Therapists for college students near San Francisco State University
I have been in practice for over 16 years. I utilize CBT, ACT, Solution Focused and attachment theory. I work well with anxiety, grief and loss, phase of life issues. I also specialize on race and cultural identity, immigration, and first-generational issues. My approach is empathetic, honest and direct. I offer assistance with life transitions, grief, confidence, goal setting and achievement. By viewing your situation through a trauma informed and culturally competent lens, we will build strategies to overcome obstacles. I am very familiar with the cultural and sociological challenges that can consume our daily lives. I am familiar with the stigma attached to therapy and the perception of weakness that can be associated with seeking treatment. In reality, true strength comes from the ability to recognize and acknowledge you need help.
I am Anita Rao, MD, an ABPN board-certified psychiatrist trained in adult psychiatry at Northwestern University, where I had the honor of being a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, recognized for teaching medical students. I earned my MD from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and obtained my undergraduate degree in International Health from Georgetown University. I adopt an approach that goes beyond treating disorders to focus on mental wellness and whole-person health. I utilize holistic treatment modalities, including evidence-based medication management, and collaborate with other members of our treatment team to ensure comprehensive mental health care. My specialization lies in anxiety and depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, with a particular focus on populations that are new to psychiatric care. I take pride in delivering accurate diagnoses, including second opinion evaluations, and am committed to educating and empowering my patients to understand their illnesses and themselves.
Are you feeling stuck in life, wanting something different but not sure what it is or how to get there? Maybe you are overwhelmed with the pressure to be perfect in relationships, school or work, resulting in the feeling of never being good enough. The decision to seek therapy is not easy. It means accepting the fact that we are struggling in some facet of our life and need help. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, specializing in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Brainspotting and Psychedelic Integration Therapy, helping clients identify and heal the roots of their distress.
Whether you need support through a big life change, you’re ready to address recent and/or past trauma, or would like to understand yourself and your relationships better, I bring an engaged, empathic, non-judgmental attitude to our time together. My approach is collaborative, attachment focused, and trauma informed; I will seek and welcome your feedback throughout our time working together to make sure you agree with and understand how we're working on your concerns.
Hey, I’m Sadé (pronounced Shah-day). I know therapy can feel intimidating, I get it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just need someone to talk to, I’m here to offer a process that moves at your pace and centers your needs. As a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Intern, I support individuals, teens, couples, and families in facing whatever life brings big or small. My goal is to create a space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to work through whatever challenges you're facing. I’m especially passionate about working with those navigating anxiety, depression, self-esteem struggles, relationship challenges whether romantic, family, or platonic, breakups, life transitions, PTSD, attachment wounds, emotional regulation, burnout, and cultural identity concerns.
College is a time of growth, change, and sometimes a lot of pressure. If you’re feeling depressed, anxious, stuck, overwhelmed, or just not like yourself, therapy can help you create space to reflect, reset, and move forward with intention. We begin by building trust, so you can explore what’s coming up for you and build tools to feel more grounded and confident.
I feel called to work with a variety of clients with varying issues, age ranges, and cultural backgrounds. My clients range from children, adolescents, adults, and couples. Working from a holistic lens, my clients and I work collaboratively to integrate the mind, body, and spirit. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, past traumas, physical pain or illness, or seeking personal exploration and growth, we will join in our relationship to explore what lies underneath your symptoms. I take a person-centered, integrative approach in which I gauge what works best for each client. I incorporate approaches that integrate the mind, body, and spirit by including somatic approaches, mindfulness, and deep explorations within. Our work together will focus on building coping skills as well as processing the roots of your symptoms. I acknowledge how much effort and energy it takes just to get here to this point - reaching out for help. You hold the key to healing yourself, my intention is to guide you toward finding those answers. I will create a safe, supportive space for you to be able to freely process whatever brings you into the room.
About My Practice College can be an exciting time, but it can also bring a lot of pressure - academically, socially, personally, and emotionally. You may be doing well on the outside while feeling overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, or unsure of what comes next. I’m a licensed psychotherapist who works with young adults navigating stress, anxiety, relationships, self-confidence, transitions, and the pressure to succeed. My approach combines psychotherapy, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and neuroscience-informed strategies to help you better understand yourself and create meaningful change. Therapy with me is collaborative, practical, and judgment-free. You don’t have to wait until things feel unmanageable to reach out. Whether you're struggling with a specific challenge or simply know that something needs to shift, therapy can be a space to slow down, gain perspective, and figure out what you need. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, emotionally resilient, and able to move through college and into adulthood in a way that feels genuinely like your own.
Are you ready to make positive and lasting changes? You are definitely more than just your problems, but sometimes our problems get so big they are all we can see. When you are in my office you are seen and treated as a whole person with both strengths and struggles. I believe that therapy works best when it happens in the safety of a trusting, supportive, and collaborative relationship. My style can be best described as flexible as my interventions are based on the unique needs of my clients. I have experience working with trauma, childhood abuse, anxiety, depression, relationships, anger, stress management, transition issues, social awkwardness, grief, and loss. I see adolescents and adults in my practice and am able to offer individual therapy.
If you’re a Gen Z or millennial woman who only realized you had OCD as an adult, you know what it’s like to feel stuck in your own mind. You might spend hours needing things to feel “just right,” second-guessing every choice, or checking and re-checking just to feel certain. You keep your thoughts to yourself because you know they don’t make sense but they still feel so real, and over time this can feel isolating and lonely. Decisions can start to feel impossible. Intrusive thoughts loop endlessly. The constant urge to get rid of doubt can be exhausting. If this sounds familiar, you’re not broken and you don’t have to face it alone. I support women questioning whether they have OCD or navigating a late diagnosis. Many feel trapped by intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, and the mental and emotional strain of trying to control every outcome. If you find yourself seeking reassurance just to feel a sense of relief, you’re in the right place. Therapy can be a space where you practice staying present even when your mind is loud. Together, we’ll work on sitting with discomfort, building safety in uncertainty, and developing tools that actually work for your life, not against it. My goal is to help you create more room for confidence and self-trust. I’m here and ready when you are. Reach out today.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
At Headway Therapy we offer counseling services that are tailored to meet your needs. Our goal is to be the support you need. Our dedicated team of psychotherapists specialize in different areas, and we are able to provide various counseling services to best support you. Our mission is to work together with you to develop healthy and thriving lives. Look through our Psychotherapy Services page to learn more about counseling. We are ready and available to support you.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
“I’m the loneliest girl in the world,” you think to yourself while lying in bed at night. Your parents, partner, and friends are of absolutely no help. In fact, when you go to them with your problems, they only make things worse—offering their BS life advice or making it all about themselves. Ugh. Once again, you feel alone—utterly alone. Your heart breaks when a friend cancels plans and then you criticize yourself vehemently for being “so sensitive” and for expecting so much of others. To comfort yourself, you seek food, booze, or zoning out on Netflix but nothing works. What’s a 20-something girl with her whole life ahead of her to do? It may feel like this is “it” for the rest of your life—a lonely existence—but it’s not. I help women just like you to attain the connection, confidence, and contentment you crave. By working through what lead to your loneliness, feeling “all the feels,” and finding ways to show up for yourself, you will transform from being utterly lonely to simply…happy. You’ve been feeling lonely for far too long. It’s time, sis. Nothing’s worked but therapy will. Pick up the phone and give me a call. I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation for you to ask questions and make sure we have “good vibes.” Next, we will schedule our initial session and officially put an end to your lonely existence.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges, struggling with relationships, or facing uncertainty about the future? I specialize in working with young adults who are juggling many responsibilities and are seeking relief from anxiety and stress. Together we develop effective coping strategies, improve emotional well-being, and foster resilience. If you need help navigating a difficult time in your life, like the end of a relationship or figuring how to find a healthy school/life balance, I offer both the compassion and the skills that can lead to symptom relief. Please reach out for a free consultation. I have sliding scale fees so please don't let financial hardship stop you from reaching out!
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.