Therapists for college students near University of Pittsburgh

We are a small group therapy practice serving clients in person in Pittsburgh, PA and via telehealth throughout Pennsylvania. Our practice centers the needs and experiences of marginalized people and populations, especially those who are LGBTQIA+ people, neurodivergent, or practicing alternative relationship structures (e.g., ethical nonmonogamy). All of our clinicians have lived experience with at least one of these topics, and we are committed to inclusive, trauma-informed care. Check out our clinician bios on our website to see if we sound like a good fit for your needs, and feel free to contact us with questions!

We are a liberation-focused therapy and consulting practice offering affirming care, regardless of your identity, we’re here to offer our support and ALL are welcome. Our practice emphasizes affirming care for queer, neurodivergent, and marginalized communities because these groups often struggle to find safe providers. At the same time, therapy is for anyone seeking personal growth and support. You don’t have to hold a marginalized identity to benefit from what we offer – we’re here for the full range of human experience. We believe that healing is inseparable from justice. We offer therapy from a perspective that acknowledges systems of power and oppression. We exist to affirm and support the marginalized identities that are most impacted by systemic injustice and harm. We also recognize our shortcomings and lack of power. We can’t change systemic injustice, but we are dedicated to ongoing education and training that equips us to do our very best at offering support for marginalized groups.

I’m a Licensed Social Worker in Pennsylvania with a passion for helping people navigate life’s challenges and reconnect with their inner strength. My goal is to create a supportive, judgment-free space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful change. I work with children, teens, and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, life transitions, emotion dysregulation, and family or relationship challenges. I also specialize in supporting clients through emerging adulthood—those transformative years of identity development, shifting relationships, and new responsibilities. My approach is warm, collaborative, and individualized. Drawing from a strengths-based and humanistic perspective, I incorporate evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I believe therapy is a partnership built on trust, compassion, and curiosity. I offer both in-person and virtual sessions and strive to create a safe, welcoming space for growth and healing. You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin—taking the first step is often the most powerful one.

Welcome! My name is Stephen. I understand that seeking therapy can feel like a big step, it is important to choose a counselor that makes you feel comfortable and supported. My approach is warm, empathetic, and collaborative, aimed at creating a safe space where you can explore your thoughts and emotions without judgment. My goal is to empower you with the tools and insights you need to live a more fulfilling, balanced life. I utilize an evidence-based and holistic approach to helping adult clients struggling with Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality disorder, Anger Management, Addiction, Interpersonal Issues, Identity Issues, Grief/Loss, Stress, and ADHD management. My approach to therapy is rooted in Client Centered Therapy. I will incorporate elements of Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I believe that it is important to provide clients with an environment that promotes genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and a collaborative therapeutic relationship. My professional background includes community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, substance use rehabs, and private practice. I am skilled in working with individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds, including the LGBTQIA+ community. If you’re ready to start your journey toward healing, reach out today!

Are you looking for a space to process anxiety, trauma, or other life events? I enjoy working with those who are living with ADHD, have experienced trauma, or have anxiety. I tailor our work to your unique situation. I bring warmth, energy, and openness to each session. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and bring a trauma-informed approach to therapy. I integrate psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and holistic therapy in my work. We will work together to achieve your goals and address underlying factors. My style is strengths-based and non-judgmental. I look forward to working with you! I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.

My approach combines various modalities and I will utilize the style that best meets the needs of my client and then tailor the therapy as trust is built. While I am warm and empathetic, I will also challenge each client's belief system, as change will not occur without learning newer, positive ways of thinking. I believe this journey continues between sessions and I will often give ""homework"" when appropriate. I value the therapeutic relationship and believe that change will occur when a client feels safe, supported, and heard. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.

I believe that everyone experiences some hardships in life and they have the potential to overcome their barriers and even achieve breakthroughs. I aim to provide a safe and non-judgmental environment where people can share their pain, feel understood, heard, and empowered, as well as find the right way to get through the difficult times in their lives. I think a trusting and consistent relationship is very important in healing, so I respect the uniqueness and differences of each individual and I use therapy interventions based on individual's needs. I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.

At Breakthrough Counseling, our focus is on you and your journey to healing. With Telehealth options available and providers licensed in multiple states, this means that no matter where you are, we are here to help you breakthrough to a new you! Multiple providers offer a wide range of expertise in different areas, including: individual, child/adolescent, family, marriage, as well as medication management. Our team strives to provide the best quality of care. We have a varying network of professionals available to walk you through any hardships or struggles that life brings. We have immediate, open appointments available for you now.

Stuck in a loop of overthinking? Constantly putting everyone else first and running on empty? You don't need to have it perfectly figured out before reaching out — that's exactly what we're here to work through together. I specialize in anxiety, self-doubt, recovery, and the patterns that keep you over-functioning for everyone but yourself. My approach is direct and collaborative — we identify what's actually keeping you stuck, build real tools for boundaries and decision-making, and work toward the kind of self-trust that makes daily life feel less exhausting. You don't have to earn your rest or wait for a crisis to ask for help. Reach out today — let's build a foundation that actually lasts. *Insurance & Fees* I am in-network with Aetna, Northwell Direct, and Quest Behavioral Health. For all other major insurance companies, I am an out of network provider. My office provides a superbill for you to submit for reimbursement and we will assist you in verifying your benefits to make the process as seamless as possible. I also offer a sliding scale rate for those in need. Please reach out to learn more about how we can start this work.

I have worked collaboratively and effectively with those individuals addressing their difficulties such as anxiety, depression, interpersonal issues, self-esteem, life transitions and trauma. While working together in a safe space, we will strive to reduce/eliminate negative thoughts and feelings. To achieve this outcome, I utilize a client-centered approach along with a CBT framework. Strengths are emphasized in therapy as an important asset to treatment success. Although individuals going through challenging times tend to seek out therapy, caregivers are often overlooked as those who could benefit from support themselves. I have been trained in the nurtured heart approach and have provided caregivers with techniques to assist with the individual’s treatment progress. I have worked in a multitude of settings including a hospital-based residential treatment facility for adolescents, a county care management organization, and in a community outpatient therapy setting. Along with a master’s degree in counseling, I have a post master’s certificate in clinical mental health. I am a licensed therapist in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I have also earned my credential as a clinical supervisor (ACS) to provide peer/collegial support.

I’m an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist based in State College, Pennsylvania, offering in-person and virtual therapy for adults across the state. I use Internal Family Systems (IFS)/parts work, attachment therapy, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, somatic awareness, and humanistic–existential approaches for adults 18 and over. I've also worked for 5 years as a Rape Crisis Counselor answering calls for a rape crisis hotline. Whether you're a Penn State student seeking support or a Pennsylvania resident seeking mental health care, I provide a safe, inclusive space to heal and grow. I can work on reduced rates, and I welcome clients seeking affordable therapy. Now accepting new clients—reach out to schedule a free consultation. You don't need to walk your path alone. With the right support, therapeutic tools, and commitment to the deep work, new healing pathways from within you can emerge. Please reach out if you want to chat further about working together, it would be an honor to serve you.

***Available for same week appointments for students required to complete Mandated Assessment & Compliance treatment. College can be a simultaneously exhilarating, yet terrifying time in life, identity, relationships, future and more. I'm here to help you sort through it all. Let's work together to help you create and enact your best life: whatever that means and looks like to you! As your therapist, my goal is to create a comfortable space to help you work towards your goals. I offer video sessions from wherever you are! Reach out for a free 15 minute consultation call.

Hi! I'm from Pittsburgh and proud to be practicing in my home town. Therapy ranges from directive to less structured approaches. Directive approaches involve identifying a specific problem and starting interventions including skill building for the client. Less directive therapy involves self exploration and understanding our symptoms in an interpersonal context. These two approaches can be combined, tailored to the client. The client's responsibility is committing to therapy, and showing up weekly at the designated time, and engaging in the process. While the therapist is an expert in psychology, the client is an expect in themselves and is ultimately the source of change and improvement. I see myself as a guide, helping the client see things they may have missed or avoided, and making connections that wouldn't otherwise be obvious. The process is collaborative and frequently rewarding.

Our aim is to create a collaborative, person-centered healing relationship with clients. The dynamic of this co-created space is one where you can explore and find your unique tools, techniques, and strengths to empower your authentic self, as well as your understanding of the world around us. Our intention in all levels of our work is to decolonize the therapeutic space. We are LGBTQIA2S+ affirming and sex-positive. We are dedicated to the continuous engagement--both professionally and personally--that this requires. Most of us identify as queer and/or neurodivergent, and several of us also live with chronic illnesses. We believe that clients have the right to interview their clinicians and choose someone they can ask questions to and get honest answers!

I am here to help you with struggles related to depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, stress, peer and relationships issues, family related stressors, and regulating mood instability. I have worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds and in diverse settings, including in clients homes and inpatient facilities. I use these past experiences to meet my clients where they are, understand their unique perspective, and form a meaningful relationship with them in which they feel heard and understood. My primary treatment modalities include CBT, DBT, MI, and narrative therapy. Meaning, I use practices science has shown to be effective, to help clients harness their motivation to change their thoughts and behaviors, improve their relationship skills, and reach their goals. My hope is that clients view themselves as empowered agents of change in their life. I'm dedicated to helping my clients discover their strengths and potential, fostering a sense of well-being and empowerment. I believe in my clients' inherent resilience and potential for growth. I'm here to provide the support and encouragement they need to overcome challenges and create a more fulfilling life.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Training and professional background: I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, graduating in May of 2014. In the Fall of 2012, I received training as a victims’ advocate and crisis line operator at the Family Justice Center in South Bend. For the rest of my time as an undergraduate, I continued volunteering for the FJC, focusing on taking crisis calls, yet unaware of the skills I was building in attending to each caller’s concerns. I utilized my training again during grad school to volunteer for Crisis Text Line, where I honed my skills in crisis management and planning. In December of 2018, I graduated with my Master of Science in Education from Duquesne University, specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Duquesne’s program is CACREP accredited and meets all standards and requirements as an institution for counselor education. I received my license November of 2023. Theoretical orientation and approach to counseling: My clinical approach is rooted in two orientations: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Narrative Therapy. I also draw heavily from the Humanistic-Existentialist perspectives of Psychology and philosophy in helping my clients better understand their feelings, goals, and experiences. My clinical practice embodies the spirit of meeting clients where they are. I enter each session with one objective: a readiness to talk and warmly receive. Client rights and responsibilities: As my client, I encourage you to ask questions and raise concerns about anything, especially my credentials and qualifications, the progress of our work together and its cost, my therapeutic approach, or anything else that concerns you. I take my role seriously as a helper and strongly believe that healthy relationships, especially therapeutic, require communication, consistency, and warmth. Therapeutically, we might be a good fit if: -- You are ready to make new moves in your life and relationships – So many of us know what must be done to address problematic behavior or to build better habits. What might be lacking is an awareness of the theory or tools to support those efforts. I am equipped to teach you how to individualize widely known coping skills, if you are ready to prioritize your mental health treatment. -- You are a creative person – The scaffolding or foundation you need to accomplish your long-term goals comes from your ability to generate creative solutions—no matter the medium! Your unique skills and worldviews can enrich to the work we do in the room. This takes the form of interesting, billowing conversation, not traditional art therapy. -- You are looking for a space to feel seen and heard – I take great pride in my ability to attend to the emotional needs of my clients. A dedicated space where the floor cedes to you, a conversation that is focused with warm curiosity on you, that is quickly becoming a rarity in our social interactions. While attentiveness is one of my biggest strengths to offer, I find being a witness to my clients’ concerns and vulnerabilities the greatest honor and reward in this field; we are the most human in these moments. It sets the stage for therapeutic collaboration and honors our innate drive to identify and hold our emotions without urgency or shame.

People come to therapy for many different reasons, but, at the core, they are looking for understanding, relief, or growth. Maybe you’re trying to understand why you feel the way you do, or you find yourself caught in the same difficult thoughts again and again. Perhaps you’ve noticed patterns of behavior that seem to work against your own well-being. You might be facing a life transition—chosen or not—and are feeling anxious about what’s next. Or maybe you just feel stuck. Therapy offers a space to slow down and make sense of what’s happening. Together, we can clarify your current experience, explore how you got here, and begin to shape a healthier, more fulfilling path forward.

I work with students who have experienced traumas and are finding it difficult to sleep or function in school as a result of stress or anxiety. I also work with students who feel uneasy in social situations, or have expectations of themselves that are difficult to maintain. Reach out and talk with me about how I can help.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my page. I commend you for taking the first step in exploring a therapist in the Pittsburgh area. My approach to counseling is grounded in empathy, compassion, and trust. I want our time together to be a collaborative process built on respect, understanding, non-judgment, and genuineness. There are points in everyone’s lives that may become unmanageable due to transitions, conflicts or a realization that may require the assistance of a therapist to help the client navigate forward in their journey. Counseling can be a valuable resource with lifelong tools to resolve past and present issues in people’s lives. I extend this invitation to you. My goal is to create a space for safety and empowerment. I am passionate about providing a collaborative therapeutic journey together. You are the expert of your life and your experiences, and it would be a privilege to go on this journey of growth and exploration with you. I believe learning and growing are constants in life. We can learn and grow from not only obstacles and challenges in life, but also successes and achievements, and therapy is a place to explore and process these parts of us. I value awareness and self-compassion, and I am drawn to find the deeper meaning of our behaviors and actions. My goal is to support you in living your life from a place of authenticity and self-understanding. I have a holistic perspective and I believe in the interdependence of the body, mind, and spirit. A person-centered and psychodynamic approach is what I bring to my work with individuals. My style pulls from different theories and practices of counseling. I want to meet you where you are, and I realize that one type of counseling does not fit everyone. You are unique and we will work together to find what works best for you!

Struggling with your mental health? Try therapy tailored to your needs. Feeling disconnected in an increasingly distracted world? Not prioritizing your mental well-being? Tranquil Trails specializes in "adult youth", (gen Z & millennial issues), LGBTQIA+, neurodiversity, boundaries in relationships, addictive behaviors, and cultural and societal issues.