Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA
Hi, my name is Jenny Rivillas-O'Neill. I am a firm believer in a multidimensional approach to care in order to achieve sustained wellness. My framework incorporates the understanding that we may all experience periods where life management skills alone are insufficient, and thoughtful medication supplementation can be therapeutic in achieving balance and wellness. Through direct care experience, my knowledge, motivation, and passion for assisting people seeking wellness have grown exponentially. My experience includes PMHNP Residency training in the VA Boston Healthcare System, Inpatient Nursing Director at BIDMC, and currently in the last year of a Doctoral program at Yale concentrating on adverse childhood and community experiences and finding pathways toward healing.
Fit is essential to good therapy. When the fit is right, therapy can become a practice space for navigating the complexity of relationships in everyday life. I value an open and collaborative approach so that together we can understand the challenges you face; those that are both in and outside of your conscious awareness. Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, questions of identity, work difficulties, relationship conflict, going through a life change, or dealing with family-related stress, I believe that together we can understand and address that which holds you back. The following clinicians work in my practice and are also listed with Thriving Campus: Joel Stanley, Mental Health Counselor, and Dr. Shirley Poyau. I specialize in the treatment of complex trauma, a condition resulting from early and repeated exposure to neglect and abuse on the part of caregivers. I strive to create a space with clients where safety, in the context of a therapeutic relationship, can be experienced in order to promote recovery. I bring an awareness of the body and its various forms of communication into treatment, while also listening for layered meanings contained in the spoken word. I integrate psychodynamic principles and body-based approaches into my work. Social justice, equity, and cultural issues also significantly guide my clinical approach.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I use psychotherapy and medications to help people with stress-related conditions. I am interested in not only alleviating symptoms but helping my clients understand the underlying causes that bring them into treatment. If we are able to connect in a way that you feel understood and I can see the world as if in your shoes, then progress has begun. As a prescriber, I try to consider all the concerns expressed by my clients and come up with a plan that feels safe and right. I provide a detailed assessment and really try to include my clients in the decision-making process. As a therapist, I try to create a safe place for my clients to explore their thoughts and express their feelings. I am interested in seeing and understanding the world and especially relationships from my client's point of view. As a relational therapist, I try to help my client communicate more effectively and participate more deeply in relationships. I am trained in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapies and work relationally with clients. I am also trained in mentalization-based (MBT), transference-focused (TFP), accelerated dynamic experiential psychotherapy (AEDP), and intensive short term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTP). Patients must be in therapy to be seen by me, either with an outside therapist or internally. Any new patient requests must use "scheduling@thoughtfulpsychiatry.com" for outreach.
Are you questioning your gender? Or just looking for a gender affirming therapist to process stress from the last few years (who wouldn't!)? Maybe you're noticing difficulty coping with anxiety, ADHD, depression, and difficult experiences. Feeling like it's a struggle getting your daily tasks done due to feeling overwhelmed, difficulty focusing, compulsive behaviors, and feeling unable to say no to others. Intimidated by how to even tackle the idea of making any identity related changes, or if even just speaking those words out loud feels ok. Let's figure out some concrete ways of working on these struggles! We can process what you've been through, work on healthier ways of coping, boundary setting, explore society's impact on self worth, and/or support you on your gender journey. I work from a gender affirming, neurodiversity affirming, ENM affirming, and intersectional lens. Feel free to reach out and see if I'm the right fit! Feel free to reach out and see if I'm the right fit! I provide telehealth therapy working with adolescent, young adult, and adult transgender, non-binary, questioning individuals and allies. Some of my identities include: cis-woman, white, neurodivergent, secular Jewish, with chronic pain, and significant personal life experience with the trans community.
I work with people dealing with depression, anxiety, academic and career issues, recovery from trauma/abuse or neglect, relationship conflicts, or identity/life transitions. My approach is collaborative, empathic, and interactive, creating an environment in which to help you better understand, relate to, and positively address ways in which you might feel stuck. I have specialized training in treating complex trauma. Though I draw from humanistic, psychodynamic, and DBT modalities, in essence my approach is integrative, person-centered, and strength-based. My training experiences include Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital and the Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute. I completed a post doctoral fellowship at the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health. Please feel free to email or call me with questions. I look forward to connecting with you. I am an out of network therapist, I am happy to help you or parent submit to your insurance for partial reimbursement.
Sara is an experienced practitioner offering individual therapy for adults and adolescents. She helps individuals understand how past experiences affect thinking and choices in the present. Her approach also offers skills to manage difficult emotions, increase flexibility and build balanced relationships so clients can move their lives in the direction they want. Treatment will prioritize the understanding that individual needs and experiences occur at the intersection of gendered, sexual, racial, class, ethnic, spiritual and ideological identities. The reality that every brain and body works differently is also centered in treatment.
My practice is dedicated to helping people develop their capacities for self-awareness, in order to overcome difficulties in their lives and to find greater fulfillment in relationships, work, and creative pursuits. My approach focuses on helping individuals gain insight into ways of relating to themselves and to others that lie outside of conscious awareness. Speaking with a uniquely attentive listener in a consistent, confidential setting helps to bring these aspects of experience into conscious awareness. With time, this process facilitates significant and meaningful change. I work with adults, adolescents, and children with a wide range of difficulties. I have expertise in working with talented individuals who find themselves stuck in unsatisfying patterns, and I have particular experience and interest in issues around creative inhibition and expression. I have experience working in outpatient, hospital, residential, school, community mental health, and day program settings, and have completed advanced clinical training in psychodynamic psychotherapy at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School.
Michel Selva, Psy.D. Is anxiety holding you back from pursuing your dreams and living a full life? Is depression pushing you deeper into your own "cocoon", isolated from family and friends? Do you often lose your temper? Are you struggling with substance abuse or compulsive behaviors (binge eating, gambling, video games, pornography)? I have successfully treated people with these problems. I take a collaborative approach to psychotherapy, checking in during each visit to make sure we are making progress toward your goals. In between visits, I use reading materials, experiential exercises, and a smart phone app to help you to stay on track. I use the tools of Behavior Therapy (ACT, ABA, CBT, REBT). Research has validated these methods for treatment of anxiety, mood disorders, and compulsive behaviors. My goal is to help you "Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life," which is the title of one of the workbooks I use with clients. As a long time practitioner of meditation, I have experienced its positive impact in my own life. I teach mindfulness practices individually and in groups. Mindfulness helps us to be fully aware and alive in the present moment, and to act effectively in pursuit of what is most important in our lives.
Approaching ourselves with curiosity and compassion is the best way to grow and heal. Therapy is an opportunity to examine the past, gain insight, explore identity, challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, improve relationships, and manage transitions. A good therapeutic relationship is collaborative and affirming: based on trust, respect, and acceptance. I welcome clients of all backgrounds, experiences, and orientations. My background is in psychodynamic psychotherapy. My work is informed by an attachment lens, parts work, and polyvagal theory. I am an EMDR Certified clinician.
Often, a significant source of suffering lies in thoughts and feelings that exist outside of our awareness and have not yet been able to find full expression. Psychotherapy offers the unusual opportunity to be listened to deeply and to learn to listen to ourselves in new ways. Exploring and developing insight into your inner life can lead to change—feeling better about yourself, shifting seemingly intractable patterns that have kept you stuck, and developing a greater sense of agency and fulfillment in your life. My practice provides a safe setting in which this exploration can unfold. I'll work collaboratively with you to help you make sense of distressing feelings and thoughts, gain insight into your experiences, and develop a more authentic relationship to yourself and to the world. I have advanced training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, and my work is influenced by psychoanalytic and trauma-informed approaches. I see adults and specialize in a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, complex trauma, and relationship difficulties. You can read more about my practice on Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/795370
As a therapist, I aim to be as authentic, supportive, and direct as possible; helping you to work on the obstacles standing in the way of reaching your goals. Sometimes this simply means experiencing an accepting and validating environment otherwise unavailable. Alternatively, this may consist of having an emotionally safe space to communicate with your partner or family. My approach depends on your goals for our work together and what degree of challenge you feel ready for. Conflict or connection, I am here to support you. Feedback I've received from clients typically includes comments along the lines of, "You aren't the type of therapist who just sits back and listens for an hour, but who gets me to consider things I hadn't thought of, helped me to figure myself out- what I really want, need, and how to deal". I truly enjoy helping my clients to gain a better understanding of themselves, identifying and building their strengths, and supporting them through difficult times. You may perceive an upsetting event as a minute issue or a monstrous crisis based on how others view it. My perspective however, rests on the impact and significance an experience holds for you. Life is challenging, especially when you are attempting to juggle school, work, relationships and unexpected life events. Reach out. A simple talk will help you determine if I can be of support.
Couples & Family therapy: in-person or video DialogicSpace.com
Measured Wellness is an evidence-based, outcomes-driven outpatient psychiatry clinic, staffed by Harvard-trained clinicians, offering Spravato (intranasal esketamine) and intramuscular ketamine injections for those who suffer with depression that has not responded to traditional antidepressants. The clinic was founded, and is currently run, by Dr. Brian W. Boyle, faculty in the McLean Hospital Neurotherapeutics Department and graduate of the MGH/McLean psychiatry residency program. Care begins with a thoughtful consultation to assess candidacy for these treatments.
Off-Campus Clinicians is a group of highly trained doctoral-level psychologists who work closely with college and graduate students across Massachusetts (in-person sessions available in Cambridge, Watertown) and NYS (Telehealth only). We love our work, and we love working with students. We believe that real progress starts with an honest, trusting relationship, a space where you can speak openly, think out loud, and feel understood without being judged. Students often tell us they value our reliability and consistency. We show up, we stay engaged, and we bring a lot of experience working with young adults navigating the pressure, uncertainty, and growth that come with this stage of life - academically, emotionally, and relationally. We tend to work especially well with students who are thoughtful about themselves and curious about their own minds, people who want more than quick advice and are motivated to understand both what’s going on beneath the surface and how to take the needed accountability that helps life go in better, more desirable directions. If you’re looking for serious, supportive conversation with someone trained to help you make sense of your experience, please contact us.
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.
As an Attachment based EMDR Certified Therapist I work well with high achieving young adults who feel unsatisfied in their relationships and struggle with health challenges.
Guiding You to Understand the Foundation of Your Life Like physical health and fitness, each human being is living at a level of mental health and fitness. The level of mental health a person is able to live in regardless demographics including age is unlimited. The greater the level of mental health cultivated inside, the more natural it is to experience resilience, presence, connection, clarity, love, peace, respect, trust, inside regardless the live event. Nature designed our operating system inside: "We are built to heal, love, respect, connect, resolve, be prosperous in right ways, optimal ways...when we cultivate next levels of mental health...self-awareness...psychological fitness inside." Cultivating greater levels of mental health inside becomes choosing, understanding, responding from, for example, innate wisdom in live time, an ultimate, yet essential psychological capability inside. It has often been dismissed, ignored or dormant due to a lower level of psychological awareness inside: that it exists inside, what it is, how to access it and why to access it. It is also upgrading essential awareness inside with navigating: relationships, biological health challenges, sudden unexpected and expected life transitions such as death of a loved one, divorce or marriage, moods, finances and career challenges. Finally, it is healing the source of trauma inside and upgrading awareness with work performance, academic performance, mistakes and set-backs. I also have a great deal of knowledge about the Mind-Body connection pertaining to mental health based on leading-edge facts. Currently, mental health services are provided through Telehealth. When participating in Telehealth services, please have a physical space which allows for privacy consistently throughout an appointment. Please visit mindthoughtconsciousness.com. Read pages, watch videos and listen to your gut to discern whether this counseling approach is the right approach for your mental health counseling. Wishing you the best with completing next steps to cultivate and experience greater levels of mental health inside.
Welcome! As a therapist, I strive to provide a safe space for clients to feel empowered, valued and respected while they engage in therapeutic exploration and reflection. I approach therapy with a person-centered and strengths-based lens, meaning regardless of age, I meet you where you are at in your therapy journey with compassion, authenticity and humor. I am dedicated to supporting you in your most vulnerable and challenging times while celebrating your inherent resiliency as well.