where I am listed as a referral: https://dyslexia.ucsf.edu/resources. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions regarding therapy or assessments. I am happy to provide you a free 30-mintue phone consultation!
Do you feel overwhelmed or struggle to relieve stress, manage anxiety, depression, or build healthy relationships? Are you carrying unprocessed trauma from the past and feeling stuck, yet ready to rediscover a sense of agency and move toward growth and healing? Taking the first step and reaching out for support can feel scary, but it is also an act of courage. Together, we can collaborate to create a life that feels more balanced, meaningful, and fulfilling. Contact me for a free 15 minute consultation.
Unfortunately, life has many obstacles and challenges leading to feelings of sadness, pain, confusion, and anger. Often individuals and couples feel stuck and don't know how to move forward. This time can feel very lonely and scary. My role as a therapist is to provide you with a safe, nonjudgmental environment to process thoughts and feelings, as well as guide you in developing insight and identifying skills to help you live a happier and healthier life. I am committed in helping you heal and grow. I have experience working with individuals with a variety of conditions/issues including depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma. I assist couples in increasing communication skills, decreasing conflicts, and developing a healthy attachment to one another. I am trained in EMDR, Couples and Sex Therapy, as well as Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. I look forward to hearing from you to determine whether I would be a good fit in helping you through your growth and healing.
Reaching out for help can be one of the hardest things to do when you're struggling the most. What if no one understands you or you feel judged? How do you know you can trust them to take you seriously or care? I understand that these are natural fears when you're sharing the hurt and vulnerable parts of yourself. For this reason, my goal is to make sure you feel safe and heard by providing an empathetic and judgement-free space regardless of your background. As a licensed clinical social worker, I have experience working with young and older adults of diverse backgrounds through issues related to identity, life transitions, depression, and anxiety. I also work with couples of all sexual orientations to improve communication, intimacy, and develop a more empathic understanding of each other.
College can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. You might be trying to balance school, work, relationships, family expectations, or your own mental health — often without much time to slow down. If you’re feeling anxious, stressed, disconnected, or unsure how to manage everything, you’re not alone. I offer a warm, supportive space where you can process what you’re going through, understand your stress, and learn practical tools to feel more centered and capable. My style is relatable and collaborative, and you can come exactly as you are. Sessions are virtual and easy to fit into a busy student schedule.
Profound change occurs at its best in the context of supportive, empathetic, and insightful relationship. Throughout our lives we will all reach certain times where we feel stuck, overwhelmed, helpless, and disconnected from ourselves and our relationships. Maybe this has been you for some time, or maybe this is a more recent state that feels jarring. Wherever you are today, psychotherapy can be the confidential and safe place to show up just as you are. We will work together to uncover and shift the negative patterns keeping you stuck and develop skills to apply off the couch and into your life.
It is discouraging to navigate a world that doesn’t see you, that misunderstands you or makes you invisible based on your gender, race, sexuality, size, trauma history and a host of other factors. Systemic oppression impacts your mental health as much your history does. It can be intimidating to reach out to a therapist because you want to find someone who really understands you. Mental health has a history of victim-blaming and pathologizing. I am a queer therapist offering trauma-informed therapy for individuals and couples. I utilize an intersectional feminist and social justice lens. I specialize in working with queer, gender-blessed and other non-mainstream individuals and relationships, including non-monogamous, age-gap, cross-cultural and queer relationships.
My practice was an oddity before COVID. Now it just makes sense. I meet most of my clients outdoors, on the hiking trails of the Berkeley and Oakland Redwoods. I of course also work with people online, too, but prefer to at least meet once or twice a month in-person: webcams are quite convenient, but still a 2D version of ourselves; it's definitely not ideal for the sort of conversational depth & breadth that we may embark on together. Put more plainly: Talking about the most stressful, anxiety producing, depressing, &/or shame-inducing stuff is best done in person, not online. Take a look at my website to get more of a feel for whether my practice may be a fit for you, and of course, don't hesitate to send an email or txt msg if you have questions: 415.823.1760
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Hello! My name is Natalie and I’m a therapist who began my career working at a nonprofit where I provided therapeutic support to children, young adults, and parents, and I transitioned to private practice work in 2018. I enjoy providing therapy to a wide range and diverse group of clients, and I particularly love working with college students and young adults since I’m able to offer support during a time of life that often involves significant changes and transitions. I like to conduct therapy in a way that is positive, open, non-judgmental, and culturally-sensitive, and I am flexible in working with each client in a way that best suits his or her specific needs. I have experience working with clients experiencing a range of emotional and behavioral difficulties, particularly anxiety, depression, ADHD, Autism, learning differences, low self-esteem, and social/relationship challenges, among others. I incorporate elements of various types of therapy into my work, but Iprimarily utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients determine if some of the thinking and behavioral patterns they engage in can be altered to produce desired changes. I work with clients to develop their coping skills, self-awareness, insight, and ability to communicate effectively in order to help them lead more satisfying and successful lives. I truly love the work that I do since it allows me the opportunity to help and witness people make positive changes in themselves and their lives. Please feel free to contact me; it would be great to hear from you!
Is there something you've always hesitated to say out loud, because if you did, nothing would stay the same? Or… Like in that serenity prayer, are you looking for the difference between what you can change and what you have to accept? Serenity's hard to come by in these ominous times, and certainty can be fleeting. This is your one shot here, so claim your place, speak your truth. Let’s figure out what you need and what you already have, so you can accept yourself even when it’s hard, and participate fully in your own life. What you believe is your Kryptonite may also be the root of your superpower. I'd even bet on it. Therapy with me can be talky, weepy, big laughs, companionable silence. It's my job to understand your world as YOU see it. I’m devoted to helping you figure out how you feel—and what to do—about what matters most in your life. I'll be listening for the stories you carry around in your head, and whether they're kind, whether they serve or oppress you. My default position is to accept and support you as you are, without judgment. We’ll make use of my training, life experience, imagination and intellect to gain perspective on your relationships, past, and present. We’ll experiment with ways for you to manage difficult emotions, feel compassion toward yourself and others, and live with integrity and purpose.