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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

The students I work best with often share common experiences and needs. Many of them are facing the pressures of academic demands, juggling coursework, exams, and deadlines while also trying to balance personal responsibilities and relationships. They may be experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety, or overwhelm as they navigate transitions, uncertainties, and expectations. What sets my practice apart is my genuine commitment to creating a safe and supportive space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and concerns without judgment. I understand that seeking help can feel daunting, so I strive to foster a warm and welcoming environment where you feel heard, valued, and understood. Whether you're struggling with academic stress, relationship issues, self-doubt, or anything in between, I'm here to support you every step of the way. Together, we'll work collaboratively to identify your goals, explore your strengths, and develop personalized strategies to help you thrive in all areas of your life. If you're ready to take the first step toward a happier, healthier you, I invite you to reach out. Let's embark on this journey of self-discovery and growth together. You don't have to face your challenges alone—I'm here to help you every step of the way.

The treatment I provide is influenced by relational, attachment-based, and psychodynamic modalities. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, life transitions, identity concerns, trauma, and stress related to work and relationships. I work with adults of all ages and backgrounds to address their presenting symptoms, as well as explore the underlying roots of these symptoms to establish long-term benefits. I believe therapy is most effective when there is a trusting and open therapeutic relationship, so we will work together to identify a meaningful approach to your care. I’m experienced in working with culturally diverse and LGBTQ populations. Prior to earning my degree in counseling, I worked with LGBTQ youth and young adults in the Boston community at a nonprofit organization dedicated to health education. I understand how difficult it can be to find a good match in therapy, I encourage you to contact me for an initial phone call, and we can discuss how we might work together.

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.

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.

What I love most about my work is walking alongside people as they navigate life’s most difficult moments — grief, major life transitions, caregiving, serious illness, or the stress and uncertainty that comes with change. Life transitions can reshape how we understand ourselves, our relationships, and our future. Big changes — divorce, moving, career shifts, chronic illness, or the death of someone you love — can leave you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to move forward. Therapy is not about “moving on” or “getting over” your grief or stress. It’s about learning how to carry life’s challenges while honoring your story. I specialize in relational therapy that helps individuals, parents, and families make sense of the grief, stress, and anxiety that often comes with life transitions, while building on your inherent strengths to achieve your goals. I use principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to build practical skills for coping and managing difficult emotions. I strive to be an authentic, warm, and honest therapist that brings empathy, understanding, and a little lightness to healing. Please feel welcome to reach out for an initial phone consultation - I would love to see if we’re a good fit.

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.

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.

I’m Colleen Madden, PMHNP, specializing in medication management for college students. Whether it’s ADHD, anxiety, or mood concerns, I’ll help you find the right support—without judgment and with your busy schedule in mind. Virtual visits. Afternoon and evening hours available. A safe, understanding space to help you feel like yourself again.

Welcome! I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and psychotherapist. One of my areas of emphasis is counseling undergraduate and graduate students who are navigating the complexities of college life and balancing the demands that often accompany this time. It is common for these years to bring discovery and connection as well as stress, pressure and anxiety. In collaboration, we can work through what is challenging or making you feel stuck or avoidant. We can address mental health concerns that may be disrupting your path. We will look at your day-to-day functioning as well as the bigger picture of your life. I will support you in taking meaningful steps towards your goals. I have extensive specialized experience treating OCD, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and BFRBs. While in training, I also completed an internship at a college counseling center where I had the wonderful opportunity to counsel students entering healthcare professions. It can be helpful for potential clients to know ahead of time that I am "in- network" with Boston University Aetna Student Health specifically. If you have this insurance, your visits are covered and you are only responsible for your copay. In all other cases, I am "out-of network." I am happy to offer a superbill invoice you can submit to your insurance for partial or full reimbursement, if you have out-of-network benefits and are eligible for reimbursement. If you aren't sure whether you do, you can call the phone number on your insurance card to ask. I am licensed in MA and CT. I look forward to getting to know you!

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.

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.

Many people struggle with various aspects of their lives, be it identity, relationships, work/school, or past experiences that affect how they feel and navigate the world. I work with many young adults who may seem high functioning at first glance but struggle with depression, anxiety, stress, or other emotional issues. I have particular experience supporting Asians and Asian Americans and other BIPOC people navigating issues of race, identity and culture. Talk therapy and medications can be a powerful way to help people process, make sense of, and change these patterns that hold them back from living the life they want.

I have been a practicing psychologist, psychoanalyst, and teacher for many years, and I offer psychotherapy tailored to address the unique needs and goals of my individual clients. Many want to work on specific problems relating to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or childhood trauma. Many are successful people, but find they struggle with one specific area, for example intimate relationships. Some are not sure what, exactly, is wrong, but know that they feel stuck in their lives and are looking for help identifying a path forward. My style is interactive, and I believe that successful psychotherapy depends upon a trusting and respectful relationship between the therapist and client. Psychodynamic understanding is fundamental to my thinking, but I incorporate CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and other skill building strategies when helpful. My practice is geared for individuals and couples who are graduate students or staff. For more detail: www.margaretsablove.com. I have developed a specialty in the treatment of eating disorders and collaborate with treatment programs and medical professionals. In addition I offer individual and group clinical supervision for mental health professionals. I have flexible office hours and use video conferencing when in-person meetings are difficult to schedule.

Dr. Shelby Ortega is a clinical psychologist serving the North Shore and Metro Boston areas via Cambridge and Salem office locations. My approach is one characterized by warmth, humor, and the welcoming of diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives. I believe in tailoring the treatment to the unique needs of my clients and providing a safe space that is equally supportive and challenging. I offer individual psychotherapy for adolescents and adults, as well as couples therapy, clinical supervision, and consultation services. I enjoy working with people from all walks of life, and make every effort to help those I work with feel welcomed, engaged, supported, and respected. I work to provide a safe therapeutic frame that is inclusive of social and cultural context, and therefore, welcome discussions of issues related to oppression, privilege, and of course, intersectionality of complex identity statuses. My private practice work is enriched by my academic scholarship and teaching experiences. I believe this work is an asset to my role as a practitioner and I work to extend this benefit to the patients I serve. My specific interests and areas of expertise include the following: Anxiety, Depression and Mood Disorders Relationship and Intimacy Difficulties Identity Exploration Recovery from Trauma and Loss I have extensive training in multicultural mental health, identity development, adult attachment relationships and intimacy, and have also completed two fellowships in psychodynamic psychotherapy at Harvard Medical School. Presently, I serve as a Teaching Associate in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, a Psychological and Educational Consultant with Jernigan & Associates, LLC, and as an Advisory Board Member for the Psychology Department at Regis College.

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.

Hi! I’m Gabrielle (you can also call me Gabbe). Whether you’re new to therapy or returning for another go, here’s what you can expect from our sessions: a conversation where clinical insight, honesty, and compassion intersect. I specialize in supporting individuals through major life transitions by helping them cultivate a healthier, more fulfilling relationship with food, themselves, and the people in their lives. My approach centers around making meaningful change by moving forward with imperfections and recognizing when it’s time to cut ourselves some slack. Together, we’ll collaborate to create a space where you can feel understood while also being gently challenged toward the life and relationships you strive for. Outside of the therapy office, I’m often spending my time with my loved ones, enjoying fresh air, and window shopping at various vintage thrift markets. I also enjoy playing video games (especially the Sims or Elden Ring), or trying new, crafty activities when I feel a more introverted! You deserve a space where you feel genuinely seen and safe to show up as yourself. If you're curious whether you'd find that space here, please reach out and we can schedule a free consult call!

Hello! Thank you for your interest in starting therapy. I have a lot of experience supporting college and advanced degree students who are dealing with anxiety, OCD, and stress. I take a CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), goals-focused approach. I am licensed in Massachusetts and New York and I can see students in either state--in fact, I work with a number of students who go to school in MA but live in NY when they are not on campus and vice versa. I'd be happy to set up a time to talk so you can ask any questions that you have to see if it would be a good fit for you.

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!