Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA
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.
When mental health challenges feel overwhelming, expert guidance can make all the difference. As a board-certified psychiatrist and a therapist, I offer comprehensive mental health care that integrates medication management and evidence-based psychotherapy. My clinical experience spans multiple settings within the mental health system: Inpatient units, outpatient clinics, consultation-liaison services, and community mental health centers. This diverse background gives me a top-down understanding of the American mental health system. If you are feeling lost, we’ll find a path forward.
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!
I am an LGBTQ+ therapist supporting adults. Whether you are coming to therapy to make a change, make sense of yourself or past experiences, or simply want someone to listen to you, I provide a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space for you to explore your life, relationships and concerns. Whatever your goals, I will guide you through the process and together we will try to understand any repetitive patterns of unfulfilling behaviour and gain insight into how past experiences have come to shape present-day experiences. I also work full-time as a therapist supporting undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard University helping them navigate challenges associated with mental health, academics, and relationships. I believe the single most important aspect of successful therapy is the quality of the relationship between therapist and client. I therefore invite you to sit down with me in a relaxed way so we can talk. I can help you make better sense of your experiences, thoughts and feelings. Together we can discover meanings, recognise patterns, and explore options.
I specialize in providing therapy to students who are experiencing life transitions and/or have been impacted by serious illness and/or chronic illness in their lives. Therapy is focused on helping you as you adjust, cope and navigate your unique situation by providing support and guidance. I utilize a variety of modalities including, Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfullness, Grief Therapy and others to tailor each session to your needs.
I believe in the power of relationships. We show ourselves, and become ourselves, through our relationships with others. I seek to provide a safe space for collaborative exploration of your thoughts and feelings, including those that may have been pushed aside. By working together to give voice to your desires and fears, and develop non-judgmental awareness of your inner conflicts, you can learn how to give yourself what you need and build resilience. I am a Licensed Psychologist, primarily trained in psychodynamic and family systems practices. specialized in working with adults struggling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, traumatic experiences, and acculturation/identity issues. I am bilingual (English-Spanish) and bicultural, and have an interest in multicultural clients' needs. I individualize/tailor my therapeutic approach to meet the needs and goals of each client, because this should be about you. Whether you yearn for peace, love, authenticity, balance, or even if you do not know what is missing in your life, please contact me to learn more about how therapy can help you find it.
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.
Colin Cox is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has recently joined the Crooked Tree Counseling team after many years working with children, adolescents, and families in acute psychiatric, community, and school settings. He has worked with populations from young adults to geriatric as a Crisis Clinician with South Shore Mental Health and as a postdoc fellow at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute. In his practice, Colin uses an ecological framework to understand each individual's experience and works to develop treatment goals collaboratively that are strength based and aligned with the client's values. Colin has experience using varied approaches from dialectical behavior therapy to acceptance and commitment therapy and looks forward to joining clients on their journey to find comfort and meaning in their lives. He earned a Ph.D in School Psychology from Northeastern University and has completed clinical training in both Massachusetts and Utah.
Bret is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor working in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge, MA. Bret brings a history of working in diverse clinical settings to bear on the work he does with his clients. His range of experiences include in-patient psychiatric settings, partial hospitalization programs, college counseling centers, and the Massachusetts correctional system. He has worked with those seeking therapy for the first time, as well as folks who have experienced a lifetime of navigating the mental health system. Through each of those settings, one constant has remained in the work he has done, which is the conviction that healing only happens through the establishment of a meaningful and authentic therapeutic relationship. Bret’s eclectic history has enabled him to develop a rich and integrated approach to collaborating with the people he forms connections with in his work. In his private practice, Bret works with adults college-age and older. His abiding belief is that in his work he is not working with a diagnosis or a set of symptoms, but with a person with a unique set of complex challenges that have encouraged them to seek assistance from a caring professional. As such, he feels comfortable working with a broad spectrum of therapeutic concerns. However, given his work in corrections, Bret has developed a unique capacity to connect with those who may be skeptical of the therapeutic process or struggled to find success in other therapies. Additionally, Bret specializes in working with young men who have difficulty forming meaningful connections, finding effective ways to express their emotions, and managing impulsivity and aggression towards themself and others. Bret is currently available for in-person and online sessions
Are you an anxious over thinker navigating relationships or a new career? Are you a people pleaser or highly self critical? I'm Aisling, a licensed therapist specializing in supporting women and adolescents dealing with anxiety, navigating life transitions, and healing from trauma. I hope to provide a space to explore all of those challenges with compassion, sensitivity, and sometimes humor. I view this work as the most important thing I could possibly be doing and I hope each client leaves this space feeling hopeful about themselves and the world around them. I work with adolescents and women to navigate a spectrum of anxiety disorders. In particular, I know how debilitating high functioning anxiety and perfectionism can be. I offer a place to explore the root of the anxiety, people pleasing behaviors, and develop healthy coping skills. I want to empower clients and help them see their own strengths.
People make the decision to engage in therapy for a multitude of reasons, all of which are valid. Some people may be ambivalent about making changes in their lives, while others might feel eager and ready to start the process. Regardless of where you find yourself on that continuum, I am here to support you. Although my background has mainly been focused around eating and body image, I see clients who are experiencing a variety of concerns: relationship issues, anxiety/depression, life transitions, unhappiness, etc. Prior to private practice, I worked with undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard University Counseling and Mental Health Service, with a specialty in supporting student-athletes and individuals with eating and body image concerns. I have also worked in psychiatric inpatient programs as well as eating disorder treatment programs. My therapeutic style is integrative, which means that our work together will draw on various approaches determined by your concerns and goals. My hope is for us to build a trusting relationship that will allow for honest reflection, helpful challenge, and ultimately positive change so that you may be able to lead a more fulfilling life.
Welcome! I provide nutrition counseling from a relationship-based, trauma-informed, and Health At Every Size (HAES) lens. I specialize in working with college-aged students. Whether it’s tackling eating disorders, disordered eating, intuitive eating, chronic illness, or other nutrition challenges, I bring an inclusive and non-diet approach to help you find your balance.
I work from a relational-cultural, psychodynamic lens rooted in trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and liberation-centered therapeutic work. Within a trusting relationship, we will adapt our work to your needs, which may involve use of techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing, intersectional feminist therapy, narrative therapy, expressive arts therapy, and/or grief counseling. Mutuality is the essence of my work; in relationships between people, people and nature, and people and their socio-cultural-political landscape. Intentionally focused on de-pathologizing our human experiences, I work with adults navigating relational dynamics, anxiety/mood disorders, complex/interpersonal/institutional/systemic trauma, queer-trans and ethno-racial identity development, grief, transitions, immigration, body image, neurodivergence, chronic illness, and economic stressors, in context. I have worked extensively with survivors (aged 18-72) of gender-based violence in India and the US. Consensual resource-sharing, political education, therapeutic self-disclosure, seeking feedback, and reflecting on our interpersonal dynamics will be embedded within my therapeutic work, which will be adapted to your personal needs from one session to another.
We all want to be happy. More specifically, most people want to feel effective and confident, especially when it comes to relationships. We want to feel included, appreciated, and loved. Sometimes these things may seem out of reach, or you may be struggling with other challenges that leave you feeling stuck, discouraged, or helpless. Seeking support from someone with expertise relating to the human experience may be just what you need to feel more empowered and in control of your life. I am a clinical psychologist in private practice, providing behavioral health services to individuals, families, and groups in the Greater Boston area. My goal in a collaborative treatment is to work with you to identify areas of need and to utilize your unique strengths to develop, rediscover or refine ways of managing the obstacles that impede your growth. In a warm and caring environment, we will explore and expand your assets and skills to facilitate positive and adaptive change. Together we will cut the path that you choose toward a life that is increasingly meaningful and satisfying.
Calling all stressed-out, anxious Jewish college students! You’re figuring out who you are—while juggling exams, dating apps, and the gnawing feeling that the world is falling apart. Add in questions about your Jewish identity, complicated family dynamics, and maybe a roommate who thinks antisemitism ended in 1945—and it’s a lot. You don’t have to process it alone. Therapy can be a place to bring your spiraling thoughts, perfectionism, existential dread, and hope for the future. You deserve a life free from the constant grip of anxiety. My clients finish their sessions feeling more at peace, more centered, and less tense in their bodies. Through our work, they become less critical of themselves. They learn how to manage difficult emotions. They also feel a sense of belonging. You’ll learn how to set healthy boundaries and ask for what you need more easily. You can rediscover pleasure in intimacy with your partner and grow more confident in expressing your needs. Weekends will bring laughter again, and work will start to feel rewarding instead of draining. You’ll be able to focus on your goals and tackle that To-Do list without spiraling into panic or curling up on the couch. You can step into the present moment with calm, clarity, and confidence.
College can be an exciting time of growth, but it also brings unique pressures and challenges. Whether you’re navigating relationships, academic stress, identity questions, family dynamics, or the impact of trauma or loss, therapy can be a place to reflect, process, and move forward. I provide psychotherapy with a focus on resilience—helping you build on your strengths while exploring the experiences and emotions that may be holding you back. I also prescribe medications when appropriate, integrating therapy and medication to support your overall well-being. My approach is collaborative, warm, and grounded in humanistic and relational values. I’ve worked extensively with students and young adults, and I understand how transitional this stage of life can be. Therapy can help you understand yourself more deeply, cope with emotional challenges, and create meaningful change in your personal, academic, and professional life. My office is conveniently located just a short walk from the Red Line at Central Square, and easily accessible by bus. If you’re curious about starting therapy or wondering whether medication might be helpful, I’d be happy to talk with you about the next steps.
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 psychotherapy is primarily relational and psychodynamic, guided by the concept that healing and change happen in relationship. I aim to create a containing environment where we can be compassionately curious about how your past experiences inform your present. My work incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Liberation Health Model, and mindfulness-based interventions to help meet clients’ unique and wide-ranging needs. I provide a supportive, affirming space for clients’ diverse intersecting identities and experiences (e.g., race, immigration status, gender, sexuality). I provide psychotherapy to adults of all ages and have experience helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, identity exploration, life transitions, grief and loss, shame, trauma, and relational stressors. I also have expertise supporting clients through the challenges of college, graduate school, postgraduate life, and emerging adulthood. Before arriving at CAS, I completed a postgraduate fellowship in psychodynamic psychotherapy at Cambridge Health Alliance. I also worked in university, medical, and community-based mental health services in academic counseling, peer education, and clinical research.
Over the past more than 10 years of practice in psychotherapy, I am always amazed by people’s resilience, their longing and efforts for something better. I feel privileged to be part of their journey. While I have worked in a variety of clinical settings, including 5 university counseling centers, I have deeply enjoyed working with college students and young adults during an important transitional period in their lives. I approach therapy from a strength-based, humanistic perspective which integrate Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), interpersonal process, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Emotional focused Therapy and mindfulness. I was born and grew up in China. Living in two different cultures has its own challenges and rewards. I learned to appreciate the richness of human experiences and cultures, also practice therapy through a multicultural lens. I am bilingual, provide psychotherapy both in English and Mandarin.