Therapists for college students near Boston, MA

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.

Welcome! Working with a diverse population for many years widen my appreciation toward everyone I encounter in the therapy room. My new clients often ask me, “What is your approach or therapy model?” Learning from years valuable experience, I do not take a blueprint or “one-size-fits-all” approach for clients. Every client has an individualized curriculum. You may be feeling distressed, facing difficulties in your personal or professional relationships, contemplating a major life transition, or navigating a health crisis. No matter what challenge brings, I will help you in resolving conflicts and strengthening your relationships. I will explore your options in a collaborative way while taking into consideration the hopes, expectations, values, and preferences that are significant to you. Using clinical sophistication and expertise I incorporate humility, kindness, and passion to create a caring environment. My life experience encompasses living in the Eastern hemisphere and Western hemisphere; also working in East coast and West coast of the U.S. It enriches me to carefully examine things in different angles and not “boxing people in” with narrowly defined categories. I also provide supervision for all learning stages. I look forward to meeting you!

I look forward to working with students who are motivated to feel -- and live -- better, whether from depression, anxiety, attention difficulties or adjustment challenges.

Currently offering in-person and virtual sessions for clients in Massachusetts and virtual-only sessions for clients in New York. As a dedicated therapist specializing in complex trauma and identity development, I am committed to creating a culturally sensitive, collaborative, non-judgmental, and engaging therapeutic space for my clients. Utilizing IFS and other trauma-focused modalities, I believe every individual possesses the innate potential to heal from their deepest wounds. Whether you face issues with boundaries, repeat behavior patterns, or have experienced complex PTSD or relational trauma, I am here to support your journey toward healing. In our work together, I will create a compassionate space to explore parts of yourself that carry shame or may have been dismissed or invalidated. I am attuned to your emotional needs and skilled in asking thoughtful questions that deepen your self-understanding. My goal is to help you lead an integrated life with courage, confidence, and clarity. Clients describe therapy with me as “deeply impactful,” with lasting benefits. I believe in everyone’s capacity to heal, even when the path seems unclear. Embarking on this journey of self-discovery can bring profound changes in how you connect with yourself, in relationships, and with the world around you. Take the first step and embrace the growth ahead.

I actively engage with my clients to help them identify and articulate their distress. We work together to discover the counter-productive behaviors and thought patterns leading to this distress. We then work together again on challenging and changing those thoughts and actions. You can expect a therapy experience that is engaged, solution focused, and interactive.

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.

Many people come to therapy when they find themselves stuck repeating old patterns in relationships, work/school, or how they treat themselves. I'm a clinical psychologist with over 17 years of experience in helping people understand themselves more deeply so that change becomes possible. I approach people with a warm, collaborative, and exploratory style. If you're wanting to make sense of what's holding you back and move toward a more authentic, connected life, I can help. I welcome people of all identities and practice gender-affirming care. I use a psychodynamic approach that focuses on thoughts, feelings, and reactions that come up in your life and in our sessions. These moments often connect to deeper issues that we can then explore. I add cognitive-behavioral tools when helpful. Reaching out for therapy can feel vulnerable, and it's important to find a therapist you feel comfortable with. In our first sessions I offer an open space in which you can speak freely and we can get to know each other. If you're unsure whether we're a good fit, I'm happy to talk over phone or email about what you're looking for. I specialize in: • Anxiety and mood disorders • Relationship and interpersonal difficulties • Identity development and LGBTQ+ concerns • Life transitions • Young adults/adults seeking ongoing psychotherapy

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I have spent the past five years in clinical practice supporting individuals who feel stuck or are navigating major life transitions, including college students facing academic, relational, and personal challenges. My approach is mindful and person-centered, with an emphasis on meeting you where you are. I strive to create a space where you can express yourself freely and feel understood.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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.

Marisa Anderson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has recently started work at Crooked Tree after many years of experience working with adolescents and adults in outpatient agencies within the Boston area. In her work with clients, Marisa incorporates both strength-based and cognitive behavioral therapies to help facilitate and support a better sense of self, healthy relationships, and stress management skills. Currently, Marisa also works as a school clinician at Beacon High School in Watertown. Marisa received her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University.

As of summer 2024, I am accepting new clients! Do you struggle with feeling a sense of belonging? Do you feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges and periods of change? I support individuals who are struggling to find themselves and feel happy in their life. I strive to bring a creative and fresh point of view to counseling and truly value the importance of understanding my clients to make an impact in their lives. My experience includes working with patients dealing with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and mild OCD. As a South Asian clinician, I believe in the importance of providing culturally sensitive evidence-based care to clients. I am an out-of-network provider and can provide superbills for those seeking reimbursement from insurance. The fastest way to reach me is via email.

OptiMindHealth (OMH) professionals are dedicated mental health specialists committed to providing skilled consultation and holistic treatment services for those struggling with ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, personality disorders, relationship conflicts, and work-related challenges. We offer both general counseling and specialty medication management services at our practice that are designed to address a variety of conditions and needs for our patients. OMH is dedicated to helping people live balanced, happy, and productive lives. Our comprehensive approach to mental health services recognizes the unique complexities of every individual, then employs a tailored array of the best therapies, strategies, and tools to efficiently and effectively restore healthy living. We are here to help you regain the balance and hope you need to be well, for life. Please take 5-minutes to complete our online appointment request form by following the link below: https://www.optimindhealth.com/appointments/

I received my bachelor’s degree with honors from Brown University and my master’s degree from Boston College. I acquired my clinical training at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School’s largest psychiatric affiliate, on an inpatient unit in the division of Anxiety & Mood Disorders. I also trained at the OCD Institute, the nation’s first and foremost treatment center for obsessive-compulsive disorder. I specialize in treating OCD, anxiety, and self-doubt. I have a particular focus on “Pure O,” which are obsessions without visible compulsions. Often these include obsessional doubts about taboo topics such as sexuality, violence, morality, identity, and health. When my clients first come to see me, they are stuck in a swamp of anxiety and endless fears of “what if.” They are exhausted from trying to escape the discomfort of their thoughts and keep their emotions at bay. For so long, avoiding and withdrawing has seemed like the easiest path to take, but it has also meant missing out on parts of life. They wish things could be different—that they could get out of their heads, stop worrying, and be more fully connected to themselves and others—but facing fears and making changes feels so daunting. I am one of the few clinicians in the country trained by the creator of Inference-based Therapy (IBT or I-CBT), an evidence-based therapy for OCD that addresses self-doubt and learning to trust yourself instead of having to resort to researching, reassurance-seeking, ruminating, or avoiding. You can be free of the exhaustion that comes from all the obsessing and avoiding. In our work together, you will develop new ways of thinking, feeling, and being in relationships so that you are no longer at the mercy of self-doubt and intrusive thoughts. You will learn how to trust yourself and step into your strength so you can show up fully to your own life.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Beginning therapy is a brave act of self-care, and working with an effective clinician can provide you the support you deserve in bringing about powerful changes in your life and relationships. I believe you have the skills and strengths necessary to overcome the obstacles you face and I cannot wait to join you on the journey. I am passionate about my work with adults navigating life transitions and exploring what they need to live as their most authentic selves. I specialize in burnout and the impact of past trauma on current relationships. I have experience working with survivors of sexual and family violence as well as those struggling with anxiety and attachment issues. I believe in culturally-competent and trauma-informed care and utilized an eclectic therapeutic approach with a focus on Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Relational Therapy. Fostering an inclusive and affirming environment for all of my clients, I work collaboratively with you to develop evidenced-based treatment plans that validate your lived experiences and encourages growth. Therapy can be daunting to start, but it can also be such a freeing experience. I will follow your lead as we will move through sessions together.

It’s far from easy, being in your late teens or early 20s. All eyes are on you, it would seem, as you feel like you’re expected to choose a career, form essential relationships and launch an “adult life”. You are leaving the original support of childhood, and your primary task is to gain life experience in order to know who you are and where you want to go. Yet college students feel burdened with the expectation to choose majors, excel academically and socially, and then to seamlessly emerge into the world of work with confidence and clarity. It’s no wonder young adults feel so much internal confusion around identity and their best path forward. In order to know who we are, we first have to have permission not to know. Social media and the accompanying social comparison, intense competition around college acceptance and then the job market all create an atmosphere that fosters self-critical perfectionism as opposed to self-acceptance and discovery. We help college students address common struggles during this life stage such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, body image issues, family of origin issues, identity development, sexuality and relationships, trauma, and spirituality. Every person is different. That's why our clinicians are trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, EMDR, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. 1A Wellness is an integrative practice, whereby clinicians have multiple specialties to choose from when working with clients. At 1A Wellness, we are driven to provide exceptional therapy so that clients can transform their lives. Our clinicians understand how to heal pain and how to help clients move forward so that they can make enduring changes and live fuller lives. We cannot change the past. But by investing in therapy, clients can reclaim their lives and change the future. This is our mission.

Sandstone Counseling works with adolescents and adults navigating perfectionism, relationship stress, and performance pressure — especially when things look “fine” on the outside. We specialize in challenges with disordered eating, relationships, and anxiety. You’re sick of constantly thinking about your body, what you ate today, your workout, whether that new coworker actually likes you, if you’ll ever find the right partner…the list is never-ending. Therapy can help you understand these patterns and decide how you want to respond — rather than feeling controlled by them. We work with folks (16+) of all genders to slow down, build more flexibility, and make choices that move them closer to their goals.