Therapists for college students near 02138

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.

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.

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.

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.

Are you struggling with adjusting to college, managing anxiety and stress? Do you feel it is challenging to make meaningful social connections? If your anxiety and stress are getting in the way of your daily life, it might be a good time to connect with a therapist who can help. Let’s work together to create a plan so you feel confident in managing your emotions and gain a sense of control in this life stage filled with new experiences and transitions. Continue reading to learn how booking a therapy session is the one of the best decisions you can make. I specialize in helping college and grad school students develop strategies to reduce stress, anxiety and build strong connections. We'll work together to identify ways to manage your emotions, work on changing your anxious thoughts to more realistic ones and find healthy ways to connect with others and manage daily stressors. Send me an email or give me a call to get started and we'll schedule a free 15 minute consultation. We can work together to make being a college or grad school student less scary! Please note, I only provide telehealth services to those who are physically in Massachusetts or Maine. My availability is Monday through Thursday from 10am - 7pm.

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.

We grow in relationships when we feel seen, responded to, and appreciated. My goal is to build a therapeutic connection together that enables you to work on challenges you are facing while also empowering you to feel more connected to yourself and others. I provide a curious, caring, collaborative presence in the hopes that our sessions offer a space to take a breath, experience your feelings, and explore. My therapeutic approach is grounded in relational cultural therapy and psychodynamic therapy. I also incorporate narrative, cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing in my work. I support clients experiencing mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, family and relationship issues, ADHD, grief, and identity exploration. I have experience working with college students, including first generation and international students, and educators. I welcome all clients including BIPOC, queer, trans, and gender-expansive individuals. I am a former educator and work from a strengths-based and trauma-informed perspective. I draw on attachment theory and systems theory to understand clients’ experiences in the full context of their lives, including how our identities, needs, and experiences are connected to our communities, cultures, and the broader forces that shape our well-being.

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.

I am a Clinical Psychologist and a psychoanalyst, specializing in work with individuals suffering from mood disorders, addiction, trauma, and identity issues. I have a sensitivity for the dilemmas of young adults as they struggle to find "true self" expression integrated with the demands for compromise and conformity they face, both externally and internally. Please visit www.youngadults.com to learn more about my approach and practice.

Hi! Welcome and thank you for starting your journey. I am an empathetic, compassionate and thoughtful therapist. I seek to establish a warm and caring relationship with clients in order to empower them and help them grow from the experiences they face. I will partner with you in building on your strengths in order to meet your goals and live the meaningful life you value and desire. I love working with young adults (ages 20-35) addressing life stressors, relationship issues, family tensions and the ongoing stress of life transitions during this time period of life.

**Currently accepting new clients as of 6/22/26 ** I am a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts, and I provide individual therapy to adults experiencing depression, life transitions, grief and loss, relationship issues and internet/media addiction. I help people who are stressed, overwhelmed or feeling generally stuck to identify and overcome what is getting in the way of their happiness. My theoretical orientation is primarily humanistic with emphasis on client-centered Rogerian therapy. I also draw heavily from psychodynamic therapy, motivational interviewing, attachment theory and insight-oriented approaches. As therapy is an individual process, I tailor my approach to the needs of each person. I strive to provide a warm and comfortable space for self-reflection, with the goal of helping you to gain more insight into your life and find the courage to make changes. And I incorporate genuineness, unconditional positive regard and humor in my work. My goal is to make you feel heard and understood. I consider myself an ally and welcome all persons regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity or religious/spiritual affiliation. If you are struggling with something, you don’t have to go through it alone. Call or email me to book a free consultation. I would love to hear from you!

** Telehealth and In-Person appointments.** We all long for our experiences, feelings, and needs to be seen, recognized, and honored. I bring to our work deep respect for your concerns and suffering. I place the therapeutic relationship at the heart of our work together which I approach with curiosity and empathy. I am most interested in what your unique experience is, and I aim to listen deeply on our road toward understanding. A safe-enough space will help us to transform your patterns of experience that interfere with your ability to be compassionate with yourself, to build meaningful relationships, and to work and play creatively, in other words, to live a fulfilling life. I am humbled by the complexity of human existence and feel honored to work with individuals from different racial and cultural backgrounds, sexual and gender identities, as well as spiritual and religious affiliations. In addition to my private practice, I am an Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School (part-time) and supervise psychology interns and psychiatrist fellows. I served as the co-chair of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology Graduate Student Committee helping young clinicians explore and develop their professional identities.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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.

It's hard to be successful as a college student when you are constantly worried, have that "sinking feeling" in your stomach, have difficulty managing your time and social commitments. These can be signs of anxiety and I can help with treatment that works. I also treat panic disorders, PTSD and other trauma related challenges. I can help you deal with perfectionism, performance anxiety, creativity struggles, environmental anxiety, gender identity, experience of sexual trauma, and attention related struggles. I also help improve male mental health journeys. My clients note they like my present and focused approach that does not leave them "floundering" in therapy. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help you get better faster. I know you already have the capacity and the strength to change, and you are channeling it right now. Even if you don't feel that power we will help you connect to it. I have seen the transformation many times, the freedom and the full engagement in life that can follow after the most distressing anxiety symptoms are under control.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.