Therapists for college students near Los Angeles, CA
When people are challenged with changes that affect the ability to manage stressors, there comes a time for positive change and support. I am passionate about focusing on the healing process, whether it involves the challenges of exploring maladaptive behaviors or the triggers of trauma. I help my clients, who include children, adults, and families to find healthy coping mechanisms and self-autonomy which will lead to positive perceptions. This, in turn, creates personal identification and self-worth, thus creating healthy relationships. I have been in the field of social services for the past 26 years and practicing therapy for the past 10 years with extensive and diverse work with children and adults. There is not one single approach for each individual, so I have trained in different modalities to tailor to the needs of those seeking help. This includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-focused therapy, Narrative Therapy, background with trauma focused approach, Seeking Safety (modality for trauma and substance abuse) training, anger management, and play therapy for children. The therapeutic relationship is essential in the beginning stages of sessions because my purpose is to assist the individual in therapy to change his or her life for the better. This involves developing trust, respect, and congruence with empathy and genuineness. 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.
My aim is to help clients understand how their history and programming influences patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. When insight and self-awareness of these patterns is established, we will develop ways to shift the combination of these things in a direction that is consistent with what is important or helpful. My experience has primarily been in a variety of outpatient mental health settings, including community mental health, intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization program, primary care integration, and private practice. 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.
My therapeutic approach stems from a person centered lens that views all with a fundamental respect and a belief that we carry strengths from our unique histories. I've worked with individuals from Latinx, LGBTQ+, and neurodiverse communities to manage stressors utilizing CBT, trauma informed care, and a strengths based approach. My past experience includes community and private mental health settings working with individuals experiencing challenges related to anxiety, depression, and stressful life circumstances. I welcome all individuals to learn how to cope with the curve balls that life throws at us. My hope is that through collaboration, commitment, and connection in therapy, we will develop a safe path for clarity. 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.
Do things feel off track and overwhelming this semester? Procrastination, imposter syndrome, lack of academic focus, feeling socially awkward, breakups, friend drama, existential fear of what comes after graduation, family conflict, relationship communication breakdown, feeling like everyone else has it together but you, roommate boundary issues, school/work/social out of balance? Yep, that sounds hard. Let's talk. While I do specialize in the treatment of anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, and life transitions, there may be additional or underlying challenges that cause you to feel frustrated, unmotivated, overwhelmed, ashamed, or sad. Whatever your struggles, together we can help you better understand what’s going on and what may be getting in the way of change and feeling more like yourself. My approach to our therapy will be goal directed, and the strategies and techniques that we will utilize are research based; CBT, ERP, mindfulness, to name a few. You will leave each session with action items, and we will work together as a team. I will bring to our work substantive training, many years of practice, patience, empathy, curiosity, and reliability. ACCEPTING CLIENTS IN: CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, FLORIDA, TEXAS
In therapy, I utilize evidence-based treatment modalities and specialize in family therapy, couples therapy, addiction, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. My approach incorporates a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to the needs of each client. My goal is to develop a therapeutic relationship where trust, vulnerability, and safety can be experienced, allowing each client to grow at their level of comfort. 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.
I have experience working with all demographics but mostly with adults that struggle with a variety of issues, including (but not limited to) depression, anxiety, bipolar and psychotic disorders, stress management, family conflicts, relationship, behavioral and other mental health problems. My approach to you as a client is simple, meet you where you are. I use an eclectic theoretical approach that fits your needs, and one that makes you feel the most comfortable. I believe while seeking help you have goals to attain and it is my job to help you get there. It is my honor to use my expertise, skills, and knowledge to support you in that journey. 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.
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.
What inspires me to work as a therapist is the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution on a daily basis. As an immigrant woman of color, who is bilingual and bi-cultural, my family’s struggle to achieve mental health despite deep seated stigma and shame illuminated my commitment to work as a therapist. Clients are the owners of their lives, and I respectfully honor their right to self-determination. A basic guiding principle in my therapeutic work is that clients are able to succeed when they choose their goals and their psychological needs are met. As such, it is my job to encourage competence and mastery of their own paths. That is, what works is what works for the client! Trust is the cornerstone that allows positive growth in therapy, which for me includes empathy, validation, and unconditional positive regard of the client. Reinforcing that we are all doing the best we can, and that coming to therapy is not a failure, but rather it is a growth opportunity.
Our therapists' diverse backgrounds and specialties allow us to work with clients across the lifespan with a wide range of issues. Therapists at Abundance Therapy Center are passionate and committed to improving the emotional and mental health of our clients and provide an individualized approach to therapy to meet your specific needs. Our therapists are highly trained in their skills but more than that, they are strength-based, non-judgmental, and can provide a safe, healing space for you. We have therapists who are bilingual and bi-cultural in Korean, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, and Farsi. We also have therapists with a Christian background who can provide faith-based therapy.
Hive Therapy Collective is a psychotherapy group that specializes in providing high-quality, social justice-focused, trauma-informed, and personalized therapy services for adults, teens, and couples in California. We believe that good therapy looks different for everyone. We value and celebrate your individuality and we know that finding the right approach to therapy can make all the difference. We'll walk alongside you whether you're hoping to process your past, work towards future goals, or heal your relationships with yourself or others. Ready to take the next step? Give us a call or visit our website to fill out a contact request form!
You give a lot — to your work, your relationships, your community — and you've started to feel the cost of that. Maybe you're carrying grief that hasn't had space to breathe, navigating your identity in a world that doesn't always make room for you, or stuck in patterns you understand but can't seem to move. My clients are thoughtful, deeply feeling, and are ready for therapy that goes beneath the surface. Together, we work toward something more than coping. We work towards change, compassion, and confidence.
As a Black woman who is often seen as "having it all together," it may be challenging to admit that you are having a difficult time. You may automatically say that you are "good" or "well" when people ask how you are doing but know deep down that this is a mask of how you are really feeling. Recognizing and admitting to yourself about the mask is the first courageous step to getting support. Even though many of us have been told to not let our guard down by showing others that we do not have it all together or that only "crazy" people who do not look like us go for therapy (not true!), you know what you need for yourself.
* I'm licensed in Louisiana and California and would love to work with you virtually by FaceTime, Zoom, or phone. Reach out at 504-261-4443 (text) * I am in-network for many health plans for students from California through Headway Therapy. You only pay your copay through the portal. Start here: https://headway.co/providers/lisa-tahir-3?utm_source=pem&utm_medium=direct_link&utm_campaign=63753 * I am a Tulane Alum and teach in the Glass Art Department. * Check out my podcast, "All Things Therapy" on Spotify and iTunes * I've written a book on self-forgiveness and empathy endorsed by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, "The Chiron Effect: Healing Our Core Wounds through Astrology, Empathy, and Self-Forgiveness." Give me a text to 504-261-4443 to start your healing journey!
College is a time of growth, change, and sometimes a lot of pressure. If you’re feeling depressed, anxious, stuck, overwhelmed, or just not like yourself, therapy can help you create space to reflect, reset, and move forward with intention. We begin by building trust, so you can explore what’s coming up for you and build tools to feel more grounded and confident.
Are you feeling overwhelmed with school work or uncertain about your career of relationships? Getting help can feel challenging. If you have decided to seek support, then I can work with you through a problem-solving approach. With a foundation of trust, together we can work on formulating goals and explore new solutions for the changes that you want. Together, we can also build solutions to maintain the balance that you need to recharge and have a happy, healthy life. I provide students with a warm, safe, non-judgmental, and confidential space to optimize healthy coping strategies. I do this by empowering students to build upon their skill sets and by incorporating a multicultural perspective. If you have decided it is time to reach out for help, Together, we can work on formulating a plan.
I became a therapist because I understand that everyone needs and deserves a safe and trusting space to process the human experience, be it the challenges and transitions, concerns and worries, relationships with self and others, or ever-changing emotions and thoughts that can make navigating life difficult, confusing, or overwhelming. I believe that each individual experience is unique, while also understanding that no one should feel alone or that what they feel or need is wrong, abnormal, or cannot be validated. I work with my clients to help them feel empowered and capable of making decisions to live a most fulfilling life, as well as able to handle stressors and meeting their needs. I have experience working with people of all ages and backgrounds and am well-versed in providing treatment for folx who are neurodiverse or within the BIPOC, gender diverse, and LGBTQIA+ communities. I provide services for people dealing with anxiety, depression, AD/HD, personality disorders, substance abuse/dependence, eating disorders and body image issues, attachment and adjustment disorders, relationship challenges, emotional disturbance and/or trauma, and behavioral challenges. I have additional training in sex therapy and provide treatment for couples and those in polyamorous relationships. I practice from a psychodynamic, client-centered, and holistic approach with an unbiased perspective. My treatment modalities have included solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral therapy, emotionally-focused therapy, ecopsychology, and existential psychotherapy. I strive to build honest, lasting relationships with my clients so that together we can consider and process the multiple factors that contribute to one’s mental health and life choices, as well as uncover the underlying fears that can impact our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. I further highlight the mind and body connection, exploring the relationship between our physical and emotional or mental selves and how they work together, as well as what role and impact our spirituality (however it is expressed or manifested) plays within our conceptualization of life.
I went into psychology to address what I believe is a growing imbalance of work/life stress and personal guilt in modern day society. I want to help clients struggling with this both individually and as couples or families. Experiences from past careers has given me an appreciation for diverse learning methods and cultural attitudes, as well as how to be flexible and creative in my coaching with clients of all ages. Managing the ups and downs of any chronic condition is the unacknowledged full-time job of millions of people, and yet there is little credit given for it. I am here to be supportive, inventive, encouraging, and sympathetic to clients struggling with the ongoing stress of managing their lives, and help them lead an enjoyable life no matter what they may be handling. I believe that when people connect, lives get better. I have always been an advocate for others’ growth, and enjoy helping people gain insight into themselves and their world. As a marriage and family therapist, I help individuals address elements of their lives and themselves that are interfering with their relationships. As an individual therapist, I focus on unlocking and identifying core motivations and strengths in clients that are unique to them, and which often provide clients with the direction or guidance they are seeking. My psychotherapy practice is tailored to give clients exactly the kind of supportive opportunity they need to focus inward, realign with their personal needs, and heal from stress as they learn to manage it. I have a warm communication style that clients describe as encouraging, analytical, and direct. I use a Cognitive Behavioral approach, with elements of Emotionally Focused Therapy to explore deeper memories, and Solution-Focused principles to create measurable progress between sessions.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
We commend you for taking a step in the right direction by researching therapy for yourself or your loved one. We believe that while we have expertise in mental health treatment, YOU are the expert in your own life! ​Our approach to therapy is to support, encourage, and guide you to tap into your strengths to create the life you and/or your family deserve. We are not a clinic. Our associates are a professional group of skilled, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists, and Interns committed to providing a deeply individual, personal, and empowering experience in therapy. Welcome. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Heather Ward, MA, LMFT, PMH-C, is a licensed therapist with deep roots in college campus mental health, having provided counseling and wellness support across multiple higher education settings in the Los Angeles area. Trained at the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education, Heather has worked at Pierce College, West LA College, and California State University, Northridge, where she managed large student caseloads, coordinated care with multidisciplinary campus teams, and developed workshops focused on building healthy relationships and emotional resilience. Heather brings a warm, collaborative style and a nonjudgmental presence to her work with students navigating depression, anxiety, identity shifts, and the pressures of academic life. She draws from attachment-based, psychodynamic, and mindfulness-oriented approaches to help clients build emotional regulation skills and strengthen their sense of self during pivotal life transitions. Earlier in her career, Heather also contributed to campus mental health from an administrative lens, developing and implementing strategic mental health and counseling initiatives at UCLA Extension — giving her a uniquely well-rounded perspective on how students are supported at an institutional level. Heather is committed to culturally sensitive, inclusive care and has experience supporting diverse student populations across community college and university settings.