Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA

As an independently licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) with over 13 years of experience, it is my privilege to walk alongside you as you navigate life’s challenges and opportunities. I received my MSW and Doctorate from Boston University. I specialize in working with individuals and couples facing a variety of concerns, including: mood disorders, trauma, career and life transitions and improving personal relationships.

I'm so excited to help you launch your journey to happiness! We will work together to make a customized treatment plan to help you work towards achieving your goals. With over a decade of experience I am confident that I will be able to help you live a more meaningful and fulfilling life. We will focus on what matters most to you through an organized and simple integrated approach of cognitive, behavioral, Mindfulness and solution focused methods. Start your journey today! I earned a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College and a Certificate in Expressive Therapy from Lesley University. Additionally, I have specialized training from McLean Hospital at the OCD Institute (OCDI) in using CBT (Exposure Therapy) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Cara (She/They) is a Registered Dietitian that supports adults with eating disorders, disordered eating, and chronic dieting. They practice from a Health at Every Size® framework and support their clients in nutrition guidance that focuses on both the queer and neurodivergent experience.

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Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next steps? College life can be stressful, and sometimes it’s hard to balance everything while taking care of yourself. I’m here to offer a safe, supportive space where you can feel heard and understood—whether you’re dealing with stress, low self-esteem, or just need help finding direction. I’m Katie Tefft, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), and I specialize in helping young adults build resilience, develop practical coping skills, and reconnect with their confidence and purpose. I offer online telehealth sessions.

Life can be overwhelming, and through it's challenges, we often feel a need for support. As a therapist, my role is to join with you, challenge you when needed, and create a safe space for you to explore and process. I specialize in relationship issues, resolving trauma, managing the impact of anxiety, and embracing the changes that life inevitably presents us all. While I draw from a range of treatment approaches, at the heart of therapy is the relationship we build together. I believe that healing happens in connection, and we will work together to determine the best approach for you. I know starting therapy can feel like a big step. If you want a safe place to be yourself and begin to create meaningful change, I’d be happy to connect and see how we can work together!

I’m a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, serving Rhode Island and Massachusetts, with over 10 years of experience across a variety of mental health settings ranging from hospitals to schools to outpatient clinics. My passion is therapy, and I'm always interested in helping you navigate life’s stress and unlock the best version of yourself. I specialize in treating adults experiencing depression, anxiety, men’s issues, compassion fatigue, and major life transitions. My work is rooted in evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing. My education includes a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Providence College and a Master's in Social Work from Rhode Island College. I pride myself on letting you decide which issues are most important while providing some guidance to find your own answers. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you're interested in working together or would like to learn more!

I became a therapist to bring my passion for helping others into a space where you can feel truly comfortable, supported, and understood. My goal is not just to create that feeling within our sessions, but to help you carry it into your life and relationships. When we work together, you’ll find me walking alongside you, offering guidance and support as we explore what empowers you and helps you feel more confident in who you are. I’m here to encourage you, celebrate your progress, and help you build a stronger, more authentic connection with yourself and the world around you.

I have experience working with individuals experiencing grief and loss, effects of traumatic brain injury, trauma, anxiety, and depression. I am also closely allied with LGBTQ+, sex worker, and secular/nonreligious communities. I have experience working with first-generation and international students.

Many people need help through the rough patches in life, while others struggle every day with a mental illness. With empathy and acceptance, I will meet you at your current level of distress, addressing your concerns, taking into account biopsychosocial factors contributing to your discomfort. I use an eclectic approach to therapy utilizing strength and evidence-based therapies such as Bibliotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Family Therapy, Gottman Method for Couples Therapy, Mindfulness, Psycho-education, Solution Focused Therapy, as well as Supportive Therapy.

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I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a deep passion for working with young adults. I believe the early adult years are some of the most important—and often most misunderstood—seasons of life. Rather than something to simply “get through,” I view this stage as a powerful period of identity formation, growth, and possibility. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. After spending a year living abroad, I went on to receive her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Northeastern University. Throughout my graduate training and post-master’s clinical work, I have supported youth and families across a range of settings, including in-home therapy, group home care, outpatient clinics, and municipal mental health. I understand that young adulthood can feel overwhelming—whether it’s anxiety, relationships, school, or simply trying to figure things out. Therapy with me is a place to slow things down and make sense of what’s going on. Sessions feel like a real conversation, where clients can explore their experiences, connect patterns, and develop strategies that are actually useful in everyday life. My goal is to create a space where clients feel comfortable, understood, and supported as they navigate this stage.

Scott Smith received a Master of Arts from Assumption College in 2007, with a specialization in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for adults. Scott completed his internship at a top tier training site, The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, where he received additional intensive training in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) for individuals and groups. Scott has decades of experience working in multiple agencies and group practices, helping individuals and couples who have a wide range of diagnoses. In 2019, Scott began a solo practice focusing on couple therapy using emotional focus therapy (EFT). Scott realized he enjoys collaboration with other providers and decided to form Insights Psychological Services, PLLC with Ashley O'Hearn, Psy.D. to fulfill a dream as well as a need for the mental health community in Boston. Scott is excited about the prospects of clients having an authentic experience and clinicians being invested as much as the individuals are in their treatment. Scott enjoys working with adult individuals and couples (ages 20's to 50's) who are experiencing anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties. More specifically, Scott likes working with clients who want to gain awareness and insight surrounding their maladaptive behavioral patterns in order to promote change. Those who are in an existential crisis and seeking resolution, would likely be a good fit working with Scott. In terms of helping individuals, Scott provides psychological counseling using a CBT framework through a relational lens. He puts emphasis on learning about his clients' lived experience, while also pushing for change by challenging negative held beliefs or schemata. Scott is sensitive to clients feeling uncomfortable sharing their vulnerabilities and uses validation and encouragement throughout the therapy process to help clients feel understood. When working with couples, Scott uses EFT to help his clients identify the problematic dynamic that occurs in the relationship. He assists each individual of the partnership in identifying their emotional experience when a rupture has occurred as well as aids them in taking an empathetic stance with their partner in order to repair the injury. Additionally, Scott incorporates his DBT training to help couples better communicate to one another in an effective manner. Stylistically, Scott also guides his clients through the entire therapy process to create safety so that clients are able to gradually be able to tolerate uncomfortable feelings. Scott provides his individual and couple clients emotional consulting meaning that he provides feedback on what clients might be doing behaviorally that once was helpful but now is potentially keeping them stuck and unable to move forward toward their life goals. He uses humor and irreverence as a great therapeutic tool.

Hi, I’m Dan—the founder and owner of Clarity Counseling Services, LLC. College can be exciting, but it can also feel like a lot—especially when you’re expected to juggle academics, relationships, identity, family pressures, and your future. Maybe you look like you're holding it together, but inside you're overwhelmed, anxious, or unsure of how to keep going. Maybe you’re trying to make sense of a tough experience, struggling to manage expectations, or just feeling... off. You want to feel better—but you also want to understand yourself more deeply and figure out how you got here. Therapy can help. Together, we’ll explore what’s going on and build a path forward. I offer a warm, collaborative space where you don’t have to filter your words or mask your feelings. I specialize in helping college students navigate stress, anxiety, identity shifts, relationships, and big life transitions. My style is supportive and down-to-earth, and I’ll meet you wherever you are—with curiosity, calm, and without judgment. I use an integrative, strengths-based approach tailored to your needs, drawing from nearly 20 years of clinical experience. We'll work together to unpack what’s weighing you down, improve your self-understanding, and build tools that help you feel more grounded, balanced, and capable—both now and in the future. It’s time to find more peace, clarity, and meaning—not just in school, but in all parts of your life. Let’s work together to get you there. **A Note About Insurance: I’m an insurance-friendly provider. While I don’t bill insurance directly, many students with PPO or POS plans successfully use their out-of-network benefits to get reimbursed. I provide detailed Superbills and can guide you through the process step by step. I also offer a free 20-minute phone consultation to help you get a feel for how I work and see if we’re a good fit. If you have any questions about fees or insurance, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m here to help.**

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I offer therapy sessions in both English and Mandarin. I was born and raised in China, and later came to the U.S. for grad school. My personal experience in navigating the challenges of life transitions, cultures, and expectations inspired me to create a safe, gentle space where you can be heard and understood. I’m here to listen to your stories and unspoken emotions, and help you find your true voice. Together, we’ll explore patterns that may be holding you back and gently uncover the myths that no longer serve you. I’m not here to judge or talk down to you—I’ll be patient and supportive as you grow. I’ll celebrate your progress because I genuinely care, and I hope to make this journey one of curiosity, compassion, and even joy as you step into the best version of yourself.

I am a licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience working with adults, adolescents, children, and families. I know that change is hard and seeking support is brave. It is a privilege to be alongside you in your journey towards becoming the person you want to be and living the life you want to live. Our therapy will be a space where it is okay to show up as your authentic self and share your feelings. We will collaborate to identify and work towards the changes you want to see in your life, brainstorm ways to overcome patterns you may feel stuck in, and support you in gaining the insight needed to foster progress. I have experience supporting clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, perfectionism, school and work stress, self-esteem, attachment, and interpersonal and family relationships. My approach aims to be relational, strength-based, and trauma-informed. I strive to bring empathy, humor, and a nonjudgmental approach to the therapy space to support you in your journey. I use an integrative, holistic approach that pulls from different therapeutic specialties that we will tailor specifically to your identified wants and needs - such as narrative therapy, family systems, mind-body connection, solution-focused, and emotion and person-centered.

Lighthouse Counseling & Sand Play Training Center is an outpatient facility providing support through scheduled appointments only for families, children, couples, and individuals. We also offer workshops and groups for individuals seeking community and support. Sand Play therapy allows the person to tap into the psyche. Through the use of symbolic figures, a person is able to create in the sand tray stories which examine their wounds, the effects from those wounds, and the possibilities for resolution. The practitioner is then able to help a person to connect insights to feelings and begin the journey toward healing. Through Sand Play, the adult client is able to build the skills necessary to avoid the problematic patterns of the past. Children’s thoughts and feelings are given a voice through symbolic play, enabling them to resolve their issues in a language they understand. “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) integrates elements of many effective psychotherapies in structured protocols that are designed to maximize treatment effects. These include psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, experiential, and body-centered therapies. EMDR is an information processing therapy and uses an eight phase approach ….After EMDR processing, clients generally report that the emotional distress related to the memory has been eliminated, or greatly decreased and that they have gained important cognitive insights. Importantly, these emotional and cognitive changes usually result in spontaneous behavioral and personal change, which are further enhanced with standard EMDR procedures.” The development of the addictive personality is not an overnight event. Often times, an addicted person will have a history of trauma and grief. It is critical to have a comprehensive treatment plan with a therapist who specializes in addictions work in order to make a full recovery. We treat addictions to illegal drugs, alcohol and prescription medications as well as sexual addictions.

I work with clients who feel stuck, burned out, or disconnected from themselves and are ready to look at what's not working in their lives. My style is warm, collaborative, and practical…over time, clients feel more grounded, self-compassionate, and in control of the choices that shape their daily lives.

It cannot be overstated what a big deal it is that you have begun to explore finding support for yourself. This first step is one of the hardest. I’d be honored to be a resource for you during this time, and accompany you as you grow and change. The majority of my clients are high achievers of all stripes, from Ivy League students to folks attending competitive conservatories and art schools. I was a performing artist (actor, singer, musician) for 12 years in New York City before changing careers, and I specialize in working with folks who have creative identities. Many of my clients are LGBTQ+ and/or neurodivergent, and most also find themselves in overfunctioning/underfunctioning dynamics in their relationships. My main therapy modality is Internal Family Systems (IFS), as well as somatic mindfulness-based therapy (Hakomi), and experiential therapy (gestalt). Basically this means that, in therapy, I will support you in getting more familiar with your internal system by helping you track what’s happening in your mind, your body, and between you and I (the therapist and the client). I’ll also guide you towards deepening your relationship with the different “parts” of your system, learning their agendas and desires, which sometimes produce inner conflicts and create stuckness. It’s well-known that being mindful of your body and breath is a great way to reduce stress, and using this practice as real situations arise in therapy will give you a practical way to use it in your day-to-day. As you get to know your system better, you will build greater trust within yourself, allowing for stuck parts to shift and for real lasting change to occur. If you’ve been in therapy before and it just felt like venting, IFS will be different. Pro tip: the research suggests that the therapy modality you use is less important than a trusting relationship with your therapist as far as positive therapy outcomes (though I will happily talk IFS theory for days). Do your best to go with your gut feeling about who intuitively feels right when choosing a therapist, even if right now might be the hardest time to do so. If something about my practice resonates, please reach out and schedule a consultation! I look forward to hearing from you soon!