Therapists for college students near University of Southern California

I'm a curious, compassionate depth-oriented therapist who loves people, and feels humbled and inspired each day by the clients I work with. I work with clients online anywhere in California and in person in San Francisco, CA. I most often work with young adults who are seeking support to reduce barriers in the way of living a more fulfilling life. Frequently my clients seek my support related to: eating disorders disordered eating body image concerns social anxiety self doubt, rumination, and indecisiveness trauma wanting a deeper sense of connection, community, and belonging college decisions, stress management navigating complicated family dynamics gender exploration and transitions

The college experience can be a mixed bag. New environments, forming new relationships, academic pressures - and all while trying to tend to your mental health? Some of your peers seem to be navigating things better than you feel like you are. It is normal to be overwhelmed and feel out of your element. In my practice, I aim to create a collaborative environment for the most challenging emotions you feel to have a space to be heard and understood. I have experience working with grief/loss, life transition issues, family conflict, and anxiety/depression in my work with clients. Please feel free to reach out for a free phone consultation.

I help thoughtful, driven students break old patterns to build more connected lives: where impact & soul align. As a former tech leader, Stanford student-athlete, and experienced therapist, I know how achievement can hide inner conflict, and that lasting growth happens when we feel both secure and challenged. In therapy, we explore the pull between ambition and ease, connection and distance, and deeper healing.

Supervised by Cory Candelas, LMFT #106895 If you’re looking for a therapist who can hype you up and gently (or not-so-gently) call you out, we might be a good fit. Expect honesty, humor, and compassion in equal measure. Think supportive older sister energy: accountability with a lot of care. I work with teens, young adults, and high-achievers who look put together but feel overwhelmed, burned out, or disconnected. We’ll build coping skills and do deeper emotional work because sometimes you’re living with a broken heart and are still expected to keep showing up.

James is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (#71085) based in Oakland, California who has a background as a music educator and was trained across broad multi-cultural social service experiences. His work spans the spectrum of disenfranchised communities and corporate settings. James specializes in individual and family work with older teens and adults who want to address social and emotional imbalances. He has guided hundreds of personal transformations for people of color who have struggled with the day to day, and worked collaboratively to explore unique ways to thrive. The mental wellness journey he offers includes a compassionate process of acknowledging what’s already working to your benefit and taking meaningful steps toward more sustainable self-care.

I see mental health as part of one's overall wellness. My approach focuses on having fewer negative emotions, and also on more positive emotions. I offer tools that research has demonstrated are very effective for reducing suffering. I also assist you in seeing meaningful, practical change by compassion, warmth, and empathy with a bit of humor. However, there is no cookie-cutter approach. We work together, openly, to customize your treatment directly to your needs and strengths. I frequently work with POCs, high-achieving students and professionals, folks in major transitions, and those coping with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, procrastination, and worrying. I have a particular skill in working with women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and people new to therapy and welcome your questions!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, depression, life-transitions, parenting or relationship concerns, adjustment difficulties, body image issues, self-esteem building, racial & cultural identity, academic/work challenges, trauma, family of origin issues, and stress management. I am passionate about providing services to a diverse community, specifically those who may feel marginalized or struggle to access services. I provide an environment that is non-judgmental, utilizing a caring and collaborative approach to help clients feel heard, supported, and empowered. Taking the first step to seek therapy can be scary and challenging, yet exciting and hopeful too.

Dr. Dani is passionate about helping individuals who are navigating stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, ADHD, identity, trauma, relationship challenges, and substance use. One of Dr. Dani’s greatest passions is to help individuals develop confidence within themselves, so they can communicate their emotions and ask for support effectively. Dr. Dani strives to provide a safe environment for individuals to express what is on their minds, learn invaluable coping skills, understand the mind-body connection and address relationship issues to build a sense of connection with themselves and others. She creates an understanding and empowering environment by using humor and gentle yet direct challenges. She welcomes feedback from individuals to maintain a collaborative approach. Dr. Dani approaches working with individuals in an empathic and nonjudgmental manner. She strongly feels that to help people, you must look at the entirety of a person and integrate all different aspects of their lives

Paula Zuccaro is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist. Paula was born and grew up on her family’s ranch in Western South Dakota. She relishes spending time with her family-- especially her grandchildren and three dogs. Paula is an avid runner and enjoys barrel racing, working on a quarter horse program, and traveling. After earning her BSN from Mount Marty College and MSN in Nursing from the University of Phoenix, Paula continued on to obtain her FNP and PMHNP certifications from University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Paula retired from Indian Health Service after 23 years of service. She has practiced in a variety of mental health care settings, including inpatient, outpatient, crisis care, jail, juvenile detention center, detox program, eating disorder center, nursing home, and telemedicine. In 2006, Paula was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Additionally, she received the 2010 Nurse Practitioner State Award for Excellence and Certificate of Appreciation from the Colorado Medical Detachment Army National Guard for her time spent with medical students during their mental health rotation. She’s been a presenter at the American Psychiatric Association Annual meeting and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on the topic of Telepsychiatry.

The students I work best with are often going through big changes in life that feel overwhelming—like starting at a new school, dealing with pressure at home, or feeling unsure about friendships. Many of them feel anxious, stressed, or sad, and sometimes find it hard to talk about what’s really going on. They usually want a safe space where they can share their thoughts without being judged, and where someone really listens and helps them make sense of their feelings. Some of my students want support with building confidence, finding healthy ways to cope, or learning how to manage tough emotions when they show up at school, at home, or with friends. If you’ve ever felt like no one really understands what you’re going through, or like you have to hide how you feel, then you’re the kind of student I can support. Together, we’ll work on helping you feel more comfortable in your own skin and finding strategies that actually fit your life.

If you are not living the life that you know you could be living, if you are often tense and worried and have a hard time relaxing, if you have difficulty enjoying what life has to offer: give yourself a chance to be happier and to enjoy life! I have over 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist, I am easy to talk to, and I don't judge. I want to help you learn to take care of yourself, to relax and be happy, and to optimize your performance in all aspects of your life. I enjoy helping students feel well, function at an optimal level in class & lead happier lives. I also help athletes & performance artists realize their potential and achieve peak performance.

I believe that therapy can heal, but I also know that telling a stranger about your deepest pain can be a strange feeling. Perhaps you've been feeling sad, depressed or worried, and hopeless that anything in your life can change. Or maybe you aren't sure what you would even want help with. You know you feel bad, but if someone were to ask you "How can I help?", you aren't sure what you would say. These problems can feel permanent and unsolvable. After all, something feels broken and unfixable, so how could you not feel that it takes all the energy you have just to get up in the morning and go about your day? Depression or anxiety can also feel isolating, as if nobody else could possibly understand. You may have even received advice from people who you feel mean well but can't understand what you're going through. Depression and anxiety are not permanent or unfixable, and therapy can help. Imagine feeling peace of mind, and excited about life and its possibilities. It starts by learning about you and going at your pace. As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with over 16 years experience working with adults and teens, I've seen therapy work, and I feel lucky that I get to be part of that journey for others. I work with adult individuals of any age, with a special focus on young adults.

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.

Have things started to feel harder than they used to? This is a good sign. It's time to take care of you in a more meaningful way than you've experienced before. I work with clients who report feeling dismayed by their reactions to work stress, school stress, and/or relationship stress. I'm a deeply empathetic, yet directive therapist. I draw from multiple research-backed approaches to address your needs and goals. I have extensive experience working with overwhelm, stress, and depression, as well as PTSD, with adults, children and families. I feel honored to work with clients in what I consider to be a sacred process. Most of my clients report that they feel relief and hope within the first session. Clients see continued improvement as we process challenging experiences together and honor the natural wisdom and sense of personal power that arises from the work. Over time, experiences of reactivity, as well feelings such as anxiety, anger, sadness, and joy all become meaningful and helpful when we hold them with curiosity and compassion. And despite my education and training, I want you to know that I won't ever be 'done' finding parts of myself that need more love, or areas of my life that stretch me when I least expect it. It's because I lead a truly human life, combined with experience and support, that I know the courage and hard choices it takes to make this step toward healing.

We are a team of culturally affirming therapists who have come together through shared common values, life philosophies, and the need to create an alternative and creative approach to therapy. Our values and philosophies were born and defined from our work in the following settings: home-based and community-based treatment, community outreach, advocacy, mentorship, teaching at community college and university settings, public speaking, and traditional talk therapy. Our aim at Courage Over Comfort Counseling is to empower our clients to step outside of their comfort zone and into their true greatness, and this… takes courage.

As a professional counselor and family therapist who's spent the better part of the past decade helping teens and adolescents navigate the transition to college and the beginnings of their young adult lives, as well as helping international students acclimate to their new environment, I'm here to let you know that ... Despite what anyone tells you, you don't need to have it all figured out. What many people don't want to admit or face is that life is a continuous process of growth and change. However, once you realize and embrace that fact, everything else becomes much easier, more rewarding, and fun. This is what counseling for college students and young adults is all about: learning to embrace change, discover who you really are, and create the relationships and life you desire and deserve. My job as a psychotherapist is to help you explore your values and beliefs and align your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with who you really are, so you can let go of any unnecessary tension, cope with and move past anxiety and depression, communicate more effectively with others, and live a more authentic and joyous life. And it doesn't have to take a long time. You don't need to be in therapy until you're middle-aged! You decide on your goals for our work together, and we'll figure out the most effective and efficient ways of achieving them. If you're ready to embrace this time in your life, discover your personal power and feel confident and comfortable making big decisions, enjoy exploring all of the possibilities for the future, and make sure you’re on the right path for you, I encourage you to contact me today.

Are you looking to have a deeper connection with yourself and others? Are you ready for a change? Therapy is about reestablishing a healthy connection with yourself, so you can make conscious and healthy choices. We will identify actionable goals for you to feel a sense of direction. Common areas my clients seek support for are: coping with anxiety and depression symptoms, relocation anxiety, impostor syndrome, relationship issues, body image, and work stress, We will release the old stories and receive a fresh new perspective to move forward. I will provide you with the tools you need to get through the challenges you face. My approach is warm, interactive and collaborative. I use an evidence-based approach called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which consistently brings clarity, relief, and meaning to my clients. CBT is validated by research and provides results quickly when you’re willing to look within, embrace discomfort, and take action between sessions. If you are feeling lost, stuck, anxious and need to promote balance and well-being, I can help you move through the challenge you face. I offer a safe, non-judgemental and validating approach. Call or email me to set up a free consultation so we can determine if I am a good fit for your needs. I look forward to hearing from you!

I appreciate your courage and effort in reaching out! If you are looking to alleviate anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress or to learn healthy coping and relational skills, I would be honored to serve you! I provide a safe and nonjudgemental atmosphere for us to work together to assess and come up with a therapeutic plan that uniquely fits with your present needs. I believe in neuroplasticity and in our innate ability to heal and thrive!