Therapists for college students near UCLA

If you’re feeling overwhelmed — by anxiety, school, grief, trauma, or just trying to hold it together — I want you to know you don’t have to navigate it all alone. Whether you’re a teen, a parent, or someone trying to support a loved one, I’m here to walk alongside you with compassion and care. I’m a social worker with over 10 years of experience supporting individuals and families through some of life’s most difficult moments. My path has taken me through schools, nonprofit organizations, and community-based programs, where I’ve worked with people facing a wide range of challenges. Most recently, I’ve been providing therapy and social-emotional support to high school students with IEPs—helping them work through anxiety, school refusal, complex trauma, and the everyday pressures of growing up. I have also worked with their parents to plan and implement optimal care. I earned my Master’s in Social Work from California State University, Northridge in 2017. During that time, I had the opportunity to develop an animal-assisted therapy program at a juvenile detention center, which really deepened my belief in creative, holistic approaches to healing. My background also includes working closely with survivors of domestic violence and supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families. My approach is trauma-informed, neuro-affirming, and client-centered. I’ll meet you exactly where you are. I believe healing happens in safe, supportive relationships, and I strive to create that kind of space in our work together. Whether you’re looking for practical tools, emotional support, or simply someone who gets it, I’m here to help you move toward healing and lasting growth. Please reach out if you would like to schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation to see if I am the right fit for what you need.

I work best with clients who are passionate about self-discovery, social change, and navigating life’s challenges. Many of the individuals I support are exploring identity, facing societal pressures, or advocating for human rights, including LGBTQ+ issues, women’s rights, and other radical movements. College can be a time of immense growth and uncertainty, and I help students manage stress, relationships, and personal identity while balancing academic and social expectations. Whether struggling with anxiety, self-esteem, or navigating systemic injustices, I provide a supportive, affirming space to explore these challenges. My goal is to empower clients to embrace their authentic selves and build resilience in the face of adversity.

Meaningful relationships are an essential part of fulfillment and happiness. I believe in the unique power of the relationship that develops between therapist and client. Through an exploration of this interaction, we can more wholly understand your past and current relationships and help shape future experiences. I work with people who are struggling in a variety of ways and are ready to dig in and do some difficult and deeply powerful work that will lead to greater choice and freedom. I view my opportunity to join individuals in their journey toward self-understanding as a great privilege and find the work exciting and gratifying. I am committed to working with culturally diverse individuals, couples, and families from every walk of life. While much of my experience has been centered on work within the LGBTQ community, I strive to create an open and affirmative space for all. I am particularly effective working with adults, young adults, and adolescents. Through my training at Stanford University and University of Chicago, I feel uniquely capable in addressing issues surrounding identity, work, and school. I provide individual, couple, and family psychotherapy at my office in Hayes Valley.

I am a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist who focuses on real ways to change the ways you feel about yourself and your life. Together you will learn tools to use to change your thoughts, tools that you can take with you and use for the rest of your life. I practice with you in session, and provide homework for you to do outside of our sessions for additional reinforcement. In addition to helping people struggling with depression or bipolar disorder, I also focus on supporting families who have a loved one with a mental health issue. This might mean helping them connect to treatment, or focus on the ways that their own interactions contribute to the problem. I help people decrease codependency, and focus on their own lives and wellness. I also specialize in helping families who are experiencing infertility. I meet individually or with couples who are experiencing this problem, and help them navigate treatment as well as the multitude of emotions that come from struggling to create a family. As someone who experienced this problem myself, I speak the language and know the grief that comes with this unexpected and difficult challenge.

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Life isn’t what you expected. Something happened. Something happened that you never imagined would happen to YOU and it threw all of your life plans off course. Or maybe you look in the mirror today and just don’t recognize the person you see. Either way, your life has taken a turn and you’re in territory you never prepared for, never anticipated. You feel lost, scared, and alone. Guess what? You’re not. I can help you process the unexpected, regain control of yourself, and move forward to create life-altering change and establish a reality that is probably better than you can visualize right now. All you have to do is reach out. Together we'll identify what isn't working for you anymore (maybe it never has). We’ll direct attention to the solutions - working together to create a treatment plan, a way forward, using a combination of evidence-based practices. You deserve specialized care. I can provide that along with a caring, non-judgmental, safe space to explore and grow. I provide video psychotherapy to people in CA and WI. Want a free 10 minute phone consultation? Please call or email today to schedule!

Are you looking to reignite that spark in your eyes that you felt was lost a long time ago? Could you be feeling lost and seeking a way to find your sense of direction? Do you feel that your relationship has not been the same as it was years ago and you may need guidance on what to do with your partner? By working with me, you may not have to face these challenges on your own. I work with an array of different populations including young adults, college students, transitional-age youth, domestic violence survivors, undocumented immigrants, individuals struggling with major depression and anxiety, and couples. Other areas of interest include helping individuals heal from codependency and breakups, providing support for culturally sensitive-issues impacting the Asian American community, and providing solidarity as an LGBTQ+ ally. If you are interested, I invite you to contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration and I hope we can connect soon!

The idea of therapy can be overwhelming for many. People sometimes associate therapy with a sense of inadequacy or inability to handle their own problems. They often do not recognize the act of seeking self-improvement as courageous, which, of course, it is. In my work with individuals, I create a safe space where they are able to heal, grow, and flourish. With compassion and empathy, I guide each person through the process of understanding the root of their problems so they may discover a greater depth of personal insight and self-awareness. Through that process, I find great satisfaction in witnessing each person heal their emotional wounds and develop self-love and self-compassion as they begin living a more fulfilling existence with inner peace and enriched relationships.

Dr. Ponting is a licensed clinical psychologist specialized in treating anxiety, traumatic stress, and depression in adults and children. She focuses on improving mental health during the transition to parenthood, including pregnancy and the postpartum period. Dr. Ponting also works with families with young children ages 2-6 who have experienced a recent traumatic event. Dr. Ponting provides individualized, culturally responsive care aimed at reducing distress and enhancing the capacity to feel positive emotions. Dr. Ponting draws from several evidence-based individual and family therapies and provides services in English and Spanish.

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The college experience can be a mixed bag. New environments, forming new relationships, academic pressures - and all while trying to tend to your mental health? Some of your peers seem to be navigating things better than you feel like you are. It is normal to be overwhelmed and feel out of your element. In my practice, I aim to create a collaborative environment for the most challenging emotions you feel to have a space to be heard and understood. I have experience working with grief/loss, life transition issues, family conflict, and anxiety/depression in my work with clients. Please feel free to reach out for a free phone consultation.

First, I strive to create a safe environment where the client feels heard, understood and supported. The compassionate use of 'unconditional positive regard' guides my work. This is a well proven healing factor in the therapeutic relationship. I believe my clients grow strongest by finding their own path through their unique inner landscape I have a very diverse background as a therapist. In my early years I counseled teenagers in group homes. This gave me the chance to develop an open and accepting style. I learned a great deal about varied adolescent experiences. The longest period of my professional career I worked as a psychotherapist with a large health organization serving all ages. From toddlers to senior citizens I tried carefully to connect with each one and help them resolve a wide range of life challenges.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Whether you are feeling stuck, in a transition, or seeking support to heal previous trauma's that are holding you back to evolving from your best self, I am here to support and guide you. Maybe life threw you a curve ball or treated you unfairly, or you just want a space to grow as an individual. Regardless of your circumstances, I am here to hear and heal from your story. Your story deserves to be heard! I provide tele-therapy services for those who live in California using a HIPPA compliant platform and I currently have availability for in person therapy in Campbell, CA. I also am EMDR trained and currently receiving supervision to become certified. I currently have openings on Tuesday-Friday between 4:30 - 7:30pm for tele-therapy services.

I am a cancer survivor, an active duty military spouse, and a child of grief after losing my father at a young age to addiction. Building resilience and fostering hope is not just something that I practice professionally, I have lived it. These experiences combined with my clinical background have given me a unique perspective on healing. I value the realness of showing up as yourself in and out of the therapy room. When I am not wearing my therapist “hat” you can find me at the movies, cuddled up on the couch with my two fur babies, or in the kitchen. I am a serious foodie, dog mama, bookworm, Bravo-binge-watcher, coffee fiend, and yes….I am a millennial. I love to paint, listen to 90s country, decorate for the holidays, and travel (when I can!).

I am a licensed psychologist dedicated to helping teens, adults, and couples in California and Hawaii achieve greater fulfillment and authenticity through virtual therapy sessions. I specialize in addressing a wide range of concerns for individuals and couples, including: anxiety, depression, body image/relationship with food, LGBTQIA+ issues, masculinity, identity development, and relationship concerns. I am a self-reflective, curious, and empathic yet direct clinician, committed to providing a supportive and honest environment where clients feel fully seen and understood.

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.

Overwhelmed with the stress and demands of trying to be successful? Spending too much time feeling anxious about close relationships and exams? Discussing the things that are getting you down, holding you back, with a therapist is often very helpful. I am a supportive listener who will guide you toward therapy goals without judgement or criticism. I support neurodivergent thinking, harnessing ADHD strengths, and encourage creative development.

Thank you for your interest in my practice. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I provide counseling to young adults adjusting to personal life transitions. I also provide crisis counseling around issues of trauma, grief and loss. My therapy approach utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Together we can develop tools and strategies to challenge negative thought patterns and promote positive change.