Therapists for college students near Boston College

At the heart of psychotherapy is accompaniment through one’s inner world. Current difficulties, past struggles, individual and familial traumas, hidden hopes and dreams – all of this will be central to making sense of your present and building toward your future. Starting psychotherapy can feel intimidating, but the benefits can be huge: deeper self-understanding, more meaningful and authentic relationships, reduced depression and anxiety, increased self-confidence. I have worked with a diverse swath of undergrad and graduate students in college counseling centers, and have studied and taught at private and public universities across the country. My specializations include relationship struggles, family conflict and crisis, identity development, career direction, academic concerns, gender and sexuality, trauma, spirituality, creativity, chronic illness, immigration, and LGBTQIA+ issues in teens and adults. I am committed to meeting you where you are at in the therapeutic process, and I welcome exploration of racial, sexual, and gender identities. I am a Harvard Medical School Psychiatry fellow trained in psychodynamic, relational, cognitive behavioral, and mindfulness-based therapies, but I believe a strong sense of connection is the most important element in seeking a therapist. I encourage you to reach out to a number of practitioners to find a good match. I look forward to hearing from you.

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.

I use an integrative, psychodynamically grounded approach with an interpersonal, decolonized, and social justice lens. My work is rooted in a passion for making healing and self-understanding more accessible, especially for multi-marginalized communities. I believe the therapeutic relationship is central to change and prioritize collaboration, dignity, and empowerment. In psychological assessment, I take a client-centered approach that honors testing as a tool for insight and expanding access to care. I work with adults navigating identity development, trauma/complex PTSD, mood/anxiety disorders, life transitions, college adjustment, relational and family concerns, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and ADHD. As a neurodivergent clinician, I enjoy supporting neurodivergent clients through unmasking and embracing the authentic self. I have worked in a variety of settings, including outpatient, school-based, inpatient and forensic settings. My background in forensic psychology, multi-method assessment, and research challenging stigma of specific marginalized populations informs my clinical approach, which embraces and honors the complexity of each person's lived experience.

I provide effective and collaborative therapy tailored to meet each person's needs. I am a licensed psychologist specializing in trauma-informed and culturally responsive care. I am expert in: trauma, anxiety, parenting skills training - especially for parents of adoptive children and/or with behavior problems, and affirming care for LGBTQ+ (especially transgender) clients. Personal identities/experiences: I am biracial (Filipina and White), the daughter of an immigrant, a foster-to-adopt (and bio) mom, and a cisgender woman. Outside of providing therapy, I work as a researcher and professor. What I offer: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), parent skills training, evidence-based & collaborative treatment for those affected by trauma and/or discrimination, short- or long-term therapy, clinical supervision for psychology trainees, goal-oriented treatment tailored to your identities and cultures. I currently have telehealth openings! Please email me to find a time to connect. My fee is $300 per session and I provide superbills.

Life Transition Counseling and Therapy: 25+ Years Experience Asian American Psychotherapist, LICSW Adjunct Professor at Boston College In Person in Brookline and Harvard Square and Virtually I work with people who have spent much of their lives managing expectations, carrying responsibility, and doing what they are supposed to do. When a major change occurs, the ways they've always navigated life may no longer fit. Together, we make sense of what you're experiencing, understand what's keeping you stuck, and figure out what comes next. I combine clinical support with practical tools to help you: Understand your emotions: Learn to relate to what you're feeling rather than ignoring, avoiding, or fighting it. Clarify your values: Identify what truly matters to you—not just what is expected of you. Reduce symptoms: Address any stress, anxiety, depression, or burnout you may be experiencing and develop skills to manage it. Build confidence: Gain the inner-strength and resilience to step forward into action.

My therapeutic approach centers on developing agency, working through uncertainty, and attending to how identity and context shape experience. I work from a psychodynamic relational framework, integrating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. My treatment approach focuses on patterns in thoughts, relationships, and decision-making, with the goal of achieving a deeper self-understanding alongside symptom relief. I use what emerges in the therapeutic relationship, including discomfort, as meaningful data, while balancing structure and exploration to support both insight and practical change. I work with adults of all ages navigating mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder), anxiety, identity conflict, persistent relational patterns, life transitions, college adjustment, high internal pressure, and insomnia. I also have expertise working with individuals from immigrant families and clients navigating bicultural identities. I am an Asian American clinician with Korean heritage and consider how race, culture, identity, and background shape experience and the therapeutic relationship. I trained at Penn Outpatient Psychiatry, working with diverse adult populations across levels of acuity in a hospital-based, trauma-informed, relational, and psychodynamic setting.

I believe therapy is a creative process. I encourage free association in sessions to promote new ways of thinking and a wider range of feelings. I have experience treating mild to severe mental health diagnoses and can adapt my approach to the needs of each individual. As a practicing psychotherapist and a doctoral intern in psychoanalysis, I have a special interest in the unconscious life of my patients. I am available in-person or via Telehealth.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

My name is Jeff Kerner and I practice outpatient psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, where I serve on the faculty of Harvard Medical School. I recently opened a private outpatient practice to expand my availability outside the MGH system. I believe strongly in a patient-centered approach to developing a comprehensive and individualized mental health treatment plan that often includes medication management, therapy, and lifestyle modifications. Please reach out if you have concerns about your mental health.

I ground my practice in establishing a warm and affirming therapeutic alliance, the relationship between client and clinician. From there, we establish a flow, understanding, and goals. This can look like anything from DBT skill-building, to sharing humor, meditating, or validating the parts of us that need love or care. As a former educator, I especially enjoy working with young people who are managing the variety of contending expectations which come along this stage. As a former professional musician, I understand the value of art and creativity in the healing process, the helpfulness of structure and consistency when needed, and the challenges that come with art as a career. Therapy can be a scary thing to jump into. Because of this, I prioritize making landing in therapy be as collaborative and catered to your needs as possible. Therapy should be a space that feels like yours, where you can feel safe to grow and problem solve in the ways and at the pace that feels best. I look forward to chatting!

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.

Do you often find yourself feeling overwhelmed, anxious, worried, or misunderstood? Maybe these are new struggles or something you’ve been dealing with for a while. Either way, I am glad you are here. I am a Harvard-trained licensed psychologist with expertise in evidence-based treatment for anxiety, depression, and emotional difficulties. I have been extensively trained in various evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for specific phobias and trauma. As a therapist, I am warm and supportive, and I strive to create a non-judgmental space where, together, we can explore what’s troubling you. My approach is grounded in emotion-focused CBT, helping you better understand your thoughts and emotions in various situations and what needs to change for you to feel better. Together, we can then help you make small, practical changes consistently in your life that can add up to feeling better and more empowered over time. If this sounds like it might be helpful, I invite you to reach out 15-minute consultation call where we can see if we might be a good fit. I look forward to meeting you!

Choosing to start therapy is a meaningful way to care for yourself and respect your own story. If you are facing emotional challenges or want a deeper connection with yourself, this journey can bring hope. Taking the first step by reaching out can help you find the peace and strength you already have inside. Creating a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental space is at the heart of my practice. In this space, we can forge a meaningful therapeutic alliance. Together, we'll explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, helping you build resilience to heal, gain deeper insights, and enhance mood management/coping skills. With my Asian background and fluency in both English and Mandarin, I bring together Eastern and Western perspectives to support your recovery and self-care. I aim to create an inclusive space where you can express yourself freely. Your path to well-being is unique, and I am honored to help you find your inner strength, heal, and grow.

Do you ever feel stressed, burnt out, or disconnected? Are you feeling stuck or uncertain where to go next in your career or education? Have your experienced loss or traumatic events? Are you finding yourself feeling overwhelmed right now, and like you don't know where to start? I offer a warm, collaborative approach in sessions, where you can begin to explore these or other questions that are most on your mind. I bring in a creative, engaged approach to process past and present obstacles, and a supportive hand to guide you toward solutions. I believe that our bodies are wired for resilience. I use a combination of approaches, including Art Therapy, supportive therapy, CBT/DBT, and mind-body therapies, to meet you where you're at. Within a safe therapy space, and with trust of a therapeutic relationship that we'll build over time, you can begin to process, grow confidence in yourself, and heal. Taking the first step toward change or healing can be so intimidating, but you don't have to do this alone. Reach out to me here to learn more and start the conversation.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist, offering individual psychotherapy to adults who may find themselves stuck, dissatisfied, or overwhelmed. I view therapy as a collaborative and active process, with the aims of better understanding one's distress and interpersonal difficulties, and improving one's quality of life. I am committed to helping my clients live more meaningful and authentic lives. I am skilled in the use of empirically supported treatments for psychological problems and I employ these strategies flexibly, with the goal of tailoring each client's treatment to his/her/their individual concerns and unique history. I received my Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and I completed my clinical training at the Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School. I've also completed two post-graduate fellowships in psychodynamic psychotherapy. I consider myself a generalist, with particular expertise in young adult mental health. In addition to my private practice, I am a faculty member in the clinical psychology doctoral program at William James College. I served as the Clinical Training Director at the MIT Student Counseling Service for over a decade, and I also have supervised psychiatry residents through the Harvard Medical School Longwood Psychiatry Program. NOTE: I offer sessions via telehealth, and will begin to offer in-person appointments this summer.

I offer psychodynamic therapy, which can alleviate psychological symptoms while creating a space to understand ourselves in new ways. This approach pays close attention to the smallest details of our lives, exploring our histories to better understand our struggles and desires. Symptoms are examined in the context of our lives and the forces that shape them. I view therapy as a conversation in which you can say anything. This may include speaking about your past, but it can also include dreams, fears, wishes, fantasies, or whatever else comes to mind. Together, we can be curious about what patterns emerge and what they may reveal. I provide individual therapy to individuals experiencing a range of issues, including trauma/PTSD, depression, anxiety, life transitions, college adjustment and relationship struggles. I have worked extensively with young adults who have experienced childhood trauma and serious mental illness. I also have expertise in the treatment of personality disorders. I enjoy working with clients of diverse identities and backgrounds and have worked in a variety of settings, including community mental health and inpatient settings. Much of my work has been with members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as with individuals underrepresented in therapy.

I offer a warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental space to help you explore your thoughts, feelings, and inner experience, work through challenges, and create more freedom in how you live and relate. My aim is to support you in moving beyond old patterns and connecting more fully with the life you want. Our work is collaborative and tailored to you. I work with people navigating a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, family issues, loss, identity questions and many other challenges. I have a particular interest supporting individuals with histories of trauma, and those who grew up with someone with mental illness or addiction. At the heart of my practice is the belief that real healing happens when we meet our inner struggles with kindness and presence. My approach is holistic, honoring the connection between mind and body, and the broader social and cultural contexts that shape your experience. I value clients’ unique strengths and social justice. My work is based primarily in internal family systems therapy, narrative therapy, EMDR, and over twenty years of practicing, studying, and teaching yoga. I also weave in skills and perspectives from other therapeutic modalities to best meet each client's needs. Additionally, for those interested, I offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). This can be individually in my office, and I facilitate KAP groups and retreats. I received my Masters and PhD in Social Work from Boston College and completed postgraduate training at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and Tufts University Counseling and Mental Health Services. I have experience working with adolescents and adults in community mental health, school, and university settings, and completed advanced training in EMDR, IFS (L1, L2, PA), and KAP. My work as a clinician is also informed by specialized training and clinical research that I have conducted in the areas of trauma and recovery, including the role of yoga in processes of healing. Prior to becoming a therapist I received my Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Brandeis University, my Masters degree in Arts in Education from Harvard University, and spent four years as a researcher exploring the role of the arts in personal and social transformation. The arts and creativity continue to be of significant interest to me in my work as a therapist.

About Me / Specialties I am a licensed psychologist specializing in treating adolescents and young adults with OCD, anxiety (including social anxiety, panic, phobias, and generalized anxiety), and related conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder, trichotillomania, tics, and excoriation disorder. I provide evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I see clients in-person in Cambridge, MA and virtually throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, Missouri, and Kansas. I also work with parents, offering coaching to help support their teen or young adult while reducing family accommodations. My goal is to create a compassionate, collaborative space where we take mental health seriously—but not ourselves too seriously. A little humor can go a long way in therapy! Treatment Approach I tailor treatment to each individual, often addressing co-occurring concerns like depression, eating issues, or trauma alongside anxiety or OCD. Using ERP, CBT, ACT, and DBT strategies, I help students manage symptoms, regulate emotions, and make meaningful, lasting changes—all in a supportive and approachable way. Training & Experience I earned my PhD from the University of Virginia, completed my clinical internship at Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for OCD and Related Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where I currently see therapy patients and conduct research on OCD spectrum disorders.

Supportive Minds was founded by two clinicians passionate about providing community- and empowerment-oriented mental health services. We are a new specialty addictions/high-risk behaviors outpatient group practice that offers inclusive, harm-reduction-oriented addiction and mental health services. We service adult and adolescent populations that include traditionally vulnerable and underserved populations. We offer confidential and safe mental health services that are flexible and customized to our clients in the community, in our office space, or virtually on telehealth. We are trained in various evidence-based clinical models of care. We are a minority-owned business and proud to serve the people of Massachusetts. We at Supportive Minds, PLLC believe in creating entry points for access to high-quality mental health services, especially for vulnerable populations (BIPOC, LGBTQ, and women). We believe in providing evidence-based harm-reduction-oriented treatment and support for high-risk behaviors. We believe in our duty to care and see ourselves in the suffering of others so that we may collectively listen, understand, and when possible, offer support toward empowerment and change.

Sometimes, when people come to therapy, they’re looking for a solution to something that feels urgent or overwhelming. At other times, people can't put words to what's wrong, but they know that something that doesn't feel right. Whether you're looking for help with anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, or something else, my goal is to put our heads together to create a space where you feel truly heard and supported in order to find a way forward. I'm trained in English and Spanish in a variety of therapeutic modalities that range from meaning-oriented work and narrative therapy to behavioral techniques, but what's most important to me is that we come together and use pieces of any of those that will be helpful to the person that I'm sitting with. I have a few openings (in-person or virtually). Contact me for a 25-minute free consultation to see if my style would be helpful for you - or to possibly refer you to a colleague. Looking forward to being of service to you!