Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA

As a therapist, I aim to be as authentic, supportive, and direct as possible; helping you to work on the obstacles standing in the way of reaching your goals. Sometimes this simply means experiencing an accepting and validating environment otherwise unavailable. Alternatively, this may consist of having an emotionally safe space to communicate with your partner or family. My approach depends on your goals for our work together and what degree of challenge you feel ready for. Conflict or connection, I am here to support you. Feedback I've received from clients typically includes comments along the lines of, "You aren't the type of therapist who just sits back and listens for an hour, but who gets me to consider things I hadn't thought of, helped me to figure myself out- what I really want, need, and how to deal". I truly enjoy helping my clients to gain a better understanding of themselves, identifying and building their strengths, and supporting them through difficult times. You may perceive an upsetting event as a minute issue or a monstrous crisis based on how others view it. My perspective however, rests on the impact and significance an experience holds for you. Life is challenging, especially when you are attempting to juggle school, work, relationships and unexpected life events. Reach out. A simple talk will help you determine if I can be of support.

Striving to balance the demands of modern life is an on-going process. We are ever evolving, discovering new parts of ourselves, facing challenges, confronting health issues, encountering loss, or adjusting to new situations--- it is part of the human condition. At times these demands are too much or too complicated to manage alone. Psychotherapy is both a relationship and a service. Finding a safe, supportive, and comfortable place are just some aspects of the therapist search. I welcome clients to meet with me to decide if my services fit their particular areas of concern. I try to provide a warm, safe and open environment with my clients and believe in a collaborative approach to help find resolution and a better understanding of yourself.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Accepting new clients! At the center of my work is the belief that healing happens through connection—therapy begins with a space that feels safe, compassionate, and authentically supportive. I work with adults and young adults who are navigating life changes, anxiety, depression, identity questions, relationship challenges, and the ongoing work of self-discovery. I am affirming of LGBTQ+ identities, supportive of neurodiverse experiences, and committed to practicing in ways that are inclusive, culturally attuned, and trauma-informed. My style is person-centered and strengths-focused, rooted in humanistic values. I support clients in making sense of their experiences, discovering meaning, and reconnecting with what matters most to them. In addition to my general practice, I also support caregivers, siblings, and parents of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering space for emotional processing and deeper understanding. I see therapy as a collaborative journey, an opportunity to explore meaning, reclaim personal narratives, and cultivate resilience. Each person brings their own wisdom, and I’m honored to walk alongside you as you move toward greater clarity. Please reach out with any questions you may have about the therapeutic process or working with me!

I offer collaborative, compassionate, culturally-informed care tailored to you. Whether you're navigating life transitions, feeling held back by your emotions, or seeking self-understanding to move forward, I will help you build on your strengths to achieve your therapy goals. Schedule a free 15-min phone consultation to see if we’re a good fit.

As a Harvard-trained adult psychiatrist, I am trained and experienced in various medication and therapy modalities, enabling me to tailor your care to suit your unique needs and aspirations. My approach revolves around embracing an ecological perspective, acknowledging the intricate interconnections we share within our communities and the natural world, recognizing their profound influence they have on mental health and well-being. Therapy expertise includes working with those navigating experiences as gender or sexual minorities, life transitions, interpersonal difficulties, and low self-esteem. In our work together, I am committed to fostering a nurturing environment that encourages you to freely explore and uncover your inner potential for growth. Taking this brave step towards personal development is significant, and I am here to provide a safe and supportive presence as your path unfolds.

Looking for support during a life change? Feeling stuck? Then let's talk. Clients say I bring calm attention, humor, & creativity to all my engagements and that I help them center, increase awareness, build resiliency practices, and recalibrate communication & action patterns that have gone off-track. I specialize/trained in mindfulness, somatic, expressive, and nature/outdoor, CBT, EMDR, DBT, multicultural and trauma-informed therapy to treat children-to-elders navigating life transitions and all the thoughts, feelings that can arise when we feel overwhelmed/stuck. A unique part of what I offer is to meet outside for walk-and-talk sessions and to explore ways that Nature can be a resource in our healing and grounding process. Nature reminds us that stability during change is possible and that we always connected to larger things in this world, seen and unseen. In the spirit of Rumi's quote "what you seek is seeking you," let's work together to move you toward whatever is searching for you.

Sara is an experienced practitioner offering individual therapy for adults and adolescents. She helps individuals understand how past experiences affect thinking and choices in the present. Her approach also offers skills to manage difficult emotions, increase flexibility and build balanced relationships so clients can move their lives in the direction they want. Treatment will prioritize the understanding that individual needs and experiences occur at the intersection of gendered, sexual, racial, class, ethnic, spiritual and ideological identities. The reality that every brain and body works differently is also centered in treatment.

I am a clinical psychologist licensed in the state of Massachusetts. I received my master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from William James College (formerly the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology). I have extensive experience working with college and university students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, who struggle with a wide variety of challenges and questions. I have worked as a staff clinician at the counseling centers of both Tufts and Brandeis universities, and completed my post-doctoral training at Roger Williams University. During my doctoral training, I completed Internships at New England Conservatory of Music and Rhode Island College. In addition, I trained on the psychiatric inpatient unit at Faulkner Hospital and worked with school children at a public middle school in Wayland, MA. I love working with people on a range of issues related to depression, anxiety, and substance use, in addition to examining questions of identity and relationships with others. My belief is that our difficulties in life often arise from complicated thoughts and feelings that may contradict one another and leave a person feeling confused and overwhelmed. My job as a psychotherapist is to work with individuals to sort through this mix, like a puzzle, in order to gain a greater understanding of the dynamics at play, both internally and externally. It is through this growth in self-understanding that one gains greater agency over how they can respond to the world around and within them. Prior to becoming a psychologist, I grew up outside of Boston and then moved to New York City to study and pursue a career in acting. I attended New York University and received a BFA in theater arts. I spent many years working as an actor, but eventually grew weary of some of the demands and experienced a crisis of sorts in regard to my professional and personal identity. Through a process of self-examination, assisted by my own experience in therapy, I found a new direction that enabled me to hold onto some of the aspects of theater that I liked, while gaining a sense of purpose and service to others that had been lacking for me. For these reasons, I love working with artists and creative types, in addition to those who find themselves at a crossroads or unsure of where to take their next step in life.

Currently accepting day,afternoon,and evening clients. If you are feeling stuck, stressed, anxious, sad, avoidant, unmotivated, distracted, or generally discontent with yourself, your social life, your job, your purpose, or a particular relationship or situation you have found yourself in, you might be suffering from anxiety, depression, or acute stress disorder. My passion is helping individuals with anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. I have multiple years of professional and private practice experience helping teens, middle aged, senior adults, and couples navigate emotional difficulties and traumatic periods. My therapy style is quite flexible I have learned to integrate a wide variety of effective methods to help people cope. I help my clients learn to manage their anxiety, depression, or better communicate with their partner so they can improve their quaility of life and have more productive, meaningful lives and fulfilling relationships. As your therapist I will work alongside you to help you learn to identify your emotions, learn healthy ways to express yourself, and healthy and effective ways of communicating with others. Together we will also identify your strengths as well as possible unhealthy thinking or behavioral patterns and how they relate to your everyday experiences and emotions.

Focus on anxiety, self-esteem, multicultural/diversity concerns, adjusting to college, life transitions, depression, sexual orientation/questioning, emotional well-being, men's issues, communication, interpersonal relationships, stress management, trauma informed, interactive and collaborative therapeutic approach.

My goal is to guide you in understanding what interferes with living a fulfilling life. I believe change is possible, no matter the circumstance, and I will support you through your journey of growth and self-discovery. As a therapist with extensive background working with trauma survivors and individuals of all ages, couples and families in crisis, I respect and understand both the challenges and lifelong benefits of having therapeutic alliance. My experience with the healing process has solidified the importance of consistent, genuine care, creating a space to pursue what it is you desire and find to be meaningful. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Life Coach, my approach is primarily relational, focused on the cultural considerations of an individual. Although we cannot avoid suffering, learning to cope with it is possible. As we become curious and explore beliefs, experiences and relationships, we will discover meaning to move forward with renewed purpose. I use theoretical practices such as behavioral, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, psychodynamic, strengths-based with a trauma and attachment lens. Additionally, I am specialized in sexual trauma and utilize techniques to help alleviate symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression, build skills to regulate emotions and transform unhealthy behaviors. I am a Psychodynamic Couple and Family Institute of New England trainee.

With a warm, down-to-earth, supportive, and engaged style, I offer treatment for a wide range of issues such as: Depression Anxiety OCD Relationship difficulties Life transitions Grief and loss Academic and career concerns Creative blocks As an integrative therapist, my approach is customized to what works best for you. While I draw from a wide variety of treatment approaches, principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), humanistic therapy, and psychodynamic therapy will frequently inform the work we do together. We will always prioritize your needs over adherence to any specific treatment approach or theory.

One of my specializations is helping students who feel they are on the verge of dropping a semester because of stress, anxiety, or other difficulties. If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, in a crisis or at a crossroads, or in any situation in which 50 minutes of counseling isn't “enough”, an Individual Counseling Retreat may be a good fit. This service was created in part to fill a gap in services between the 50-minute session and going into a hospital or rehab. But it's also intended for anyone who simply wants or needs to go deeper than the typical therapy session. A personal counseling retreat puts therapy into a different context: An inspiring setting with a lot of time outdoors. Time to walk and talk, rather than just sitting, and leverage the healing effect of time in nature. We choose a retreat center or other setting so that the process itself is uplifting and inspiring, both calming and energizing. The impact of getting off the grid and devoting time to re-grouping can't be overstated. The time frame of a multi-day retreat allows a lot of learning and processing in a condensed period of time, with a minimum of distractions. The counseling addresses your difficulties, but also focuses on positive psychology- the skills of thriving and well-being. It also integrates meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and healthy food. The one-to-one counseling allows for truly personalized attention and coaching. It provides the time and space to explore issues in depth, connecting dots and seeing new ways of responding. It's not a magic cure, because nothing is. But it is a unique and highly impactful experience and a powerful commitment to your future well-being. A typical retreat is 3-5 days, and includes mindfulness meditation, stress management skills, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), addiction recovery counselings as appropriate, and other evidence-supported therapeutic frameworks. MBCT focuses on empowering you to understand helpful and unhelpful patterns of thinking and reacting, and grow the positive ones. The work focuses primarily on the here and now, less on lengthy excavation of your past. The overall goal is resourcing you with new skills to better manage the stress and challenges you return to post-retreat. You come away with more than a diagnosis and a medication prescription. The outcome of a retreat is a new understanding of how your mind, nervous system and body interact, and how to ride life's ups and downs with more resilience. You leave with a post-retreat plan of self-care, which includes specific daily practices to support ongoing self-regulation and what you value most: Being your best self. As appropriate, post-retreat follow up with me is available. Clients who bring flexibility of mind- an ability to look at problems in a new way- and who have a love of the outdoors tend to resonate with this work the most. To discuss fees, location options and other logistical matters, email or call. Let's find a plan that works for you!

I am a board certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Thoughtful Psychiatry, P.C. I provide psychotherapy and medication management for children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of stress related conditions. As therapist and prescriber, I try to pave the way for my clients to tell their stories and feel truly understood. I strive to provide a safe environment that allows for self-expression. While diagnosis can be helpful, I believe that each individual enters treatment with a unique set of circumstances, and that it is important to focus on the needs of each individual rather than focus only on his or her symptoms. I am interested in treating patients with all types of conditions, but have a special affinity for working with clients who suffer from anxiety and trauma-related conditions. Currently, I am accepting clients primarily for medication management. Clients seeking medication management should have a therapist in place.

**Currently accepting clients for Summer 2024 as of May 2024!** I work with students on all major non-emergent concerns, but I am particularly passionate about concerns around identity development. This is a broad area and includes working through gender or sexuality, what you want to "do" with your life in terms of career or relationships, how you might change patterns you see in your life to be more in alignment with the person you'd like to be, and more. I work with neurodivergent students to better set up their lives to meet their needs. Students might come in to discuss depression, anxiety, drug or alcohol use, or relationships with friends, family, or intimate partners. My goal is always to create a creative and safe environment for you to come closer to achieving what you have set out for yourself. My approach is collaborative and client-centered. I aim to be affirming of all races, sexes and genders, body sizes, religions, and more, with the understanding that I cannot be an expert in lived experiences that are not my own. I offer a free 15 minute consultation call to see if we are a good match for each other. Reach out and we can talk to see if we will be a good fit.

Transitioning to a new setting can be a stressful time in your life. There are many new challenges that at time feel overwhelming. If you are struggling with motivation, time management, depression , anxiety and overall stress related to your current situation please call me. We can work together to discuss your goals and come up with a plan to meet those.

I specialize in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy; these approaches are particularly suited for such issues as coping with losses, reducing self-criticism, increasing relationship fulfillment and bolstering creativity. Often, I work with people whose prior therapy experience(s) was symptom-oriented or brief but who found themselves wondering if there is something more. I also often work with people in academia, such as graduate students and post-docs. I am particularly passionate about graduate student mental health and am aware of the unique stressors often faced by doctoral students, as well as the factors that make it more challenging to reach out for support. I am aware of the ways that concerns pertaining to identity, belonging and family of origin often begin to come to the fore when one finds themselves in a new environment and/or a new academic/professional endeavor.

I am licensed and able to practice in both Massachusetts and Maine. I have immediate openings for in-person and telehealth sessions, and offer free 10-15 minute phone consultations to discuss your goals, areas of needs, and see if you feel we would be a good fit! I have experience working with ages ranging from adolescents to older adults, with my current focus being on early adulthood, college students, and those working in the arts. I have extensive experience working with individuals experiencing substance use and recovery, as well as depression, anxiety, trauma, identity exploration, and life transitions. I use a humanistic and client-centered approach to promote trust and comfort within my sessions. I utilize therapeutic modalities including DBT, CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, and Harm Reduction. I encourage client feedback to assess what you are finding helpful within sessions, and tailor my approach to fit your needs. I believe in a collaborative approach between therapist and client, combining psychoeducation, skill building, empathy, and humor within my therapeutic framework. I am available to see new clients with BCBS, United Healthcare, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, Aetna or self-pay, and am happy to answer any questions you may have about starting therapy.