Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA

You may appear confident on the outside, but internally struggle with self-doubt, anxiety, or fear of rejection. Many of my clients feel “too much” and not enough at the same time, which can show up as overgiving, withdrawing, or difficulty setting boundaries. I work with high-achieving individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, and grief—often expressed through overthinking, emotional avoidance, or disconnection. These patterns are often rooted in early experiences, cultural pressures, or navigating marginalized identities, all of which can shape how we view ourselves and relate to others. Together, we work to build a more grounded sense of self, increase emotional awareness, and shift away from survival patterns like numbing, overcontrolling, or checking out. My goal is to help you feel more confident, connected, and at ease in your life and relationships. I especially enjoy working with BIPOC clients, Asian Americans, first-generation individuals, and those exploring identity and belonging. I offer a free, no-pressure consultation to see if we’re a good fit.

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.

I am an LGBTQ+ therapist supporting adults. Whether you are coming to therapy to make a change, make sense of yourself or past experiences, or simply want someone to listen to you, I provide a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space for you to explore your life, relationships and concerns. Whatever your goals, I will guide you through the process and together we will try to understand any repetitive patterns of unfulfilling behaviour and gain insight into how past experiences have come to shape present-day experiences. I also work full-time as a therapist supporting undergraduate and graduate students at Harvard University helping them navigate challenges associated with mental health, academics, and relationships. I believe the single most important aspect of successful therapy is the quality of the relationship between therapist and client. I therefore invite you to sit down with me in a relaxed way so we can talk. I can help you make better sense of your experiences, thoughts and feelings. Together we can discover meanings, recognise patterns, and explore options.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Dr. Shelby Ortega is a clinical psychologist serving the North Shore and Metro Boston areas via Cambridge and Salem office locations. My approach is one characterized by warmth, humor, and the welcoming of diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives. I believe in tailoring the treatment to the unique needs of my clients and providing a safe space that is equally supportive and challenging. I offer individual psychotherapy for adolescents and adults, as well as couples therapy, clinical supervision, and consultation services. I enjoy working with people from all walks of life, and make every effort to help those I work with feel welcomed, engaged, supported, and respected. I work to provide a safe therapeutic frame that is inclusive of social and cultural context, and therefore, welcome discussions of issues related to oppression, privilege, and of course, intersectionality of complex identity statuses. My private practice work is enriched by my academic scholarship and teaching experiences. I believe this work is an asset to my role as a practitioner and I work to extend this benefit to the patients I serve. My specific interests and areas of expertise include the following: Anxiety, Depression and Mood Disorders Relationship and Intimacy Difficulties Identity Exploration Recovery from Trauma and Loss I have extensive training in multicultural mental health, identity development, adult attachment relationships and intimacy, and have also completed two fellowships in psychodynamic psychotherapy at Harvard Medical School. Presently, I serve as a Teaching Associate in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, a Psychological and Educational Consultant with Jernigan & Associates, LLC, and as an Advisory Board Member for the Psychology Department at Regis College.

I have 35 years of experience in doing therapy, including having done a fellowship in College Health. I am a Clinical Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and am affiliated at Brigham & Women's Hospital. I enjoy working with people particularly in the areas of anxiety and depression, love and relationship concerns, family issues, college life adjustment, career matters, and dealing with medical illness. My office is in Cambridge. I am trained in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis for young people, adults, and kids. I can also prescribe medication, although I don’t do that unless it is in the context of an ongoing regular therapy. I’d be happy to talk with you to see if we’re a good fit for working together! You can also check out my website at kimfoehl.com

In my practice I work with older adolescents and adults, focusing on personal awareness, empowerment, building skills for navigating life stressors, and enriching personal relationships. I have over 15 years of experience working in the areas of addictions, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relationship development. Together we will explore patterns and choices that contribute to your accomplishments and struggles. We will work towards self-awareness while remaining solution-focused, and will use the strengths you already possess to build more skills for managing the challenges that life brings.

I work from a relational-cultural, psychodynamic lens rooted in trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and liberation-centered therapeutic work. Within a trusting relationship, we will adapt our work to your needs, which may involve use of techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing, intersectional feminist therapy, narrative therapy, expressive arts therapy, and/or grief counseling. Mutuality is the essence of my work; in relationships between people, people and nature, and people and their socio-cultural-political landscape. Intentionally focused on de-pathologizing our human experiences, I work with adults navigating relational dynamics, anxiety/mood disorders, complex/interpersonal/institutional/systemic trauma, queer-trans and ethno-racial identity development, grief, transitions, immigration, body image, neurodivergence, chronic illness, and economic stressors, in context. I have worked extensively with survivors (aged 18-72) of gender-based violence in India and the US. Consensual resource-sharing, political education, therapeutic self-disclosure, seeking feedback, and reflecting on our interpersonal dynamics will be embedded within my therapeutic work, which will be adapted to your personal needs from one session to another.

I’m Colleen Madden, PMHNP, specializing in medication management for college students. Whether it’s ADHD, anxiety, or mood concerns, I’ll help you find the right support—without judgment and with your busy schedule in mind. Virtual visits. Afternoon and evening hours available. A safe, understanding space to help you feel like yourself again.

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.

Join me in a collaborative focus on your mental health, designed to build resilience, improve the quality of life, and increase self-acceptance. I work with adults and young adults in individual psychotherapy on a short or long-term basis. I have a background in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy. I treat a range of presenting concerns, including relationship stress, life transitions, depression, anxiety, and trauma. I have experience in college mental health, early intervention in mental illness, and family therapy. I have a special interest in issues of diversity and inclusion, and exploring an individual’s unique relationship to a variety of their own personal intersecting identities.

People come to see me when they feel stuck and have had enough. I help parents help their children; help couples and families get closer and happier; and in general help people successfully resolve issues such as: stress, anxiety, adjustment to new life circumstances (relocation, family changes), relationship issues (divorce, extra-marital affairs, conflict), and dealing with difficult family members. I work with individuals and families dealing with medical conditions that can be affected by stress (Gastrointestinal issues, pain, sleep disturbances). I also work with people interested in specific skill building such as: stress/anxiety management, assertiveness and dealing with conflict, communication, and more.

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.

Porter is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Massachusetts. He received his Master’s in Social Work from Boston College, with an emphasis in the Latinx community and Health/Mental Health. Porter has significant experience working in a variety of settings including: outpatient clinical work, In-Home Family work with DCF and DDS, community and case management work in milieu, and group living environments in the US and Argentina ( si, se habla espanol tambien). Porter has also engaged in advocacy work, working hand-in-hand with school systems, religious representatives, court systems and police departments to support his clients. Porter takes a person-centered approach to his treatment model, working with clients at their own pace. Porter has worked with individuals with a variety of mental illness diagnoses, including but not limited to: Psychotic Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmentally Disabled individuals, Anxiety Disorders (especially Panic Disorder), Trauma, Traumatic Brain Injury, Depression (including Suicidality), and family and relationship issues. Porter utilizes Evidence Based Theories in practice: EMDR, CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. Porter is only available virtually. In his free time, Porter enjoys being a foodie and cooking, caring for his tropical plants and animals, traveling, rock climbing, playing video games, or listening to his new favorite sci-fi book. Porter also enjoys learning new ways to improve as a therapist and appreciates any feedback on how to improve your experience working with him. Smooth Stone Counselling is 100% virtual in MA.

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.

Life is a journey of continual self-discovery, filled with challenges, stressors, and moments of adjustment. Sometimes, these demands become overwhelming, and navigating them alone can feel overwhelming. As a therapist, I offer client-centered psychotherapy and consultation services for adults. My expertise lies in assisting individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, stressful life situations, relationship difficulties, and adjustments to life changes. Grounded in developmental, cognitive-behavioral, narrative, and internal family systems (IFS) theories, my approach is focused on the client, practical, and strength-based.

The treatment I provide is influenced by relational, attachment-based, and psychodynamic modalities. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, life transitions, identity concerns, trauma, and stress related to work and relationships. I work with adults of all ages and backgrounds to address their presenting symptoms, as well as explore the underlying roots of these symptoms to establish long-term benefits. I believe therapy is most effective when there is a trusting and open therapeutic relationship, so we will work together to identify a meaningful approach to your care. I’m experienced in working with culturally diverse and LGBTQ populations. Prior to earning my degree in counseling, I worked with LGBTQ youth and young adults in the Boston community at a nonprofit organization dedicated to health education. I understand how difficult it can be to find a good match in therapy, I encourage you to contact me for an initial phone call, and we can discuss how we might work together.