Therapists for college students near Harvard University
I think of this work as a combination of life coaching and therapy. We will focus on your day to day life challenges, noticing the patterns that lead to success as well as those patterns that get in your way. While doing this we can strengthen and celebrate what is working, become aware of patterns that are not working and create new patterns resulting in a better life. In my practice we can do both in-person and/or Telehealth. If we are to meet in-person I like to meet you where you are at literally and figuratively. I do not see people in an office. In my time as a clinician I have learned that some of the best work is done on a walk or a drive, while at a coffee shop or some other cool place that you know. Give me a call and see if I feel like 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.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or family conflict? You don’t have to face it alone. I specialize in helping adults work through overwhelming emotions, painful family dynamics, and the lasting effects of difficult or abusive relationships. Together, we process complex trauma, build healthier boundaries, and foster resilience, healing, and growth. I’m a licensed Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts with over 10 years of experience. As a bilingual therapist (English & Spanish), I value the role that culture, identity, and lived experience play in shaping your mental health journey. My care is warm, collaborative, and culturally responsive, always tailored to your unique needs and goals. My approach is integrative, drawing from psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, mindfulness-based practices, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, and attachment-based therapy. This flexibility allows us to use the approaches and strategies that best fit your circumstances. I am in-network with BCBS, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth, Tufts, and Optum. Let’s connect. I offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can share your needs, ask questions, and see if we’re a good fit.
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.
I work primarily with young adults struggling with anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. These can include things like constant worry thoughts that impair sleep or are distracting in day-to-day life. Specific examples include feeling overly worried or fixated on things like doing perfectly in school or other activities, weight, food, or body image, and social media. You also may find yourself spending excessive amounts of time on these things to the detriment of other important values like friendships, hobbies, and things that make you happy. My approach to treatment is collaborative, warm, and goal-oriented. The types of therapy I use most in my practice are Dialectical Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral.
At the heart of psychotherapy is accompaniment through one’s inner world. Current difficulties, past struggles, individual and familial traumas, hidden hopes and dreams – all of this will be central to making sense of your present and building toward your future. Starting psychotherapy can feel intimidating, but the benefits can be huge: deeper self-understanding, more meaningful and authentic relationships, reduced depression and anxiety, increased self-confidence. I have worked with a diverse swath of undergrad and graduate students in college counseling centers, and have studied and taught at private and public universities across the country. My specializations include relationship struggles, family conflict and crisis, identity development, career direction, academic concerns, gender and sexuality, trauma, spirituality, creativity, chronic illness, immigration, and LGBTQIA+ issues in teens and adults. I am committed to meeting you where you are at in the therapeutic process, and I welcome exploration of racial, sexual, and gender identities. I am a Harvard Medical School Psychiatry fellow trained in psychodynamic, relational, cognitive behavioral, and mindfulness-based therapies, but I believe a strong sense of connection is the most important element in seeking a therapist. I encourage you to reach out to a number of practitioners to find a good match. I look forward to hearing from you.
My therapeutic approach centers on developing agency, working through uncertainty, and attending to how identity and context shape experience. I work from a psychodynamic relational framework, integrating cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. My treatment approach focuses on patterns in thoughts, relationships, and decision-making, with the goal of achieving a deeper self-understanding alongside symptom relief. I use what emerges in the therapeutic relationship, including discomfort, as meaningful data, while balancing structure and exploration to support both insight and practical change. I work with adults of all ages navigating mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder), anxiety, identity conflict, persistent relational patterns, life transitions, college adjustment, high internal pressure, and insomnia. I also have expertise working with individuals from immigrant families and clients navigating bicultural identities. I am an Asian American clinician with Korean heritage and consider how race, culture, identity, and background shape experience and the therapeutic relationship. I trained at Penn Outpatient Psychiatry, working with diverse adult populations across levels of acuity in a hospital-based, trauma-informed, relational, and psychodynamic setting.
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!
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.
Independent of my job at MGH/Harvard Medical School as a clinical psychologist, I see clients in my private practice (Psychological Care and Consultancy, PLLC). I have 20+ years of experience treating anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, grief and loss, adjustment difficulties, low self-esteem, relationship problems and family conflicts, and educational and occupational concerns. I also have extensive experience working with health professionals, high-functioning autism, mild TBI and cognitive problems. I provide culturally sensitive integrative therapy using evidence-based treatments - cognitive behavior therapy, exposure and response prevention, cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure, complex grief therapy, trauma-focused therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, attachment-based therapy, and intensive treatment for trauma, grief, and anxiety.
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.
Many people come to therapy wondering if they'll always feel this way. Anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, and complex PTSD can lead to automatic ways of thinking and responding that keep us feeling stuck. My approach focuses on helping you recognize these patterns without judgment, understand how they're affecting your life, and develop new ways of responding that create meaningful, lasting change. My treatment approach combines medication management with evidence-based psychotherapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and other evidence-based approaches, all tailored to your individual needs. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, PTSD, complex PTSD (C-PTSD), and dissociative disorders. I also work with clients experiencing academic stress, workplace stress, burnout, life transitions, relationship challenges, panic attacks, emotional regulation difficulties, and recovery from trauma. I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) providing psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy for college students, graduate students, university faculty, university staff, adolescents, and adults. I currently work in outpatient psychiatry, provide emergency psychiatric services at South Shore Hospital, and see clients in my private practice in Brookline. Whether you are looking for therapy, medication management, or both, I strive to provide compassionate, collaborative care that helps you move beyond symptom relief and create lasting change. I also enjoy collaborating with therapists and other healthcare professionals to provide coordinated care. I offer in-person appointments in Brookline and telehealth throughout Massachusetts. I work with clients from all backgrounds and strive to create a warm, supportive, and judgment-free space where you can be yourself. Together, we'll work to better understand what's been getting in the way, build practical tools to help you feel better, and create meaningful, lasting change. My goal is to help you feel more like yourself again—not just get through each day, but truly thrive.
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!
Integrated, individualized counseling, coaching, psychotherapy and psychopharmacology!
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 look forward to working with students who are motivated to feel -- and live -- better, whether from depression, anxiety, attention difficulties or adjustment challenges.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Current Daytime Openings for New Clients- Telehealth Have you been feeling stressed, overwhelmed, overall stuck, or experiencing difficulties with a transition? I would look forward to the opportunity to help. I am here to listen, support, and offer you tools. As a licensed clinical psychologist, I am committed to helping you improve your quality of life. My approach is compassionate, warm, and collaborative. I specialize in anxiety, phobias, panic, acute/chronic health conditions, adjustment to college difficulties, relationship difficulties, depression, tobacco cessation, and parent guidance. I specialize in working with adults of all ages (ages 18+). Sessions are tailored to each client's treatment goals. I utilize cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness, positive psychology, strength-based and acceptance and commitment techniques. Our sessions may include understanding the relationship between your thoughts, physical symptoms, coping responses, and emotions and implementation of tools that help you to feel better both in the short-term and long-term. Viewing clinician profiles can be overwhelming. I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation to answer any initial questions you may have and to assess if we feel I am a good fit. I offer therapy in English or Spanish, whichever is your preferred language. All clients representing a variety of sexual orientations, racial, or cultural backgrounds are welcome.
SAYFTEE is a socially conscious group practice offering a range of services including: family therapy, individual therapy, couple/relationship therapy, groups, workshops, training, consultation and supervision. We are committed to serving gender expansive and LGBTQI+ people and those who love them. We are especially passionate about providing a nurturing and supportive environment for youth and young adults to discover the most authentic version of themselves. SAYFTEE’s goal is to provide a safe place for connection that builds resilience to help strengthen families and communities.