Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA

Psychotherapy offers more than just healing -- it can help us discover new & forgotten strengths, fortify our relationships with ourselves & others, and build satisfying lives. I believe that a trusting and collaborative relationship is at the root of all meaningful work. To that end, I strive to create a warm, non-judgmental and safe space in therapy that facilitates effective partnership between us. We will work together to help you find emotional relief, access your authentic self, cultivate meaningful & healthy relationships and to be an effective advocate for yourself. I have worked with teenagers, adults and families, helping them overcome depression, anxiety & relational conflict, process grief & loss, manage trauma sequelae, grapple with issues of gender & sexuality, deal with challenges related to acculturation as well as life transitions. I offer support and understanding to people from all cultural backgrounds. My clinical approach is eclectic and rooted in several therapeutic approaches, including psychodynamic, mindfulness-based, trauma-informed, DBT and IFS. I believe therapy is a collaborative process, and so, together we will find the techniques most suitable for you. To accommodate busy schedules, I offer weekend times. I also offer services in Hindi.

Therapy provides a space for you to process difficult feelings and situations. As a therapist, I help patients explore new ways of engaging with the world and with themselves. My goal is for patients to translate insights and skills into noticeable changes in their lives. My style balances pragmatism, humor, compassion, and curiosity. I treat a range of concerns, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, alcohol/substance use, relationship concerns, and life transitions. I draw on a range of theoretical approaches, emphasizing rootedness in the present moment and interpersonal connection.

The students I work best with often share common experiences and needs. Many of them are facing the pressures of academic demands, juggling coursework, exams, and deadlines while also trying to balance personal responsibilities and relationships. They may be experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety, or overwhelm as they navigate transitions, uncertainties, and expectations. What sets my practice apart is my genuine commitment to creating a safe and supportive space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and concerns without judgment. I understand that seeking help can feel daunting, so I strive to foster a warm and welcoming environment where you feel heard, valued, and understood. Whether you're struggling with academic stress, relationship issues, self-doubt, or anything in between, I'm here to support you every step of the way. Together, we'll work collaboratively to identify your goals, explore your strengths, and develop personalized strategies to help you thrive in all areas of your life. If you're ready to take the first step toward a happier, healthier you, I invite you to reach out. Let's embark on this journey of self-discovery and growth together. You don't have to face your challenges alone—I'm here to help you every step of the way.

I am an experienced psychologist who works well with undergraduate and graduate students. Together we can create a road map for how you would want to more fully live your live. I can help with anxiety, mood, self-esteem and attentional issues. I am particularly interested in working with students who are first generation college students and/or students who are from diverse backgrounds. I collaborate with other providers if requested so you get the best possible care.

I am a culturally sensitive mental health counselor with long years of college teaching experience. I have been working with international students and immigrant families for 12 years in culturally diverse communities. My clients and colleagues describe me as a warm, intuitive, creative and culturally sensitive professional with a good sense of humor. I have been approaching my students and clients as storytellers and feeling fortunate to be part of their narratives. I love helping young adults to cope with social, emotional, psychological and academic issues and supporting them to gain control and feel happy within their lives.

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.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I believe therapy is most meaningful when it feels deeply human, collaborative, and emotionally honest. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable, and deeply insightful, yet still find themselves caught in recurring patterns of anxiety, self-criticism, overwhelm, or disconnection from themselves. My approach is grounded in relational, psychodynamic, and somatic perspectives, with attention to the ways past experiences continue to shape our emotions, relationships, and sense of self. Together, we explore not only what you are feeling, but the patterns and protections that may once have helped you cope. I view therapy as an active relationship — one where we can slow down, stay curious, and make space for parts of your experience that may feel difficult to name or understand. My style is warm, engaged, and collaborative, while also helping clients deepen insight and reconnect with themselves more fully. I often work with concerns related to anxiety, trauma, perfectionism, identity development, life transitions, and relationship difficulties. Above all, I strive to create a space where you feel genuinely seen — not rushed, judged, or dismissed. I believe meaningful and lasting change emerges through the safety of a real therapeutic relationship.

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.

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.

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.

My aim as a therapist is to help clients resolve the problem they are experiencing in their lives. I offer a safe environment for clients to express themselves, gain a sense mastery and autonomy through talking and increasing strategies and skills to better cope and thrive in life. My clinical approach is to tailor care to clients’ individual needs- integrating an array of approaches and training experience such as insight-oriented methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, trauma informed treatment, mindfulness-based care, and addiction and substance use disorders treatment. My education includes a Master’s in social work (MSW) from Rutgers University( with Minor in Alcohol Studies) and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts (BA) from the University of New Hampshire( English Literature/Minor in Psychology.) My professional experience includes university counseling, NIAAA/NIDA research studies, community mental health, hospital based social work, clinical director of inpatient /outpatient program, employee assistance. Clients describe me as a good listener, empathetic, compassionate, a good sense of humor and a firm believer in change. Please note II do not take referrals from students who are currently enrolled at Harvard University as I am also working in CAMHS.

We don’t like uncertainty. It is tempting to grasp for the certainty of “everything is doomed” or “everything will be ok.” But a part of us remains unconvinced. It is hard to face the truth: I don’t know what is coming, only that my experience will keep changing and eventually end. There are many aspects of our experience that are hard to face. We aren’t meant to do this alone. I partner with my clients to walk together into this wilderness. I offer a kind, curious, nonjudgmental attention, with the intent of helping my clients to sort through thoughts, judgements, reactions, behaviors, and felt experience, so they can learn to care more skillfully for the parts of their experience that are outside of their control and to take decisive action in the areas of their life where they have agency. Over time, this relational practice builds solidity. It loosens the tight grip on “everything is doomed” or “everything will be ok,” and opens up “it will keep changing, and eventually end, and I trust in my capacity to feel and care for my experience, no matter what comes.”

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.

I work with college students who are adjusting to the transition and stressors of academic life. I enjoy working with college students who need support around balancing academic and athletics. I also work with students who are dealing with family and relationship (friendship or romantic) conflict.

Kailey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Sciences and a Master’s Degree in Social Work, both from the University of Connecticut. Kailey is a warm, easygoing therapist who believes that therapy should feel like a safe space—a place where you can show up as yourself, no masks, no judgment, just real, honest conversation. She understands that life can feel overwhelming at times, but with the right support, believes everyone has the ability to grow, heal, and move forward in a way that feels right for them. Kailey’s approach is all about making therapy feel approachable and down-to-earth. She is not here to give you a bunch of jargon or leave you feeling more confused. Instead, she meets you where you’re at, listens to your unique story, and works with you to create meaningful change in a way that fits your life. Her therapeutic areas of focus include interpersonal dynamics, relationships, life transitions, anxiety, body image, self-esteem, and women’s issues. She utilizes an integrative, humanistic approach to therapy, including elements of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), psychodynamic theory, attachment theory and mindfulness. Though Kailey currently resides in Northern Virginia, she was born and raised in Connecticut and is a true New Englander at heart. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, playing the fife and trumpet, watching UConn sports, and visiting local coffee shops. Kailey is also an advocate for human rights and social justice.

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.

College and graduate school can bring both exciting opportunities and overwhelming challenges. Whether you’re starting a new program and adjusting to multiple life transitions, navigating a new or ongoing ADHD diagnosis, managing stress, or working through relationship struggles, I aim to help provide a safe and supportive space to cultivate more clarity and resilience. As a therapist, I believe you are the expert of your own experience. My role is to collaborate with you, honoring your strengths while offering curiosity, compassion, and evidence-based tools. I provide a reflective space where you can explore challenges and gain insight, balanced with practical, solution-focused strategies you can use between sessions. My approach is strengths-based and growth-oriented—I aim to highlight what’s already working for you while supporting the changes you want to make. I know reaching out for therapy can feel like a lot, especially when you’re already juggling so much! I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to help see if we could be a good fit. You don’t have to figure this all out alone. I’d be honored to be a partner in your journey as you move toward a more balanced, intentional, and fulfilling future.

About Me / Specialties I am a licensed psychologist specializing in treating adolescents and young adults with OCD, anxiety (including social anxiety, panic, phobias, and generalized anxiety), and related conditions such as body dysmorphic disorder, trichotillomania, tics, and excoriation disorder. I provide evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I see clients in-person in Cambridge, MA and virtually throughout Massachusetts and Texas. I also work with parents, offering coaching to help support their teen or young adult while reducing family accommodations. My goal is to create a compassionate, collaborative space where we take mental health seriously—but not ourselves too seriously. A little humor can go a long way in therapy! Treatment Approach I tailor treatment to each individual, often addressing co-occurring concerns like depression, eating issues, or trauma alongside anxiety or OCD. Using ERP, CBT, ACT, and DBT strategies, I help students manage symptoms, regulate emotions, and make meaningful, lasting changes—all in a supportive and approachable way. Training & Experience I earned my PhD from the University of Virginia, completed my clinical internship at Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for OCD and Related Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where I currently see therapy patients and conduct research on OCD spectrum disorders.