Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA

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.

I work from a relational-cultural, psychodynamic lens rooted in trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and liberation-centered therapeutic work. Within a trusting relationship, we will adapt our work to your needs, which may involve use of techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing, intersectional feminist therapy, narrative therapy, expressive arts therapy, and/or grief counseling. Mutuality is the essence of my work; in relationships between people, people and nature, and people and their socio-cultural-political landscape. Intentionally focused on de-pathologizing our human experiences, I work with adults navigating relational dynamics, anxiety/mood disorders, complex/interpersonal/institutional/systemic trauma, queer-trans and ethno-racial identity development, grief, transitions, immigration, body image, neurodivergence, chronic illness, and economic stressors, in context. I have worked extensively with survivors (aged 18-72) of gender-based violence in India and the US. Consensual resource-sharing, political education, therapeutic self-disclosure, seeking feedback, and reflecting on our interpersonal dynamics will be embedded within my therapeutic work, which will be adapted to your personal needs from one session to another.

People seek psychotherapy for different reasons. You may want to address symptoms of depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem, feelings of distress, vulnerability, or isolation. You may be searching for greater meaning, connection, authenticity, and empowerment in your daily interactions. Therapy can help reveal and change patterns that inhibit or undermine living the life you desire. In a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship, we can create conditions for growth, challenge ways of seeing, process painful experiences, and increase your awareness and acceptance of different parts of yourself. I take a relational therapeutic approach and integrate methods that promote insight, emotional awareness, and motivation for behavioral change. Through my training and education at Harvard and Boston Universities, I developed expertise in treating anxiety disorders, trauma and loss, and in helping people identify and strengthen their sources of resilience. It can be an uncomfortable endeavor to start therapy for the first time or again. Building comfort and trust in relationship is one of the first things you and I would work on together. I welcome your questions and input from the start and throughout the process. Please feel free to get in touch.

Are you a diamond in the rough? I provide social psychologically informed therapy that looks concentratedly at each client's various emotions in context, how and why emotions arise in relationships and what they have to tell us. I help clients look at their complex feelings related to self, break ups, loss of connection, and unresolved grief or anger, and their positive feelings. I try to help clients persist at these times to discover unrealized strengths, better connections. I work with a sense of humor, realism and practicality. I hope my clients can feel secure and increasingly present, and make smarter, more conscious choices. I am a Licensed Psychologist. My education consists of a B.A. from Brown University, an M.L.A. in Social Psychology from Harvard University, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology.

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’re trying to navigate stress, identity, relationships, or just the pressure of figuring life out, you don’t have to do it alone. I have nearly 15 years of experience working specifically with young adults, and I aim to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or just unsure of what you need, we can take the time to sort through it together. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in genuine curiosity about you. I believe therapy works best when you feel safe, respected, and understood, so I prioritize building a relationship where you can speak openly. I am LGBTQIA+ affirming and deeply committed to creating a space that is welcoming and inclusive of BIPOC clients. Your identities, experiences, and cultural context matter. If you’re looking for a therapist who will meet you with openness, respect, and care, I’d be glad to connect.

I believe therapy is most meaningful when it feels deeply human, collaborative, and emotionally honest. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable, and deeply insightful, yet still find themselves caught in recurring patterns of anxiety, self-criticism, overwhelm, or disconnection from themselves. My approach is grounded in relational, psychodynamic, and somatic perspectives, with attention to the ways past experiences continue to shape our emotions, relationships, and sense of self. Together, we explore not only what you are feeling, but the patterns and protections that may once have helped you cope. I view therapy as an active relationship — one where we can slow down, stay curious, and make space for parts of your experience that may feel difficult to name or understand. My style is warm, engaged, and collaborative, while also helping clients deepen insight and reconnect with themselves more fully. I often work with concerns related to anxiety, trauma, perfectionism, identity development, life transitions, and relationship difficulties. Above all, I strive to create a space where you feel genuinely seen — not rushed, judged, or dismissed. I believe meaningful and lasting change emerges through the safety of a real therapeutic relationship.

Psychotherapy offers more than just healing -- it can help us discover new & forgotten strengths, fortify our relationships with ourselves & others, and build satisfying lives. I believe that a trusting and collaborative relationship is at the root of all meaningful work. To that end, I strive to create a warm, non-judgmental and safe space in therapy that facilitates effective partnership between us. We will work together to help you find emotional relief, access your authentic self, cultivate meaningful & healthy relationships and to be an effective advocate for yourself. I have worked with teenagers, adults and families, helping them overcome depression, anxiety & relational conflict, process grief & loss, manage trauma sequelae, grapple with issues of gender & sexuality, deal with challenges related to acculturation as well as life transitions. I offer support and understanding to people from all cultural backgrounds. My clinical approach is eclectic and rooted in several therapeutic approaches, including psychodynamic, mindfulness-based, trauma-informed, DBT and IFS. I believe therapy is a collaborative process, and so, together we will find the techniques most suitable for you. To accommodate busy schedules, I offer weekend times. I also offer services in Hindi.

Therapy serves as an opportunity to be curious – to explore the patterns and narratives we carry, repeat, and, at times, feel bound by. Through gentle curiosity, we create space for healing and give ourselves the opportunity to blossom into more authentic versions of ourselves. My therapeutic approach is grounded in psychodynamic and attachment theories. With compassion and warmth, I listen closely to the unique story of your life, honoring the experiences that have shaped how you relate to yourself and others. Together, we will untangle these experiences and cultivate hope that life can improve in ways that feel deeply meaningful. I offer individual psychotherapy to adults and older adults with a variety of presenting concerns including anxiety, depression, grief, bereavement, trauma, relational difficulties, and identity exploration. Importantly, I strive to remain mindful of the nuanced ways our identities shape our experiences and influence how we move through the world. I have specialized training in geropsychology and am passionate about helping adults navigate the complexities of aging, later-in-life transitions, caregiving, existential concerns, and ageism. My experience also includes working in college counseling centers, memory disorder clinics, community mental health, and with veterans.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Welcome I'm Melissa and I'm so glad you landed here! I work with young adults who are feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges—whether it’s relationship struggles, a constant worry loop that you can't get out of, low mood, struggles with food and body image, or difficulty with change. If you're reading this, you might be feeling out of balance or disconnected from what’s meaningful to you. Maybe you’re not sure what’s meaningful right now. You could be stuck in old patterns that no longer serve you, unsure about your next steps, or just know something feels "off" without being able to explain why. Or maybe you just need a safe space to explore it all. Whatever you're experiencing, it’s all valid—and it’s all welcome here.

You may appear confident on the outside, but internally struggle with self-doubt, anxiety, or fear of rejection. Many of my clients feel “too much” and not enough at the same time, which can show up as overgiving, withdrawing, or difficulty setting boundaries. I work with high-achieving individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, and grief—often expressed through overthinking, emotional avoidance, or disconnection. These patterns are often rooted in early experiences, cultural pressures, or navigating marginalized identities, all of which can shape how we view ourselves and relate to others. Together, we work to build a more grounded sense of self, increase emotional awareness, and shift away from survival patterns like numbing, overcontrolling, or checking out. My goal is to help you feel more confident, connected, and at ease in your life and relationships. I especially enjoy working with BIPOC clients, Asian Americans, first-generation individuals, and those exploring identity and belonging. I offer a free, no-pressure consultation to see if we’re a good fit.

In my practice I work with older adolescents and adults, focusing on personal awareness, empowerment, building skills for navigating life stressors, and enriching personal relationships. I have over 15 years of experience working in the areas of addictions, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relationship development. Together we will explore patterns and choices that contribute to your accomplishments and struggles. We will work towards self-awareness while remaining solution-focused, and will use the strengths you already possess to build more skills for managing the challenges that life brings.

I am an experienced psychologist who works well with undergraduate and graduate students. Together we can create a road map for how you would want to more fully live your live. I can help with anxiety, mood, self-esteem and attentional issues. I am particularly interested in working with students who are first generation college students and/or students who are from diverse backgrounds. I collaborate with other providers if requested so you get the best possible care.

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.

If you've been feeling emotionally overwhelmed and it's affecting your sleep, work, or relationships, today is a good day to prioritize your well-being! I offer telehealth sessions throughout Massachusetts and Virginia, and in person walk-and-talk sessions in Charlottesville, VA. I specialize in helping young adults manage stress, anxiety, feelings of isolation, depression, or of not feeling good enough that can accompany being a college student in an academically rigorous environment. If your previous ways of dealing with challenges are not working, you find yourself drinking more than you used to, not sleeping well, or not feeling able to connect with your friends and family, this is a good time to get additional support. I take an active role in helping you sort out the best way to approach your challenges and teach you the foundations of mental health so you get back on track. Together we will explore the connection between how you live and how you feel, and identify the areas that feel out of balance. I take a comprehensive holistic approach to wellness because, for the people I work with, traditional talk therapy is often not enough. Our mental health is impacted by our environment, sleep, physical activity, what we eat, relationships, beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors–and I believe our mental health care should include these elements as components of the whole system. Evidence-based tools we may incorporate include meditation and somatic mind-body practices, techniques to work with thought patterns, interpersonal skills, and lifestyle interventions. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to discuss if we are a good fit to help you achieve your goals!

It can be extremely hard to navigate through life with all of the stressors we face on a daily basis. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and various challenges in college. It would be my great pleasure to work with you and to help you on your journey of growth and discovery.

I provide individual therapy and couples counseling for adults struggling with a wide range of issues. My areas of expertise include mood dysregulation, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, life transitions, identity issues, college counseling, and trauma/PTSD. Overall, I view therapy as a collaborative relationship between client and therapist in which we work together towards client self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and healing. I work from a flexible, integrative approach, drawing on aspects of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and relational modalities, depending on each client's particular needs. My style is empathetic, respectful, and curious. I have specialized training in Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD, cross-cultural therapy, working with veterans, and working with asylum-seekers/refugees.

I am a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW). My passion and focus is working with late adolescents and adults to navigate a wide range of issues including, work and school transitions, body image and food related matters, family conflict, depression, anxiety and general life stressors. My patients describe me as warm, direct and engaged. Finding a provider you're comfortable with can be an overwhelming process. I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation and typically recommend spending a few sessions to see if we work well together.

Porter is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Massachusetts. He received his Master’s in Social Work from Boston College, with an emphasis in the Latinx community and Health/Mental Health. Porter has significant experience working in a variety of settings including: outpatient clinical work, In-Home Family work with DCF and DDS, community and case management work in milieu, and group living environments in the US and Argentina ( si, se habla espanol tambien). Porter has also engaged in advocacy work, working hand-in-hand with school systems, religious representatives, court systems and police departments to support his clients. Porter takes a person-centered approach to his treatment model, working with clients at their own pace. Porter has worked with individuals with a variety of mental illness diagnoses, including but not limited to: Psychotic Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmentally Disabled individuals, Anxiety Disorders (especially Panic Disorder), Trauma, Traumatic Brain Injury, Depression (including Suicidality), and family and relationship issues. Porter utilizes Evidence Based Theories in practice: EMDR, CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. Porter is only available virtually. In his free time, Porter enjoys being a foodie and cooking, caring for his tropical plants and animals, traveling, rock climbing, playing video games, or listening to his new favorite sci-fi book. Porter also enjoys learning new ways to improve as a therapist and appreciates any feedback on how to improve your experience working with him. Smooth Stone Counselling is 100% virtual in MA.