Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA

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.”

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.

My therapeutic approach is warm, gentle, collaborative, and compassionate. I use psychodynamic and person-centered approaches, along with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), motivational interviewing and mindfulness. I work from a systems and relational lens, recognizing that our lives are shaped by developmental experiences, relationships, culture, lived experiences and the broader contexts in which we live and learn. I work collaboratively with clients to explore how these influences shape their sense of self and relationships. I work with adults of all ages, backgrounds, and identities. I support clients with mood disorders, anxiety, stress, trauma, grief, identity exploration, and relationship challenges. I especially enjoy working with young adults, immigrants/international clients, and people navigating family conflict, acculturation, and career or academic pressure. Growing up in a community-oriented culture in India, I learned the value of mutual support and interdependence, which continues to shape my therapeutic style. Together, we would explore both your inner self and the systems around you, identifying sources of strength and support within yourself, as well as within your relationships and communities.

I am committed to creating a collaborative and open-minded atmosphere where you can come to know yourself more fully. People often seek psychotherapy when they feel overwhelmed and have reached a breaking point. They want to feel more grounded in who they are and the choices they make. Therapy offers a dedicated space to identify, understand and eventually transform painful experiences that have lead to suffering and frustration. My approach is warm and engaged. I have experience working in varied settings (inpatient units, partial programs, and community clinics) and with adults from all walks of life many of whom have lived through various traumatic experiences. I particularly enjoy working with graduate students and first gen college students navigating life transitions. I deeply respect the courage it takes to come to therapy and I welcome hearing from you.

At Bending Birch Counseling, we believe therapy should be thoughtful, collaborative, and tailored to the individual. Every person brings a story, strengths, and experiences, which is why we take the time to understand what matters most to you. We slow down enough to understand how your experiences, patterns, and relationships have shaped the way you move through the world today. We focus on what change would realistically look like for you, not in theory, but in practice. Together, we'll work toward change that feels authentic, practical, and sustainable.

As an associate psychotherapist at Soultality Center for Psychotherapy, I primarily work with adolescents and adults struggling with OCD, anxiety, and complex trauma. I also have experience supporting clients with depression, relationship issues, identity exploration, and chronic suicidality.

Are you an anxious over thinker navigating relationships or a new career? Are you a people pleaser or highly self critical? I'm Aisling, a licensed therapist specializing in supporting women and adolescents dealing with anxiety, navigating life transitions, and healing from trauma. I hope to provide a space to explore all of those challenges with compassion, sensitivity, and sometimes humor. I view this work as the most important thing I could possibly be doing and I hope each client leaves this space feeling hopeful about themselves and the world around them. I work with adolescents and women to navigate a spectrum of anxiety disorders. In particular, I know how debilitating high functioning anxiety and perfectionism can be. I offer a place to explore the root of the anxiety, people pleasing behaviors, and develop healthy coping skills. I want to empower clients and help them see their own strengths.

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.

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.

Welcome! I provide nutrition counseling from a relationship-based, trauma-informed, and Health At Every Size (HAES) lens. I specialize in working with college-aged students. Whether it’s tackling eating disorders, disordered eating, intuitive eating, chronic illness, or other nutrition challenges, I bring an inclusive and non-diet approach to help you find your balance.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, positive and solution-focused, resilience approach, with a focus on overcoming negative experiences and beliefs through a combination of insight into your issues and practical strategies that will help dealing more effectively with issues in your life. I work with individuals who are experiencing anxiety, depression, dealing with life stressors. I specialize in working with people who have experienced various forms of trauma. Currently, I am a senior clinical staff at the University Counseling and Mental Health Service. I particularly enjoy working on issues related to social and cultural adjustment, diversity, intersectionality, and inclusion.

Welcome! I work with students who are looking for support in navigating life transitions and the unique stressors of being a student. If you are experiencing existential anxiety, stress, motivation issues or creative blocks, challenging relationships with family, friends, or partners, and issues balancing workload and social life, you are so not alone. Together we will process experiences that may be impacting you, learn how to create and maintain boundaries, and figure out what it means to thrive during this time of your life. Searching for a therapist is a big step to take and finding a good fit can be challenging. I offer free consultation calls to see if it feels like a good fit. No matter where you are in your process, let's talk!

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.

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.

Hello, I’m Ruolin Xie, an outpatient therapist at Orange Door Collaborative. Since earning my Master’s degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis in 2016, I have provided psychotherapy and clinical support to individuals and families of diverse ages and cultural backgrounds. My clinical specialties include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), grief and loss, LGBTQ+ concerns, interpersonal and relational challenges, parenting stress, and cultural adjustment issues. In my practice, I strive to create an affirming, empowering, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, strength-based, and client-centered therapeutic space. I dedicate myself to bringing both compassionate presence and active collaboration, offering skill-building where appropriate, while actively listening to each person’s unique experiences. My approach integrates neuroscience-informed methods with a holistic mind-body philosophy, allowing for tailored treatment plans that support both effective symptom relief and meaningful, long-term healing. I offer both short-term therapy for immediate needs and longer-term therapy for trauma recovery and self-exploration. I am trained in a range of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). As a multilingual clinician, I offer therapy in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. A quote that continues to resonate with me is from Leonard Cohen: “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.” While I don’t seek to romanticize suffering — pain can be disorienting and deeply isolating—I believe that with skilled support, it is possible to uncover the human resilience, self-authenticity, and fierce self-compassion that emerge through healing. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to help you explore whether working together feels like the right fit. Please feel free to reach out by phone or email—I'd be honored to support you on your path.

We specialize in young adults using science based therapies from a strength based perspective. Typically, we'll utilize cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and we'll cater our therapy approach based on a person's needs. We work with all walks of life, families, couples, and marriages. We believe hope is possible and work towards bettering a person's life.

My aim as a therapist is to help clients resolve the problem they are experiencing in their lives. I offer a safe environment for clients to express themselves, gain a sense mastery and autonomy through talking and increasing strategies and skills to better cope and thrive in life. My clinical approach is to tailor care to clients’ individual needs- integrating an array of approaches and training experience such as insight-oriented methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, trauma informed treatment, mindfulness-based care, and addiction and substance use disorders treatment. My education includes a Master’s in social work (MSW) from Rutgers University( with Minor in Alcohol Studies) and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts (BA) from the University of New Hampshire( English Literature/Minor in Psychology.) My professional experience includes university counseling- most recently at Harvard University 's Counseling and Mental Health services where I work for 16 years supporting college and graduate students, and previously in NIAAA/NIDA research studies, community mental health, hospital based social work, clinical director of inpatient /outpatient program, employee assistance. Clients describe me as a good listener, empathetic, compassionate, a good sense of humor and a firm believer in change.

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.

Join me in a collaborative focus on your mental health, designed to build resilience, improve the quality of life, and increase self-acceptance. I work with adults and young adults in individual psychotherapy on a short or long-term basis. I have a background in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy. I treat a range of presenting concerns, including relationship stress, life transitions, depression, anxiety, and trauma. I have experience in college mental health, early intervention in mental illness, and family therapy. I have a special interest in issues of diversity and inclusion, and exploring an individual’s unique relationship to a variety of their own personal intersecting identities.

Hello. If you are are struggling with depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, negative self-image, perfectionism, relationship difficulty, family conflict, or the question of how to stay steady, focused, and peaceful during this turbulent time, I will listen and work with you from a variety of therapeutic approaches so you may gain stability and self-acceptance and feel fully and meaningfully engaged in your life. I look forward to hearing from you.