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Therapists for college students near San Diego, CA

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Cristy Mereles
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
San Diego, CA
Accepting new clients

We all have the ability to be our best selves, sometimes we need support as we strive to discover what that looks like. I draw from diverse treatment modalities including Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, and Play Therapy. I have a BA in Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University as well as an MSW from San Diego State University.

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Carly Shaul
Marriage & Family Therapist
San Diego, CA
Accepting new clients

Let me guess…you want to learn to be kinder to yourself, regulate your feelings, put yourself first without guilt, and heal from a past that’s holding you back. You are struggling to feel “normal” and feel confused about how you got to where you are. You can admit that sometimes you’re harder on yourself than you deserve. That’s where I come in! I help teens, adults, and relationship structures explore their lives in order to improve their communication and strengthen their connections to themselves and their communities. I’m passionate about supporting my clients using systems theories, parts work, and EMDR to help them feel more capable of caring for themselves and move towards areas of pleasure in their lives. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, neurodivergence, confusion about life, sexual difficulties, relationship stress, or major life transitions, I’m ready to meet you where you’re at with warmth and care.

Photo of Jill Baumgartner, LCSW
Jill Baumgartner, LCSW
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
San Diego, CA
Accepting new clients

Welcome! I’m Jill. If you haven’t been feeling like yourself and want to feel better, then I’m glad you’re here. Together we can explore what may feel difficult–anxiety, life changes, boundaries and relationships. I enjoy teaching clients coping skills to help manage mental health symptoms. If you’d like to learn more about my approach, please visit my website. Thanks, I hope to meet you.

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Tendril Therapy
Group practice
San Diego, CA
Accepting new clients

With over 15 years of combined experience providing mental health services, our practice provides knowledge and experience specific to working with college-aged folks. There are a lot of challenges and transitions that come with the passage of teen to adult. Recent studies suggest over 40% of college students experience symptoms of anxiety or depression. Our therapists provide guidance and tools to help you find a healing path toward wholeness and happiness. In addition, we provide expertise in the domains of identity and gender, sexual health and relationships, substance use, and trauma. We look forward to hearing from you and connecting you with the therapist who can best fit your needs.

Photo of Rachel Benavidez, LMFT 139106, PMH-C
Rachel Benavidez, LMFT 139106, PMH-C
Marriage & Family Therapist
San Diego, CA
Accepting new clients

I’m Rachel Benavidez, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Perinatal Mental Health–Certified clinician specializing in women’s mental health. I help women experiencing prenatal and postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and the emotional challenges that can arise during pregnancy, the postpartum period, and early motherhood. Together, we work to understand how stress and anxiety show up in the body and develop practical tools to regulate the nervous system, reduce overwhelm, and restore a sense of balance. I am deeply passionate about supporting women during pregnancy and postpartum because mothers deserve the best. I integrate somatic therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS) into my work, helping women understand how stress, anxiety, and trauma can be stored in the body. By learning to recognize the body’s signals and gently work with them, we can reduce feelings of overwhelm, regulate the nervous system, and support emotional healing.

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Me Only Better
Psychologist
San Diego, CA
Accepting new clients

I specialize in working with individuals struggling with weight loss and weight management. I provide an alternative strategy to weight loss based on cognitive therapy that allows people to change their life and their relationship with food, instead of just dieting. Treatment focuses on emotional eating, restructuring routines, and utilizing self-talk to help instead of sabotage. As a licensed personal training, I am also able to provide customized workout programs for clients to coincide with their weight management program. No more dieting! I also am a Certified Insomnia Treatment Clinician and offer 6-week online group treatment programs for insomnia! In addition, I specialize in working with individuals with self-esteem and anxiety issues as well as numerous other concerns, including body image, relationship issues, and parenting. I also have 2 post-graduate interns working with me that are able to offer lower cost options. Please email me or check out my website for all of the details on my different program offerings!

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Nhat Ngo
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
San Diego, CA
Accepting new clients

Healing and growth often begin with feeling truly seen, heard, and understood. As a bilingual therapist fluent in both Vietnamese and English, I bring over 14 years of experience supporting individuals across multiple stages of life, with a special focus on older adults and young adults navigating life transitions, relationships, identity, grief, and emotional healing. Clients often appreciate that I’m not simply someone who nods and listens. I’m an active collaborator in the therapy process. Together, we explore the patterns, experiences, and beliefs that may be keeping you stuck so you can gain deeper insight, heal at the root, and move toward the version of yourself you want to become. Some of the most meaningful feedback I’ve received from clients includes: “I’ve never thought of it that way before,” “I could hear your voice echoing in my head and I knew what I needed to do,” and “You’ve opened my mind to things I never realized before.” Those moments of realization, when clients uncover the root of a pattern, reconnect with themselves, or discover purpose within painful experiences, are some of the most fulfilling parts of the work I do. My greatest joy is witnessing a person’s transformation toward deeper self-love, stronger self-trust, and greater discernment in how they move through relationships, choices, and life itself. I believe healing is not about becoming someone entirely new, but about returning to yourself with more clarity, compassion, and intention. Outside of the therapy room, I’m a proud plant mom, an actively involved auntie to my adorable niece and nephew, and currently obsessed with perfecting homemade matcha lattes. Small rituals like these remind me how healing often lives in the everyday moments.

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Zoey Zhang
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
San Diego, CA
Accepting new clients

I have always been interested in psychology and solving puzzles. I later realized how similar it is to trauma work in terms of figuring out the impact of past events on one’s current behaviors. Helping people to connect dots and make sense of the past and present has let me to the field of mental health care, especially trauma work. I value one’s cultural and family background a lot. As an immigrant myself, I understand how important it is to be heard and understood without being judged. I make sure to put myself in others’ shoes to create a safe space that I would like to be in. I think trust is built through time and understanding. I value open and honest communication without judgement. I believe trust can be built through connections in a professional way.

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Sacred Space
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
San Diego, CA
Accepting new clients

Hello and welcome! My name is Arielle and I am a trauma-sensitive somatic psychotherapist and psychedelic consultant. I offer a warm, sincere, and supportive space for you to intentionally explore the roots of painful memories, emotions, sensations, and thoughts that you are ready to process and move beyond. I specialize in working with people seeking healing from complex trauma, childhood abuse and neglect, sexual and domestic violence, parental loss, and complex grief. I also support people who are intentionally preparing to sit with plant medicine for healing purposes or who have journeyed recently and are looking to integrate their experiences further. If you feel like your needs align with the spaces I hold, I invite you to reach out to me.

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Better Life Behavioral Health
Counselor
San Diego, CA

Feeling stuck and empty? Worrying about relationships and feeling lonely? Anxiety and sadness? Overeating, using drugs or alcohol to cope? You are not alone and we can help. Individuals, couples, families. Ages 16 to adult.

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Chelsea Geyer
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
San Diego, CA

**Therapy that honors who you are and who you're becoming.** College can be an exciting time, but it can also be confusing, lonely, overwhelming, or just straight-up messy. As a therapist with over ten years of experience, I love working with college students as they navigate anxiety, depression, identity exploration, academic and life stress, trauma, and big transitions. My goal is to offer a space that feels safe, grounded, and affirming, where you can be fully yourself and work toward what matters most to you. My therapy style is warm, collaborative, and non-judgmental. I use evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, mindfulness, and solution-focused work to support your growth and healing. I also bring a trauma-informed lens to all I do and strive to adapt therapy to meet your unique needs and goals. As a white therapist deeply committed to racial justice, I actively work to dismantle white supremacy in my practice, relationships, and within myself. I welcome clients of color and am committed to providing a space where you feel safe, valued, and respected. This is lifelong work I approach with humility, openness, and a lot of care. I am also passionate about working with LGBTQ+ students and have experience supporting queer, trans, and gender-expansive young people in finding safety, clarity, and connection. Therapy is a place to slow down, tune in, and make meaning. I feel lucky to do this work and would love to hear from you if it feels like we might be a good fit.

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Therapy Native
Marriage & Family Therapist
San Diego, CA

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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Heather Johns
Licensed Professional Counselor
San Diego, CA

We specialize in working with survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, child abuse, and other types trauma. We are passionate about helping you regain a sense of safety and drastically decrease the lasting effects of trauma in your life. We proudly stand with members of the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC community, and are unapologetically body-, sex-, and kink-affirming.

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Donna Scott
Marriage & Family Therapist
San Diego, CA

You want to heal your past but you don’t know how to do it alone. You want to be able to talk about what you have been through or are facing now without blame or shame. What would it be like to feel better in your relationship with yourself, with your partner, and with God? I offer the benefit of my professional experience and training combined with compassion and insight from God’s Word. Through counseling I can facilitate healing, improved communication, increase connection, and understanding.

Photo of Molly Zive, LCSW
Molly Zive, LCSW
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
San Diego, CA

What if we viewed therapy as a sacred act of self care? Life is constantly changing and evolving so I am here to help to bring more clarity in your life while holding hope. Let me help you make things figureoutable. I love empowering individuals to live their most purposeful life through self exploration and goal setting. We collaborate to help gain insight into your individualized needs. My approach is strengths based, holistic and down to earth. During therapy you can express yourself in a safe place. I can support you to discover helpful ways to express feelings, identify individual strengths, gain insight and access problem solving skills to regain equilibrium. I offer evidence based tools to put in your tool belt to help with emotional regulation. I also support pet parents during loss and grief. You are the expert in your own life and I look forward to guiding the therapeutic process for healing. I offer a warm, non judgmental environment for you to express your authentic self. I believe it's important to take care of your mind, body and soul. I look forward to hearing about your goals. Please reach out if you're interested in working together.

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Tracey Nguyen
Pre-Licensed Professional
San Diego, CA

Are there times you feel stuck, overwhelmed, tired, or confused? Are there times you feel lonely, disconnected, and unheard even when you are surrounded by people? Do you have many expectations or pressure placed on you by friends, family, society, and even yourself? Do you question or blame yourself when things are not going “right”? Sometimes we struggle with these difficult thoughts and feelings and don’t know what to do. And that’s okay! You are not alone! You don’t have to have everything figured out! It is okay to feel many conflicting feelings at the same time, perhaps some more than others. It can seem scary, painful, and difficult to begin your journey of self-exploration. I will be here to support and guide you on your journey toward growth and healing. I am passionate about creating a safe and affirming place that offers authenticity, humor, and genuineness for you to share your stories. I believe in healing and growth through processing and making meanings of your experiences, recognizing your strengths, embracing your identities, nurturing your spirituality, and empowering you to make intentional choices. I will support you in learning skills to manage difficult thoughts and emotions, communicate and express yourselves, establish healthy boundaries, and navigate towards your goals. I’m an Asian-American therapist born in Vietnam and raised in San Diego, CA. As I grew up with different cultural influences, I recognize the importance of diversity, culture, relationships, and intergenerational experiences. My extroverted side loves traveling, spending time with loved ones, and enjoying different cuisines. My introverted side loves reading, listening to music, watching shows, and spending time to myself. I look forward to connecting with you to learn more about how I can support you along your journey.

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Fonda Yeh
Pre-Licensed Professional
San Diego, CA

Centering BIPOC + immigrant/refugee experiences Curiosity ° Community ° Connection

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Rachael Gay
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
San Diego, CA

I am a licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience working with adults, adolescents, children, and families. I know that change is hard and seeking support is brave. It is a privilege to be alongside you in your journey towards becoming the person you want to be and living the life you want to live. Our therapy will be a space where it is okay to show up as your authentic self and share your feelings. We will collaborate to identify and work towards the changes you want to see in your life, brainstorm ways to overcome patterns you may feel stuck in, and support you in gaining the insight needed to foster progress. I have experience supporting clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, perfectionism, school and work stress, self-esteem, attachment, and interpersonal and family relationships. My approach aims to be relational, strength-based, and trauma-informed. I strive to bring empathy, humor, and a nonjudgmental approach to the therapy space to support you in your journey. I use an integrative, holistic approach that pulls from different therapeutic specialties that we will tailor specifically to your identified wants and needs - such as narrative therapy, family systems, mind-body connection, solution-focused, and emotion and person-centered.

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Ariane Myers
Psychologist
Del Mar, CA

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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Erin Alcantara
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
San Diego, CA

Are you experiencing a difficult time managing life these days? Do you feel overwhelmed and not even sure where to start to make positive changes? Everyone goes through challenges in life and there is no shame in admitting you could use some support. It takes courage to reach out for help, and I applaud you for taking that first step. I work with clients who are experiencing anxiety or depression, those who are having a difficult time balancing life demands, or difficulty dealing with distressing life events. I work collaboratively with clients to work on what they choose to work on. I employ strength-based practices to help improve mood and self-esteem, decrease anxiety, and help you move into a more well-balanced and happy life. You deserve a more peaceful, enjoyable life! I am currently meeting with clients both in-person and through telehealth. My office is in the village of La Jolla, which is easily accessible by public transportation. I offer a free 20 minute consultation call to make sure we're a good fit. Please reach out either by phone, email or through my website to schedule your free call and we'll chat about ways I can support you.

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