Therapists for college students near UCLA

Are you looking for a compassionate and attuned experience with someone who trusts and can help you tap into in your nervous system's innate capacity to heal?

Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Perhaps you or a loved one is feeling depressed and anxious and you are not even sure why. Are you having a hard time finding satisfaction in your relationship or do you feel like the everyday stress of being a parent, working, going to school or trying to be there for everyone is too much to handle? Are you having difficulty achieving your goals? ​ The collection of therapists at Positive Change Counseling Center are inclusive, compassionate, strength-based, solution-focused therapists who provide support and feedback to clients in a safe and comfortable environment. We work with each client to help resolve current issues and symptoms as well as long-standing patterns or behaviors you want to change. ​ We all face challenging times and struggle through different stages in our lives. If you are looking for guidance and support to make a positive change in your life, we look forward to working with you. Please call or e-mail to make an appointment La Mesa, San Diego, Rancho Bernardo, and Ventura ​ All of our Clinicians offer telehealth (video) sessions. Most Clinicians are also seeing clients in-person. Please contact our front desk to inquire about in-person sessions. Clients must physically be in the state of CA during telehealth sessions.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

As a licensed psychologist with over ten years of clinical training and experience, I have had the great fortune of supporting individuals from all walks of life who are working to make peace with their past, to connect with their present, and to build hope about their future. I work with adults of all backgrounds and orientations. My Approach… I strive to provide tailored support for my clients as they address issues like anxiety, depression, addiction, past trauma, communication issues, anger management, symptoms of serious mental illness, adjustment and decision-making issues, and relationship problems. Using an individualized, nonjudgmental approach, I will work with you collaboratively on building support, creating healthy independence, developing self-compassion and self-acceptance, clarifying values, and identifying goals for improving coping, fulfillment, and self-concept.

Life happens. Everything is running smoothly in our lives and then something occurs that throws us off balance: a relationship breakup, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, divorce, or a trauma. Instead of a single event, it can also be the buildup of stress or the accumulation of various life experiences. Sometimes we just want to learn more about ourselves. It can even be a wound from our past from which we have difficulty healing. All of us experience obstacles in our lives that can become overwhelming. With whatever difficulties you may be facing, we can work together to achieve your therapeutic goals, whether they be to lessen the experience of unpleasant feelings or to better understand what you are going through. It is my goal that you feel more empowered so that you can live a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Overwhelmed? Anxious? Hopeless? You've come to the right place. Congratulations on taking a first step toward healing. I am a licensed psychologist specializing in treating trauma, mood disorders, and behavioral problems. I work with pre-teens through adults in family therapy, couples therapy, or individual therapy. I have a passion for empowering my clients to understand themselves better, to heal from pain, and to thrive in life. Call for a free 15-minute phone consultation (214) 247-6410.

I know it can be daunting reaching out for therapy - to let in support, to try to find the right fit, to allocate the resources & time. When I was a senior in college, therapy truly saved my life - but I so remember how long it took for me to be able to make that first call. So props to you for exploring! If we end up working together, you will likely share a lot about you. So here’s a little bit about me: I’m a white (French, British, and German heritage), queer, cis-woman from a middle-class background who is able-bodied (with some lived experience of chronic illness). I’m often dreamy, sensitive, irritable, passionate, anxious, patient, funny. I love humor, music, sour gummy worms, Rihanna, poetry, shoes, crying, and books. I’m passionate about social justice and art. I grew up in a coastal town so the ocean feels like home. I startle easily. I love singing and songwriting. Some of the big themes I’ve grappled with during this lifetime are: grief & loss; sexuality & sexual orientation; gender; body image and eating disorders; depression; anxiety; addiction and relationships with family members struggling with addiction; containment; perfection; co-dependence & attachment; sexual trauma; disconnection from creativity; betrayal, infidelity, & trust; monogamy & ethical non-monogamy; suicidality. And here's a bit about my therapy practice: I offer therapy for individuals & partners experiencing a broad range of life challenges. And, I have extensive experience in supporting folks as they navigate the following content areas: communication & relationship issues; grief & loss; identity; trauma; sexual orientation, sexuality & sensuality; creativity; systems & lived experiences of oppression; anxiety & fear; depression; co-dependence; addiction; infidelity, betrayal & trust; and inner-child work. I’m sex-positive, queer, and poly- & kink-affirming, and welcome all ethnic & racial identities & positionalities. The therapy that I offer is depth-oriented and strongly rooted in Gestalt & somatic modalities, as well as intersectional feminism. It is trauma-informed and client-centered. For those that are interested, I also enjoy using intuition, creativity, and the imaginal realms (imagery, visualization, experiential exercises, art, dreamwork, etc.) to support our explorations. If none of that means anything to you (understandable!), here's a *hopefully* less-jargon-y description of how I approach my work as a therapist: I fervently believe that you (and only you) are the authority of your experience. I am here to offer my curiosities, intuition, and reflections — in dialogue with you — to help you explore and discover your truth. I am interested in meeting you wherever you are in the present moment, supporting you to increase your awareness. It is my belief that only by increasing our awareness can we increase our felt experiences of agency and choice…which in turn allows us to live a more empowered, aligned, compassionate, and enlivened life. I care deeply about creating a safe container in our therapeutic relationship — to respect boundaries, to always track for consent and choice, to unambivalently welcome all parts of you, to fervently support both your safety and aliveness. I am passionate about and invested in exploring power, positionality, and privilege. I welcome and support difference, and am committed to efforts to not perpetuate authoritarian and oppressive systems in the therapeutic relationship. I honor & trust the massively creative and adaptive survival strategies that you have developed to keep you safe. And, I also honor the ways that the habitual enacting of those survival strategies may no longer be serving you — that your circumstances and capacities may have outgrown these mechanisms, and that you may need some support in this vulnerable re-emergence into the world. I will sit with you in your suffering. I’m not afraid of the darkness, or of your shadow. I will go to the depths with you. And stay there, in the underworld, with you for as long as you need…until you emerge anew on the other side. I believe that, together, we can co-create a homecoming for you. That our work can guide you home to your innate nature — to your authentic expression of your many parts of self. To your passion and presence and joy. To your aliveness. To feeling deeply nurtured and nourished. A return to self in which you come to truly and intimately know yourself for the first time. I so looking forward to hearing from you & seeing if we might be a good fit to work together, should you choose to reach out!

Hello, my name is Heather Pederson. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Diego and am so glad you are here. Seeking help can potentially feel daunting, exposing, and overwhelming. It can also be our first steps toward repair, healing, and growth. I have found that people are so very strong, courageous, and hard-working, and still need some help when things get hard. I believe therapy can be a unique chance to discover parts of ourselves we forgot about, allow healing for the tender parts, and find new ways of interacting with ourselves and our loved ones that allow for deeper understanding and connection. I work with individuals and couples who often struggle with: a feeling of something between angry, sad, and fear that doesn’t have a name, as well as feelings of overwhelm, worry and stress that gets between them and their preferred lives. I seek to create opportunities in therapy to connect more deeply with the truest parts of yourself so that you can then connect more deeply with your purpose, values, and trusted others. I am trained in Emotionally-Focused Therapy (Externship with Sue Johnson, Core Skills to become Certified in progress), a Certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, Trauma Informed Care, and a graduate of Bethel Seminary San Diego with an M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy. Please contact me with any questions you might have regarding therapy. I work with college students (extensive experience working on college campuses), couples, individuals, premarital/pre-engagement, relational distress, trauma, and anxiety.

I help young women facing difficult life situations find healing, peace, and contentment in their lives. I am a psychiatrist and psychotherapist with over 15 years of experience. During our initial sessions, we will delve deeply into the issues at hand, and collaborate to create a plan for addressing them in a way that helps you get your life back. Most of my patients see a gradual lifting of symptoms within the first month and sustained improvement thereafter. If you have been suffering on your own, I want you to know that there is hope for relief, and that you aren’t alone. I specialize in psychotherapy, with and without integrated use of medication treatment. In addition to a medical degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine and a residency in psychiatry, I pursued specialized psychotherapy training. I am trained in and use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR, and mindfulness based therapy. It can be a daunting task to find a therapist and enter into the unknown. I'm glad you've taken the first steps towards meaningful change. My website can address any questions you might have, and I offer convenient secure video appointments, online scheduling, and a free screening consultation: www.peacetreementalhealth.com

I incorporate a Soul oriented practice that is beyond ego psychology. I integrate BodySoul work, astrology, tarot, dreamwork and alchemy. I offer work with life transitions, grief, loss and finding meaning. I also offer psychedelic integration and creative expression.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I am a licensed professional counselor in California, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Currently, I am doing remote counseling only. I have experience in trauma, anxiety, grief/loss, addiction, anger management and life transitions. I am multi-culturally sensitive and LGBTQIA+ affirming. I was born in El Paso, Texas and both my parents are Mexican-American. I am bilingual Spanish/English. I moved to California in 2021 after living in Arizona for 30 years where I was faculty at Phoenix College teaching Psychology, Sociology and Women's Studies. I have Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (ASU) and an MA in Counseling (OU). I believe life is not about the destination but about the journey. Sometimes we run into rough spots along the way. Let me walk beside you for a while until you get past the rough spots and are able to continue on your own. Counseling is a process that you control by telling me what you want to accomplish and then we work together to get there. Sharing your story with a stranger is sometimes hard. I want to be your ally in therapy and provide a safe space where you can talk and be yourself without fear of judgment. I promise to be honest with you and support you as you explore who you are and who you want to be. I will work to earn your trust and to shine a light on the road ahead as we travel.

Warm welcome! Are you feeling unmotivated, sad, or overwhelmed by life changes? Perhaps past traumatic experiences are triggering you, making it hard to show up as your authentic self in relationships, school, work, or hobbies. If you identify with any of these feelings, know that it’s common to struggle with your vitality, creativity, and energy. I empathize with your journey and want you to know that it’s okay to seek support and guidance to reconnect with your true self. With 6 years of experience, I offer support for anxiety, depression, PTSD, codependency, low self-esteem, anger, childhood neglect, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and acculturation as first-gen. My clients experience growth by learning to regulate their emotions, confidently express their needs, and establish value-oriented actions to reach their goals. In our sessions, you can expect a warm, non-judgmental environment with direct communication. My goal is to help you challenge self-limiting beliefs and overcome internal blockages to become your best version. If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey, I’m here to support you. Go to the website to schedule an intake appointment to determine if we are a good fit to collaborate on your recovery needs.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

The backbone of my work is relational – meaning, the relationship between us is at the core of therapy. My training and experience have led me to believe that therapy is not "one size fits all", nor is it one therapist fits all. I will approach your situation, open to discovering what kind of therapeutic relationship will work for you at this time. I have training and experience in the following methods: CBT, Trauma Focused CBT, PCIT, and Narrative Therapy. After a thorough assessment, I typically like to collaborate with clients on the method that would work best considering the symptoms. In a typical session, clients can expect to feel heard and validated while tackling goals towards a happier life.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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.

Vantage Point Recovery is a virtual IOP/PHP treatment program for mental health and substance use disorders that is ideally suited to fit into students' schedules. We provide individual therapy and group sessions in the mornings, afternoons and evenings, and students can attend without leaving the comfort of their home or dorm room. We provide students with a supportive virtual program that can meet any of their mental health needs. Please contact us for more information.

No one has a perfect childhood. Early stressors, abuse, and neglect can continue to have profound effects on all of us and can manifest as depression, anxiety, anger, and low-self esteem. As we continue through life, enduring pain and distress, we often learn to suppress our emotions and neglect our needs in order to get by. In therapy I will provide you a safe, supportive space that belongs to you, in which you may share as much as you are willing and at a pace that you are comfortable with. While working together, I aim to help you undo old ways of being and to help you begin fostering a more compassionate relationship with yourself. As a therapist, I believe that I am a facilitator in your journey of change. My passion is helping clients rediscover their true selves and leading more authentic, genuine lives.