Therapy for Graduate Students in Elk Grove, California
You may be feeling immense academic pressure, anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome. I understand, and I’m here to help. That’s where therapy for graduate students comes in. As a therapist for graduate students, I help you go from stressed and overwhelmed to empowered and aligned. If you’re ready to start feeling better, schedule a FREE consultation with me today.
My Approach To Therapy for Graduate Students in Elk Grove, California
As a therapist for graduate students, my approach is grounded in empathy, evidence-based practices, and a deep understanding of the unique pressures that come along with academia. As a graduate student once myself, I’m well aware of just how stressful grad school can be. I know first hand that graduate students are often managing a high-stakes, and high-stress environment. Time for self-care is practically non existent, and your mental health is usually the first thing to suffer.
The very nature of graduate school is competitive. Up until this point, you’ve probably been the best of the best. School has always been relatively easy for you. For the first time in your life, you’re being challenged. Grad school is a breeding ground for anxiety, imposter syndrome, and comparison.
You’re looking around at your peers thinking they’ve got it all figured out. I can promise you they don’t. No one in graduate school has it all figured out, you’re all just REALLY good at making it look like you do. This constant need to look like you’re successful and doing the best, can feel really isolating.
On top of that, the demands of professors and advisors can feel heavy. The academic pressures escalate with the expectations to publish, present, and contribute original research. And that’s just while you’re in the beginning stages of graduate school. Once you start preparing to graduate, future career prospects start to weigh heavy on your mind.
You’re likely working overtime trying to get everything done and live up to the exceedingly high standards you have for yourself. You’re navigating grades, teaching, research, working other jobs, trying to maintain your relationships and self-care. It can feel like you’re barely keeping your head above water. It is EXHAUSTING.
As a therapist, I get it, and I am here to help. I prioritize creating a supportive and nonjudgmental space where graduate students can openly discuss their concerns. I use a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to address negative thought patterns, mindfulness techniques to manage stress and anxiety in the moment, and solution-focused strategies to help graduate students develop practical skills for dealing with not only academic pressures but the pressures of life as well.
Additionally, I work with graduate students to build resilience and self-compassion, acknowledging that setbacks and challenges are inherent parts of the graduate school experience. By collaboratively setting goals and creating an individualized plan just for you, I empower graduate students to regain control, learn practical tools to manage their anxiety, enhance their well-being, and ultimately, thrive both personally and professionally during their graduate studies.
Therapy for graduate students in Elk Grove helps with anxiety, depression, perfectionism, self-esteem and relationship issues.
I value quality over quantity. Therefore, I only schedule a limited number of sessions per week so I can focus on each client’s unique needs and be extremely present with them in session. I use a holistic and integrative approach for therapy for graduate students. This could include a variety of research backed therapeutic interventions that have been shown to east anxiety symptoms like, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance commitment therapy, and other talk therapy modalities. As a holistic therapist, I also incorporate other interventions and referrals when appropriate.
During out time together, my goal is to help you notice the patterns in your daily life, that make you feel worse. We will identify how graduate school is impacting your everyday life and use research backed interventions for treatment. This could include acceptance commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or other types of talk therapy. As a therapist, I strive to support you in making the changes you want to see in yourself. Whether you’re wanting to ease anxiety, stress and worry, build in more time for self-care, or connect to that illusive school/life balance.
I know that therapy can feel very uncomfortable at first, especially if you’ve never worked with a therapist before and struggle with asking for help. I will ask you questions, and provide feedback all while gently challenging you to grow. As your therapist, I am here to serve you and your goals while holding space for you to share your feelings, thoughts and needs. My hope is that you will feel accepted and supported.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy For Graduate Students in California
This depends on you individual needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is common for addressing stress and anxiety, while others might benefit from different approaches like, acceptance commitment therapy, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness strategies.
In therapy we will take a look at everything going on and identify what is and isn’t working. From there, we will work on strategies for managing stress, improving time management, dealing with procrastination, imposter syndrome, perfectionism or any other thoughts and beliefs that might be contributing to your academic anxiety.
Absolutely, therapy can help individuals understand and combat imposter syndrome. We work on challenging imposter syndrome and building self-esteem.
Yes, graduate school is stressful. Many graduate students seek therapy to help navigate the unique challenges of graduate life.
Yes, I have worked with so many graduate students as they’ve navigated dissertations, graduate and life after grad school. I help provide support and coping strategies for the pressures associated with these big projects. I may have even been mentioned in the acknowledgments section on a couple of previous clients dissertations.
I provide teletherapy(video sessions), which makes it more convenient than ever to make time for therapy in your busy schedule. I know that it can be hard to take time away from your studies, and all the other academic responsibilities. I promise you that making this time to take care of yourself will go a long way!
You can use this reimbursement calculator at the bottom of my rates & FAQ’s page to check for out of network benefits. Many of the graduate students I work with qualify for out of network benefits. This means you can choose a therapist that you like and trust instead of finding an in network provider that you don’t necessarily connect with.
Teletherapy For Graduate Students in California
Currently all sessions for anxiety therapy are offered via teletherapy. These telemental health sessions are available to anyone in the State of California, allowing accessibility and convenience. I use a secure HIPAA platform (Simple Practice) to conduct these online therapy video sessions which you can access on your computer, tablet, or phone.
How teletherapy for graduate students works
Everything is virtual! Once we have scheduled your first appointment, you will receive a link to your secure online portal where you can fill out all the necessary forms before we meet. Before every session you will receive a link to the virtual waiting room where I will join you when it is time for the session.
Some Tips for teletherapy for graduate students
Choose a space where you’re unlikely to be disturbed and you feel comfortable opening up
Check that your WiFi connection is strong and any headphones or audio devices are working properly.
Check that your lighting is good and your camera has a proper view of you.
Get cozy, grab a blanket and pillows. Find a comfy spot and get yourself set up. (I love getting a warm cup of tea before).
Some benefits of teletherapy for graduate students
Many forms of therapy can feel overwhelming to someone with an anxiety disorder, online therapy takes some of the stress and worry out of it, allowing you to get help from the comfort of your own home or another safe space anywhere in the state of California.
The ultimate convenience.
Expands your search area for therapists or other mental health professionals. * Pro tip: if you are struggling to find a therapist who you want to work with in your local therapist directory, try expanding your search to other areas of California.
Easier to fit into busy schedules due to no commute time.
Provides same level of treatment for most of the treatment areas I work with.
Are you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck? Caught up in a never ending cycle of perfectionism and being hard on yourself? Or maybe you’re struggling with sharing feelings and thoughts in certain relationships in your life and having difficulty getting your needs met? If so, you don’t have to do this alone, I can help.
Ready to work together?
Me too! Schedule a free intro call where we can chat for 10-15 minutes to see if we’d be a good fit!
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