Therapists for college students near Northeastern University

Accepting New clients for tele-health sessions only Born and raised in Boston the owner has intimate knowledge of the city and the challenges people living in the city can face. Beyond that the owner recognized the benefit of working with a therapist that looks and has shared experiences with the client. Boston offers a unique population of families, working professionals, immigrants, and college students from both in and out of state. Each therapist on this team fits in one or more of those categories ensuring their ability to understand where you are coming from and where you want to go. It is out of that philosophy that Through The Forest Counseling was created. We know that for clients to get the most out of each session, they should first feel comfortable not just with the therapist, but also with the surroundings. This plays a significant role in their overall improvement. Let us guide you to your destination of a healthier, happier life.

Many of the clients we work with are navigating significant transitions in life—whether it’s stepping into adulthood, healing from past trauma, managing anxiety or OCD, or exploring their identity. They often feel overwhelmed, self-critical, or like they have to “do it all” perfectly. They want space to feel heard, understood, and supported without judgment. In our practice, clients value real connection, honesty, and a therapist who feels present and engaged. They’re not looking for someone with all the answers—they’re looking for someone who will walk alongside them, help them understand themselves better, and offer tools that work in real life. Our clinicians care about people's stories and want to support clients in self-development by showing up authentically, building strong relationships, and exploring various clinical approaches, such as EMDR, IFS, ACT, and more. We look forward to supporting you.

My style is warm, empowering, and deeply collaborative. I work from the understanding that the therapeutic relationship itself is a powerful vehicle for healing, built on fostering genuine compassion and unconditional positive regard. I use an integrative approach tailored to clients’ unique needs, drawing from psychodynamic, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). My work is trauma-informed, integrating mindfulness, Liberation Health, and anti-oppressive frameworks, while emphasizing awareness and somatic experience. I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, identity concerns, relationship and family dynamics, and college adjustment. I specialize in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and individuals navigating chronic illness. I offer an affirming space for diverse identities and relationship dynamics. In addition to a Master of Social Work, I have a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies and a background as a health and wellness/biology teacher, which provides me with a unique understanding of the challenges students encounter in educational environments.

My practice focuses on helping people get to know themselves better and learn to cope with difficult thoughts and feelings that get in their way of moving forward with what they want. Helping clients clarify what they value and learn new behaviors that help them build a meaningful life is a main goal of my approach . I have over twenty years of experience and love working with college students who are feeling depressed, anxious, have trouble fitting in, managing stress and transitions. Cross-cultural issues, grief, and parenting are also areas of particular focus in my practice. I am a native Spanish-speaker and provide services in Spanish as well as English.

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.

We grow in relationships when we feel seen, responded to, and appreciated. My goal is to build a therapeutic connection together that enables you to work on challenges you are facing while also empowering you to feel more connected to yourself and others. I provide a curious, caring, collaborative presence in the hopes that our sessions offer a space to take a breath, experience your feelings, and explore. My therapeutic approach is grounded in relational cultural therapy and psychodynamic therapy. I also incorporate narrative, cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing in my work. I support clients experiencing mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, family and relationship issues, ADHD, grief, and identity exploration. I have experience working with college students, including first generation and international students, and educators. I welcome all clients including BIPOC, queer, trans, and gender-expansive individuals. I am a former educator and work from a strengths-based and trauma-informed perspective. I draw on attachment theory and systems theory to understand clients’ experiences in the full context of their lives, including how our identities, needs, and experiences are connected to our communities, cultures, and the broader forces that shape our well-being.

My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe and compassionate environment for all clients who are seeking support as they navigate life's challenges - especially those who traditionally have felt therapy wasn't for them. As a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) trained and Existentially oriented therapist, our work will gravitate towards processing your experiences and developing techniques to address the burdens in your life. We will also aim to increase your ability to make more informed decisions as you navigate moments of stress and suffering.

Over the past more than 10 years of practice in psychotherapy, I am always amazed by people’s resilience, their longing and efforts for something better. I feel privileged to be part of their journey. While I have worked in a variety of clinical settings, including 5 university counseling centers, I have deeply enjoyed working with college students and young adults during an important transitional period in their lives. I approach therapy from a strength-based, humanistic perspective which integrate Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), interpersonal process, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Emotional focused Therapy and mindfulness. I was born and grew up in China. Living in two different cultures has its own challenges and rewards. I learned to appreciate the richness of human experiences and cultures, also practice therapy through a multicultural lens. I am bilingual, provide psychotherapy both in English and Mandarin.

For people of all ages, difficulties in life may result from a lost connection with one’s internal experience. Psychotherapy offers the opportunity to attend closely to one’s thoughts and feelings in a safe, supportive environment. In child therapy, play is the primary mode of communication. Through play, children explore their internal world, rehearse for life, process past events, practice creativity, and learn to moderate themselves. As children begin to feel understood and understand themselves, their internal experience can become their guide to being in the world. In talk therapy with adolescents and adults, I offer a collaborative, exploratory space where together we will work to understand your personal experience and the roots of your distress. This process can lead to a deeper connection with oneself and to others. I have advanced training in psychodynamic psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and adults. I work with individuals struggling with a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, life transitions, identity issues, attentional problems, trauma, and relationship difficulties.

Bernice Ruiz has over 18 years of dedicated service to children, youth, and families as an educator then mental health therapist. Her treatment approach is tailored to each clients' unique needs with a focus on depression, anxiety, relationship issues and school related-issues. She’s collaborated in delivering national suicide-prevention programming and has supported incarcerated mothers after release. As a first generation Haitian-American, she has a particular interest in supporting international students and other first/second-generation students address the stressors of navigating the education system.

I offer specialized individual and group therapy for teenagers and young adults in Massachusetts, and I specialize primarily in trauma recovery, men’s mental health, and complex family & intimate relationship dynamics. I see patients both via virtual telehealth sessions and for walk-and-talk therapy sessions in nature when fitting. I am most experienced working with those coping with trauma, going through family challenges, grappling with their identity (e.g., men's/masculinity issues, faith and sexuality/coming out, racial trauma, social class), striving to be in healthy relationships, as well as those exploring therapy for the first time. I work from the belief that our relationships with others and ourselves can be a source of deep suffering as well as a powerful window into self-discovery, intimacy, and healing. Therapy with me is a blend of support, curiosity, humor, challenging honesty, and the freedom to be and feel just as you are. Reach out to see if I might be a good fit for you.

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.

Hello! I help clients seeking to become “unstuck,” to meet new challenges, and to navigate relationships and emotions. I help individuals with anxiety, relationships, stress management, self-esteem, and decision making. I primarily use techniques based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and I incorporate mindfulness practices if they appeal to the client. I am non-judgmental, warm, and active. I will strive to develop a nuanced understanding and appreciation of your values, needs, and struggles. We will clarify obstacles, evaluate coping strategies, identify personally meaningful goals, and develop skills necessary for a path forward. I have extensive experience with young adults, including those who are in undergraduate, graduate, and early career stages. I understand the unique challenges that this life stage presents and support clients as they navigate their identity, education, careers, and relationships. I also support young adults with time management, organizational skills, goal-setting, and planning. Please reach out for a consultation and to learn about working together.

I am passionate about reducing stigma around mental health and creating a supportive space for all clients. I strongly believe in meeting clients where they are and collaborating with them to create an environment that is most conducive to meeting their therapeutic goals. Additionally, I value the importance of trust in the therapeutic relationship, and I strive to understand my clients’ identities and experiences while exploring their strengths. My passion is working with young adults experiencing anxiety, general stress, interpersonal relationship and family challenges, as well as work or school challenges. I like to work collaboratively with clients, and I welcome open feedback around the therapeutic relationship and process. I am committed to self-reflection and growing in this field to better serve my clients and community. If you think I may be a good fit for you, please reach out. I understand starting therapy can be challenging, and I am here to help with the process. Additionally, many clinicians in our small practice are accepting new clients, and I am happy to provide a referral if you feel I am not be the best match for you.

Supportive Minds was founded by two clinicians passionate about providing community- and empowerment-oriented mental health services. We are a new specialty addictions/high-risk behaviors outpatient group practice that offers inclusive, harm-reduction-oriented addiction and mental health services. We service adult and adolescent populations that include traditionally vulnerable and underserved populations. We offer confidential and safe mental health services that are flexible and customized to our clients in the community, in our office space, or virtually on telehealth. We are trained in various evidence-based clinical models of care. We are a minority-owned business and proud to serve the people of Massachusetts. We at Supportive Minds, PLLC believe in creating entry points for access to high-quality mental health services, especially for vulnerable populations (BIPOC, LGBTQ, and women). We believe in providing evidence-based harm-reduction-oriented treatment and support for high-risk behaviors. We believe in our duty to care and see ourselves in the suffering of others so that we may collectively listen, understand, and when possible, offer support toward empowerment and change.

Gaia Zanna is an International, Bilingual Licensed Mental Health Psychotherapist & a Certified Clinical Supervisor, MCCS, in downtown Boston and South Natick. Originally from Bologna, Italy, Gaia has a deep understanding of different cultural backgrounds and the emotional complexity of adjusting to a new country. As a bilingual clinician, she offers sessions in English and Italian. Gaia specializes in anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family issues, infertility, loss, trauma, cultural and international adjustment. She uses a range of therapeutic eclectic approaches depending on the client's needs, including CBT, psychodynamic, cultural psychoanalysis, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, supportive therapy, DBT, IFS and narrative therapy. She is certified in the Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) technique, a trauma recovery therapy approach that focuses on helping clients release trauma from the body. She works on empowering women in different aspects of life and its challenges regarding relationships, fertility, loss, divorce, self-esteem, gender, identity, trauma, and work environment. Gaia received her Master Degree from the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis and completed her fellowship training in child and family psychology at the Boston Institute of Psychotherapy. She is currently completing her Doctoral dissertation in the Department of Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society Program at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. She strives to create a sensitive, warm, empathetic, nonjudgmental, inclusive and respectful space for all of her clients. Sometimes it is difficult and scary to make sense of feelings, learning how to manage them, and being able to find healthy ways to cope while creating and fostering self-awareness. Therapy is a safe space and a confidential grounding process that through time, consistency and working together will allow you to identify and develop a healthy voice to express thoughts and feelings. I strive to help clients understand their emotional conflicts, behavioral repetitions, and their inner-self by empathetically assisting them in working through emotional difficulties and life struggles. Feeling empowered in being proactive about our health and understanding the steps towards change is a powerful and vital process to feel seen and heard.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Life is full of uncertainty, changes, losses, gains, and growth. Some are expected, some are not. Therapy can help you give voice to your own narratives, make sense of experiences, better understand and embrace who you are, and empower yourself for meaningful changes. This is a journey to enhance relationship with self and others, to extend the sense of safety and belonging, to know the art of accepting and forgiving, to be in touch with resiliency, to move toward self-compassion, and to have the courage of fully being and thriving. Being bilingual, I do therapy in English and Mandarin, with specialties in cross cultural adjustment, identity development, interpersonal relationships, family issues, grief and loss. I enjoy helping individuals who are going through life transitions and needing help and support on battling self critic, experiencing marginalization, and being a POC in a PWI. Therapeutic relationship is dear to my heart. I approach therapy with respect, curiosity, empathy, thoughtfulness, and collaboration. My style is warm, relational, strength based, integrative with multicultural lens and mindfulness approach. If you are interested in learning more about my practice, or have any questions to me, please contact me by phone or email.

If anxiety, substance use, or a difficult period of transition is making it harder to live the way you want to, psychotherapy can help. I work with young adults who want more than advice or a place to vent while a therapist sits back and nods. Imagine a therapy that makes no direct attempt to reduce symptoms, but achieves symptom reduction as a by-product. Our work is about changing your relationship with painful experience and helping you live more fully in line with your values. I provide in-person psychotherapy in Cambridge and telehealth across Massachusetts.

I have loved working with students since 1987. The process of discovering one’s authentic self can be exhilarating and the rewards are exponential. My approach focuses on strengths, augmenting the health that is already present. Learning how to see one’s self (and the world) in this way is a courageous and creative process. By recognizing patterns in relating — to one’s self and others— there’s a clearer sense of what’s precious to you, what gets in the way, and how you can realistically be your best self. While I have experience with the whole range of human problems, I work well with folks who enjoy being playful and creative. I think laughing together in therapy is essential, for many reasons. My formal training is in intensive individual and family therapy specializing in trauma and adolescence. From 1994-2000 I ran the trauma service and psychology training on the adolescent unit at McLean Hospital, teaching and training Harvard residents and post-docs. I am psychoanalytically trained (PhD from University of Michigan, and I’m a graduate of Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute), but I have a deep appreciation for mind-body holistic health, I have also been a professional dancer and artist— which is probably why I favor creativity as the best coping strategy. You should probably know my dog is my co-pilot. Lucky, my goldendoodle, works with me and really loves his job, but if you'd rather we work alone that's ok too.