Existential-Psychoanalytic & Philosophical Psychotherapy

I offer existential and psychoanalytic informed psychotherapy and provide supervision for clinicians throughout Massachusetts.

In-person therapy in Cambridge, Massachusetts | Telehealth available throughout Massachusetts

For adults seeking depth, clarity, and meaningful change

Therapy can be a place not only to relieve symptoms, but to think carefully about how one is living, relating, and understanding oneself. I work with adults who are thoughtful, curious, and often grappling with questions that do not lend themselves to quick answers—questions about identity, purpose, anxiety, relationships, and the direction of one’s life.

My approach is informed by existential and psychoanalytic traditions, emphasizing careful attention to experience, language, and meaning. Rather than offering techniques or solutions, the work centers on developing a deeper understanding of how you inhabit your life and the patterns—emotional, relational, and philosophical—that shape it.

For those drawn to this kind of work, therapy can be challenging, reflective, and ultimately grounding. It is a space where complexity is welcomed, not reduced.

Areas of Focus

I work with adults and emerging adults around concerns including:

Anxiety and chronic unease

Life transitions and periods of uncertainty

Questions of identity, purpose, and meaning

Relationship and interpersonal difficulties

Emotional patterns that feel difficult to name or understand

Supervision & Consultation for Clinicians

In addition to clinical work, I provide supervision and consultation for clinicians interested in deepening their engagement with existential and psychoanalytic approaches. My work with therapists often focuses on cultivating greater conceptual clarity, tolerance for complexity, and attentiveness to the philosophical dimensions of clinical practice.

Supervision is especially well suited for clinicians who are looking for a thoughtful, dialogue-based process rather than a purely technical or manualized approach.

About the Practice

My work is shaped by ongoing study at the intersection of psychotherapy and philosophy, including sustained engagement with existential-psychoanalytic thought. I draw from experience across a range of clinical settings, including psychiatric facilities, college counseling centers, and work with individuals navigating high-pressure professional environments.

More about my background and approach can be found on the About page.

Thoughts on the Use of AI in Psychotherapy

Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping how we think, work, and relate, including within mental health care. I approach the use of AI in psychotherapy thoughtfully and ethically—as a tool that can, in some cases, support reflection, insight, and clinical thinking, but never replace the therapeutic relationship itself. I welcome working with individuals interested in exploring how AI-informed tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc) may be integrated collaboratively and responsibly into the therapeutic process.

Getting in Touch

If you are interested in beginning therapy or exploring supervision, you are welcome to reach out by email:

bretschermerhornlmhc@gmail.com