Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA

When people come to treatment with problems, it is important to remember that they are trying to cope with them in the best way they can. With that in mind, I offer a reflective and engaging partnership with my clients, working toward the goal of helping them to be autonomous, authentic and compassionate in a world that can be extremely stressful. Although my work is solidly grounded in psychodynamic, cognitive/learning, and systems theories, my approach is client-centered, practical and strengths-based. I bring honesty, warmth, and humor to the therapy relationship. I am LGBTQ affirmative and invested in doing cross-cultural therapy which is culturally sensitive. I have a dog, Bracket, who works with me, and I have been doing AAT since 2002. There is a growing body of research which suggests that AAT (Animal-Assisted Therapy) can be helpful with a range of diagnoses, including Depression, PTSD, and Autistic Spectrum. Many therapists know little about online games such as World of Warcraft and Second Life. They may dismiss it as unimportant, or assume it is a problem. I am a gamer-affirmative therapist, meaning I’m more interested in understanding your in-world experience and activity than pathologizing it.

Hello, I enjoy working with young adults on life transition issues. These include living independently for the first time, fitting into a new community, loneliness, anxiety, depression. I am also a neuropsychologist, experienced in working with students who have learning and attentional difficulties. My therapy tends to be goal-focused and short-term. I work hard on building comfort and trust with clients, so issues and feedback can be shared in a growth-enhancing way. I do not treat clients who are susceptible to having major crises requiring urgent care and hospitalization. My area of expertise is the development of a positive identity and rewarding relationships.

Life can be challenging at times and cause us to feel stuck, unhappy, and overwhelmed. We sometimes may feel confused and discouraged on how to improve our lives. In the midst of these difficult periods, we may benefit from having a supportive space to explore what makes us unhappy, challenge ourselves, gain insight, learn new skills, and explore new ways of being. I am happy to meet with you to figure out if I can be the person who can support you in this journey. I follow an integrative, relational, psychodynamic approach, incorporating cognitive-behavioral, systemic, multicultural/feminist, and experiential concepts. I strive to provide a safe, respectful, and empowering space to my clients to help them overcome their barriers to experience life in more fulfilling ways. I am certified in treatment of complex trauma. Please feel free to reach out to me for the opportunity to chat on the phone for 10-15 minutes before we meet to determine if we are a good match.

Bret is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor working in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge, MA. Bret brings a history of working in diverse clinical settings to bear on the work he does with his clients. His range of experiences include in-patient psychiatric settings, partial hospitalization programs, college counseling centers, and the Massachusetts correctional system. He has worked with those seeking therapy for the first time, as well as folks who have experienced a lifetime of navigating the mental health system. Through each of those settings, one constant has remained in the work he has done, which is the conviction that healing only happens through the establishment of a meaningful and authentic therapeutic relationship. Bret’s eclectic history has enabled him to develop a rich and integrated approach to collaborating with the people he forms connections with in his work. In his private practice, Bret works with adults college-age and older. His abiding belief is that in his work he is not working with a diagnosis or a set of symptoms, but with a person with a unique set of complex challenges that have encouraged them to seek assistance from a caring professional. As such, he feels comfortable working with a broad spectrum of therapeutic concerns. However, given his work in corrections, Bret has developed a unique capacity to connect with those who may be skeptical of the therapeutic process or struggled to find success in other therapies. Additionally, Bret specializes in working with young men who have difficulty forming meaningful connections, finding effective ways to express their emotions, and managing impulsivity and aggression towards themself and others. Bret is currently available for in-person and online sessions

If you've spent years pushing yourself to "just try harder"/"finally get it together," yet you’re still feeling overwhelmed, chronically behind, and like it’s never enough — you’re in the right place. You’re familiar with the exhausting cycle of being a perfectionistic people-pleaser, caught in overthinking and self-criticism. Others see you as accomplished; you feel one misstep away from revealing how scattered things actually are. You’re not looking for a passive listener or generic advice. You want someone who will truly see and accept you, compassionately challenge you, and help you stop chasing approval and start finding peace. I'm a doctorally-trained, board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner offering medication management (in Eng/Mandarin) and psychotherapy (in Eng). I specialize in ADHD, insomnia, women's mental health, and Asian American/first-generation experiences. My approach integrates evidence-based medicine with a holistic focus on aligning mind, body, and purpose. If you're seeking someone who takes the time to see the full picture, treats you as a whole person rather than a checklist of symptoms, and has both the clinical expertise and lived experience to truly understand where you're coming from — I warmly welcome you to reach out and see if we'd be a good fit.

HEAL Psychotherapy Group is a growing mental health practice dedicated to providing thoughtful, high-quality care for young adults. We specialize in working with college students, graduate students, and early-career professionals as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of emerging adulthood. Whether you are adjusting to a new environment, managing academic or professional stress, exploring your identity, navigating relationships, or coping with difficult life experiences, our therapists provide a supportive space for growth and healing. Our practice has particular expertise in trauma treatment. Our clinicians have advanced training in evidence-based and insight-oriented approaches to trauma care and understand the many ways trauma can affect emotional wellbeing, relationships, self-esteem, academic functioning, and physical health. We take a compassionate, collaborative approach that helps clients better understand their experiences while building practical tools for healing and resilience. We recognize that not everyone who seeks therapy identifies as a trauma survivor. We also welcome individuals who are interested in exploring how past experiences, family relationships, or prior challenges may be influencing their present lives. We work with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, identity development, stress management, grief and loss, self-esteem concerns, and life transitions. Founded by a psychologist with extensive experience as a clinician in university counseling centers, HEAL Psychotherapy Group is deeply familiar with the developmental, academic, and social pressures facing today's young adults. Our goal is to provide care that is warm, relational, evidence-informed, and tailored to each individual's unique needs and goals. We offer both in-person and telehealth therapy options. We have an office location in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with telehealth services available throughout Massachusetts.

Looking Glass Counseling is a multi-disciplinary practice serving adults with a variety of mental health needs. We offer individual psychotherapy and support groups. We have therapists that specialize in trauma, perinatal mental health, addiction, eating disorders, OCD, LGBTQ+ clients, and grief & loss. We accept all Optum products, BCBS, Tufts commercial plans, Cigna & Aetna. We offer telehealth and also have office locations in Somerville & Medford. We are currently offering DBT Skills Training groups, a grief support group, and an ADHD support group. These groups are online, and do not meet medical necessity guidelines to be reimbursed by insurance.

We don’t like uncertainty. It is tempting to grasp for the certainty of “everything is doomed” or “everything will be ok.” But a part of us remains unconvinced. It is hard to face the truth: I don’t know what is coming, only that my experience will keep changing and eventually end. There are many aspects of our experience that are hard to face. We aren’t meant to do this alone. I partner with my clients to walk together into this wilderness. I offer a kind, curious, nonjudgmental attention, with the intent of helping my clients to sort through thoughts, judgements, reactions, behaviors, and felt experience, so they can learn to care more skillfully for the parts of their experience that are outside of their control and to take decisive action in the areas of their life where they have agency. Over time, this relational practice builds solidity. It loosens the tight grip on “everything is doomed” or “everything will be ok,” and opens up “it will keep changing, and eventually end, and I trust in my capacity to feel and care for my experience, no matter what comes.”

About Me / Specialties I am a licensed psychologist specializing in treating adolescents and young adults with OCD, anxiety (including social anxiety, panic, phobias, and generalized anxiety), and related conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder, trichotillomania, tics, and excoriation disorder. I provide evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I see clients in-person in Cambridge, MA and virtually throughout Massachusetts and Texas. I also work with parents, offering coaching to help support their teen or young adult while reducing family accommodations. My goal is to create a compassionate, collaborative space where we take mental health seriously—but not ourselves too seriously. A little humor can go a long way in therapy! Treatment Approach I tailor treatment to each individual, often addressing co-occurring concerns like depression, eating issues, or trauma alongside anxiety or OCD. Using ERP, CBT, ACT, and DBT strategies, I help students manage symptoms, regulate emotions, and make meaningful, lasting changes—all in a supportive and approachable way. Training & Experience I earned my PhD from the University of Virginia, completed my clinical internship at Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for OCD and Related Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where I currently see therapy patients and conduct research on OCD spectrum disorders.

Life Transition Coaching & Counseling: Life is full of changes—personal challenges, relational shifts, career moves, health concerns, or major transitions such as graduating, getting married, parenting, becoming an empty nester, or retiring. Though it may bring some excitement and hope, these changes can also feel uncertain and overwhelming. Transitions aren’t just events; they are internal processes. While challenging, they can also be powerful turning points. They offer an opportunity to deepen self-awareness, build resilience, and reconnect with your sense of purpose. With the right support, you can do more than just get through these moments—you can be empowered and grow through them. Having a clinically informed, experienced professional by your side can make all the difference as you step into what’s next with greater clarity and confidence.

College and graduate school can bring both exciting opportunities and overwhelming challenges. Whether you’re starting a new program and adjusting to multiple life transitions, navigating a new or ongoing ADHD diagnosis, managing stress, or working through relationship struggles, I aim to help provide a safe and supportive space to cultivate more clarity and resilience. As a therapist, I believe you are the expert of your own experience. My role is to collaborate with you, honoring your strengths while offering curiosity, compassion, and evidence-based tools. I provide a reflective space where you can explore challenges and gain insight, balanced with practical, solution-focused strategies you can use between sessions. My approach is strengths-based and growth-oriented—I aim to highlight what’s already working for you while supporting the changes you want to make. I know reaching out for therapy can feel like a lot, especially when you’re already juggling so much! I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to help see if we could be a good fit. You don’t have to figure this all out alone. I’d be honored to be a partner in your journey as you move toward a more balanced, intentional, and fulfilling future.

I specialize in working with adults who have achieved significant success in some domain, but still struggle to feel confident, connected, and/ or whole. Even when you've found academic or career related success, life can still feel empty. Feeling stuck or hopeless is a symptom of the problem. I can help you feel more alive and connected to all parts of your life I have 10 years experience and advanced training in insight oriented and relational psychotherapy. I believe in a curious, compassionate, and flexible approach, where I am an active participant in the conversation. I have a psychodynamic disposition, but am also very influenced by mindfulness and use an integrative approach where I can bring in interventions from multiple modalities if desired.

I am an LICSW who thoroughly enjoyed 42 plus years of clinical experience working as a Clinical Services Executive in a psychiatric hospital.  My oversight responsibilities for inpatient and outpatient care included providing direct service to patients, supervising clinical staff,  and developing therapeutic programming. I specialize in providing DBT, couples therapy, treatment for anxiety, depression, and trauma; working with young adults adapting to the multiple challenges of life and with people dealing with family members who are having mental health issues.  I am convinced that people are innately capable of change and adaptation, and I seek to support them in developing new insights and perspectives about their circumstances so that they can see new possibilities for themselves and take positive action for self-advancement.  I find it extremely gratifying to see clients make progress in their lives.    For therapists, I offer license-eligible supervision; support of their own clinical practice;  group therapy for therapists seeking support/guidance; and support to frontline workers and care takers. Therapists and health care providers often experience vicarious traumatization, and I can offer them perspective in dealing with this issue.  I believe in the importance of healing the healers and that I can offer this valuable support.

My style is warm, empowering, and deeply collaborative. I work from the understanding that the therapeutic relationship itself is a powerful vehicle for healing, built on fostering genuine compassion and unconditional positive regard. I use an integrative approach tailored to clients’ unique needs, drawing from psychodynamic, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). My work is trauma-informed, integrating mindfulness, Liberation Health, and anti-oppressive frameworks, while emphasizing awareness and somatic experience. I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, identity concerns, relationship and family dynamics, and college adjustment. I specialize in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and individuals navigating chronic illness. I offer an affirming space for diverse identities and relationship dynamics. In addition to a Master of Social Work, I have a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies and a background as a health and wellness/biology teacher, which provides me with a unique understanding of the challenges students encounter in educational environments.

I am passionate about reducing stigma around mental health and creating a supportive space for all clients. I strongly believe in meeting clients where they are and collaborating with them to create an environment that is most conducive to meeting their therapeutic goals. Additionally, I value the importance of trust in the therapeutic relationship, and I strive to understand my clients’ identities and experiences while exploring their strengths. My passion is working with young adults experiencing anxiety, general stress, interpersonal relationship and family challenges, as well as work or school challenges. I like to work collaboratively with clients, and I welcome open feedback around the therapeutic relationship and process. I am committed to self-reflection and growing in this field to better serve my clients and community. If you think I may be a good fit for you, please reach out. I understand starting therapy can be challenging, and I am here to help with the process. Additionally, many clinicians in our small practice are accepting new clients, and I am happy to provide a referral if you feel I am not be the best match for you.

Together, we can evaluate where your personality, coping skills, behaviors, lifestyle, and relational habits come together either to promote or impede your health. I am passionate about helping people who suffer from obsessions, compulsions, intrusive thoughts, avoidance, perfectionism, and other such unhelpful behaviors. My attention to all-around health is useful for working with those experiencing depression or problematic substance use. In addition, I enjoy supporting those experiencing relational or familial difficulties, romantic/sexual dissatisfaction, or working through issues at the intersection of gender and culture. Our work will be tailored to your unique goals and personality. Using interventions from ACT, ERP, CBT, and mindfulness, I will help you to act in sustainable, value-aligned ways by changing how you relate to your thoughts and emotions. Psychodynamic, existential, spiritual, and holistic health frameworks will provide additional support to our work together. With humor, insight, compassion, and skill, I can help you recognize where you get in your own way and establish new modes of being. Utilizing lived experience and a commitment to transparent, collaborative therapy, I provide a comfortable space for suffering to be aired out and reimagined. I would be honored to walk with you on your journey.

I specialize in working with teens, college students, and young adults who are struggling to connect with their authentic selves. My clients often present with relational conflicts, low self-worth, anxiety, or attachment trauma. My approach is relaxed and relational, combining psychodynamic and strengths based methods to go beyond quick fixes to help clients identify root causes that may be limiting their personal growth or contributing to emotional distress. As a therapist, I believe that healing begins in the context of a safe, attuned relationship. I work with clients to build a deep and secure therapeutic connection - one rooted in trust and emotional safety. I have experience working in various mental health settings, including community mental health, hospitals, colleges, and alternative school placements. Above all, I’m human - both in and out of the therapy room. I show up as my full, authentic self, and I invite my clients to do the same. If you are seeking relational and supportive therapy, I would love to connect!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

My approach to therapy is guided by the belief that healing and change occur in relation with others. I am committed to meeting people where they are, taking time to learn their unique needs and life experiences, and honoring their own self-knowledge. I strive to create a safe and contained space that fosters exploration and self-actualization. I draw from psychodynamic and relational therapies, while also integrating narrative therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). My style is warm, genuine, and collaborative, and I practice with a queer, feminist, and anti-oppressive lens. I work with adults of all ages to navigate a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, identity issues, life transitions, interpersonal struggles, grief, and loss. I specialize in working with complex and developmental trauma, relationships and attachment, and first-generation challenges and experiences. I have experience working in schools, colleges, and community mental health. My personal and professional experiences have informed my passion for working with individuals impacted by the carceral system. I also find joy in expanding and enriching the therapeutic experience through the use of music, theater, and other art forms.

I work primarily with young adults struggling with anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. These can include things like constant worry thoughts that impair sleep or are distracting in day-to-day life. Specific examples include feeling overly worried or fixated on things like doing perfectly in school or other activities, weight, food, or body image, and social media. You also may find yourself spending excessive amounts of time on these things to the detriment of other important values like friendships, hobbies, and things that make you happy. My approach to treatment is collaborative, warm, and goal-oriented. The types of therapy I use most in my practice are Dialectical Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral.