Therapists for college students near Pittsburgh, PA

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I love working with clients who want to better themselves. Whether it be understanding yourself or your identity, conquering anxiety, or working through relationships, I partner with clients to reach their goals and set themselves up for success. Some mental health concerns that I can help with include: ADHD, anxiety, trauma, relationships, life transitions, identity (including LGBT, religion, and others), imposter syndrome, and more. Clients can expect a younger therapist who isn’t afraid to use humor and who isn’t afraid to call out potential stuck points. I am also culturally competent and offer services in both English and Spanish.

Welcome! I'm Joanna. I work with adolescents (16+) & adults, most frequently young adults. I particularly enjoy working with transitional issues - changes in school, jobs, family, relationships, identity, etc. Often, my clients are dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, and/or interpersonal conflict. I value working with folks with a range of backgrounds, races, faiths, genders, sexualities, and lifestyles. My work sees people through a systems lens, recognizes the oppressive barriers to mental wellness, and encourages reflection on cultural impact. My ideal client is open minded, patient, and motivated for change. I value flexibility in the therapeutic relationship and use a person-centered approach, whether that's structured skill building or an empathetic ear. I work mostly from an ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) framework, but also incorporate elements of CBT, DBT, and interpersonal therapy. I am not a true "blank slate" - healing comes from connections! I'm glad to have you here - it shows you've taken a huge first step towards healing, processing, and growth, and I'm honored to support you. Shoot me a message to get connected (note: telehealth only)! The extras: I am a cancer sun ISFJ, and I enjoy making pottery, reading fiction, going for walks/hikes, and watching reality TV with my dog.

At Purposefully Soaring we understand that life can get hard. We're here to support you with unpacking the many weights you carry, explore the barriers in your way that keep you stuck, and help you find your purpose. Our goal is to support you with learning how to soar, through and over the many ups and downs of life.

Looking for a compassionate, trauma-informed space to grow your sense of empowerment? My approach to therapy starts with building a therapeutic relationship with authenticity and humor. Let’s get to know each other to find out if we’re a good fit! I specialize in depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders in young adults and college students. I frequently work with queer and trans individuals, neurodiverse clients, and anyone hoping to reconnect with their emotions. I am confident in helping survivors of complex trauma revisit and process painful memories, then ground in the present moment before leaving the therapy office. I have received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Integrated Treatment for Complex Trauma. I also incorporate principles of mindfulness and somatic therapy that emphasize the mind-body connection. While my style is informed by these modalities, each session will be unique to your preferences, needs, and goals.

I am pleased that you are here. I know it is not easy to take this first step, but I want you to know first and foremost, that I take great care and pride in creating a safe place for my clients to talk about their internal conflicts, interpersonal problems, traumas, and whatever is interfering with living a fuller, richer life. I bring to my clinical practice a great deal of skills coupled with passion to engage in a meaningful therapeutic relationship. I invite clients to increase their self-awareness while aspiring to high levels of wellness: biologically, psychologically, relationally, sexually and spiritually. I offer a safe space free of judgment, filled with compassion and kindness towards your own process. My theoretical orientation to counseling is rooted in humanistic theories with underlying existentialism and phenomenological philosophies. I firmly believe in the therapeutic alliance and its curative power, in addition to striving to look at all situations from a sex positive, non-shaming, and non-judgmental lens.

Choosing to heal and be more alive in our society is a brave, daring, and difficult act. I enjoy working with people who want to understand and support themselves in healing from and with shame, disconnection, stagnancy, and trauma with the goal of becoming more alive, more true to themselves, and more genuinely connected with themselves and the world around them. I am a gentle and open person who enjoys using humor and delicately mixing the light and dark of the world in the healing journey. My goal is for you to feel safe in expressing and sharing who you are, to give you a place to rest and explore free of judgement. I am skilled in DBT and ITCT. I am pursuing training in Somatic Experiencing Therapy. I have specialized in working with teens and young adults who are experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-harm, BPD, bipolar disorder, and complex trauma. I am dedicated to anti-racism. I am of the LGBTQ+ community and bilingual in Spanish and English. I currently accept UPMC, CCBHO (Medicaid), Highmark, Cigna, and Aetna insurances. I also offer sliding scale sessions. I can offer free introduction phone calls to see if we are a good fit!

Of all the relationships we have in our lives, I believe that the one you have with yourself is the most important and impactful. Therapy allows a person to create an authentic relationship with oneself. Through the therapeutic process, a person is able to find and access their own innate ability to heal and grow within a supportive, compassionate, and empowering environment. My passion for this work comes from seeing my clients evolve to feel happier and healthier in their daily lives. What I do: Individual Psychotherapy- I provide both in-person and telehealth treatment for teenagers, young adults, and adults, focusing a wide array of concerns including: life transitions, traumatic life experiences, daily functioning impairment, anxiety, and depression ​Gender and Sexuality Affirming Mental Health Care- I provide a safe space for those of you within the LGBTQIA+ community to process concerns unique to your own lived experiences ​Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)- EMDR is a research-backed treatment developed to help you heal following traumatic events by processing memories and gaining control over the way the trauma history impacts the mind and body. ​Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)- CBT is used to help you understand and learn skills to challenge unhelpful or maladaptive thinking and behavioral patterns ​Mindfulness- Mindfulness techniques are used to teach you how to relate to your thoughts differently and to live in the moment

Do you ever feel like no matter how much you achieve, your anxiety, stress, or burnout never lets up? Perfectionism, overthinking, or past trauma may leave you tense, stuck, or constantly on edge. Your body might feel wired, your mind keeps racing, and you can’t fully relax even when life seems “fine.” You want relief, better focus, and a calmer, steadier nervous system. You want to thrive without being trapped by overwhelm, worry, or patterns that keep you from feeling truly present—and maybe even laugh a little along the way. I specialize in anxiety, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation. Using trauma-informed and somatic approaches, I help you regulate your nervous system, address patterns from past experiences, and, when appropriate, use Brainspotting for deeper trauma processing. You don’t have to manage anxiety or stress alone. Therapy is a space to feel supported, slow down, and create meaningful change. We may even use humor to lighten the load and help your nervous system settle. If this approach resonates, I invite you to reach out and explore whether we are a good fit.

College can feel like a lot to carry. Classes, relationships, expectations, and trying to figure out what comes next. You might look like you’re handling things on the outside, but inside feel overwhelmed, stuck, exhausted, or unsure of yourself. You may notice the same patterns showing up in relationships or feel like you’re falling behind. You are not alone, this is a very common experience. Therapy is a place to sort through what’s going on and understand why things feel this way. With over 20 years of experience, I work with students navigating anxiety, stress, life transitions, academic challenges and family and relationship challenges. I offer a warm, supportive space where you can talk openly, make sense of your experiences, and start to feel steadier and more confident. Together, we’ll work on building healthier boundaries, finding clarity, and helping you move forward in a way that feels right for you. If you’d like to connect, email is the best way to reach me. I look forward to hearing from you.

I'm a licensed psychologist specializing in trauma, anxiety, depression, body image, and disordered eating. If you're ready to move beyond the surface, therapy can be a space to get curious and explore the parts of your experience that often go unspoken. Going deep means making room to understand the patterns that have shaped you and discovering new ways of relating to yourself and others. We'll explore both your past and your present with the hope of helping you better understand yourself and create meaningful change. I bring my authentic self into each session and encourage you to bring your full self as well. I believe the therapeutic relationship can be a powerful part of the healing process, and I welcome honest feedback about our work together. I'm attentive to the nuances of identity and committed to integrating a social justice approach into my work. Therapy can be a process of healing and transformation, with challenging moments along the way. I'm honored to join you in this process and work through those moments together. Prior to Forward Wellness, I was a staff therapist at CaPS at Carnegie Mellon University.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Hello and welcome to my page. My ideal client is struggling with their self-esteem, anxious and/or depressive symptoms, relationship issues, and even substance use/misuse. Most of my clients' goal is to live a more fulfilling and content life. They want to feel understood, supported, and listened to empathetically. I can help by primarily trying to understand you. That is the bottom line. I will offer you a safe, caring, and nonjudgemental environment to do this. I will listen fully with interest and respect so you can begin to talk about the parts of your life and yourself you are struggling with. I have worked as a social worker for 18 years, first at a community mental health center, then at a private group practice, and now solely in my own private practice. I work with young adults, adults, and older adults.

I believe therapy works best as a collaborative relationship rooted in compassion and respect. My goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment to encourage personal insight and provide skills to help you navigate challenges and enhance your overall well-being.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, I bring good energy, empathy, and clinical expertise to my work. My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, culturally informed, and person-centered. I offer a safe, affirming, and comfortable space for you to be your authentic self, free from judgment. I meet you wherever you are on your healing journey and we work together on reaching your desired treatment goals at your own pace. I specialize in working with teens, young adults, adults, and older adults who have experienced acute/chronic/complex trauma, chronic stress, PTSD, sexual trauma, and sex trafficking. I use a range of treatment modalities (EMDR, IFS, CPT, TF-CBT, SMART, Seeking Safety, etc.). I love using music, art, games, and interactive activities if you're interested. I also work well with anxiety, depression, life transitions, identity development, and existential crises. I am passionate about empowering others with knowledge, skills, and tools to help people rebuild, heal, and grow. Let’s connect to see if counseling is a good fit for you!

Sometimes life feels overwhelming — stress, anxiety, depression or relationship challenges can leave you feeling stuck and unsure how to move forward. Therapy can help you understand why you feel this way and explore new paths toward change. Often, what seems like the “problem” on the surface is connected to something deeper. Together, we’ll work to uncover and understand these underlying patterns so that meaningful change can happen. I provide a safe, supportive space to explore your experiences and help you create more satisfying relationships and a life that feels aligned with your goals.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.