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Bret Schermerhorn(He/Him/His)

(He/Him/His)
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC
Massachusetts
Depression-Personality disorders- Trauma-Mood disorders-Shame-Men's Issues & Identity Formation-
AboutSpecialtiesLocationsInsurance & Fees

Professional statement

Bret is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor working in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge, MA. Bret brings a history of working in diverse clinical settings to bear on the work he does with his clients. His range of experiences include in-patient psychiatric settings, partial hospitalization programs, college counseling centers, and the Massachusetts correctional system. He has worked with those seeking therapy for the first time, as well as folks who have experienced a lifetime of navigating the mental health system. Through each of those settings, one constant has remained in the work he has done, which is the conviction that healing only happens through establishing a meaningful and authentic therapeutic relationship.

Bret’s eclectic history has enabled him to develop a rich and integrated approach to collaborating with the people he forms connections with in his work. In his private practice, Bret works with adults college-age and older. His abiding belief is that in his work he is not working with a diagnosis or a set of symptoms, but with a person possessing a unique set of complex challenges that have encouraged them to seek assistance from a caring professional. As such, he feels comfortable working with a broad spectrum of therapeutic concerns. However, given his work in corrections, Bret has developed a unique capacity to connect with those who may be skeptical of the therapeutic process or struggled to find success in other therapies. Additionally, Bret specializes in working with young men who have difficulty forming meaningful connections, finding effective ways to express their emotions, and managing impulsivity and aggression towards themself and others.

Bret is currently available for in-person and online sessions


Message to clients

My belief is that all phases of life come with unique obstacles and opportunities for the development of deeper insight into what makes life meaningful to us. I find what often interferes with that meaning making process are deeply ingrained patterns of behavior, ways of connecting, and beliefs about who we are meant to be. These patterns create seemingly unresolvable tensions in how we relate to others, the world, and our self. My hope is that the work I do with my clients creates a safe, supportive, and challenging environment to explore where these patterns come from and how they continue to show up in day-to-day life.

My approach to therapy is informed by a belief in the curative power of a relational-experiential framework, bolstered by a foundation in cognitive and behavioral strategies. If you should chose to embark on this journey with me, you can expect to work collaboratively to identify your goals and determine the outcomes that are most valuable to you.

As stated above, I work with adults college-aged and older. I have experience working in a broad range of clinical settings with a variety of presentations. However, I find myself to be most effective working with depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and issues of identity development in men. I welcome hearing from you and look forward to sharing in this process together.


Licensure

Massachusetts: 13369

Languages

English

Specialties

Depression - Providing support and promoting healing of hopelessness, low motivation and energy, sadness, irritability, sleep disturbance, and loss of interest and pleasure in life

Personality disorders - Support reducing emotional suffering and addressing relationship challenges

Trauma - Coping and healing after threatening or scary events, such as witnessing accidents or experiencing sexual, verbal, emotional, or physical abuse

Mood disorders - Clinical depression, persistent depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders that cause disturbances in the client's mood, causing mood swings, restless sleep, and/or elevated mood

Shame - Exploring how shame shows up in one’s life and the origins of this shame, especially in specific situations or environments; processing through this shame and developing an empowerment to feel less ashamed in daily life

Men's Issues & Identity Formation - Specialty exploring issues related to anger, aggression, domestic violence, emotional suppression, and other areas rooted in socioculturally embedded aspects of identity formation in men.




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Young adults (18-24)

Locations & Hours

I will have openings becoming available for remote work on Tuesday mornings/afternoons, a biweekly Thursday afternoon appointment, or Fridays at noon starting in May.


Insurance

  • AllWays Health Partners (formerly Neighborhood Health)
  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA PPO
  • Boston College Student Health Insurance (UnitedHealthcare)
  • Optum
  • United Healthcare
  • United Healthcare Student Health Plan

Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions:$200 (50min)