Therapists for college students near New York, NY

I help clients navigate identity questions, relationship challenges, life transitions, and the emotional demands of high-stress environments. My therapeutic style is warm, welcoming, and deeply person-centered, ensuring that each individual feels seen, heard, and valued. In our work together, you can expect a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where you feel understood and supported from the start. I use an eclectic, person-centered approach that integrates multiple therapeutic techniques to meet your unique needs. This includes specialized experience supporting adolescents, women, and individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. I also commonly work with healthcare providers managing burnout, compassion fatigue, and the pressures of caring for others. Therapy with me focuses on strengthening self-acceptance, building insight, and developing practical tools that support meaningful change. Clients often report feeling more grounded, clearer about who they are, and better able to navigate relationships, stressors, and major life decisions. My goal is to help you cultivate a sense of confidence, resilience, and alignment with the life you want to live.

I have over 14 years of clinical experience. I have worked with an array of clients over the years which include focuses in anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and crisis stabilization. My goal is to create a safe space for my clients on their journey to personal growth and healing. I believe that everyone's story is unique to them and will develop a personalized approach for each client using evidence based treatment. I want clients who are feeling stuck to be able to have a place to process what they are going through and share helpful tools with them along the way. I want my clients to be able to have an increased insight in to their emotions and behaviors. I want to help my clients develop a better understanding of what their needs are and how to have those needs be met.

Hi, I’m Melissa Ruiz, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with 20 years of healthcare experience. As the founder of Renewal Wellness Center, I provide compassionate care through therapy, medication management, and telehealth services. I specialize in supporting adults from diverse backgrounds in NY who value mental health care. My goal is to create a safe, welcoming space where you feel heard and empowered to achieve your wellness goals. Let’s take the next step together!

I believe therapy is a collaborative process built on trust, curiosity, and the belief that meaningful change is possible. My goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable exploring your experiences, gaining new perspectives, and developing the tools to navigate life's challenges with greater confidence and clarity. I work with individuals navigating concerns such as anxiety, ADHD, stress, life transitions, learning challenges, identity exploration, and self-esteem. I also have experience supporting emerging adults, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, while welcoming clients from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Whether you're working through a specific challenge or simply looking to better understand yourself, I strive to provide a collaborative, culturally responsive space where you can gain insight, strengthen practical coping skills, and move toward a more fulfilling life. My therapeutic style is warm, person-centered, and strengths-based. I tailor treatment to each individual's unique needs, drawing from Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy to help clients better understand themselves, build on their strengths, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Nicole Chang is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with extensive experience providing mental health care to college students. Her practice offers medication management and supportive therapy, focusing on treating depression, anxiety, and interpersonal concerns. She is dedicated to providing empathic and collaborative care that aligns with each individual’s goals and wellness.

I’m a licensed psychologist based in New York City, working with young adults, adults, and couples who want to feel more grounded and connected in their lives. People often come to me for help with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, substance use, or the effects of past trauma. Others are simply looking for a better understanding of themselves and the patterns that keep showing up. As a gay therapist, I bring both personal and professional experience to my work with the LGBTQ+ community. I offer a space that’s affirming, open, and free of judgment—where you can be fully yourself. We’ll go at your pace, using evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches that fit you as a person. My goal is to make therapy feel safe, collaborative, and genuinely helpful—so you can move toward greater clarity, confidence, and self-understanding.

Is 2026 sucking the life out of you? Social media getting you down? Are you navigating the high stress of academics, sports and situationships? Do you wake up every day filled with a sense of existential dread? I can help! Therapy doesn't have to be intimidating (hint: if you're using ChatGPT as your therapist, you might as well talk to a real one). Shoot me a message when you're ready to address your underlying anxiety about the current state of affairs (global and/or personal)! I promise there are better coping skills that don't involve excess coffee, doomscrolling and binge drinking. Let’s work together to make change happen! I have over 14 years of experience working directly with people struggling with chemical dependency, substance use, and behavioral addictions including co-occurring disorders/mental health issues like Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, trauma, relationship issues, neurodiversity, grief/loss, gender identity issues, and general life stressors. Whether you're looking to vent, laugh, cry, or do 12+ sessions of specific EBP based therapeutic protocols, everyone is different and deserves an individual approach. Let me know what you're looking for so I can accommodate your preferences.

College can be a great time to start exploring relationships and even making long-term bonds. However, the stresses of college life can challenge even the most loving of relationships. I assist couples to identify communication and intimacy issues that prevent them from connecting both physically and emotionally. There is no size fits all. Thus, I seek to collaborate with my clients to co-create a therapeutic experience that creates the trust necessary to do deeper work.

Living with a chronic medical condition can feel like an exhausting, uphill battle that touches every single part of your life. Whether you are navigating the unpredictable daily realities of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or adapting to a new diagnosis, the mental toll is just as real as the physical one. You don't have to carry that weight alone. As a licensed clinical social worker with 11 years of experience in medical settings, I specialize in the profound intersection of physical health and mental well-being. My approach is rooted in deep empathy and clinical expertise, helping individuals navigate the grief, anxiety, and daily hurdles of living with chronic illness. Together, we will work on reclaiming your quality of life, building practical coping strategies, and finding a sense of peace and agency in a body that has felt unpredictable.

As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at HOClinical, I work best with students who are high-achieving, driven, and carrying more than they let people see. Many of the students I support are balancing academics, work, family expectations, and relationships — while quietly dealing with anxiety, low mood, burnout, ADHD, sleep problems, or feeling overwhelmed. Some are struggling to focus. Others feel stuck, unmotivated, or not like themselves anymore. Many say, “I should be able to handle this,” but feel exhausted trying. If you’re a student who wants practical tools, clear guidance, and a provider who truly listens without judgment, we’re likely a good fit. I offer a supportive, down-to-earth approach that combines thoughtful medication management (when appropriate) with real strategies you can use right away to feel better, think clearly, and perform at your best. You don’t have to wait until you’re in crisis to get support. If you’re ready to feel more balanced, focused, and in control again, HOClinical is here to help.

Why work with us? We are highly trained and educated clinicians who use our wide experience to meet you where you are. Our background includes years of leadership experience where we have used our expert knowledge to train other clinicians. We offer online counseling, offering the best flexibility for sessions that fit with your schedule Our main focus is to help you reach your goals as quickly as possible. We understand the unique culture of Westchester and NYC because we are local therapists in Scarsdale, NY. We have immediate availability and are in-network with Columbia University student health insurance.

You don't have to figure it all out on your own! Students I work with are empathic and intelligent and are feeling pain about their personal lives and the world at large. They have difficulty asking for help as they are often the person others turn to for assistance. Distress can show up as failing classes, procrastination, insomnia, sadness, lack of focus, irritability, anxiety and feelings of hopelessness about the future. In our work together, we will identify sources of distress, resolve conflicts that are holding you stuck, and learn, practice and integrate coping strategies. We will tap into inner resources--including intuition, humor, beauty and resilience--to access healing and joy. Our work will enable you to become more grounded, self-aware, confident, and self-directed. I studied English and Environmental Studies at SUNY Albany and Williams College. I received my Masters in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University and my Masters in Social Work from New York University. My professional experience includes over 15 years working in academia, including serving as the director of a university women's and gender resource center, adjunct professor and academic advisor, in addition to my work as a psychotherapist. I am a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America and am a climate-aware and trauma-informed therapist. Many of my current clients are dealing with trauma and social anxiety. They often feel isolated and struggle with initiating and building healthy connections and friendships with others. Therapy can help you uncover choices and social skills you may not even be able to imagine now. My studies in creative arts therapies, mythology, Tarot, dreams and archetypes help you see your life stories with fresh perspective and flexibility. Students who work best with me approach therapy as partnering with a warm, compassionate, knowledgeable guide who can help them access intuitive, academic, physical and practical resources. We weave together a unique net of strategies that you can tap into as needed for coping with obstacles and stressors in your life.

YOUR FEELINGS MATTER. YOU MATTER. It’s time to learn new ways of thinking about and tackling challenging life moments to be happy. Sometimes all you need is to shift your perspective on your current circumstances to achieve the level of happiness you so desire. We can help you do this as licensed therapists with lived experiences of being women of color (WOC). You deserve a culturally competent therapist educated on the nuances of being a woman of color. There's no need to code-switch or hide parts of yourself from us. At KQH, you will get the real experience of putting it all on the table for an unbiased third party to help you work through life challenges. We help you keep your crown on straight by utilizing a combination of evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness practices, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and Solution-Focused Therapy. Our clinicians meet clients where they are and help them develop attainable goals. We help clients better understand how their thoughts influence emotions before introducing new coping strategies to manage their symptoms and change thought patterns. We are here to help you live your best possible life!

Sometimes words don’t fully capture our experiences or do them justice. My journey into this work began with the discovery that art, music, movement, and other forms of creative expression can communicate the parts of ourselves that language alone cannot reach. These expressions are deeply human and can become powerful pathways to insight, healing, and connection. Therapy asks for honesty, vulnerability, and commitment, but it does not have to focus only on pain. My approach balances depth and growth with humor, curiosity, and discovery. Art therapy is not about being “good” at art; it is about using creativity and reflection to gain insight, process experiences, and foster new perspectives and possibilities. Together, we will explore patterns, relationships, challenges, and goals while strengthening resilience, quieting self-critical thoughts, and developing practical tools for navigating life’s challenges. Our work creates the foundation for deeper self-understanding, greater balance, and lasting growth.

Perhaps you're struggling with a significant life difficulty, or perhaps things are going ok, but you feel that something is missing. As you have come to a point that you have considered to make a change, whether it be a change in yourself, your relationship with others, or another area of your life, it is important to enter into a therapeutic relationship characterized by safety, trust, and professionalism. It's a privilege to be entrusted with your emotional well-being.

I work especially well with clients who think deeply, feel intensely, and are tired of talking in circles—whether you’re navigating anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, low mood, or big life transitions. My approach blends evidence-informed psychotherapy with optional art-based work to help you access emotions, shift patterns, and build steadier self-trust. You don’t need to be “creative” to benefit—this is about expression and insight, not making something perfect.

We are often engaging in life through the means that we have been taught by all of those who have come before us. Life has become a perpetual cycle where bliss, peace, harmony, and all of the other facets that make life worth living seem to escape us more and more. Instead, we are trapped in depression, anxiety, distrust, judgment and more often than not our physical temples are suffering. Collectively, a shift in perception is needed. This starts with the individual. Traditional integrative psychotherapy infused with an array of healing modalities intuitively tailored to your specific needs. The sessions can include Kundalini yoga and Meditation, Energetic Clearing, Light Language, Shadow Work Healing, Ancestral Clearing, Womb Activation Healing & Cosmic Coding. ​ If you do not have self –awareness; if you do not bask in your own love, if you are running on autopilot and have no INNERstanding- the world around you will reflect this. Your life is your classroom it is perfectly woven to bring you back to you. No exceptions. Take the time to be in relationship with self and know that all else will follow.

I'm so glad you've started this journey to improve your mental wellbeing. I know how difficult beginnings can be—I’ve worked with a number of first-time and returning therapy clients from backgrounds as diverse as New York City itself. I particularly enjoy working with LGBTQIA+ clients and people with disabilities and neurodivergences. I do my best to honor your cultural experience as we tackle some of life’s biggest challenges together: depression and anxiety, trauma and grief, chronic illness and medical issues, relationship difficulties and life transitions, and problematic drug use or other behaviors that may no longer be serving you. My own career began in worker organizing, then moved into community social work and social policy research. I have a deep appreciation for how relationships and social realities impact mental health and prioritize a relational and social change-oriented approach. Disability justice, racial justice, and gender justice are core tenets of my practice. My work is also influenced by my own experiences as a therapy client: I strive to be as transparent as possible about what we’re doing and why, so you can be a full partner on the journey and never feel left in the dark. Above all, I am person-centered: I start by learning who you are as an individual, your strengths and challenges, and then figure out which clinical approaches can work best for you. I often draw from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and am pursuing further training in these modalities. I very much look forward to meeting you and taking this journey together!

I believe It takes courage to seek support, and I’m so proud of you for taking this important first step. I believe both the journey and the destination matters, and I’m here to walk alongside you with guidance and care. With 9 years of experience supporting adults through mental health and co-occurring concerns. I combine Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Supportive Counseling to create a compassionate, collaborative space where you can explore, heal, and grow. Together, we’ll uncover the roots of your struggles, shift unhelpful patterns, and empower you to make meaningful, lasting changes.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.