Therapists for college students near San Diego, CA

Hi. My name is Dr. Elanna Lazaruk and I am a licensed psychologist in California, Massachusetts, and New York. I specialize in working with teens and adolescents with anxiety, depression, trauma/abuse, relationship issues, academic performance, and self esteem issues. I love developing a deep understanding of my clients and improving their insights into themselves as well as focusing on actionable changes to improve their quality of life. Whether you are looking for insight into yourself, learning new skills, and/or making changes to your life, I am looking forward to working with you. I will help you to determine your goals for therapy and will create a unique and personalized treatment plan to achieve those goals. I have had training in a number of different therapeutic approaches, including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectic behavior therapy, mindfulness, and crisis intervention. Together we will develop a customized plan that works best for you. People who have worked with me have stated that I am exceedingly empathic, understanding, and supportive. I am very active and flexible during sessions and am very skilled at understanding people and their behavior patterns. Past patient testimonials are available on Google and Yelp. I received my Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology at Yeshiva University’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and my Bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College. While attending Wellesley College, I worked as a psychology research assistant at both Wellesley and MIT. I completed my clinical training at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Beth Israel Medical Center, JCCA, and SCO Family of Services. Feel free to check out my website at www.lacanadapsychology.com . You can reach out to me by phone at (818) 495-5705 or by email at drlazaruk@lacanadapsychology.com and we can schedule a free phone consultation to make sure I am a good fit for you and answer any questions you may have. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kate Rifkin, LMHC (pronouns she/her/hers) offers individual mental health counseling sessions for adults (18+) to provide a safe space where folks are able to freely explore their thoughts, feelings, concerns, and goals in a non-judgmental space. She takes an individualized, holistic, and integrative approach to therapy, that draws upon cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and multicultural-based therapies. Kate has expertise and interest in working with athletes, young professionals, college students, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

We are a mental health practice committed to working through areas of concern in your life, improving your relationships, and supporting you in creating a healthy and fulfilling life. We provide a warm, welcoming, and confidential environment in which individuals and relationship are able to grow and change. At Family Therapy Center, our therapists are dedicated to supporting you in reaching your ultimate goals. Our group practice and combined team of professionals have a diverse range of expertise and training to best fit your specific needs and concerns. When you leave Family Therapy Center, you will walk away feeling heard, understood, and prepared to face life’s difficult challenges. Together, we can embark on a journey to self-discovery, healing, acceptance, and peace, and build on the strengths you already posses to overcome your obstacles and achieve your goals.

I work with couples and adults. I help college students who are dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or feel overwhelmed by the transition to college, their workload, or have experienced a loss. I help couples rebuild/strengthen their friendship, learn how to manage their conflict and find ways to compromise, deal with differences in parenting, process past hurt, and deal with other stressors that can impact the relationship, such as OCD, Depression, in-law problems, work schedules, or working together. I also offer premarital counseling for couples hoping to navigate important conversations prior to marriage. I support adults with work stress, anxiety, family/relationship issues, grief, divorce, and acclimating to college or any other big life transition. I'm certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and received intensive training in the Gottman Method for Couples therapy. Both are research- based, which means they have been shown to be effective. It also means that there are many tools that I can draw from to support you. Reaching out for help is a vulnerable thing and finding the right therapist is KEY to a successful journey in therapy. I offer free phone or video consultations to make sure you get a sense of what it might be like to work with me, and for me to hear more about you and make sure I have the tools/experience to help you. I hope to hear from you soon!

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I’m a California-licensed LMFT with 15 years of experience across cultural, community, and non-profit settings. Fluent in Spanish, I offer collaborative, client-centered care using evidence-based methods like CBT, family systems, trauma-focused CBT, and strengths-based strategies to support your unique journey.

College can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. I help students navigate stress, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions in a supportive, judgment-free space. We’ll work together to build coping skills and find strategies that fit your unique needs. Whether you’re adjusting to campus life, managing academic pressure, or looking for someone to talk things through with, I’m here to support you.

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I’m a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of diverse experience in mental health, including work at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and UC San Diego. My career spans roles in clinical practice, research, and education, giving me a broad perspective on mental health challenges and treatment approaches. I have worked extensively with veterans, trauma survivors, and individuals navigating intimate partner violence (IPV) or relationship-related concerns, as well as adults facing anxiety, depression, grief, and life transitions. I provide trauma-informed, evidence-based, and integrative therapy that blends modern psychotherapies with mindfulness and Zen Buddhist principles. This approach helps students build resilience, self-compassion, and clarity. Therapy is tailored to each individual, offering practical tools for managing stress, navigating relationships, and balancing academic and personal demands. I offer secure telehealth sessions across California, making it easy for students to access support alongside their studies. My goal is to create a safe, understanding space where students can explore challenges, develop coping strategies, and strengthen a sense of purpose and well-being during this formative stage of life.

If you are busy, want to get well quickly and be on your way to enjoying life, I can help you. When you start therapy with me, we will identify current behavior patterns that aren’t working, learn new ones, practice, and adjust your strategy until you maintain the new behaviors. When you feel ready, we end our work together in a healthy process and graduate you!

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Do you feel controlled by anxiety or OCD? Feeling like you have to constantly seek reassurance or perform rituals to feel better? These disorders operate on what is called a Vicious Cycle: 1) encounter trigger/obsessive thought 2) experience distress 3) engage in compulsions or safety behavior/s, which leads to 4) relief. The frustrating part about this cycle is that the relief is short-lived. Before you know it, the obsessive fear and compulsions are back, taking up more time and mental resources to cope. The good news is that together, we can end the cycle and find long-term relief. Treating OCD and Anxiety disorders require specialized training and experience. I have trained under internationally recognized psychologists, Dr. Jenny Yip and Dr. Eda Gorbis. I have worked with clients at all levels of care, including IOP, PHP, and outpatient. Currently, I provide individual and family outpatient treatment for those aged 10+, in person and via telehealth. I know therapy can be a challenging endeavor, that's why I aim to cultivate a warm and collaborative therapeutic environment, where we can defeat your OCD and Anxiety together! Feel free to reach out for a complimentary 30-minute consultation.

I am a double board-certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, and provide psychotherapy and personalized medication treatment. The core of my work is to provide a safe environment, where we build a strong and trusting relationship. I will help you explore your own story, current life challenges and open up possibilities for change in your life. Where medication can help, we can consider that option together. I consider ongoing therapy as an important part of optimizing any treatment with medication that can change your mood and behavior.

College is hard enough — your relationships don't have to be. Between classes, work, and extra curricular events, navigating relationships on top of everything can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re going through a breakup, stuck in the same fight with your partner, or just feeling confused about where things are headed, relationship therapy can help. I offer a supportive, judgment-free space where you can talk about the messy stuff, understand yourself better, and gain insight into your relationship patterns. Let’s work together to help you feel more confident in yourself and your relationships. You don’t have to figure this out alone. Contact me today for a free consultation.

Welcome! Looking to work with the right therapist can feel tough. We want to make sure we find the right fit and someone we can talk to. If you are a teen looking for that person, I think you'll find comfort and safety in working with me. I have been fortunate to work with those transitioning to college from high school and those pursuing a higher education degree for the past 4 years now. I understand the stressors and difficulty this life transition can pose. I understand what it can feel like to move through this world as a student and I want to provide the best space possible to chat about that. We can talk about emotions, relationships, identities, cultures, and anything else that feels important. Feel free to reach out by email or phone for a free 15 minute consultation. I look forward to meeting you!

Are you feeling anxious, fearful, or sad? Do you struggle with negative self talk? Are family dynamics painful right now? I can help. I am well versed in the problems that college students from a variety of backgrounds face. I have over a decade of experience helping clients to better manage difficult feelings, improve relationships, and feel good about themselves. I use a variety of tools such as mindfulness, self-compassion practices, and other interventions that will help you express and process core emotions on a deeper level. I look forward to helping you feel better, gain insight, and work toward having a meaningful life.

Krystyl Wright, LCSW is clinical psychotherapist with over 12 years of experience working with individuals and couples with acute stressors and those overcoming challenges. Krystyl's therapeutic approach is never about providing answers but helping clients get the answers they need by holding space for self-exploration and teaching skills to navigate life freely. Krystyl specializes in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to assist client's in using skills/ techniques to decrease their suffering a get to a life worth living 365.

Dr. Apraku is welcoming new patients for video appointments. As a Board-certified M.D. psychiatrist, she specializes in providing psychiatric diagnostic assessments and treatment recommendations for anxiety, depression, OCD and bipolar disorder. Dr. Apraku also gives guidance for mental health concerns related to life transitions, mood swings, anger and traumatic events. As a holistic provider, her focus is on medication management (including for patients wishing to decrease reliance on medication) in combination with extensive psycho-education and referral to a trusted therapist where appropriate. Effective psychiatry requires a relationship between patient and provider founded on trust and mutual understanding. Dr. Apraku's goal is to build such long-lasting relationships to get your mental health as good as it can be. She has a particular interest in treating young adults with non-traditional backgrounds, including racial minorities. Through secure video, Dr. Apraku can treat anyone located in state. The practice does not bill insurance carriers directly but instead provides a superbill which patients may use to claim out-of-network benefits. New patients are welcome to self-schedule their first appointment directly at apraku.com/book. We look forward to working with you!

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I work with adults of all ages, couples, and adolescents. I offer virtual and in-person sessions at my office in the Castro. I have extensive experience working with college students and graduate students. I can help with a wide range of issues including: anxiety and stress, depression, self-esteem, relationship issues, grief, identity issues, transitions, ADHD/neurodivergence, difficulties with regulating alcohol use, gender and sexuality, loneliness, and more.