Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA
It’s far from easy, being in your late teens or early 20s. All eyes are on you, it would seem, as you feel like you’re expected to choose a career, form essential relationships and launch an “adult life”. You are leaving the original support of childhood, and your primary task is to gain life experience in order to know who you are and where you want to go. Yet college students feel burdened with the expectation to choose majors, excel academically and socially, and then to seamlessly emerge into the world of work with confidence and clarity. It’s no wonder young adults feel so much internal confusion around identity and their best path forward. In order to know who we are, we first have to have permission not to know. Social media and the accompanying social comparison, intense competition around college acceptance and then the job market all create an atmosphere that fosters self-critical perfectionism as opposed to self-acceptance and discovery. We help college students address common struggles during this life stage such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, body image issues, family of origin issues, identity development, sexuality and relationships, trauma, and spirituality. Every person is different. That's why our clinicians are trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, EMDR, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. 1A Wellness is an integrative practice, whereby clinicians have multiple specialties to choose from when working with clients. At 1A Wellness, we are driven to provide exceptional therapy so that clients can transform their lives. Our clinicians understand how to heal pain and how to help clients move forward so that they can make enduring changes and live fuller lives. We cannot change the past. But by investing in therapy, clients can reclaim their lives and change the future. This is our mission.
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.
Therapy is a deeply personal and vulnerable process that requires trust to flourish. I strive to create a safe, accepting, and collaborative space for you to come as you are, using the therapeutic relationship and attunement to foster trust. I tailor treatment to your unique needs and treatment goals using a compassionate, trauma-informed lens, drawing from a psychodynamic orientation, integrated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness-based approaches. I support adults navigating anxiety disorders, mood disorders, loneliness, grief, loss, complex trauma, identity development, relational / attachment-based issues, and life transitions. I also have extensive experience working with individuals of diverse backgrounds, including non-citizen and LGBTQ populations. My experience growing up as a Latina between the U.S and abroad has strengthened my curiosity for those whose lived experiences differ from my own. It has cultivated a deep empathy and desire to honor the richness of their stories in therapy. I prioritize creating a space for all parts of the self to be seen and understood.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Marisa Anderson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has recently started work at Crooked Tree after many years of experience working with adolescents and adults in outpatient agencies within the Boston area. In her work with clients, Marisa incorporates both strength-based and cognitive behavioral therapies to help facilitate and support a better sense of self, healthy relationships, and stress management skills. Currently, Marisa also works as a school clinician at Beacon High School in Watertown. Marisa received her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University.
I have immediate availability in my schedule! I love to help my clients gain insight into their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, build new skills, and use that enhanced self-awareness and skill to make meaningful changes in their lives. I take a strengths-based and collaborative approach that draws from a range of therapeutic modalities and is responsive to your needs and desires. I aim to bring warmth, humor, and authenticity to the therapeutic relationship. I love to work with college students and am a former counselor for the non-profit Bottom Line, where I supported first generation college students through any and all challenges that arose on their journey towards graduation and career readiness. I also enjoy working with people who are anywhere on their journey towards becoming parents or who are searching for greater wellness as parents.
Hi! My name is Gabrielle (or you can call me Gabbe). Whether you’re new to therapy or returning for another go, here’s what you can expect from our sessions: a conversation where clinical insight, directness, and compassion intersect. In a world where daily demands, change and past experiences can make us feel stressed or lost, your identity, dignity, and needs should be a priority. Together, we’ll collaborate to create a space where you can feel understood while also being gently challenged toward the life and relationships you strive for. I specialize in supporting individuals with eating disorders, anxiety, and stressful life transitions by helping them cultivate a healthier, more fulfilling relationship with food, themselves, and the people in their lives. My approach is trauma-informed, HAES aligned, and centers around making authentic change by moving forward with imperfections and recognizing when it’s time to cut ourselves some slack. Outside of the therapy office, I’m often spending my time with my loved ones, enjoying fresh air, and window shopping at various vintage thrift markets. I also enjoy playing video games (especially the Sims or Elden Ring), or trying new, crafty activities when I feel a more introverted! You deserve a space where you feel genuinely seen and safe to show up as yourself. If you're curious whether you'd find that space here, please reach out and we can schedule a free consult call!
The students I work best with often share common experiences and needs. Many of them are facing the pressures of academic demands, juggling coursework, exams, and deadlines while also trying to balance personal responsibilities and relationships. They may be experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety, or overwhelm as they navigate transitions, uncertainties, and expectations. What sets my practice apart is my genuine commitment to creating a safe and supportive space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and concerns without judgment. I understand that seeking help can feel daunting, so I strive to foster a warm and welcoming environment where you feel heard, valued, and understood. Whether you're struggling with academic stress, relationship issues, self-doubt, or anything in between, I'm here to support you every step of the way. Together, we'll work collaboratively to identify your goals, explore your strengths, and develop personalized strategies to help you thrive in all areas of your life. If you're ready to take the first step toward a happier, healthier you, I invite you to reach out. Let's embark on this journey of self-discovery and growth together. You don't have to face your challenges alone—I'm here to help you every step of the way.
If anxiety, substance use, or a difficult period of transition is making it harder to live the way you want to, psychotherapy can help. I work with young adults who want more than advice or a place to vent while a therapist sits back and nods. Imagine a therapy that makes no direct attempt to reduce symptoms, but achieves symptom reduction as a by-product. Our work is about changing your relationship with painful experience and helping you live more fully in line with your values. I provide in-person psychotherapy in Cambridge and telehealth across Massachusetts.
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.
Life sometimes offers us unexpected challenges that require additional support to manage. Sometimes you think an issue is resolved until you notice unwanted thoughts, feelings or behaviors arising. I offer culturally sensitive person-centered, solution-focused therapy that focuses on assisting individuals better understand and work through these personal challenges and life transitions. In clinical practice, I draw from an array of past trainings, certifications, and over 15 years clinical experience to meet the specific needs of my clients. I have worked in multiple school settings and am attuned to the unique pressures of academic life, especially in college and higher education. Making the first outreach to initiate therapy can often be the hardest part. Please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail or to leave a voicemail requesting to set up a 15-20 minute consultation to discuss your needs, expectations, and what ways in which I may be able to support you.
Finding a good therapy match is crucial to bringing about the change that you desire in your life. Working with someone where you feel seen, understood and challenged in a non-threatening way creates the safety to explore the unknown and grow into your full potential. I have been in private practice for 16 years and I trained and worked at Tufts University Counseling Center for 4 years. In the wise words of author Sharon Salzberg, "If I opened my heart and mind big enough to take in the suffering, then there would be healing- not because the suffering itself is redemptive or healing, but because of the opening I was cultivating in the face of it."
My collaborative therapeutic approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), focusing on helping clients understand and shift their thought and behavior patterns. I integrate psychodynamic principles to explore how relationships shape sense of self, understanding of others, and present patterns. My work is guided by a multicultural humility lens, recognizing how culture and systems of power, privilege, and oppression influence mental health and meaning. I aim to create a flexible, individualized space where clients can pause, feel, and prioritize what matters most, grounded in respect, empathy, trust, and collaboration. I work with adults navigating mood/anxiety disorders, grief, identity development, relationships, college adjustment, and other life stressors. I also specialize in providing culturally-responsive care to BIPOC clients navigating acculturation- or discrimination-related stress. I work collaboratively to support clients through periods of heightened distress. My research focuses on suicidality, mood/anxiety disorders, and BIPOC resilience. I have trained in inpatient and residential programs, hospital outpatient care, and university counseling settings. I have experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills coaching. I am a Black American woman, first-generation student, and proud New Orleans native.
Therapy can help you find relief from distress and free up the “stuck” places in your life, the ways of relating to yourself and others that can feel self-defeating, limiting or out of your control. This can lead to distress that may come in many forms: anxiety, anger, emptiness, detachment. Yet these experiences are not only a source of suffering, they are also a message that speaks to desires, conflicts, and pain. Together, we work to understand all this and place it in the context of where you come from and the world you live in now. The goal is relief from ways of being that cause distress, and to move toward ways that feel expressive of who you are, how you want to live, and what you want your relationships to be. I work with individuals and relationships and specialize in a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, difficulties in relationships, psychosis, and issues related to gender, sexual, or racial identity.
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
Life has a way of surprising us — a loss, a betrayal, a diagnosis, or a path that no longer feels right. In these moments, it’s easy to feel unsteady or unsure how to move forward. I specialize in working with college students and young adults who are navigating these turning points and trying to find their footing again. With over 15 years of experience in counseling settings at Harvard and MIT, I offer a warm, supportive space where you can slow down, reflect, and feel understood. My approach is both insight-oriented and practical — helping you make sense of your experiences while building tools for meaningful change. Many of my clients are high-achieving individuals — often children of immigrants, or professionals in higher education and STEM — who appear put-together on the outside while quietly carrying stress, grief, or a sense that something isn’t quite working. If that sounds like you, I can help. Let's get started!
I practice from a relational psychodynamic and acceptance-based perspective, grounding my work in an understanding of how distress emerges in the context of structural oppression. I view healing as a process that includes resisting oppression and engaging compassionately with difficult emotions and thoughts. In therapy, I collaborate with clients to examine the narratives imposed on them and explore pathways toward living their values. I support adults navigating mood and anxiety concerns, identity development, life transitions, relational challenges, trauma, grief, structural oppression and substance use. I work with clients across all identities and specialize in working with Asian American and LGBTQ+ populations. My identities as a bilingual (Tagalog) Filipino American queer cisgender woman shape my commitment to serving Asian American, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities. I research the mental health impacts of Asian American sexually expansive people’s coping and resistance to racism and heterosexism, and their experiences of post‑traumatic growth and meaning‑making.
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'm a Columbia and Harvard-trained psychologist and specialize in treating anxiety, OCD, ADHD, depression, trauma, and more. I previously served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. As one of the only South Asian and Muslim psychologists in the U.S., including NYC and Boston, and a second-gen immigrant, I am committed to providing a safe and culturally informed space for individuals seeking a therapist who truly understands their unique cultural, religious, and personal experiences. To get started, schedule a free 15-minute call! The best way to reach me is via email.