Therapists for college students near 02138

Starting college can be an exciting time, opening so many new doors in terms of defining one’s identity and sense of purpose in life, as well as establishing a network of meaningful friendships. It however also involves letting go of one’s reliance on family and friends and engaging many new options which can be quite overwhelming. So many students start to experience anxiety or depression and begin to struggle with relationship or career concerns. I really enjoy working with college students during this complicated but promising period of their life, and helping them navigate the pitfalls and create an enriching experience for themselves. I have 20 years of experience and take an insight oriented approach to my work. I try to help people gain clarity about themselves and determine what is of real value to them so they can make better decisions and create a healthy and meaningful life experience for themselves.

I am a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW). My passion and focus is working with late adolescents and adults to navigate a wide range of issues including, work and school transitions, body image and food related matters, family conflict, depression, anxiety and general life stressors. My patients describe me as warm, direct and engaged. Finding a provider you're comfortable with can be an overwhelming process. I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation and typically recommend spending a few sessions to see if we work well together.

I enjoy working with college and graduate students and have had many students from the colleges in Boston and the surrounding areas. I assess and treat those struggling with symptoms of anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, relationship issues, social anxiety, and weight issues. My husband is a Taiwanese immigrant and as a mother of a biracial child I am familiar with acculturation and identity struggles. I've worked in multiple weight and pediatric/adolescent clinics and many of the Boston hospitals, as well as UMASS Medical Center Worcester, and often get the feedback that clients like that I'm specific with my feedback and suggestions and don't just nod my head. Well I know human behavior, you know you best, and working together I enjoy seeing my clients lives change and being a part of their growth.

Hi there! I'm Heather, a proud Nurse Practitioner. I have been in practice as a prescriber since 2023, and worked in the mental health field in various settings for more than a decade prior as an RN. I work across the lifespan and with a variety of conditions. (Please note that at this time I am not prescribing controlled substances.) I believe in shared decision making and a person-centered approach to care; we're a team! I have a kind but direct approach to discussions and am solution-focused. I believe that medications are a tool, not a fix, so we will talk about a variety of interventions to support your wellness. You can expect that I will ask about your goals for care, and life, and that we will work together to meet those goals. I will sometimes assign "homework" to continue interventions outside of sessions in addition to any medication changes we may decide to make.

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.

Work demands don't pause when life gets hard. If you are navigating a transition, workplace stress, or the lasting weight of grief or trauma while still showing up for work and family, you already know how exhausting this is. I am interested in helping you navigate these life transitions. I run a small, focused practice with evening and weekend availability, designed for students and young professionals. My background spans community health, trauma-informed care, and research.

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.

Please email me to schedule a consultation appointment. I am a licensed mental health counselor in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. My approach to therapy is unique, in that I can help you achieve answers faster to what has been blocking you, build the life you desire, and redefine yourself using a holistic approach. We will do this together by finding root causes to your symptoms using a comprehensive assessment questionnaire, attachment theory, and evidence-based mind-body approaches; that include meditation and somatic practices. I help my patients transform their lives, reach their goals, and achieve lasting results by providing high quality care. My intent is to address the challenges you are struggling with in connection to your symptoms and help bring awareness on how these symptoms are connected to limiting beliefs, subconscious programming, and/or trauma; that created a life that no longer aligns with who you are today and where you want to be. I value treating the whole-person. As we walk through this journey together, my hope for you, is to find fulfillment within yourself, healthier relationships, healing, and post-traumatic growth. I am accepting new patients at this time and have helped hundreds of people achieve the life they seek throughout seventeen years of work experience in the mental health profession. <script src="https://thrivingcampus.com/verified.js?pid=34863"></script>

In all my work with clients I provide a warm, safe and respectful environment based on collaboration and curiosity. When people contact me they often feel stuck or at a loss about how to proceed. They may be concerned about issues of self-esteem, satisfaction in relationships, or having difficulty managing stress in their work or school life. I use an active and interactive style in helping clients gain new ways to understand themselves and new tools to address problematic patterns of thinking, feeling, or behaving. I strive to be open-minded and non-judgmental in helping clients gain deeper understanding of the nature and underlying causes of the problems that bring them to me. I wish you the best in your search for a therapist and welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

College can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Whether you're dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, burnout, or major life changes, we're here to help. Our goal is to provide compassionate, personalized psychiatric care in a supportive, judgment-free space where you feel heard and empowered. Together, we'll create a treatment plan that fits your needs, supports your academic success, and promotes your overall well-being. We provide customized support and services particularly for students of color and those who are new to the country. We're glad you're here, and we look forward to partnering with you on your mental health journey. Nothing is impossible; as Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Reaching out to a therapist requires courage and readiness for wanting to make changes. Perhaps you are feeling trapped in your mind, maybe a tough circumstance forces you to face what is not working anymore in your life, or an inner pain becomes so loud that you can no longer ignore it. In my work, I strive to help you discover yourself, and look at patterns and habits that no longer serve you. My hope is to guide you to break free from what is holding you back to become who you truly are. My sessions are collaborative. I work with warmth and compassion and will attentively listen and share my thoughts. I specialize in understanding complex issues such as depression, anxiety and relationship problems. My approach is cognitive and strength based. I truly believe in the strength and resiliency to create meaning and direction in our lives. If you think I can help you, please email or call me and we will have a conversation to see if you are comfortable working with me. It would be an honor to help you in your healing process.

Are you seeking to understand yourself better? Are you looking to make sense of your relationship dynamics? Do you wish things were better, but you don't know how to get there? You CAN feel empowered by an expanding of your understanding, gathering insight, and educating the choices you make in how you decide to live your life. I work with couples, and adults to help make sense of obstacles, understand how relationship histories effect life today, and become more comfortable with themselves. This is done in an atmosphere where you are accepted for who you are. We can discuss your goals. Many people feel uncomfortable considering therapy as an option for themselves. It can be difficult asking for help, believing that asking for help means we are inadequate in some way. In a do-it-yourself culture, reaching out to others can cause us to feel like we are less than, but trying to meet our own needs is actually a strength. My clients often report that they have gained more insight into their lives, that they feel more at home within themselves and more capable of handling life's difficulties as they inevitably arise. Couples leave my office feeling like they understand themselves and their partner more clearly, and report greater relationship satisfaction.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

During my career of being a therapist for over a decade, I have found that the working relationship is pivotal for any change to happen in therapy. I take great care to foster a sense of emotional safety so exploration, processing, and developing new understandings and patterns of interaction with one’s self, others, and the world may take place. I enjoy working with undergraduate and graduate university students, young adults, and working professionals who experience difficulties with general distress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and ADHD. By using elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy, contemporary psychodynamic therapy, and emotional focused therapy I ally with people to aid them in learning more about themselves while dislodging obstacles that may be present in their lives and relationships. I am passionate about helping people who are currently feeling like they are struggling in their lives and working with them to achieve what they envision their life to be through either weekly individual or couple therapy sessions. If you desire to see lasting changes in your work, life, and your relationships, I encourage you to reach out to me, so we can talk more about what you are trying to achieve through therapy.

If you’ve been spinning your wheels for a while, you don’t need another person to just watch them turn. You need someone to help you figure out how to get some traction and move in a positive direction. I'm here to help you gain traction. My clients often feel lost in hard times: they've moved to a new place, have relationship issues, or feel stuck in the past. Whether it's something that just happened or something they've been dealing with for years, I help them find a path to improved well-being, gain a sense of purpose or meaning, and develop tools for greater resilience when life is harsh. My priority is always to build the best possible relationship with my clients. My training and experience with different therapy methods including, CBT, Positive Psychology, and EMDR allow me to support clients in many different places in their lives. All with the goal of making real changes so folks can live authentically happier lives. My practice welcomes and affirms folks from all kinds of backgrounds. I strive to be an ally for LGBTQIA+ folks and people of color. Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but let's have a 15 minute judgement consultation to see if we might be a good fit to work together.

My ideal client is someone who is ready and motivated to dive in head first into their healing journey. Someone who knows they have their “stuff” but really wants to explore where it all stems from. I love working with those clients who just trying to figure it all out in this life (I see you, Millennials) and who are navigating the transitions and curveballs that can be thrown our way. I love meeting the client where they’re at to begin with, but don’t be surprised when I push you a little bit. I’ve been told that I have a really great way of understanding mental health, but I’m also known not to sugar coat the realities. I am trained in EMDR (A trauma processing modality using eye movements) and other trauma informed care models to explore the aspects of our past and handle the bigger emotions that could come along with that. Being real and relatable is very important to me in my sessions as the therapist/client connection is what will drive this boat. As your therapist, I can promise to provide you the tools to step outside of your own head and connect the dots that answer the question of “Why am I the way that I am”? Therapy is not always easy and we need to be honest with ourselves with what’s holding us back, but I can promise to provide positive vibes and great support every single time we meet.

At Ocean Gem Psychological Care, we strive to provide outstanding clinical care to all of our patients and families. No two treatments have ever been exactly the same and that’s because of you! Each individual is unique, with distinct personalities, support systems, problems, and strengths. Each of these variables (and more) are important aspects to consider in our work together. While it is important that we discuss areas in your life that are problematic for you, we also strive to address areas of personal strength. One’s strengths may be used effectively in combating the negative aspects of one’s life and strength-based interventions can make therapy fun! We are eager to get to know you and to begin our work toward making you a healthier you!

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist and enjoy working with couples and individuals on relationship and other issues such as communication, conflict resolution, self-esteem, anxiety, stress, grief, anger management and depression. I have years of experience at various clinical settings. Other than my outpatient therapy work, I have an extensive experience providing wraparound service for families with children who have severe emotional and behavioral needs. I have worked for Elder Protective Services with elders who are neglected and abused. I have also provided psychiatric evaluation at emergency services and home-based family stabilization work for families with children who are in psychiatric crisis. I am flexible in using different therapeutic approaches to meet my clients' needs and styles. I believe a safe, supportive and respectful environment is important in the therapeutic process and hope to bring healing, transformation and growth throughout the course of therapy. I accept most insurances and have daytime and evening hours. I am bilingual in Cantonese and English and enjoy working with people from different cultural & ethnic backgrounds. I provide only telehealth sessions at this time. Please let me know what you want to work on and your insurance name if you are interested in services. If there is any crisis or emergency, please call 911 or use your local emergency room.

Due to the pandemic, I currently only offer telehealth visits.

What if getting better didn't mean spending years talking about everything that's ever gone wrong? I work with college and grad students to build real, lasting change by providing insight and skills that actually help. With over a decade of clinical work in the US and abroad, I've helped young adults manage anxiety, quiet the perfectionism and imposter syndrome that follow them into every exam and internship, while creating a healthy type of confidence that remains under pressure. My clients describe working with me as supportive, direct, collaborative, and nothing like what they expected therapy to be. We figure out what's driving the pattern. Then we work on changing it. I specialize in: anxiety, burnout and stress, low self-esteem, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. My approach pulls from CBT, ACT, Positive Psychology, and Mindfulness, grounded in a trauma-informed model. You don't have to have it figured out to start. Currently offering Online Therapy throughout Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Vermont, and Florida. Whether you are in Boston, NYC, or Denver, I am ready when you are.