Aviva Psychology Services
Therapist in Somerville, MA
Doctoral-level therapy for adults in Somerville and Greater Boston. Every psychologist at Aviva Psychology Services holds a PhD or PsyD. We see adults 18 and older, virtually across Massachusetts and in person at our Northampton and Boston offices, and we are currently accepting new clients.
Therapy for Adults in Somerville and Greater Boston
There are three-deckers, a square every mile, and a population that skews toward people building something. That is the appeal and also the pressure. When the block is full of people with a band, a start-up, or a thesis, an ordinary hard year starts to feel like falling behind.
You might be paying for one room in a shared apartment on a salary that reads well and does not stretch. You might have moved here for the density and the noise, then noticed you have not made a close friend in two years.
Rents climbed faster than wages, so a lot of people are working more hours to stay in a place they chose for the life it was supposed to allow. The distance between the plan and the actual week is worth talking about before it becomes the whole story.
What Brings People to Therapy
Very few people arrive with one clean problem. Concerns overlap and feed each other. Worry keeps you up, poor sleep makes the next day harder, and by the third week it is hard to say which came first. These are the concerns we hear most often.
- Persistent worry takes up more of the day than you want it to.
- You feel flat or numb, and the things that used to matter do not land.
- Memories or reactions from something that happened keep interrupting the present.
- Obsessive thoughts or rituals are taking up time and attention.
- Grief has changed shape without loosening its hold.
- The same conflict with a partner or a family member keeps repeating.
- Questions about identity, values, or belonging remain unsettled.
- A chronic illness, a disability, or ongoing pain has reorganized daily life.
- Sleep has become unreliable, and the days are harder because of it.
- Pregnancy, postpartum, or fertility treatment has brought more than you expected.
If your situation is not listed here, we may still be a good fit. You can describe your concerns when you reach out.
Evidence-Based Care From Doctoral-Level Psychologists
Every provider at Aviva has completed doctoral-level clinical training and holds a PhD or PsyD. Doctoral-level psychologists complete extensive graduate and supervised clinical training, including a full-year predoctoral internship and, in some cases, postdoctoral training.
That training shows up in how a course of treatment gets built. Our psychologists practice cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, internal family systems, psychodynamic therapy, and relational-cultural theory. Individual, group, and relationship formats are all available. The approach is chosen for the person in front of us. No two clients receive exactly the same approach.
Aviva is unwaveringly LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC welcoming. We treat identity and context as part of the clinical picture rather than as something handled separately.
Why Unsteady Income and Shared Walls Get in the Way
When work arrives in contracts, benefits arrive in pieces, and therapy gets filed under discretionary spending. It becomes the first line cut when a client goes quiet, which means care stops just as the stress peaks.
The second obstacle is physical. In a shared apartment with thin walls and roommates on staggered schedules, there may be no room where a private conversation stays private. Clients take sessions from a car or an empty office after hours.
That kind of strain deserves serious clinical attention.
How to Get Started
Getting started is the hardest part for most people. Here's what to expect:
Step 1: Submit an inquiry
Complete our brief form at avivapsych.com/contact. You don't need to know exactly what you're looking for before reaching out.
Step 2: Connect with our intake team
Our intake coordinator will reach out to discuss your needs, answer questions about availability, and assess if we have a fitting opening in the practice.
Step 3: Begin your first appointment
Your first 2-4 sessions are an exploration of fit and a whole lot of information gathering. Together, you and your psychologist will create a treatment plan to reach your goals.
In-Person and Online Sessions for Somerville
Most clients here work with us by video. Sessions run through a secure platform at a consistent weekly time, and an appointment does not depend on the T running as scheduled. Teletherapy is available to anyone located in Massachusetts at the time of the session. When meeting in person matters, our Boston office at 112 Water Street is a Red Line ride from Davis or Porter and a Green Line ride from Union Square, followed by a short walk. We also work with adults in Cambridge, Medford, Everett, Arlington, and Charlestown. All services are provided by licensed psychologists authorized to practice in Massachusetts. Aviva is not a crisis service. If you need immediate help, call or text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy in Somerville, MA
Do you have an office in Somerville?
We do not have a physical office in Somerville. We provide teletherapy for anyone located in Massachusetts, with in-person sessions available at our offices in Boston and Northampton. Many clients in Somerville choose virtual sessions for convenience and consistency.
Do you work with adults in creative and contract work?
Yes. Our clients include people in the arts, in nonprofit roles, and in contract and start-up work where income and schedules vary. Session frequency and format are decided with you rather than fixed in advance.
Do you see children or teens?
No. Aviva works with adults 18 and older. Short-term parent coaching is available for adults raising children at any age.
Do you accept insurance?
We are in network with some plans and can bill as an out-of-network provider for others, and we can provide superbills for reimbursement. Because coverage varies by plan, our billing team can verify your benefits and give you an estimated per-session cost before you start. Ask for a benefits check when you submit the contact form.
Support Is Available for You Here in Somerville, MA
Psychological care at this level is available here, online and in person at our Northampton and Boston offices, for adults in Somerville and across Massachusetts. The next step is a conversation.
