Kristen Oliva

College is like a pressure cooker of compounding transitions. On top of demanding coursework, you are likely navigating the intense world of identity exploration. This can mean a lot of things; from the deeply personal layers of discovering your sexual orientation and gender identity, to simply figuring out who you are as an individual and what you actually want out of romantic and sexual relationships. As a queer therapist, I intimately understand the unique difficulties of navigating these shifts. I have walked this path myself, personally navigating profound changes in my own sexual orientation and gender identity, and I know how isolating it can feel to explore these core parts of yourself while trying to maintain your GPA.

It is incredibly common to feel stuck in a major or career track that feels entirely wrong, paralyzed by the fear of starting over. I know that panic firsthand. I spent years working as a software developer before a season of deep introspection and counseling gave me the courage to make a massive pivot. Today, I am in a field I love deeply; one that brings me genuine passion far beyond a paycheck. If you are feeling misaligned with your current path, I offer specialized career counseling to help you cut through the external expectations, decode your true strengths, and confidently identify a professional field that actually fits your authentic self.

Whether you are drowning in academic stress, untangling painful relationship patterns, processing trauma, or facing a complete directional pivot, you do not have to figure it out alone. Together, we will address the practical mechanics of stress management while diving deep into the relational dynamics that keep you stuck. I provide an encouraging, explicitly inclusive, and safe space where no topic is too messy or taboo. Your college years can feel incredibly destabilizing, but our work together will help you build the self-trust and clarity needed to step out of survival mode and into a life that is genuinely, authentically your own.