Therapists for college students near Boston, MA
I believe that my clients would say that my style of relating is supportive, compassionately challenging and fosters understanding and healing. I strive to create a safe and supportive environment where we focus on process, growth and self-awareness. I work with adults and adolescents on issues related to healing trauma, family dynamics, relational issues, sexual health and wellbeing, stressors due to major life changes and navigating life’s array of challenges and general feelings of, “I’m just not feeling like myself lately.”
I grew up in China and have traveled across Europe and the U.S.! I hold a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis and a Master's degree in Social Science in Gender Studies from London School of Economics and Political Science. I am currently a candidate of PsyaD. I am a licensed mental health counselor and can accept insurance or private pay. Feel free to email or text if you'd like to connect! I create a safe and nonjudgmental space for our work together. In that space, you can expect me to be curious, compassionate, and collaborative. I will ask questions to understand you and your experience better. I will treat you and your story with respect, kindness, and empathy. I will seek your input as we work together to accomplish your therapy goals. I would want to feel your pain and your world with you. By being emotionally attuned to your experience and utilizing intellectually and emotionally engaged facilitations, you will feel your problems resolved in a deep way.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Therapy is about seeking balance and asking questions and looking for answers. Finding a balance between what we feel and what we know and a balance between the quicker emotional side of our mind and the more considered rational side are part of the process. Whether the questions are around school, interpersonal relationships, substance abuse, or career and motivation the answers will come only with this balance. My approach to therapy is about solving problems based on a relational and collaborative approach offering a supportive and sympathetic ear balanced with reality and solutions. With nearly 25 years of experience in the field I bring a diverse background giving me strong clinical skills in the areas of substance abuse, depression, anxiety, career and family issues. Life is a series of experiments, some good some not so good. Therapy is a way to sort out the good from the bad and, giving yourself credit for what you know and can do and putting it to work for a better tomorrow I invite you to give me a call at 617-524-1220 To protect your privacy my phone is a confidential landline which does NOT accept text messages
Psychiatry & psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults in the heart of Boston provided by Harvard-trained psychiatrists committed to inclusive care. We use an identity-affirming, culturally responsive model grounded in psychoanalytic depth and evidence-based practice. We respect each person’s identity, culture, and family context, with careful attention to safety and belonging in the therapy room. We use gender-inclusive intake forms, ask and honor pronouns, and respect chosen names. Our clinicians are committed to understanding the impact of stigma, minority stress, and intersectionality on mental health.
I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with over 5 years of experience in inpatient and outpatient services. I received holistic training and earned my Clinical Mental Health Counseling Masters at Lesley University, Cambridge. I provide client-centered, individual therapy, a humanistic approach. Students and clients may be in need of support to address the following: decrease stress and anxiety, increase access to self-expression, learn self-regulation skills, improve sleep, learn boundary-setting skills, or address difficulties with functioning in any life domain. I work to facilitate self-exploration, integration, and healing of the emotions and the mind, which affect the body and energy levels. My practice is via telehealth.
I am experienced in working with adults that are dealing with anxiety, low self-esteem, interpersonal relationship issues, and life transitional stress. I believe that everyone has the strength to dig deeper into their psyche and understand themselves better. I recognize how different environmental factors can induce feelings of loneliness, and I can help provide a space that feels open, non-judgmental, and safe for all kinds of expression. My approach to therapy is relational, collaborative, and goal-oriented. I integrate various behavioral and mindfulness based interventions in my practice, tailoring my style to best meet my clients’ needs. Through humor and introspective conversations, I believe in building a genuine connection that propels healing and growth. As an immigrant and a woman of color, I recognize that mental health stigma can limit asking for help. I ensure a culturally competent lens and hope we can work together on this journey of finding that inner strength and wisdom.
Gaia Zanna is an International, Bilingual Licensed Mental Health Psychotherapist & a Certified Clinical Supervisor, MCCS, in downtown Boston and South Natick. Originally from Bologna, Italy, Gaia has a deep understanding of different cultural backgrounds and the emotional complexity of adjusting to a new country. As a bilingual clinician, she offers sessions in English and Italian. Gaia specializes in anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family issues, infertility, loss, trauma, cultural and international adjustment. She uses a range of therapeutic eclectic approaches depending on the client's needs, including CBT, psychodynamic, cultural psychoanalysis, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, supportive therapy, DBT, IFS and narrative therapy. She is certified in the Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) technique, a trauma recovery therapy approach that focuses on helping clients release trauma from the body. She works on empowering women in different aspects of life and its challenges regarding relationships, fertility, loss, divorce, self-esteem, gender, identity, trauma, and work environment. Gaia received her Master Degree from the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis and completed her fellowship training in child and family psychology at the Boston Institute of Psychotherapy. She is currently completing her Doctoral dissertation in the Department of Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society Program at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. She strives to create a sensitive, warm, empathetic, nonjudgmental, inclusive and respectful space for all of her clients. Sometimes it is difficult and scary to make sense of feelings, learning how to manage them, and being able to find healthy ways to cope while creating and fostering self-awareness. Therapy is a safe space and a confidential grounding process that through time, consistency and working together will allow you to identify and develop a healthy voice to express thoughts and feelings. I strive to help clients understand their emotional conflicts, behavioral repetitions, and their inner-self by empathetically assisting them in working through emotional difficulties and life struggles. Feeling empowered in being proactive about our health and understanding the steps towards change is a powerful and vital process to feel seen and heard.
I work best with students and young adults who feel stuck in cycles of anxiety, OCD, perfectionism, or self-doubt. You may be doing well on the outside while feeling overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts, pressure to get things “right,” uncertainty about the future, or the expectations of school, relationships, and life. Therapy with me is a space to slow down, feel understood, and make sense of what you're experiencing without judgment. Together, we'll build practical tools to face fears, trust yourself, and move toward the life you want!
Do you feel overwhelmed when facing life's obstacles? Have you tried to find ways to help yourself, but things have not improved, no matter what you do? Therapy can help you find new ways of dealing with life's challenges that have become too much to handle alone. Every person has a reservoir of strength inside. Through compassionate, supportive therapy, you can connect to your strengths to develop new ways of dealing with problems and complicated feelings, relationships, and transitions. I work with clients to understand the causes of their pain and difficulties. I offer different approaches to developing an effective strategy for internal and external struggles. I combine concrete skills for managing daily stressors with a process of self-understanding to achieve more profound long-term change. I am a licensed clinical social worker with extensive training in trauma-focused therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and internal family systems (IFS). I also use EMDR modality for some specific processing work. I have experience in providing therapy to people from diverse backgrounds - race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and more.
As an associate psychotherapist at Soultality Center for Psychotherapy, I primarily work with adolescents and adults struggling with OCD, anxiety, and complex trauma. I also have experience supporting clients with depression, relationship issues, identity exploration, and chronic suicidality.
Depth. Strategy. Lasting Change. I provide therapy and coaching for deep thinkers navigating executive function, overwhelm, or relational patterns that no longer serve them.
My style is warm, empowering, and deeply collaborative. I work from the understanding that the therapeutic relationship itself is a powerful vehicle for healing, built on fostering genuine compassion and unconditional positive regard. I use an integrative approach tailored to clients’ unique needs, drawing from psychodynamic, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). My work is trauma-informed, integrating mindfulness, Liberation Health, and anti-oppressive frameworks, while emphasizing awareness and somatic experience. I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, identity concerns, relationship and family dynamics, and college adjustment. I specialize in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and individuals navigating chronic illness. I offer an affirming space for diverse identities and relationship dynamics. In addition to a Master of Social Work, I have a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies and a background as a health and wellness/biology teacher, which provides me with a unique understanding of the challenges students encounter in educational environments.
My therapeutic approach centers on developing agency, working through uncertainty, and attending to how identity and context shape experience. I work from a psychodynamic relational framework, integrating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. My treatment approach focuses on patterns in thoughts, relationships, and decision-making, with the goal of achieving a deeper self-understanding alongside symptom relief. I use what emerges in the therapeutic relationship, including discomfort, as meaningful data, while balancing structure and exploration to support both insight and practical change. I work with adults of all ages navigating mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder), anxiety, identity conflict, persistent relational patterns, life transitions, college adjustment, high internal pressure, and insomnia. I also have expertise working with individuals from immigrant families and clients navigating bicultural identities. I am an Asian American clinician with Korean heritage and consider how race, culture, identity, and background shape experience and the therapeutic relationship. I trained at Penn Outpatient Psychiatry, working with diverse adult populations across levels of acuity in a hospital-based, trauma-informed, relational, and psychodynamic setting.
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.
Starting therapy can feel like a nerve-wracking process. To ease this, I prioritize developing a genuine connection so that you can feel seen, heard, and valued in session. I believe that therapy is not a "one size fits all" practice. We all have different personalities, different histories, and different needs. My eclectic style as a therapist draws upon multiple therapeutic approaches and theories to better tailor treatment to you and your individuality. If you are interested in therapy centered on compassion, connection, humor, and authenticity- I am here to help!
Health Psychology Associates, a distinctive female-owned boutique private group practice, is nestled in the heart of Boston's historic Back Bay. Our mission is clear: We help ambitious individuals realize their full potential, lead fulfilling lives, and improve their work, love, and play through the transformative power of therapy. With a focus on high-stress careers, we cater to a diverse clientele, ranging from students to seasoned executives across various fields and disciplines. Our dedication is unparalleled—we view therapy as a catalyst for profound transformation. We're not just therapists but committed partners in your well-being, guiding you toward growth, change, and resilience. Because fundamentally, we believe that peace of mind is the cornerstone of good health.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.