Therapists for college students near Cambridge, MA

Thank you for considering working with me. I do both therapy and/or medication management. My approach is a team approach where I work collaboratively with you. Even if you have a therapist and need someone for just medication management, I like to get to know you as a whole. I try to avoid making students feel labeled and pressured to start a medication. I strive to make a welcoming environment for all students with diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ students. My private practice is mainly undergraduate and graduate students along with young adults recently in the workforce.

Welcome! Working with young adults is a specialty of my practice. I have helped endless university students navigate the very specific issues that come up during this time. Together we will work on finding your confidence and balance. Whether something is coming up for you that is specific to the here and now like a stressful academic period or a complicated relationship dynamic or rather a long term pattern you'd like to work on, I can help.

I have extensive experience working with clients in higher ed: undergrads, graduate students, and postdocs, as well as faculty and staff. As a past faculty member myself, I have a unique perspective on the social, academic, and cultural challenges that you may be facing. I can collaborate with you on issues related to adjustment, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, body image, relationship difficulties, sadness, stress, and expectations to perform under high pressure.

Hi, I'm Dr. Vlahakes and I'm happy to offer both individual and group counseling/therapy sessions! At this time I do have availability for new clients. Please use the contact information on this page to get started. FYI I'm part of a group practice called Brighter Life Therapy.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I specialize in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy; these approaches are particularly suited for such issues as coping with losses, reducing self-criticism, increasing relationship fulfillment and bolstering creativity. Often, I work with people whose prior therapy experience(s) was symptom-oriented or brief but who found themselves wondering if there is something more. I also often work with people in academia, such as graduate students and post-docs. I am particularly passionate about graduate student mental health and am aware of the unique stressors often faced by doctoral students, as well as the factors that make it more challenging to reach out for support. I am aware of the ways that concerns pertaining to identity, belonging and family of origin often begin to come to the fore when one finds themselves in a new environment and/or a new academic/professional endeavor.

I am a Harvard-trained physician who practiced Neurology for 25 years before completing a post-graduate psychotherapy fellowship to allow me to help others in a different way. This major life change informs my work as a psychotherapist. No matter where along our life’s path we find ourselves, and no matter how distressed, stuck or trapped we feel, we can always come to know ourselves more fully and to make changes in the service of a more satisfying, meaningful and fulfilling life. I practice a flexible style of psychotherapy tailored to each unique person or couple. Some prefer a shorter-term, more active therapy that focuses on making changes in the here and now. Others benefit from a longer-term, more self-directed exploration in a safe and supportive environment. Although my focus is on helping people meet their goals through therapy, I offer the option to prescribe adjunctive medication when needed. My aim is always to understand each person’s unique life experiences, beliefs, values and goals and to work with each person to promote enhanced self-understanding and freedom of choice in the service of a life that feels satisfying and meaningful. When working with a couple, my aim is to help the couple work through current relationship difficulties and, if both partners are invested in maintaining the relationship, to help them create a partnership where each feels safe, secure, valued and cared for.

Striving to balance the demands of modern life is an on-going process. We are ever evolving, discovering new parts of ourselves, facing challenges, confronting health issues, encountering loss, or adjusting to new situations--- it is part of the human condition. At times these demands are too much or too complicated to manage alone. Psychotherapy is both a relationship and a service. Finding a safe, supportive, and comfortable place are just some aspects of the therapist search. I welcome clients to meet with me to decide if my services fit their particular areas of concern. I try to provide a warm, safe and open environment with my clients and believe in a collaborative approach to help find resolution and a better understanding of yourself.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

College and graduate school can be times of great personal growth, but also times of great challenge. It can be overwhelming to adjust to new living situations, to figure out what you want to do and who you want to be, and build and maintain relationships, all while trying to get your work done. Carrying the weight of it all can feel heavy…and I would love to help you feel less alone. Together we can examine the tough questions and situations. You can have a place to put everything down, rest, and feel okay with not having it all figured out yet.

Starting treatment with a new mental health provider can be daunting: it involves opening up with the hope that you'll learn and grow from the experience. I have tremendous respect and admiration for my patients, as they work through challenging emotions, histories, and conflicts. At times, certain thought patterns, self-perceptions, traumatic experiences, or communication struggles can keep people from thriving and building the kind of career, relationship, or personal well-being they crave. It takes courage to work on these issues, and it is a real privilege to get to help people on their journey. I am a Harvard-trained, board-certified psychiatrist providing psychotherapy and medication management to adults in Massachusetts through telehealth. Growing up in an immigrant family and having worked in multiple clinics internationally, I highly value providing culturally competent care. It is very important to me that my patients feel seen and heard. I use a collaborative, holistic approach to care, in which I work alongside clients to define and set goals. I am transparent about the extent of what is and isn't well-known in psychiatry with the goal of helping people make informed decisions that they feel comfortable implementing. If this approach sounds like a good fit for you, please reach out!