Therapists for college students near Boston, MA

I specialize in working with young adults and adults navigating anxiety, trauma, identity concerns, and major life transitions. Many of my clients are managing high expectations—whether external or internal—that leave them feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected. I offer a space to explore painful emotions, heal from past experiences, and reconnect with your values to build a life that feels grounded and meaningful.

Many people seek out psychotherapy to decrease unwanted experiences; to feel less depressed, feel less anxious, etc. While I work with clients to address these concerns, I also help to identify what we can increase together. What are your values? How can we work together to add more to your life consistent with those values? As a solo practitioner, I deliberately maintain a small client caseload to ensure I am fully able to attend to my clients’ needs. My areas of expertise include treatment of depression, anxiety, and interpersonal difficulties in adults. As a university professor, I genuinely enjoy working with college students. I believe in a collaborative approach to psychotherapy. I place a high premium on the therapeutic relationship, and work to tailor my interventions to my clients’ goals and preferences. I tend to use a relational style to help identify interpersonal patterns and supplement this approach with behavioral strategies in the service of your values. I recognize that your time and money are valuable, and I believe in regular and open communication about what is and is not working in psychotherapy. I regularly incorporate routine outcomes measures in therapy to ensure that our work together is on track with your goals and to change our approach together if it is not.

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.

College years can bring about unexpected challenges that many people don't feel prepared for. From being away from home, managing your classes, extra curricular and having a social life this time can be a lot to manage. If you're noticing increased worrying to the point where you feel frozen, increased sadness, and decreased desire to do things which you once enjoyed, therapy might be supportive to you. I can support you in managing the worries, sadness, and stress you're feeling in order to have a more enjoyable college experience.

I am a Clinical Psychologist and a psychoanalyst, specializing in work with individuals suffering from mood disorders, addiction, trauma, and identity issues. I have a sensitivity for the dilemmas of young adults as they struggle to find "true self" expression integrated with the demands for compromise and conformity they face, both externally and internally. Please visit www.youngadults.com to learn more about my approach and practice.

You often wish you felt better about yourself, didn't get so easily overwhelmed, and could handle conflict but aren’t even sure where to start. You’ve found yourself questioning if you should talk to someone. You’ve come to the right place! College life is full of changes and challenges. Even if they are good, changes can sometimes be more than we have bargained for and create a lot of stress and anxiety. Through their work with me, my clients have experienced feeling less overwhelmed by emotions, found effective ways to handle conflict with others (like roommates and partners), felt more connected/present, and gained more confidence in themselves. My clients describe me as welcoming, witty, direct, knowledgeable, and relatable. My style of therapy is very collaborative and conversational as I share tools that you can use in between our sessions. You can reduce the amount of anxiety you experience. At the very least, I can help you manage it in a different way that is less disruptive to you, your relationships, and achieving what you want to in school.

In my work with individuals experiencing substance-related challenges, I have found that a direct, solution-focused approach is often effective in creating meaningful change. At the same time, it is important to explore and understand the underlying reasons substance use exists and the needs it is attempting to meet. I approach this work from a non-judgmental perspective that emphasizes acceptance and self-compassion. By helping clients understand these patterns and develop healthier thoughts, coping strategies, and behaviors, the goal is to support lasting change, greater self-acceptance, and improved overall well-being. My clinical style is direct and solution-focused. Since 2012, I have developed extensive experience in both medication-assisted treatment and community mental health settings. I have been a licensed clinician since 2015 and hold a Master’s degree in Counseling. My primary therapeutic approaches include MI, ACT and CBT/DBT From the first session, my goal is to begin an open and honest dialogue to better understand the client’s goals, needs, and personal style. I also encourage a collaborative process that is open to discussion and feedback. Together, we work to develop a thoughtful and purposeful course of treatment that supports mindfulness, meaning, and overall well-being.

Inevitably, life presents difficulties, and can be challenging for many different reasons. Sometimes the things that bring people to therapy are very specific: perhaps a major life transition has become overwhelming, or certain patterns within a relationship are starting to take a toll. Pressures in some particular setting, whether it is at school, at work, or at home, may be feeling too difficult to navigate alone. Other times, people come to therapy a little less certain, feeling confused and unsure about where their life is headed, wanting something more. It’s not always easy to answer the question, “What brings you here?” People tend to doubt their inner strengths, and don’t quite realize how many resources they in fact possess. I have found that, though conversation with a trusted person, people can more easily identify and then build on those strengths. In my work with children, we often talk about expanding their “toolbox,” so that they have the skills to better manage overwhelming emotions and navigate complicated social situations. With teenagers and young adults, we often find ourselves talking about questions of identity development - the process of learning about who we are, how we got there, and what we want for ourselves moving forward. I see growth and development as a lifetime process, and, in my work with adults, we address all these issues in increasingly varied and complex ways, while also working together to navigate complex challenges presented by a world that can be arbitrary and unfair. My past experiences, doing individual and family therapy with people of all ages, of diverse backgrounds, and difficult, sometimes traumatic histories and life circumstances, have engendered within me a core belief that with the right support and collaboration, it is possible to make meaningful and long-lasting changes.

College is often described as the best time of your life—but for many students, it can feel overwhelming. The pressure to succeed academically, navigate social dynamics, and figure out who you are can be a lot to carry on your own. You don’t have to. I offer a supportive, low-pressure space where you can stop performing and start processing. Whether you’re stressed about exams, anxious about the future, feeling lonely in a crowd, or simply burned out, I understand the unique challenges college students face. My approach is designed to help you manage anxiety and burnout without adding more to your already full schedule. Therapy doesn’t have to mean you’re in crisis. It can simply be a place to gain tools, build resilience, and create more balance during this pivotal time in your life. From imposter syndrome to difficult relationships to constant stress, we’ll work together to make college feel more manageable—and more meaningful. Let’s make therapy a supportive, sustainable part of your week.

I specialize in providing therapy to students who are experiencing life transitions and/or have been impacted by serious illness and/or chronic illness in their lives. Therapy is focused on helping you as you adjust, cope and navigate your unique situation by providing support and guidance. I utilize a variety of modalities including, Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfullness, Grief Therapy and others to tailor each session to your needs.

Are you easily distracted at school or work? Are you having difficulty adjusting to a new environment, relationship, identity, or phase of life? Are you navigating your sexual orientation/gender identity? Do you overanalyze social interactions or struggle to connect with others? I have been a practicing Licensed Mental Health Counselor for 5 years and have experience working with adults in multiple settings including college counseling, community mental health, private practice, and case management. I work with adults who struggle with anxiety/panic, social anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions/adjustment, family/peer/romantic relationship concerns, and have a passion for working with young adults and college students. As a queer-identified therapist, I am fiercely dedicated to working with clients in the LGBTQIA+ community, and affirming of kink and ENM/polyamory as well. As a therapist, my most important attribute is the ability to help clients feel heard and understood, using empathy and compassion. Everyone has a story. By sharing yours, I can help you make connections between past and present, which can aid you in gaining insight into patterns, behaviors and beliefs that may be getting in the way of meeting your goals. If you feel that my experiences align with your needs, please feel free to reach out. It's important to find a therapist you feel comfortable with in order to share without hesitation. If we end up working together and you feel that we are not vibing, I am also a case manager and will be happy to help you find another therapist. I look forward to hearing your story!

Hi! Please, don't let my name scare you- I am not *that* kind of Karen. Are you struggling with worry, lack of motivation, inability to sleep, feeling disconnected from friends and/or family? I work with people, such as this, who may have anxiety, depression, PTSD, women's issues, attachment and identity concerns. As an adoption competent therapist, I also work with adult adoptees to navigate post- adoption experiences that arise and impact our life (self- included!). We will untangle your issues together so you learn how to cope more effectively. My approach is relaxed, not stuffy, and I tend to swear a lot, full disclosure. Everyone deserves mental health care so please contact me!

College can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. You don't have to navigate stress, anxiety, depression or medication concern on your own. As a Psychiatric Mental Health provider, I support college students with personalized mental health care and medication management to help you stay balanced and succeed academically and personally. I offer convenient virtual appointments in the evenings on weekdays and midday to afternoon on weekends. You can reach out through email, my website, or by phone to get started.

Ian Matthews, PMHNP-BC is an ANCC board certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner treating adults ages 18-64 years old. He graduated from Vanderbilt University’s MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. Ian aims to establish a collaborative relationship with his patients through understanding their unique story, which considers their unique biological, psychological, and social factors. This understanding allows for the application of an individualized treatment approach through evidenced-based medication management and supportive psychotherapy. Ian offer treatment for general psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar mood disorders, ADHD, OCD, PTSD/trauma, and insomnia.

I provide a warm, inclusive space for individuals to navigate life’s transitions, intergenerational trauma, mental health conditions, and identity development. As an Afro-Latina bilingual therapist, I am deeply committed to honoring the intersectional lived experiences of my clients. My approach is culturally responsive and rooted in social justice, ensuring you feel seen and respected without having to "translate" your cultural reality. Together, we will co-create a path toward healing that feels authentic to who you are.

Dr. Brieger is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist based in Boston, MA. She is passionate about getting to know her patients’ unique backgrounds and working together to develop plans that are both evidence-based and practical. Her clinical interests include adolescents, young adults, and women’s mental health, as well as mood, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Dr. Brieger offers medication management, psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and combined medication management and therapy. She received her MD and PhD from the University of Michigan Medical School and School of Public Health before completing residency training in Adult Psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School. Currently, she is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital.

With over a decade of experience, Dipesh Patel helps adults navigate anxious thoughts, career curveballs, confidence slumps, parenting puzzles, infertility/family building stress, dating detours, and LGBTQ+ concerns. He believes therapy should create momentum—measurable progress, clearer thinking, and lasting change that resonates beyond the session. His mantra is that therapy, good therapy, should create some sort of movement. Whether it’s helping you create actual, tangible change in your life or helping move along an internal conversation that you can’t seem to make progress in.

Welcome! Are you experiencing daily stress or life adjustments? I am Stephanie Okojie, an experienced licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), but I'm always still learning! My main focus is on helping people live more positive, meaningful lives, so they can be empowered to live their best life! I offer a safe space where you can be fully heard, without judgement. I have immediate openings and take many major insurance plans. If this sounds like a good fit, hit the contact button and we can schedule a free consult or an initial appointment. I look forward to hearing from you!

I help people alleviate uncomfortable feelings, gain insight, and increase coping skills to overcome stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues and life transitions (such as relocation, school, career transitions). Part of being human means that you will struggle at some point with unproductive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, or unexpectedly have to manage something life throws your way. People I work with are motivated to develop skills to increase their self-confidence, communication, decision making and boundary setting skills. As well as optimize their emotional health/ well-being and are seeking tools to assist them in the process. I take an active and collaborative approach to help create tangible strategies to deal more effectively in the moment with difficult experiences and feelings. In addition to helping people alleviate current pain points, I assist in obtaining skills to develop a wellness practice that will be beneficial beyond sessions. My approach is person-centered and informed by evidence-based practices, including Lifestyle Medicine (nutrition, physical activity, sleep hygiene, and stress management), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Practice and Solution Focused Therapy. My goal is for you to leave each session feeling empowered and in control of their life.

Hey Hey Hey! I’m Lenora Benson (She/Her/Hers), LICSW and I support black and ethnic minority women, in navigating the challenges and expectations imposed on them by the fallacy of the strong black women. I support all women in navigating the social expectations, stressors, and demands of being woman, as they intersect in all areas of racism, sexism, and patriarchism. I believe in the transformative power of therapy, because it has transformed me personally. As your therapist, I provide a safe, supportive, and judgement free space for you to explore your emotions, heal from past wounds, and journey from darkness to the light. My goals are to help those struggling with low self-esteem, people pleasing tendencies, and high-achieving perfectionism, dismantle the beliefs that keeps them stuck in patterns of behavior that leave them feeling like imposters; never good enough, never smart enough. Working with me will allow you to begin to make decisions for yourself that leave you feeling loved, worthy, and empowered.