Therapists for college students near Boston College
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
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.
How may I help you? I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, board-certified, working in Coolidge Corner, Brookline providing psychiatric diagnostic assessment, medication management, and consultation. I offer Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday appointments 7 am-6 pm. I started my career as a school-based-support-team social worker in the South Bronx. I became increasingly interested in a Mind-Body practice and began teaching Yoga, fitness, and Pilates. This journey led me back to school where I earned an MSN and certified as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. My goal is to help you to increase joy and diminish suffering. I am a generalist working with adults. My clinical practice is client-centered, based on training, experience, and recommendations set forth by evidence-based care. I treat the symptoms, use medications conservatively. I encourage using workbooks as an adjunct or alternative to medication. Modern life presents many choices and challenges. Genetic and environmental stress, COVID-19 can be overwhelming. I offer my professional expertise to help you navigate through these challenges with awareness, compassion, and mindfulness. My sincere intention is to assist you in improving the quality of your relationships, work, and life. Please let me help.
I have immediate availability in my schedule! I love to help my clients gain insight into their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, build new skills, and use that enhanced self-awareness and skill to make meaningful changes in their lives. I take a strengths-based and collaborative approach that draws from a range of therapeutic modalities and is responsive to your needs and desires. I aim to bring warmth, humor, and authenticity to the therapeutic relationship. I love to work with college students and am a former counselor for the non-profit Bottom Line, where I supported first generation college students through any and all challenges that arose on their journey towards graduation and career readiness. I also enjoy working with people who are anywhere on their journey towards becoming parents or who are searching for greater wellness as parents.
College and graduate school can bring both exciting opportunities and overwhelming challenges. Whether you’re starting a new program and adjusting to multiple life transitions, navigating a new or ongoing ADHD diagnosis, managing stress, or working through relationship struggles, I aim to help provide a safe and supportive space to cultivate more clarity and resilience. As a therapist, I believe you are the expert of your own experience. My role is to collaborate with you, honoring your strengths while offering curiosity, compassion, and evidence-based tools. I provide a reflective space where you can explore challenges and gain insight, balanced with practical, solution-focused strategies you can use between sessions. My approach is strengths-based and growth-oriented—I aim to highlight what’s already working for you while supporting the changes you want to make. I know reaching out for therapy can feel like a lot, especially when you’re already juggling so much! I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to help see if we could be a good fit. You don’t have to figure this all out alone. I’d be honored to be a partner in your journey as you move toward a more balanced, intentional, and fulfilling future.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Many people struggle with various aspects of their lives, be it identity, relationships, work/school, or past experiences that affect how they feel and navigate the world. I work with many young adults who may seem high functioning at first glance but struggle with depression, anxiety, stress, or other emotional issues. I have particular experience supporting Asians and Asian Americans and other BIPOC people navigating issues of race, identity and culture. Talk therapy and medications can be a powerful way to help people process, make sense of, and change these patterns that hold them back from living the life they want.
I am licensed and able to practice in both Massachusetts and Maine. I have immediate openings for in-person and telehealth sessions, and offer free 10-15 minute phone consultations to discuss your goals, areas of needs, and see if you feel we would be a good fit! I have experience working with ages ranging from adolescents to older adults, with my current focus being on early adulthood, college students, and those working in the arts. I have extensive experience working with individuals experiencing substance use and recovery, as well as depression, anxiety, trauma, identity exploration, and life transitions. I use a humanistic and client-centered approach to promote trust and comfort within my sessions. I utilize therapeutic modalities including DBT, CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, and Harm Reduction. I encourage client feedback to assess what you are finding helpful within sessions, and tailor my approach to fit your needs. I believe in a collaborative approach between therapist and client, combining psychoeducation, skill building, empathy, and humor within my therapeutic framework. I am available to see new clients with BCBS, United Healthcare, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, Aetna or self-pay, and am happy to answer any questions you may have about starting therapy.
My approach to therapy is guided by the belief that healing and change occur in relation with others. I am committed to meeting people where they are, taking time to learn their unique needs and life experiences, and honoring their own self-knowledge. I strive to create a safe and contained space that fosters exploration and self-actualization. I draw from psychodynamic and relational therapies, while also integrating narrative therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). My style is warm, genuine, and collaborative, and I practice with a queer, feminist, and anti-oppressive lens. I work with adults of all ages to navigate a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, identity issues, life transitions, interpersonal struggles, grief, and loss. I specialize in working with complex and developmental trauma, relationships and attachment, and first-generation challenges and experiences. I have experience working in schools, colleges, and community mental health. My personal and professional experiences have informed my passion for working with individuals impacted by the carceral system. I also find joy in expanding and enriching the therapeutic experience through the use of music, theater, and other art forms.
I am a solution-focused therapist who meets clients where they are at with compassion, but also help to build strategies on how to cope with life. I incorporate a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing to help adolescents and young adults find healthy ways to work through stressors.
At Monomoy Health, we are looking to bring the humanity back to healthcare. We want to partner with you to ensure you get the help you need. We are a team of experienced therapists and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) who specialize in supporting college students dealing with Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder amongst other psychiatric conditions. We understand that balancing college life and mental health can be challenging. That’s why we offer personalized, evidence-based treatment plans designed to fit your unique needs and lifestyle. Whether you're managing the stress of coursework or dealing with personal issues, our team is here for you. Convenience is key, and our primarily telehealth services allow you to get the support you need from the comfort of your dorm or apartment. We also make it simple to get the care you need by accepting all major insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, Harvard Pilgrim, Mass General Brigham, Optum/United, and Tufts. At Monomoy Health, your mental health is our priority. Take the first step towards feeling better and enjoying your college experience and reach out.
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.
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.
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.
Starting therapy can feel like a nerve-wracking process. To ease this, I prioritize developing a genuine connection so that you can feel seen, heard, and valued in session. I believe that therapy is not a "one size fits all" practice. We all have different personalities, different histories, and different needs. My eclectic style as a therapist draws upon multiple therapeutic approaches and theories to better tailor treatment to you and your individuality. If you are interested in therapy centered on compassion, connection, humor, and authenticity- I am here to help!
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!
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.
I am committed to creating a collaborative and open-minded atmosphere where you can come to know yourself more fully. People often seek psychotherapy when they feel overwhelmed and have reached a breaking point. They want to feel more grounded in who they are and the choices they make. Therapy offers a dedicated space to identify, understand and eventually transform painful experiences that have lead to suffering and frustration. My approach is warm and engaged. I have experience working in varied settings (inpatient units, partial programs, and community clinics) and with adults from all walks of life many of whom have lived through various traumatic experiences. I particularly enjoy working with graduate students and first gen college students navigating life transitions. I deeply respect the courage it takes to come to therapy and I welcome hearing from you.
Welcome, my practice offers clients a safe, warm and confidential atmosphere. I tailor my approach to meet the individual needs of my clients. My approach is collaborative, supportive and empowering. I see adolescents, college students and adults. I routinely see students with major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, relationship issues, ADHD, adjustment to college, self esteem, marital problems, learning disorders and others I have worked as a Director of Counseling at 3 Boston Colleges and was in a fellowship program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. I am available early mornings, mornings and afternoons and some evenings.