Therapists for college students near Harvard University
Calling all stressed-out, anxious Jewish college students! You’re figuring out who you are—while juggling exams, dating apps, and the gnawing feeling that the world is falling apart. Add in questions about your Jewish identity, complicated family dynamics, and maybe a roommate who thinks antisemitism ended in 1945—and it’s a lot. You don’t have to process it alone. Therapy can be a place to bring your spiraling thoughts, perfectionism, existential dread, and hope for the future. You deserve a life free from the constant grip of anxiety. My clients finish their sessions feeling more at peace, more centered, and less tense in their bodies. Through our work, they become less critical of themselves. They learn how to manage difficult emotions. They also feel a sense of belonging. You’ll learn how to set healthy boundaries and ask for what you need more easily. You can rediscover pleasure in intimacy with your partner and grow more confident in expressing your needs. Weekends will bring laughter again, and work will start to feel rewarding instead of draining. You’ll be able to focus on your goals and tackle that To-Do list without spiraling into panic or curling up on the couch. You can step into the present moment with calm, clarity, and confidence.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Each of us has the potential to connect with and live from a creative, energized and compassionate center. Once established, we can perpetually draw upon this connection to understand and accept our past, to guide our present, and to embrace our future. With warmth, commitment and respect, and with attention to body, mind, and spirit, I work to help people access the inner resources they need to live with happiness, safety and ease. As a therapist, I meet people where they are. I collaborate with them to create a treatment that is flexible and responsive to their needs and experience, and help guide them toward their stated goals.
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.
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!
Beginning therapy is a brave act of self-care, and working with an effective clinician can provide you the support you deserve in bringing about powerful changes in your life and relationships. I believe you have the skills and strengths necessary to overcome the obstacles you face and I cannot wait to join you on the journey. I am passionate about my work with adults navigating life transitions and exploring what they need to live as their most authentic selves. I specialize in burnout and the impact of past trauma on current relationships. I have experience working with survivors of sexual and family violence as well as those struggling with anxiety and attachment issues. I believe in culturally-competent and trauma-informed care and utilized an eclectic therapeutic approach with a focus on Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Relational Therapy. Fostering an inclusive and affirming environment for all of my clients, I work collaboratively with you to develop evidenced-based treatment plans that validate your lived experiences and encourages growth. Therapy can be daunting to start, but it can also be such a freeing experience. I will follow your lead as we will move through sessions together.
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.
I'm a Boston-based therapist who works with young adults and adolescents. I specialize in treating trauma and all the stuff that comes with it- bad moods, anxiety, explosive anger, poor self-esteem, sadness- you name it. I teach people skills to help them feel better in the moment while guiding them on a path of long-term healing. I'm certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and also trained with the Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis. I meet with people both in-person and virtually, and I speak English and Spanish. My approach to therapy is guided by what my clients are looking for and needing most. Therapy can- and should- be tailored to your styles of communication and expression. Maybe this means you'd like a lot of structure in your sessions- using worksheets to track and review anxious thought patterns. It could mean that you'd prefer open-ended sessions to explore deeper themes that've started popping up in your life. Or perhaps you're looking for a safe space to talk about something bad that's happened. I build a safe and productive space for us to work within, whatever the case may be.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Massachusetts Mind Center is a small boutique mental health practice in Back Bay offering a range of mental health and medical services: Medication management, individual outpatient therapy, group therapy, medical marijuana prescriptions, genetic testing, professional events, supervision, and more. We have capacity to see individuals immediately following intake & scheduling for both tele-health and from 1/30 on in-person sessions. We accept BCBS and other commercial insurances as well.
People seek therapy for a variety of reasons. Whether you are looking to bolster your self-esteem, manage your depression, process trauma, or you are just seeking a space for support, I view our treatment as a vehicle to assist you in better understanding yourself. Whatever may bring you into my practice, together we will determine the best path forward to achieve your goals. My clinical style is collaborative, warm, and engaged. I am flexible in that I customize treatment based on the needs of the person sitting before me. When assessing the presenting problem of any client, I carefully consider how one’s identities intersect and appropriately tailor culturally sensitive treatment interventions. I have been trained in evidence-based practices and utilize an integrated framework that consists of a blend of theoretical orientations. With this blended approach, I help clients identify thought patterns that may be interfering with their relationships and personal goals. I believe that our past experiences shape the way we think, feel, and behave. An important part of my work with clients is examining one’s history to better understand these facets. I draw upon the therapeutic relationship as a clinical tool to empower clients to make desired changes within their lives. I rely on a strengths based approach, meaning that I believe clients possess the ability to improve their lives either with existing knowledge and skills or simply their willingness to try new things. Let’s connect so I can hear what’s going on for you and how I can help.
When challenges in life become overwhelmingly difficult, it can sometimes feel impossible to overcome them alone. Whether it be anxiety, stress, problematic relationships, or a blurred sense of identity, I am here to help. My goal is to provide a safe and comfortable space that will allow you to discuss and work through your problems without judgment. My approach to therapy is to provide empathic understanding, authenticity, and acceptance to collaboratively address your concerns! I have experience working with a wide variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, acute stress, and relationships. I am passionate about providing empathic and compassionate care to all individuals and couples who need support in working through their problems. My care is trauma-informed and inclusive of all aspects of diversity and difference. It is completely okay to not feel okay. Reaching out for help may be the first step in getting the support needed to reach your goals!
We all encounter difficult stressors, setbacks and experiences that sometimes cause us pain. We may be challenged by difficult transitions, our relationships, previous trauma, depression or anxiety. We can make the choice to work through these events and grow even when things are hard and confusing. My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe place for you to explore your struggles, and give you objective feedback and guidance to help you improve your life. Whether you'd like to improve your mood, strengthen relationships or need support coping with a difficult circumstance I can help. I work with young adults who have difficulty managing their emotions and who struggle with depression, anxiety, impulsive behavior, thoughts of suicide and self-harm, interpersonal problems, or problems functioning at work or school. I provide in-person and virtual evidence-based treatments including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help my clients change ineffective behavioral patterns, develop more helpful ways of thinking, and accept difficult realities in order to build the lives they want. I see therapy as a collaboration between client and therapist to work towards their goals in treatment and in life. Through my validating and nonjudgmental style, I am committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based treatment to help you reach your most desired goals and build a life worth living.
I am an LICSW who thoroughly enjoyed 42 plus years of clinical experience working as a Clinical Services Executive in a psychiatric hospital. My oversight responsibilities for inpatient and outpatient care included providing direct service to patients, supervising clinical staff, and developing therapeutic programming. I specialize in providing DBT, couples therapy, treatment for anxiety, depression, and trauma; working with young adults adapting to the multiple challenges of life and with people dealing with family members who are having mental health issues. I am convinced that people are innately capable of change and adaptation, and I seek to support them in developing new insights and perspectives about their circumstances so that they can see new possibilities for themselves and take positive action for self-advancement. I find it extremely gratifying to see clients make progress in their lives. For therapists, I offer license-eligible supervision; support of their own clinical practice; group therapy for therapists seeking support/guidance; and support to frontline workers and care takers. Therapists and health care providers often experience vicarious traumatization, and I can offer them perspective in dealing with this issue. I believe in the importance of healing the healers and that I can offer this valuable support.
When everything feels like too much, therapy shouldn’t add to the pressure. I'm a liberatory therapist working with kids and adults facing life transitions and overwhelm. I don’t believe in forcing people to fit systems that weren’t built for them. Instead, I center you—your needs, your truth, and your pace. Using humanistic and cognitive approaches, I offer a grounded space where we can explore what’s hard, celebrate your strengths, and move toward a more authentic sense of self. With compassion, humor, and curiosity, we’ll challenge the stories that are holding you back—and build new ones that feel like yours.
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.
Currently accepting new clients! Reach out to check availability for sessions. College and grad school are filled with growth, discovery, and new experiences—but they can also bring stress, uncertainty, and emotional challenges. If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply not like yourself, know that you're not alone. You need a safe and compassionate space where you can bring your whole self. While honoring your strengths, needs, and values, our work might include understanding how stress and past experiences show up in your body and relationships, exploring healthier boundaries, or learning how to navigate difficult emotions without judgment. My approach is collaborative, practical, and tailored to you. We can identify the tools and skills you need to cope, grow, and heal—so you can reclaim your life. I believe you are capable of thriving in school and beyond, and I’d like to help.
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) providing psychotherapy to individual adults, couples and groups. As a clinician, I prioritize collaboration, curiosity and inclusion. My treatment approach emphasizes a strong therapeutic relationship centered on your experiences and goals. I incorporate evidenced-based approaches into treatment that aligns with your needs -- including cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), psychodynamic, relational and solutions-focused methods. In addition to my private practice, I am a staff member in the Department of Psychiatry at a Boston hospital.
We are a group of experienced, knowledgeable, and caring clinicians, who have experience working with college-aged individuals who are struggling with anxiety, depression, compulsive behaviors, stress management, and more! We have clinicians with immediate in-person and telehealth availability. Please visit our website at www.launchpsych.com for details about our practice!
Welcome! I specialize in working with older adolescents, young adults, and parents, to help develop strategies to manage a variety of stressors including depression, anxiety, low self esteem, grief and loss, academic challenges, life transitions and relationship struggles. My style encompasses an active, collaborative, strengths based approach, utilizing humor, compassion and warmth, to build a safe and trusting relationship with my clients. My goal is to help you explore road blocks, to gain insight into your thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and to attain solutions that improves overall wellness and enhances personal growth.