Therapists for college students near UCLA

College can feel like a rollercoaster, exciting one moment and overwhelming the next. Many of the students I work with are juggling the pressures of academics, relationships, and figuring out their future. You might be feeling stressed, stuck, or like you're falling behind, but you're not alone. I provide a safe, supportive space to help you sort through these challenges, build confidence, and find balance. Together, we'll work on making college and life feel a little less heavy and a lot more manageable.

San Jose Behavioral Health offers Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for adults 18+ with a primary mental health diagnosis. Our PHP services are Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm, while we offer IOP services either 3 or 5 days per week, from 9am-12:30pm. While in treatment, individuals will engage in group therapy with the addition of individual sessions weekly with a therapist, psychiatrist and registered nurse. Treatment is an average of 6-8 weeks long, with individuals who begin in PHP stepping down to IOP prior to graduation. Currently we are offering services a both in person and via tele. Please take a look at our website for more information.

I am a bilingual therapist helping individuals dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, life-stage transitions, and other debilitating situations. My work is client-centered and culturally sensitive. I use evidence-based practices to provide focused treatment and positive outcomes. I incorporate solution-focused, narrative, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems techniques. Through talk therapy, I guide clients to overcome issues affecting their everyday lives. I work with individual adults addressing depression, anxiety, and trauma, and their effects on mood, functioning, and relationships. I focus on your strengths, thoughts, feelings, and dynamics for a healthier you. I also work with the LGBTQ community on youth-at-risk issues, coming-out, and exploring the lifestyle you want to create.

If someone asked you not to think for 10 minutes how hard would that be? Is overthinking about the “What Ifs” driving you to relentlessly check things over and over again? Are you determined to find certainty in an uncertain world? Do you frequently ask others repeatedly if something or someone is going to be OK? No matter how much you do a task or say a particular thing does peace of mind elude you? Does the compulsion to handwash, re-read, double-check, pray, or re-arrange items never provide lasting relief? Do you find yourself burdened by intrusive thoughts that strike against your will and preoccupy your mind for hours a day? OCD is characterized by unabating obsessions matched with intense mental or behavioral rituals to relieve the anxiety provoked. It is not treated by “talk therapy” but with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Through customized gradual exposures, ERP is an evidence-based method of intervention to reduce the severity of OCD symptoms. Exposure Therapy Designs is a telehealth practice that focuses on providing EMDR and ERP for individuals struggling with OCD and PTSD. Our clinicians offer evidence and strengths-based counseling with multicultural sensitivity. We are solutions-oriented and practice from a Solutions Focused Brief Therapy Model. ERP is a collaborative and creative approach to learning new skills and strategies to become comfortable with uncertainty and more confident in your ability to handle life’s unexpected challenges. My style is compassionate, client-centered, and culturally sensitive. Licensed in California and Massachusetts. Registered Out-of-State Telehealth provider for Florida. Research indicates that approximately 40 to 60 percent of OCD conditions have a trauma onset. Often talking about the trauma(s) can retraumatize a person. For that reason, Eye Movement and Desensitization Response (EMDR) and the Flash Technique are evidence-based treatment interventions utilized to resolve the severity of PTSD symptoms. Our treatment focus is on neurodivergent issues and gifted learners. Therapeutic style is evidenced and strength based, multiculturally sensitive, solutions oriented, client centered, and collaborative. You are the expert on you. Our role is to facilitate and support an awareness of how to implement changes to overcome unhelpful patterns in thinking and decision-making. We strive to see the whole person not just a list of symptoms. Understanding your unique background is key because therapy is not a cookie-cutter approach. Our team includes providers who are Certified Level One Solutions Focused Therapists and received specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Habit Reversal Training (HRT). We also have clinicians who have completed Basic training in EMDR and the Flash Technique. We work with individuals experiencing neurodivergent issues, gifted learners, individuals coping to manage life transitions, women’s mental health issues around shifting roles in family and career, and immigration/re-entry adjustment stressors. We have licensed therapists who can see individuals residing in California, Florida, Massachusetts and Virginia. However our Associate Clinicians are only able to see residents of California at this time. Individuals who have Aetna, Kaiser Permanente, Lyra, SpringHealth, or Sutter EAP benefits are able to use their health plan coverage to pay for sessions with our licensed clinician only. For everyone else we work with Mentaya, a platform that helps clients get money back on out-of-network therapy sessions. If you have out-of-network benefits, Mentaya will file claims and handle the insurance paperwork to make sure you get reimbursed. They charge a 5% fee per claim and have helped people get thousands of dollars back per year. You can sign up using this link: https://app.mentaya.com/register?p=XqKyUZD7e4vJZUJ89P3c Note: Mentaya's goal is to save you time and money. It's completely optional, and as your therapist, I do not benefit in any way from your participation. **Sliding scale rates available on a limited cash pay-only basis with our Associate Clinicians**

I have rich experience working with individuals, couples, and families. Therapeutically, I am person-centered and focus on my client’s ability to adapt and develop as a person. I provide a safe environment for them to discover themselves and experiment with new ways of being and work through obstacles to lead fuller, more meaningful lives outside the therapy office. I am extensively trained and mentored in interpersonal neurobiology, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and Bowen family systems theory. I further provide therapy in Portuguese.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Feeling overwhelmed by exams, relationships, or just life in general? I've got you covered. I'm Sharon, a licensed therapist, and I'm here to help you navigate the ups and downs of college life. Whether you're dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship drama, or just need someone to talk to, I'm here to listen and support you. In our sessions, you'll find a judgment-free zone where you can be yourself and work through whatever's on your mind. We'll use proven techniques like CBT and ACT to tackle your challenges head-on. Plus, with the flexibility of in-person or online sessions, fitting therapy into your busy schedule has never been easier. Let's work together to make your college experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Ready to get started? Reach out today, and let's chat!