Therapists for college students near Boston College

Brighter Life Therapy supports teenagers, young adults, and adults. Many of the clients at Brighter Life Therapy seek therapy because they feel overwhelmed but are too exhausted to make changes in their lives. They feel motivated to break unhealthy habits but aren’t sure where to start. Their mental health impacts their physical health, leading to headaches or insomnia. This can be from mental health conditions depression or anxiety, or intense feelings of frustration, anger, or sadness. The therapists at Brighter Life Therapy help our clients find a pathway forward. They tailor their treatment plans to address individualized needs, meaning sessions are flexible and led by the client. Therapy at Brighter Life Therapy takes a holistic approach, which means that sessions address healing in the mind, body, and spirit. Therapists offer evidence-based therapy modalities and incorporate mindfulness practices to help clients learn how to ground themselves and grow their self-awareness. At Brighter Life Therapy, clients benefit from the years of experience held by each one of the therapists. Therapists are dedicated to helping their clients improve towards their goals, and they bring a warm sense of empathy into each conversation.

Life can be challenging at times and cause us to feel stuck, unhappy, and overwhelmed. We sometimes may feel confused and discouraged on how to improve our lives. In the midst of these difficult periods, we may benefit from having a supportive space to explore what makes us unhappy, challenge ourselves, gain insight, learn new skills, and explore new ways of being. I am happy to meet with you to figure out if I can be the person who can support you in this journey. I follow an integrative, relational, psychodynamic approach, incorporating cognitive-behavioral, systemic, multicultural/feminist, and experiential concepts. I strive to provide a safe, respectful, and empowering space to my clients to help them overcome their barriers to experience life in more fulfilling ways. I am certified in treatment of complex trauma. Please feel free to reach out to me for the opportunity to chat on the phone for 10-15 minutes before we meet to determine if we are a good match.

Life is full of uncertainty, changes, losses, gains, and growth. Some are expected, some are not. Therapy can help you give voice to your own narratives, make sense of experiences, better understand and embrace who you are, and empower yourself for meaningful changes. This is a journey to enhance relationship with self and others, to extend the sense of safety and belonging, to know the art of accepting and forgiving, to be in touch with resiliency, to move toward self-compassion, and to have the courage of fully being and thriving. Being bilingual, I do therapy in English and Mandarin, with specialties in cross cultural adjustment, identity development, interpersonal relationships, family issues, grief and loss. I enjoy helping individuals who are going through life transitions and needing help and support on battling self critic, experiencing marginalization, and being a POC in a PWI. Therapeutic relationship is dear to my heart. I approach therapy with respect, curiosity, empathy, thoughtfulness, and collaboration. My style is warm, relational, strength based, integrative with multicultural lens and mindfulness approach. If you are interested in learning more about my practice, or have any questions to me, please contact me by phone or email.

Hello, I’m Ruolin Xie, an outpatient therapist at Orange Door Collaborative. Since earning my Master’s degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis in 2016, I have provided psychotherapy and clinical support to individuals and families of diverse ages and cultural backgrounds. My clinical specialties include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), grief and loss, LGBTQ+ concerns, interpersonal and relational challenges, parenting stress, and cultural adjustment issues. In my practice, I strive to create an affirming, empowering, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, strength-based, and client-centered therapeutic space. I dedicate myself to bringing both compassionate presence and active collaboration, offering skill-building where appropriate, while actively listening to each person’s unique experiences. My approach integrates neuroscience-informed methods with a holistic mind-body philosophy, allowing for tailored treatment plans that support both effective symptom relief and meaningful, long-term healing. I offer both short-term therapy for immediate needs and longer-term therapy for trauma recovery and self-exploration. I am trained in a range of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). As a multilingual clinician, I offer therapy in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. A quote that continues to resonate with me is from Leonard Cohen: “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.” While I don’t seek to romanticize suffering — pain can be disorienting and deeply isolating—I believe that with skilled support, it is possible to uncover the human resilience, self-authenticity, and fierce self-compassion that emerge through healing. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to help you explore whether working together feels like the right fit. Please feel free to reach out by phone or email—I'd be honored to support you on your path.

Therapy serves as an opportunity to be curious – to explore the patterns and narratives we carry, repeat, and, at times, feel bound by. Through gentle curiosity, we create space for healing and give ourselves the opportunity to blossom into more authentic versions of ourselves. My therapeutic approach is grounded in psychodynamic and attachment theories. With compassion and warmth, I listen closely to the unique story of your life, honoring the experiences that have shaped how you relate to yourself and others. Together, we will untangle these experiences and cultivate hope that life can improve in ways that feel deeply meaningful. I offer individual psychotherapy to adults and older adults with a variety of presenting concerns including anxiety, depression, grief, bereavement, trauma, relational difficulties, and identity exploration. Importantly, I strive to remain mindful of the nuanced ways our identities shape our experiences and influence how we move through the world. I have specialized training in geropsychology and am passionate about helping adults navigate the complexities of aging, later-in-life transitions, caregiving, existential concerns, and ageism. My experience also includes working in college counseling centers, memory disorder clinics, community mental health, and with veterans.

My practice focuses on helping people get to know themselves better and learn to cope with difficult thoughts and feelings that get in their way of moving forward with what they want. Helping clients clarify what they value and learn new behaviors that help them build a meaningful life is a main goal of my approach . I have over twenty years of experience and love working with college students who are feeling depressed, anxious, have trouble fitting in, managing stress and transitions. Cross-cultural issues, grief, and parenting are also areas of particular focus in my practice. I am a native Spanish-speaker and provide services in Spanish as well as English.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Psychotherapy can help individuals identify the cause of pain, gain insight, expand coping skills, and remove barriers that get in the way of meaningful relationships. Looking inward and exploring your thoughts and feelings can be a daunting and scary process. I hope I can join you in your journey towards healing and positive change. I am a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in working with college students, particularly with students with marginalized identities. I have 15+ years of experience working at college counseling centers as a clinician, supervisor, director of training, and director of diversity and inclusion. My approach to therapy is centered on social justice, developmental, and relational psychodynamic principals. This lens allows me to pay attention to the impact of early childhood and family experiences, social-cultural factors, relational patterns, systematic oppression, and self awareness when working with individuals. I believe that a truly healing therapeutic relationship explores and fosters all intersecting identities of a person.

I work with college students who are navigating life’s challenges—whether it’s anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, identity questions, trauma, cultural adjustment, or substance use concerns. I provide therapy in English and Mandarin and bring a multicultural perspective and psychodynamic approach to create a warm, supportive space for exploration and growth. My goal is to help my clients feel seen, understood, and empowered to reconnect with themselves and others. With years of post-graduate training at the Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis (MIP) and the Psychodynamic Institute of New England (PINE), I blend thoughtful insight with compassionate guidance. I see clients in person at my Watertown Square office and via telehealth. I am in-network with BCBS, will soon accept Harvard Pilgrim, and also welcome self-pay clients.

I'm available to support students who may feel overwhelmed, stressed, or uncertain about the path ahead. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, adjusting to college life, struggling with self-doubt, or navigating relationships, I offer a safe, non-judgmental space to explore your thoughts and feelings. The students I work best with are those who feel like they’re juggling a lot—academic pressure, personal expectations, and social challenges—but who also want to grow, find balance, and build confidence. Many of my clients are learning to manage stress, cope with feelings of isolation, or figure out how to communicate better in their relationships. My approach is collaborative, and I focus on helping you find practical tools that fit into your life. Therapy doesn’t have to be intimidating; together, we’ll work at your pace to help you feel more grounded and in control. I’m here to listen, offer guidance, and support you as you navigate this chapter of your life.

My approach to psychotherapy is ​integrative and responsive to the needs of each individual person within the general contexts of multicultural sensitivity and a strong therapeutic relationship. Best summarized through Paul’s (1967) question: “What treatment, by whom, is most effective for this individual with that specific concern, and under which set of circumstances?" I have extensive experience working and training in University Counseling Centers (i.e., Penn State University Graduate Assistant, Pre-doctoral internship at Suffolk University, Post-doctoral Fellow at Tufts University followed by three years as a Staff Psychologist at Tufts). My clinical interests include college student mental health, in general; stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, interpersonal concerns, drug and alcohol use/misuse/abuse; Men’s issues; Childhood trauma; Working with students on the Autism Spectrum; Identity concerns; Relationship concerns; Issues of diversity and inclusion.

Students today face a lot of pressure—academically, socially, and emotionally. You may be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, burned out, or struggling to stay focused and motivated. Sometimes past experiences or trauma can make everyday stress feel even harder to manage. I offer a supportive space to talk openly, understand what you’re going through, and learn practical tools to cope with stress, anxiety, and difficult emotions. Together, we can work toward helping you feel more balanced, confident, and supported.

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

Life is inherently uncertain, and with that comes challenges. You're not alone in navigating those challenges and I am here to help support you along the way. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Registered Drama Therapist. Drama Therapy uses your story, the roles you play in your life, and metaphor to help process topics beyond just talking about them. I work with adults and couples with anxiety, depression, women’s issues, OCD, relationship challenges, life transitions, work/life balance, and family issues. Therapy is a collaborative process and I will not only be a validating presence for you, but I will also strive to challenge you, sometimes using humor, so that you can reach the growth you are looking for. I can help you deepen your relationships, get clear about what you want, and help to remind you about your unique sense of joy! I focus on your strengths and draw on Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, Exposure and Response Prevention, Parts Work, Compassion Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Expressive Arts Therapy/Drama Therapy. Please reach out to schedule an initial appointment and I look forward to working with you!

When people come to treatment with problems, it is important to remember that they are trying to cope with them in the best way they can. With that in mind, I offer a reflective and engaging partnership with my clients, working toward the goal of helping them to be autonomous, authentic and compassionate in a world that can be extremely stressful. Although my work is solidly grounded in psychodynamic, cognitive/learning, and systems theories, my approach is client-centered, practical and strengths-based. I bring honesty, warmth, and humor to the therapy relationship. I am LGBTQ affirmative and invested in doing cross-cultural therapy which is culturally sensitive. I have a dog, Bracket, who works with me, and I have been doing AAT since 2002. There is a growing body of research which suggests that AAT (Animal-Assisted Therapy) can be helpful with a range of diagnoses, including Depression, PTSD, and Autistic Spectrum. Many therapists know little about online games such as World of Warcraft and Second Life. They may dismiss it as unimportant, or assume it is a problem. I am a gamer-affirmative therapist, meaning I’m more interested in understanding your in-world experience and activity than pathologizing it.

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.”

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 have been a practicing psychologist, psychoanalyst, and teacher for many years, and I offer psychotherapy tailored to address the unique needs and goals of my individual clients. Many want to work on specific problems relating to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or childhood trauma. Many are successful people, but find they struggle with one specific area, for example intimate relationships. Some are not sure what, exactly, is wrong, but know that they feel stuck in their lives and are looking for help identifying a path forward. My style is interactive, and I believe that successful psychotherapy depends upon a trusting and respectful relationship between the therapist and client. Psychodynamic understanding is fundamental to my thinking, but I incorporate CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and other skill building strategies when helpful. My practice is geared for individuals and couples who are graduate students or staff. For more detail: www.margaretsablove.com. I have developed a specialty in the treatment of eating disorders and collaborate with treatment programs and medical professionals. In addition I offer individual and group clinical supervision for mental health professionals. I have flexible office hours and use video conferencing when in-person meetings are difficult to schedule.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Neuropsychological assessment can be pursued for a variety of reasons, but typically, it is to gain a deeper understanding of why you or your child may be struggling, find answers, and figure out what to do about it! Dr. Pamela Wineman will help you find these answers, and set you on a path toward building the resources and supports necessary to begin making progress in a way that is practical and realistic. Testing batteries are custom built based upon the referral question. Areas assessed might include: · Cognitive/Intellectual abilities · Academic achievement · Executive Function skills · Language · Social-emotional functioning. In particular, Dr. Wineman has expertise in administering projective testing measures which provide a more in-depth assessment of an individual’s worldview and affective traits. The use of projectives allows for exploration of one’s thoughts and feelings at the subconscious level. Dr. Wineman sees individuals with a wide range of diagnostic presentations (e.g., ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood disturbance, psychosis, behavioral issues, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders). She has a sub-specialty in individuals with complex mental health symptoms and psychiatric hospitalization, as well as trauma histories. Evaluations include an intake session, full assessment, and feedback session, as well as a comprehensive report with clinical diagnostic impressions and detailed recommendations. Most importantly, it it understood that many presenting problems can cause significant distress and thus, timeliness is essential. Clients can expect to receive reports within a few weeks of the final appointment.