Therapists for college students near UCLA

Have you ever found yourself asking “What was I thinking?” or thought, “I should have done this differently!” I get it, and you’re not alone in these thoughts! They are signs that you’re hoping for change. Whether you’re experiencing conflicts in your relationship, cross-cultural challenges, academic concerns, or you’re taking time for self-exploration, you’re likely feeling overwhelmed, scared, anxious, or even depressed through it all. I’m here to work with you in turning these challenges into the freedom you’re pursuing. When working through challenges, it often feels like we're in a never-ending loop with limited options in hand, and I know how exhausting this can feel! I've helped college students and young adults find their way out into a meaningful life. I specialize in individualized care, knowing that what works for some people, may not work for you! I’m here for YOU! At times therapy can feel intense or complex, but just like life, we will also leave room for enjoyment and reward. I will be here with you every step of the way as we use the experience together to head out of that never-ending loop and into the life you have been waiting for. Are you ready for the ride? I’m ready for you.

The Norooz Clinic Foundation is a non-profit public service and educational organization established in October of 2012. Norooz is a Farsi word meaning new day and a new beginning. At the Norooz Clinic Foundation, we strive to assist those who walk through our doors with their journey of discovery to find their new day, their rebirth, through mental health and wellness. The Norooz Clinic Foundation focuses on building and maintaining healthy relationships by identifying common struggles and providing new ways to approach them with success. We teach our clients effective skills and tools in order to give them alternative ways to think about daily problems and stressors and overcome them with more ease and balance.

Empower Youth Therapy provides individualized therapy for college students navigating academic pressure, anxiety, relationship stress, identity development, transitions, and trauma. Our approach is warm, validating, and practical — focused on helping students understand themselves more deeply while building real-life coping skills they can use in classes, friendships, and daily routines. We serve students from San Joaquin Delta College, CSU Stanislaus, CSU East Bay, Sac State, and surrounding Central Valley / Bay Area campuses. We offer a non-judgmental space to talk honestly, process what’s overwhelming, and explore who you’re becoming — especially during transitions like moving away from home, choosing a major, or preparing for your next step after graduation. We also support executive functioning, stress management, and strengthening healthy habits. We offer individual therapy for college-age students. We accept insurance and private pay. Free 15-minute consultations are available.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2010, I’ve been treating adults and adolescents experiencing life challenges which sometimes leads to symptoms of anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and substance use. I believe we are all unique and our life experiences shape how we see the world. I work with the individual to find a path that facilitates self-growth and clarity. I graduated from the University of Southern California in 2007 and am licensed in the state of Nevada and California. I provide service in office and/or Telehealth.

Hello and Welcome! Are you a couple needing to strengthen communication, navigate conflict effectively, and break free from long‑standing gridlock? I’m Rocio Vaca, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 17 years of experience, and I help you deepen friendship, build emotional intimacy, and create shared meaning. Are you exploring your identity, preparing to come out, struggling with self‑acceptance, or navigating gender‑affirming care? Together, we can build healthy coping strategies, strengthen resilience, and address symptoms of anxiety, depression, or stress while supporting a stronger sense of self. I help clients find relief from overwhelming thoughts, emotional exhaustion, & daily stress by identifying triggers, emotional regulation, & building coping skills. I also support children/ teens with OCD, trauma, low self‑esteem, & assertiveness challenges often from being bullied, helping them understand emotions/cognitions, build confidence & boundaries. I view therapy as a collaborative and individualized process—one that builds practical skills while fostering insight, emotional healing, and growth. Clients often describe my style as warm, grounded, and down‑to‑earth, creating a space where they feel supported, understood, and empowered throughout their therapeutic journey.

I specialized in serving the Latinx community, first-generation professionals, and those struggling with high functioning anxiety. I have extensive experience working with adults who have a history of undisclosed childhood trauma, depression, panic attacks, and high functioning anxiety. My experience includes working in the tech sector prior to switching careers and in the hospital setting. Starting therapy can bring mixed emotions to any individual. This is why I always like to start by helping my clients feel safe and seen. Therapy is a collaborative approach where the client gets to direct what they want their treatment to focus on. My treatment approach to therapy is providing a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive space for individuals to address their mental health struggles. I take a whole-person approach and discuss the mind and body connection as it relates to our mental health. 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 work best with students who are feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of school, work, relationships, or major life transitions. Many of my clients come to therapy because they're struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, self-esteem, burnout, or feeling stuck. Others are adjusting to college, navigating difficult family dynamics, substance and alcohol abuse, processing relationship challenges, or trying to balance everything life is throwing at them. You don't have to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Whether you're looking for support through a difficult season or want to build healthier coping skills and greater confidence, I'll provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered to create meaningful change.

While in therapy, it is crucial that clients develop an increased understanding about the working relationship between thoughts, feelings, and actions. I enjoy helping clients learn to practice emotion regulation, develop healthy coping skills, and empower them to take an active role in their lives leading to positive outcomes outside of therapy. I recognize the difficulty in talking to a stranger about intimate and personal topics, and I acknowledge the strength that it takes to freely discuss these events in an open manner. I provide an open space, where clients feel at ease sharing their lives in a confidential setting. It is well researched that a successful therapy outcome is highly linked to a positive therapeutic rapport. I strive to make you feel safe, heard, respected, and valued. I am aware of the complexities life brings and the many paths it can take, both positive and negative, my hope is that while in my care, I provide you with a reliable safe space to further develop your personal growth.

Therapy is a unique space to explore and organize your internal emotional experiences, feel more satisfied in your interpersonal relationships, better manage and tolerate a broad range of emotions, and experience new ways of relating more meaningfully to yourself and others. Through carefully exploring your emotional and relational experiences, both past and present, you may develop a deeper sense of self-understanding, wholeness, and a renewed capacity for joy and purpose. I work from a primarily relational and psychodynamic orientation, though I am flexible in engaging with the specific needs of each client. My work is informed by a commitment to social justice and an attunement to the many social realities that influence trauma and distress. I seek to honor your multiple intersecting identities and actively explore the interaction of these with my own and within the larger culture. My goal is for clients to experience a deeper sense of safety and healing. I have 12 years of expertise working with adults experiencing trauma, anxiety and depression, adjustment and life transition issues, identity concerns, relational conflicts, spiritual and/or religious issues, and grief and loss. In addition to working with both MA- and CA-based clients in my private practice, I work as a psychologist at UCLA. Prior to this, I completed my postdoc fellowship at Boston College University Counseling Services and worked as a staff psychologist there for 3 additional years, so I thoroughly enjoy working with BC students. I look forward to connecting with you!

As a mental health clinician, I find a great joy in working with young individuals in their early 20's and 30's who may struggle with depression, anxiety, and trauma. Through active listening and communication, client's have found therapy to be a place to "think out loud" and allow themselves to feel or experience emotions that would otherwise be ignored and forgotten. Therapy is a place to being authentic, to grow in self awareness, and to be empowered by one's successes and shortcomings. I am passionate about supporting the Asian American community. As an Asian American therapist, I want to support Asian American individuals who may struggle with cultural identities, family relational issues and addressing culture specific topics that impact one's social and emotional wellness.

In a world not created for our comfort or success, the challenges of Black, Latine/a/x, Indigenous, Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI), and People of Color often go unnoticed by others. Are you constantly feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and unable to prioritize yourself? Do you feel as though your relationships are one-sided? Have you experienced microaggressions, felt marginalized, or like an impostor in predominantly White spaces? Are you ready to level up and reclaim your power? My approach is person-centered and strengths-based. You are the expert of your life, and we will work together to identify and use your strengths to create healthier relationships, increase self-esteem, and build resilience. Transforming into your most joyful self requires dedication and hard work, and I am here to support you every step of the way. As a Black and Latinx psychologist, I am passionate about healing and uplifting his communities. You deserve not to just survive, but thrive! I believe this work has the ability to help you find the confidence in your voice, and feel empowered in your daily life. If this resonates with you, come through, get settled in, and let’s get to work.

Hello, and welcome. You are probably reading this because you are looking for someone who will get you—someone who can understand your struggles, offer a fresh perspective, and help you to move forward, letting go of the heaviness that you have been carrying. Maybe you have tried therapy before, or perhaps this is all brand new. Either way, finding the right therapist can be stressful. PAUSE A MOMENT. TAKE A DEEP BREATH. You are not alone. You can heal. You can experience joy and feel loved in your relationships and within yourself. I understand your struggle. I offer hope when you feel hopeless. I create a safe place for you to encounter your whole self with acceptance and compassion. My passions and specialties include working with people who are recovering from trauma, abuse, and unhealthy relationships and/or managing stress, depression, anxiety, chronic illness, grief, or loss. Contact me today for a free 15-minute consultation for counseling and let’s create a plan that will work for you

Deep within, I believe everyone holds the keys to a life of profound meaning and joy. By discerning their dreams and charting their personal journeys, my clients unlock doors to lives they cherish all the more. In the wise words of Carl Jung, 'Man's task is to become conscious of the contents that press upward from the unconscious.

Many of the students I work with are the people others assume are "doing fine" because they're successful, responsible, and high-achieving. On the inside, though, they may be struggling with anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, self-doubt, or feeling like they have to hide parts of themselves to fit in. I also work with students who are navigating life transitions, relationship challenges, family stress, or discovering they may be neurodivergent later in life. Together, we'll work to better understand what's been keeping you stuck, build on your strengths, and help you create a life that feels more authentic, balanced, and sustainable. My goal is to provide a space where you feel understood, supported, and never judged.

I recognize that reaching out for help can be easy for some and really overwhelming for others! I offer a safe space to discuss your goals and will go at a pace that fits your needs. I like to tailor our sessions and your treatment plan with your input, based on your own style, personality, and needs, and utilize a strengths-based, cognitive-behavioral approach. 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’m drawn to helping people navigate difficult life transitions and supporting them in developing self-compassion and learning to validate their own experiences. I find it meaningful to walk alongside clients as they make sense of challenges and grow through them. I use humor and metaphors to explore complex or heavy topics in a way that feels more approachable and less overwhelming. I love helping clients find practical tools and unique solutions they can apply in their everyday lives, so they feel more empowered in managing their struggles and creating change. I approach the therapeutic relationship collaboratively and making sure we stay focused on what matters most to you. I’ll regularly check in and invite your feedback so we can adjust along the way and make sure your needs are being met. I utilize active listening, paying close attention to both what you’re saying and how you’re experiencing things. I may reflect things back or ask questions to better understand your perspective. My goal is for you to feel genuinely heard, respected, and supported throughout the process. At the beginning, we’ll talk about what brings you in and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy, and we’ll work together to set goals that feel meaningful to you. I’ll also explain how I work so everything feels clear and collaborative. Building trust is really important to me, so I focus on creating a safe, welcoming space that’s free of judgment and shame. I follow your lead and respect your pace, especially when we’re exploring more difficult topics. I also bring in humor, creativity, and metaphors to make the process feel more engaging and approachable. Over time, consistency, open communication, and mutual respect help us build a strong therapeutic relationship where you feel safe, supported, and empowered. I enjoy bringing a light-hearted demeanor into the therapy space. Therapy is serious work, but I find that humor helps bolster resilience and promote connection. By being able to notice and appreciate small, light moments we can more easily tackle the big ones.

Our practice is built on authenticity, inclusion, and meaningful connection. We support college students and young adults as they navigate the many transitions, challenges, and opportunities that shape this stage of life. Whether you’re experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, academic or social stress, identity exploration, or relationship concerns, we offer a space where you feel genuinely seen, supported, and valued. Using somatic awareness, mindfulness, and evidence‑based approaches, we tailor each session to your individual needs. Together, we explore the mind‑body connection, nurture resilience, and create pathways for healing, growth, and self‑understanding. We are committed to inclusivity and celebrate the diverse identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences that each person brings. We recognize that change doesn’t happen in isolation it’s influenced by the relationships, environments, and communities you’re part of. While navigating life transitions can feel overwhelming, you don’t have to do it alone. We walk alongside you with warmth and care, helping you strengthen connections, manage stress, and create space for personal growth, clarity, and confidence.

My clients do most of the talking and my role is to be an active and nonjudgmental listener. I often jump in and challenge my clients when appropriate. I actively teach new skills and tools to my clients. 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.

As a youth, I recall many instances when I experienced intense anxiety, depression, even suicidal thoughts, – but I did so in isolation, without adequate support. Mental health services were not available and not commonly accessed in my community. As a young woman I used dance and movement, and other forms of creative expression (such as writing and singing), as my means to manage emotions. I became a psychotherapist to ensure that I could be supportive to those in similar situations – to help support people in not feeling alone with the difficult aspects of life and relationships. No one should have to fight their mental health battles alone. The integration of somatic (body-focused) psychotherapy has allowed me to support others while giving them the gift that I have discovered through a life of movement – the gift of understanding the role of the body in allowing for healing. Through the use of the body in psychotherapy clients can learn how to find balance in their mind while finding peace in their emotional landscape. I believe I support clients in feeling heard and understood through using a deep curiosity to delve into each aspect of their lives. I use a collaborative approach to support clients from exactly where they are starting from. I listen intently for new ways of hearing the shared information, the client’s story. In this process, I ask questions to weave together the thread of their thoughts and concerns as it creates a path towards their progress and growth. I hold the larger picture of who they are to support the process of highlighting insights into ways of getting from where they are to where they want to be. In this way, I am deeply understanding their process of growth while empowering them to make changes in their life. I use a warm and engaging process of building connection with clients. I find it is important to face and embrace our emotional selves, allowing ourselves to be fully authentic to cultivate growth. I foster an environment that supports this authenticity and growth through using my own eccentric and eclectic approach. From within the safety of this relationship I am able to challenge clients with humor while creating space for depth. I am able to flow with what is relevant in the moment while holding their expanded story to support.