Licensed to practice in Massachusetts and accepts 40 insurances. Specializes in ADHD, Military/Veterans, Substance Misuse and 6 more.
Crystal Som
(she/her)
I'm so glad you're here! I am a Massachusetts-based Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). I have a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in alcohol and substance use disorders. I bring over six years of experience supporting individuals and families across a wide range of mental health diagnoses. Before entering the mental health field, I served in the United States Army as an Apache Mechanic for more than four years. This experience shaped my strong work ethic, resilience, and deep respect for diverse life experiences, which I carry into my clinical work today. As a compassionate and experienced therapist, I integrate evidence-based therapeutic approaches with a warm, approachable style and an appropriate touch of humor. My goal is to help clients navigate life’s challenges, foster personal growth, and build meaningful, fulfilling lives. I am committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment where all individuals feel welcomed and respected. I value cultural humility and strive to ensure that each client’s unique cultural background is not only acknowledged but thoughtfully integrated into our work together. I believe therapy should be a collaborative process in which clients feel empowered to explore their emotions, overcome obstacles, and move toward lasting change.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, we will focus on getting to know one another and establishing a shared understanding of expectations for therapy. My primary goal is to help you feel safe, supported, and comfortable. You can expect me to ask about what brings you to therapy, the challenges you are currently facing, and what you hope to gain from our work together. We will also explore your current coping strategies, personal history, and goals, as these help guide the therapeutic process in a way that best supports your needs.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths as a clinician is my genuine care and commitment to the individuals I serve. I strive to create sessions that are accessible, collaborative, and tailored to each client’s unique needs, ensuring that therapeutic concepts are communicated in a clear and meaningful way. I frequently incorporate metaphors, analogies, and imagery as therapeutic tools to help clients better understand complex emotional experiences. This approach allows clients to relate to and process their experiences more effectively, fostering deeper insight and engagement in therapy. Many of my clients have benefited from my use of Root Cause Therapy, a holistic approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying factors contributing to current symptoms rather than solely managing surface-level concerns. This process supports clients in recognizing patterns in thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, promoting lasting growth and healing. I am trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and affirming therapeutic environment for all individuals. You do not have to navigate this journey alone. I am dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space where your experiences are heard, validated, and understood. I firmly believe that everyone deserves to feel seen, respected, and supported in their healing process.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I'm best suited to assist young adults, parents, women, veterans and those with ADHD. I love working with teenagers as they get ready to transition to the adult world. I work best with clients who are: - interested in therapy. - ready to challenge themselves to grow. - understand that therapy is a process with no designated time line. - wanting to do the work in between sessions.
Specialties
Top specialties
ADHD
Military/Veterans
Substance Misuse
Other specialties
Addiction
Anxiety
Child or Adolescent
Coping Skills
Depression
Women's Issues
I identify as
White
Woman
Serves ages
Adults (18 to 64)
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Licensed in
Massachusetts
Accepts
Aetna
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Arlo
AvMed
Cash - $120 per session
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
GTEB
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
Location
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a form of talk therapy used to help change how you think and behave. My goal is to help clients better understand the negative thought patterns that occur and challenge the unhelpful behaviors. This is a goal-oriented approach to help manage difficult life experiences and challenging situations.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT skills focused on developing include mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
Motivational Interviewing
This is a person centered approach to help enhance motivation to change. Motivational interviewing has been used largely with clients who struggle with substance abuse and long term mental health conditions.