Therapists for college students near Harvard University

Our team of skilled therapists offer trauma-informed, gender-affirming care for clients ages 13+ in a space free from weight stigma and rooted in respect for all bodies. We promise to approach your story with compassion and curiosity, and you will feel seen and heard. We specialize in eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and relationships.

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

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.

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.

My approach to psychotherapy is primarily relational and psychodynamic, guided by the concept that healing and change happen in relationship. I aim to create a containing environment where we can be compassionately curious about how your past experiences inform your present. My work incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Liberation Health Model, and mindfulness-based interventions to help meet clients’ unique and wide-ranging needs. I provide a supportive, affirming space for clients’ diverse intersecting identities and experiences (e.g., race, immigration status, gender, sexuality). I provide psychotherapy to adults of all ages and have experience helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, identity exploration, life transitions, grief and loss, shame, trauma, and relational stressors. I also have expertise supporting clients through the challenges of college, graduate school, postgraduate life, and emerging adulthood. Before arriving at CAS, I completed a postgraduate fellowship in psychodynamic psychotherapy at Cambridge Health Alliance. I also worked in university, medical, and community-based mental health services in academic counseling, peer education, and clinical research.

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Hello and welcome to my practice! I absolutely love working with college and graduate students. I will help you get to know yourself in a nurturing space where you can be your true self. You can process and explore whatever it is you come to therapy for and I can help you find the tools and support you need to feel more like yourself and thrive. Some examples might be your relationships, academics, college or family issues on your mind, or your thoughts, feelings or behaviors that are worrisome or bothersome to you. I will help you to see your struggles in a new way and ultimately you will feel better. You very likely will feel stronger and more confident too. I can't wait to work with you. Please note that I offer a concierge billing service for my clients who request reimbursement from their insurance plan with Out of Network Benefits. I will submit the paperwork to your insurance directly without you having to life a finger! The check will be sent directly to you. Doing the paperwork is an added stressor and I take that off your plate. My client often get 50% to 80% of my fee reimbursed to them.

Hello, I enjoy working with young adults on life transition issues. These include living independently for the first time, fitting into a new community, loneliness, anxiety, depression. I am also a neuropsychologist, experienced in working with students who have learning and attentional difficulties. My therapy tends to be goal-focused and short-term. I work hard on building comfort and trust with clients, so issues and feedback can be shared in a growth-enhancing way. I do not treat clients who are susceptible to having major crises requiring urgent care and hospitalization. My area of expertise is the development of a positive identity and rewarding relationships.

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.

My therapeutic approach is relational and psychodynamic in nature, grounded in the belief that healing occurs through meaningful, authentic connection. I aim to create a warm, compassionate, and collaborative space where you can feel understood and supported. Together, we can explore how past experiences, relationships, culture, identity, and unconscious patterns shape how you show up in the world. My work is attachment-informed, trauma-informed, and attentive to each client’s unique lived experience. I also strive to incorporate a strengths-based approach to help you live your most fulfilling life. I provide individual and couples therapy to adults navigating depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, relational trauma, identity exploration, life transitions, and college adjustment. I welcome working with clients across a wide range of identities and backgrounds and have a particular interest in supporting LGBTQ+ and queer individuals. I am a queer-identified clinician with experience in outpatient, college counseling, hospitals, and substance use treatment center settings. I have a significant background in research on attachment, unconscious relational patterns, and the use of psychological assessment to clarify diagnostic concerns, guide treatment and increase insight/self-knowledge.

If you've spent years pushing yourself to "just try harder"/"finally get it together," yet you’re still feeling overwhelmed, chronically behind, and like it’s never enough — you’re in the right place. You’re familiar with the exhausting cycle of being a perfectionistic people-pleaser, caught in overthinking and self-criticism. Others see you as accomplished; you feel one misstep away from revealing how scattered things actually are. You’re not looking for a passive listener or generic advice. You want someone who will truly see and accept you, compassionately challenge you, and help you stop chasing approval and start finding peace. I'm a doctorally-trained, board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner offering medication management (in Eng/Mandarin) and psychotherapy (in Eng). I specialize in ADHD, insomnia, women's mental health, and Asian American/first-generation experiences. My approach integrates evidence-based medicine with a holistic focus on aligning mind, body, and purpose. If you're seeking someone who takes the time to see the full picture, treats you as a whole person rather than a checklist of symptoms, and has both the clinical expertise and lived experience to truly understand where you're coming from — I warmly welcome you to reach out and see if we'd be a good fit.

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Life sometimes offers us unexpected challenges that require additional support to manage. Sometimes you think an issue is resolved until you notice unwanted thoughts, feelings or behaviors arising. I offer culturally sensitive person-centered, solution-focused therapy that focuses on assisting individuals better understand and work through these personal challenges and life transitions. In clinical practice, I draw from an array of past trainings, certifications, and over 15 years clinical experience to meet the specific needs of my clients. I have worked in multiple school settings and am attuned to the unique pressures of academic life, especially in college and higher education. Making the first outreach to initiate therapy can often be the hardest part. Please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail or to leave a voicemail requesting to set up a 15-20 minute consultation to discuss your needs, expectations, and what ways in which I may be able to support you.

Life Transition Counseling and Therapy: 25+ Years Experience Asian American Psychotherapist, LICSW Adjunct Professor at Boston College In Person in Brookline and Harvard Square and Virtually I work with people who have spent much of their lives managing expectations, carrying responsibility, and doing what they are supposed to do. When a major change occurs, the ways they've always navigated life may no longer fit. Together, we make sense of what you're experiencing, understand what's keeping you stuck, and figure out what comes next. I combine clinical support with practical tools to help you: Understand your emotions: Learn to relate to what you're feeling rather than ignoring, avoiding, or fighting it. Clarify your values: Identify what truly matters to you—not just what is expected of you. Reduce symptoms: Address any stress, anxiety, depression, or burnout you may be experiencing and develop skills to manage it. Build confidence: Gain the inner-strength and resilience to step forward into action.

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 accepting new clients** Do you know what’s bothering you, but you don’t know how to fix it? Perhaps you’ve tried to make changes but nothing seems to work. Or you’re at the point where you’re questioning if your feelings are even valid (which, by the way, they are). Whether you’re experiencing depression, grief and loss, low self-esteem or going through big life changes, I can help you overcome whatever is getting in the way of your happiness and regain control. Most of my clients are resilient, self-aware working professionals and college/graduate students who need a little assistance navigating life’s challenges. If this sounds familiar, I can help. I practice client-centered therapy, which is a collaborative therapy that meets you where you’re at and incorporates your unique strengths, values and preferences. Every person is different, so I find that therapy is most effective when it is personalized to what you need, rather than a cookie cutter approach. And a dash of humor certainly doesn't hurt! I strive to create a safe, comfortable space for self-reflection and growth, and I enjoy working with folks from all walks of life, regardless of background and identity. If you are struggling with something, you don’t have to go through it alone. Message me to book a free consultation. I would love to hear from you!

I ground my practice in establishing a warm and affirming therapeutic alliance, the relationship between client and clinician. From there, we establish a flow, understanding, and goals. This can look like anything from DBT skill-building, to sharing humor, meditating, or validating the parts of us that need love or care. As a former educator, I especially enjoy working with young people who are managing the variety of contending expectations which come along this stage. As a former professional musician, I understand the value of art and creativity in the healing process, the helpfulness of structure and consistency when needed, and the challenges that come with art as a career. Therapy can be a scary thing to jump into. Because of this, I prioritize making landing in therapy be as collaborative and catered to your needs as possible. Therapy should be a space that feels like yours, where you can feel safe to grow and problem solve in the ways and at the pace that feels best. I look forward to chatting!

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I am a Harvard-trained physician who practiced Neurology for 25 years before completing a post-graduate psychotherapy fellowship to allow me to help others in a different way. This major life change informs my work as a psychotherapist. No matter where along our life’s path we find ourselves, and no matter how distressed, stuck or trapped we feel, we can always come to know ourselves more fully and to make changes in the service of a more satisfying, meaningful and fulfilling life. I practice a flexible style of psychotherapy tailored to each unique person or couple. Some prefer a shorter-term, more active therapy that focuses on making changes in the here and now. Others benefit from a longer-term, more self-directed exploration in a safe and supportive environment. Although my focus is on helping people meet their goals through therapy, I offer the option to prescribe adjunctive medication when needed. My aim is always to understand each person’s unique life experiences, beliefs, values and goals and to work with each person to promote enhanced self-understanding and freedom of choice in the service of a life that feels satisfying and meaningful. When working with a couple, my aim is to help the couple work through current relationship difficulties and, if both partners are invested in maintaining the relationship, to help them create a partnership where each feels safe, secure, valued and cared for.

Are you feeling stuck, struggling to cope with anxiety or depression? I can help! Together we will work towards aleviating sadness and loneliness, developing better coping strategies to manage stress, and setting achievable goals to make long lasting changes. I provide a warm and empathic environment that focuses on individual strengths to foster a sense of meaning in life. I help clients with issues related to: academic and job-related struggles; depression; anxiety; relationship problems; immigration and acculturation stress; trauma; and grief and loss. I use psychodynamic (insight-oriented), mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral approaches in order to foster transformitive change. Originally from Argentina, I am bilingual (Spanish/English) and bicultural and work with clients in either language. I enjoy working with people from a wide range of cultural, international, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities.