Therapists for college students near San Diego State University

Update 8/25/24: I am still accepting new patients. Online video appointments for adult and adolescent patients throughout California. In network with Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Optum and Oxford. Private pay option also available.

Theresa Chesnut specializes in the treatment of Eating Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), issues surrounding athletic performance and anxiety as well as conflicts arising within the family, particularly those pertaining to adolescent growth. Her therapeutic orientation is holistic, strength-based, and grounded in both psychodynamic and Internal Family Systems (IFS) theories. Professional Experience Theresa has worked with adolescents and adults for over 30 years, managing her clients’ challenges with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorders. Previous to her having formed her own private group practice, she held the position of Clinical Director at The Healthy Teen Project (HTP), an adolescent, eating disorder-specific outpatient clinic. Before her activities HTP, Theresa held many roles over her 13-year stint at a national eating disorder residential treatment center, including Program Director, Lead Individual and Group Therapist, Program Director, Director of Regional Marketing, and supervising master level interns. She was also instrumental in a founder-like role, starting new programs, training new staff, overseeing operations, creating policies and procedures for programs, and expanding existing practices into new geographic locations. Theresa lectures locally and nationally, both in person and virtually, on therapeutic interventions targeting the entire eating disorder recovery process. Over the last 3 decades, Theresa has lectured on college campuses to student counseling staff, coaching staff students and sororities as well as to allied professionals covering the state of the art of symptom identification and eating disorder prevention, therapeutic interventions. Most recently, she has been trained in Family Based Therapy (FBT), Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), and is a certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist and a Level One Trainer. Theresa served as a Board member of the national Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) from 2009-2017 and held board positions as the Secretary, Vice-Chair, and Chair. Additionally, she sat on several committees including the Conference Committee and Weight Stigma Awareness Week.

Niña Aguirre is a seasoned mental health professional with over 15 years of experience and is licensed in California. She has worked extensively as both a therapist and court liaison, serving diverse populations including adolescents, adults, incarcerated individuals, and older adults. Niña is passionate about promoting mental well-being and believes deeply in the power of human connection to foster healing and personal growth. Her approach is rooted in providing personalized, thorough care that enhances self-awareness, helping clients explore past traumas and understand their impact on current behaviors and relationships. Niña’s therapeutic style is flexible and tailored to meet each client’s unique needs. While she primarily practices client-centered and solution-focused therapy, she adapts her modalities to ensure a personalized approach. Her goal is for clients to feel heard, validated, and comfortable enough to freely process their emotions. Whether a session yields small insights or significant breakthroughs, Niña ensures each experience is meaningful. She is trained in CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), interpersonal therapy, trauma-focused therapy, crisis intervention, and mindfulness, drawing on these methods to support her clients’ healing journeys and help them achieve their treatment goals.

Hello, I am so glad you are here. My name is Arlene, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I have been in practice for 11 years, working in several settings, such as community clinics, primary care clinics, schools and college campuses. I work best with those who are struggling with life transitions, identity exploration, relationship challenges, stress/anxiety and depression. I believe in a collaborative approach and take time to understand your needs, including intersecting values and identities. I have training in maternal mental health and EMDR, and have a passion for women's issues. If this sounds like something you are hoping to work on therapeutically, please feel free schedule a consult via my website to learn more or discuss your concerns further. I would be happy to meet with you!

Whether it is the first time reaching out or you have sought counseling services before, I can help! Through a genuine connection and mindfulness approach, I can help you work through your struggles. With more than 17 years of experience working with students, I understand the stress that academics and life transitions can cause. We can figure it out together.

Dr. Meshi graduated from Wellesley College in Massachusetts and earned her medical degree from the AUC School of Medicine. She then completed a post-doctoral fellowship in neural regeneration and spinal cord injury at the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at the University of California, Irvine before completing her internship in family medicine at Northridge Hospital, affiliated with David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Meshi went on to complete her residency in general adult psychiatry at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, where she earned the Emory/Pfizer Resident Research Award. She has a strong interest in treating women, focusing on perinatal and reproductive psychiatry. Dr. Meshi is passionate about providing specialized care to women suffering from reproductive-associated mood disorders, including PMS, illness during pregnancy, and the postpartum period. Dr. Meshi has been in clinical practice for over 20 years. She has run her private practice for the last 15 years.

I specialize in supporting young adults through life transitions—starting college, changing careers, managing relationships, becoming a parent, or navigating new independence. Your twenties and thirties (and beyond) can feel exciting, overwhelming, and uncertain. If life feels messy, you’re not alone. I’m here to help you make sense of your experiences, explore who you’re becoming, and move forward with clarity, confidence, and self-compassion.

My clients usually approach me when they are ready to make a change in their lives. They are experiencing conflicts, inside themselves or with others, and are looking for an empathic, flexible and dynamic clinician to provide support and guidance. With clients and within myself, I emphasize maintaining mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health and wellness practices, as well as, feelings of HOPE and self acceptance. My clients and I are both “agents of change,” constantly progressing, and continuously developing through this journey called life. I am currently licensed and practicing in the state of California and New Jersey. I also have a permit to practice in New York supervised by Dr. Melissa Laracuenta- Hernandez.

Are you ready to unpack and understand how painful past experiences might be impacting your life? Do you want to decrease suffering and feel more balanced? You’re not alone. Creating awareness of how distressing past experiences show up in your life will empower you to break the cycle and create a more fulfilling life. I aim to help you improve your overall quality of life and feel more connected to yourself, others, and the world around you. Together, we will approach your past with curiosity and compassion. I specialize in treating trauma concerns, including PTSD and complicated grief, relationship concerns, and older adults encountering issues associated with the later stages of life. While practicing a person-centered approach, my aim is to establish an environment of safety in which you can be vulnerable and explore your difficult personal experiences. I draw upon a variety of modalities, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavioral therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other mindfulness-based approaches. I’m glad you’re here. If you are ready to embrace the therapeutic process and move towards recovery, I’m here to support you. Please give me a call and we can set up a free consultation. Let’s get started.

Hi, I'm Jodi Paris, a licensed marriage & family therapist specializing in providing mental health care to young adults. As a trusted and experienced therapist with over 25 years of expertise, I understand the unique challenges that college life brings. I am passionate about helping young adults like you navigate this transformative phase with confidence and resilience. College can be an exciting and challenging time, filled with academic pressures, relationship dynamics, and personal growth. I am here to support you every step of the way. With a warm and understanding approach, I create a safe and nonjudgmental space where you can freely express your thoughts, feelings, and concerns. My extensive experience working with young adults has equipped me with a deep understanding of the specific issues you may face. Whether it's managing anxiety, addressing relationship struggles, building self-esteem, finding motivation, or navigating career decisions, I am here to help you overcome these obstacles and thrive. In our sessions, you can expect a collaborative and personalized approach. Together, we will set realistic goals, develop effective coping strategies, and explore techniques to manage stress and anxiety. I may also assign activities like journaling, reflection exercises, and practical worksheets to enhance your self-awareness and track your progress. My therapeutic toolbox includes evidence-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness Therapy. I believe in tailoring the treatment to your unique needs and preferences, ensuring a customized and effective therapeutic journey. Don't let the challenges of college life overwhelm you. Take the first step towards a healthier and happier life by scheduling a free consultation with me. Together, we will create a roadmap for your personal growth, well-being, and academic success. Remember, you don't have to face these challenges alone – I am here to support you on your journey. Schedule your free consultation today and let's embark on this transformative journey together.

Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, or have a history of trauma, grief, or loss? Are you struggling with life transitions, as well as interpersonal relationships? Looking for someone who is non-judgmental, thoughtful, genuine, and active? Then look no further! It would be an honor to help guide you on your journey toward self-healing. My name is Gabrielle Powell and I am an Associate Clinical Social Worker #90673, supervised by Denise M. Williams, LMFT92559. As a therapist at the Well-Play Wellbeing & Counseling Center, my intention is to assist you in becoming more self-aware, while utilizing your inner strengths to help you cope with life's ups and downs. I can also help you align your decision-making with your values, in order to create healthy relationships with yourself and others. I tailor the therapeutic experience to each individual's unique needs, strengths, and circumstances. This is achieved by utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy, client-centered approach, motivational interviewing, strengths-based approach, and mindfulness techniques. In other words, I am going to show you how to use your strengths to overcome your challenges.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Are you a student who is struggling with many of the adjustments that come with attending college? Maybe you are homesick, lonely, attempting to make new friends, or have symptoms of anxiety. Many students coming into college feel the need to get all A's or procrastinate and have time management issues. You might have relationship difficulties, or family expectations that are too high to meet or unreasonable. Feeling sad, depressed, and overwhelmed can be isolating. I hope to be able to create a therapeutic relationship with you to help manage all of these normal feelings that come with entering a new experience in your life and becoming an adult.

I work really well with individuals struggling with the transition to adulthood. Are you overwhelmed by all of your responsibilities? Feeling pressure to figure it all out right now? I can help navigate the jump from dependent to independent. Additionally, I specialize in treating trauma. I have experiencing treating victims of crime, first responders and their families, survivors of sexual assault, survivors of mass shootings, as well as bullying, car accident, and trauma induced by failure to perform. Schedule a free consult and see if we are a good match for what you are trying to accomplish.

People-pleaser, perfectionist, anxious, passive. If any of the above phrases or words describe you, guess what? You're reading the right profile. If you're ready to break-out of unhelpful patterns; if you're motivated to start using your voice; even if you're ready to start therapy to see where it takes you - I can be the therapist to help move you in a different direction. If you're looking for someone who is very structured, that's not me. I offer no-frills sessions and am not afraid to (gently, mind you) challenge or question you. I operate collaboratively and conversationally. Anxiety, people-pleasing, all those things I named above are my specialties. If you're a first timer to therapy - I can also help with that! Look, I get it - it's hard to pick someone whom to tell your innermost thoughts. I understand the feeling of uncertainty and the frustration of finding the "right" therapist. If you're willing to reach out to see if we're a good fit, let's talk!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.