Compassion Focused Therapists in Cambridge, MA

Getting started with therapy, looking within ourselves, our relationships and world can be really scary and challenging. My goal always is to be a supportive, comforting and warm guide as you do that exploration. I truly believe we internally possess all the tools inside of us to grow and heal but we all need a little help sometimes to find it. I like to take a direct, humorous and kind approach to our work and love gentle accountability and dual transparency. Hablo Espanol y ofrezco servicios en Espanol para individuales y parejas.

Natasha Bavolar is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with athletes and young adults on topics of identity development, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, suicidality, intimate and familial relationships, and disordered eating. Natasha completed her Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Johns Hopkins University. Natasha has 10 years of experience in the mental health field, working with a variety of ages and presentations in multiple settings, from inpatient to after-school programming.

I work with adults who struggle with anxiety, OCD, mood, life transitions, parenting young children, and self-worth. I draw on CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy), ERP (exposure and response prevention), mindfulness, self-compassion, and other evidence-based approaches to tailor therapy to the values, goals, and preferences of my clients.

My ideal client is open and receptive to change, willing to address the past, and ready to heal forward. They are persistent and committed to understanding healing as a journey. They are looking for support and guidance in a safe, trusting space that will allow them to learn how to live a more fulfilling life.

Welcome! With over 25 years of experience working with people of all ages as a trauma and grief therapist, I have helped individuals and families learn to cope with a wide range of issues including partner loss, anxiety, depression, family conflict, complex trauma and sexual assault. I provide parent guidance and coaching for caregivers who have children with challenging behaviors and special needs. I have expertise with foster, kinship and adoptive families. I offer therapy to tweens, teens and young adults who may need support with life transitions and relationships. My work with clients is always collaborative and strength-based.

Welcome! 'Traveling Inward' is the name of my practice. Together, we can travel to the many beautiful, often challenging, and ever-changing emotional landscapes that are seeking your attention and acceptance. I am currently ONLY accepting couples for therapy through the Couples Center of the Pioneer Valley. I welcome and often work with multicultural, LGBTQ+, and ethically non-monogamous couples. I also offer pre-marital counseling sessions.

I am a Clinical Social Worker with 30 years of experience. My goal is to build a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust and safety. My style is active, compassionate and collaborative. With a focus on active listening and curiosity, I believe healing happens. I have experience working with those who want to develop both a strong sense of themselves so that they can have healthier relationships and a more fulfilling quality of life.

What stands between you and your Happiness? I welcome you as we develop trust and explore what is getting in the way of you experiencing a more satisfying life. I have been privileged to work with children, teens, and adults with a wide variety of family histories. Often our childhood experiences play a big part in how we develop as adults. Post COVID 19, some have a new set of fears and real issues regarding work, health, and relationships. I have specialized and trained with ADD, Depression, Trauma, and, Anxiety, and there are many tools (Mindfulness, CBT, Compassionate Inquiry) that we can explore to see which is most supportive.

I am able to create a warm, comfortable space through active listening along with genuine curiosity to establish a feeling of ease within the therapeutic relationship. I aim to create a collaborative environment in which you are the expert of your own experiences.

My ideal client is someone who is experiencing anxiety, depression, and the effects of trauma. Ideal clients experiencing these challenges will want to grow, utilize self-reflection, and find ways to cope with personal challenges. Goals could include establishing and maintaining relationships, practicing coping skills, changing behaviors, healing from trauma, and building positive habits. By incorporating CBT and DBT techniques, I will help you develop healthier thought patterns, establish and maintain healthy relationships with yourself and others, and develop skills to manage and tolerate stress.

*Please note I am currently taking clients for telehealth only as I have recently relocated to Western Massachusetts.* I am licensed in Massachusetts and Kansas and am a registered telehealth provider in Florida, meaning I can work remotely with clients who reside in any of these states.

My Ideal client: 36 yo male, divorced, with two children. The patient was incarcerated 16 years, due to drug addiction/trafficking. He spent his early childhood living with his mother and father, who sexually abused him. They were also addicted to drugs due to their childhood experiences of being abused. The patient's parents also prostituted him in exchange for drugs for others. The patient turned to drugs to escape the pain, embarrassment, and overall trauma from his childhood. He now wants sobriety and to overcome his trauma, which includes flashbacks and negative self-image, self-hatred, and hatred of his parents.

Eliza Kaplan, LCSW (she/her/hers) is a clinical social worker who specializes in working with teens and adults, particularly those struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, and relationship issues. She takes an approach that is rooted in compassion and curiosity, and balances helping clients build insight and providing them with directive feedback when needed. She is particularly adept at at people who are feeling stuck in their lives and overwhelmed on how to move forward.

I strive to offer connected, creative, and effective psychotherapy for clients who are working through a life transition, managing anxiety, depression, or other difficulties. I work to build upon an individual's resilience and strengths to help them move forward.

Adeline Dettor is dedicated to empowering couples, young adults in their twenties, and working professionals to break free from the grip of painful emotions and unproductive relationship patterns. Her expertise with grief, anxiety, depression, and trauma are accompanied by an approach to therapy that creates space for curiosity and for seemingly small and inconsequential observations to grow into life-altering insights.

My ideal client still chooses to show up regardless of their ambivalence towards their treatment goals. Even if this person is not entirely set on treatment, recovery, whatever it might be, your next steps can decide whether or not that individual returns. If I'm thinking more specifically about my own experience, I think a lot about the individuals I supported who were actively using substances. They could identify the harmful impacts and want recovery but couldn't get through their initial ambivalence. These types of moments and individuals are so important to me.

I enjoy working with couples, the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of color, children, families, those of various cultural backgrounds, those with anxiety and depression, and those navigating life stressors or geographic moves. I like working with clients who are ready to work authentically on stated goals.

Any client that seeks an experienced, skilled and empathic clinician is my ideal client.

My clinical orientation primarily emphasizes psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy approaches and is rooted in relational and person-centric models. I have advanced training in psychodynamic approaches as a Fellow at the Boston Psychoanalysis Society and Institute. My style is eclectic and I derive techniques from a comprehensive range of approaches, including solution-focused, narrative, multicultural and expressive models of psychotherapy. I recognize that there are cultural limitations inherent to each of these approaches and endeavor to tailor the therapeutic experience to respect clients’ diverse backgrounds.