Locations Boston Area Therapists Gaia Zanna

Gaia Zanna

Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC

Massachusetts Waitlist Online

Boston Not Accepting In-person

Updated September 9, 2020

Specialties & Expertise

Emotional complexity of adjusting to a new city or country
Different cultural backgrounds
Trauma recovery
Anxiety
Depression
Relationship challenges
Sessions in English and Italian
Women’s mental health and empowerment

Self-esteem
Family issues
Life transitions
Existential challenges
Loss and grief
Academic issues
Bipolar disorder
LGBQ and sexuality topics

Professional statement

Due to the current traumatic, uncertain and triggering social situation, Gaia is offering free, 30-minute therapy sessions to individuals affected by the coronavirus and family members of individuals affected by coronavirus and anyone in need of support and emotional safety.

Gaia Zanna is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in downtown Boston. Originally from Bologna, Italy, Gaia has a deep understanding of different cultural backgrounds and the emotional complexity of adjusting to a new country. As a bilingual clinician, she offers sessions in English and Italian.

Gaia specializes in anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family issues, trauma, and cultural adjustment. She uses a range of therapeutic approaches depending on the client's needs, including CBT, psychodynamic, motivational interviewing, supportive therapy, DBT and narrative therapy. She was recently certified for Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM), a trauma recovery therapy approach that focuses on helping clients release trauma from the body. She is currently working on empowering women in different aspects of life and its challenges regarding relationships, fertility, divorce, self-esteem, gender, identity, self-esteem, trauma, and work environment. She is also leading a support group for new moms.

Gaia received her Master Degree from the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis and completed her fellowship training in child and family therapy at the Boston Institute for Psychotherapy. She is currently completing her Doctorate Degree In Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. She strives to create a sensitive, warm, empathetic, nonjudgmental, and respectful space for all of her clients.

Message to clients

Sometimes it is difficult and scary to make sense of feelings, learning how to manage them, and being able to find healthy ways to cope while creating and fostering self-awareness. Therapy is a safe space and a confidential grounding process that through time, consistency and working together will allow you to identify and develop a healthy voice to express thoughts and feelings. I strive to help clients understand their emotional conflicts, behavioral repetitions, and their inner-self by empathetically assisting them in working through emotional difficulties and life struggles. Feeling empowered in being proactive about our health and understanding the steps towards change is a powerful and vital process to feel seen and heard.

Specialties

Emotional complexity of adjusting to a new city or country - Acclimating to a new environment; managing stress and coping with the challenges of new relationships

Different cultural backgrounds - Works with clients to develop strategies to navigate relationships with people of different cultural backgrounds

Trauma recovery - Including dealing with past sexual assault, childhood trauma, environmental trauma (e.g. witnessing/experiencing violence), PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)

Anxiety - Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks

Depression - Sleep and energy disruption, overall mood disturbance, inability to enjoy yourself, and difficulty being motivated, among many other symptoms

Relationship challenges - Feeling unsatisfied in your partnership; communication challenges; addressing issues of power and voice; contemplation of separation; questioning one’s place in the relationship; breakups, friendships, dating

Sessions in English and Italian - Offers sessions in English and Italian

Women’s mental health and empowerment - Addressing issues including infertility, divorce and relationship issues, as well as empowering women against discrimination

Self-esteem - Cultivate stronger sense of self; increase assertiveness, confidence, and self-compassion

Family issues - Includes helping parents with their own issues within the context of supporting children; helping young adults navigate family issues

Life transitions - Adjusting to college, new relationships, career transitions and direction; mid-life existential, relationship, and career challenges; losing one’s drive or burn out; learning self-care

Existential challenges - Questioning purpose, spirituality, existence; finding one’s path and voice, especially when it differs from society's expectations

Loss and grief - Processing the loss of a loved one, any form of grief; processing he emotional aspects of personal illness or the illness of a loved one

Academic issues - Adjusting to college; managing developmental and emotional challenges in school; balancing schoolwork and personal life

Bipolar disorder - Using coping and preventive strategies to stabilize swings between elevated mood or irritability and depressive episodes

LGBQ and sexuality topics - Includes coming out, relating to others, identifying and communicating needs, relationships, and family issues

General expertise

Treatment approaches

Clientele

Adults (24+)
Children (<12)
Families

Teenagers (13-18)
Young adults (18-24)

Insurance

Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cigna
Tufts Health Plan
Berklee College of Music Student Health Insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO)
Boston College Student Health Insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO)
Harvard Student Health Insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO)
Lesley University Student Health Insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO)
MIT Student and Affiliate Extended Insurance Plan (Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO)
Northeastern University Student Health Insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO)
Tufts Health Plan (Commercial Plans, not via Mass Health or Navigator)
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA PPO
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA HMO

Out-of-pocket fees

Ongoing sessions: $160 (50min)
Sliding scale: $120 - $160
Initial session: $180 (50min)
Couples sessions: $200 (50min)
Family sessions: $200 (50min)

Therapist's note

Gaia can provide you with paperwork for reimbursement from your insurance company if you are seeking out-of-network sessions. However, please review your plan with your insurance company prior a scheduled appointment to verify coverage, any deductible and/or copayment.

For clients seeking therapy phone sessions: I am accepting private pay therapy phone sessions and coaching in-state and out-of-state.

For clients with insurance other than BCBS, Cigna, or Tufts: Services may still be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee-benefit plan. Most PPO and POS plans have "out-of-network" benefits that will cover some percentage of the cost. If you have an HMO from a company, most likely your insurance will not cover our services and you would need to pay directly.

For clients with BCBS, Cigna, or Tufts: Clients with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, or Tufts plans are responsible only for co-pays and deductibles. Payment is due at the time of your meeting.

Location(s)

Boston practice

50 Congress Street, Suite 642, Boston, MA 02109

Not accepting new clients in-person

Currently Available Times

Morning (Before 10am)
Daytime (10am - 1pm)
Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
Evening (After 5pm)
Weekends

Regular Hours

Mon Please inquire about hours
Tue Please inquire about hours
Wed Please inquire about hours
Thu Please inquire about hours
Fri Please inquire about hours
Sat Please inquire about hours
Sun Please inquire about hours

Online Sessions (Massachusetts)

Accepting new clients with a 2 - 3 week wait online

Currently Available Times

Morning (Before 10am)
Daytime (10am - 1pm)
Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
Evening (After 5pm)
Weekends

Regular Hours

Mon Please inquire about hours
Tue Please inquire about hours
Wed Please inquire about hours
Thu Please inquire about hours
Fri Please inquire about hours
Sat Please inquire about hours
Sun Please inquire about hours

Work and Education

Private practice, 2011 - Present
Boston Institute for Psychotherapy, Child & Family Fellowship, 2011 - 2013

Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, PsyaD Candidate, Doctorate in Psychoanalysis and Culture, 2015 - Present
Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, MA, 2011
Emmanuel College, BS, 2002, dual degree in counseling psychology and biology
Facolta' di Medicina e Chirurgia, Universita' di Ferrara, Italy, 1999

Languages

English

Italian