Therapists for college students near Pittsburgh, PA

Hello! I am Jessica Rose. I am a licensed clinical social worker. I have a BA in Psychology and an MSW in Social Work. I have been working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families in a therapeutic capacity for over 13 years. I have experience working in a variety of settings such as public schools, alternative schools, crisis teams, hospitals, homes, and juvenile detention centers. My guiding principles are validating feelings, active listening, and using humor and open communication as a means to build a trusting therapeutic relationship. I am a reliable, consistent support for my clients. I believe in genuine positive regard, being non-judgmental, being warm, understanding, and empathetic.

My name is Avory Billman. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Strong Foundations. I specialize in working with teens, young adults, and adults through trauma, mood disorders, and life transitions. My concentration includes providing affirming care to LGBTQIA and neurodivergent individuals. I am licensed in PA and hold additional certification in trauma therapy.

Maybe you feel directionless, hopeless, or unfulfilled - maybe you spend a lot of time in your day worrying or holding yourself back from what you really want. You might feel like you’re buckling under the pressure of work, relationships, loss, or other stressful and difficult parts of life. If any of this resonates with you, please know that you don’t have to go through it alone. I’m here, and I’d love to support you. Hi, I’m Jackie - I’m a soon-to-be therapist and licensed social worker (LSW), currently awaiting my Masters graduation and the finalization of my licensure. I’d love to meet you where you are and help you grow into a healed and happier version of yourself. My therapeutic style is laid back, warm, and eclectic; my top priority is to always provide a space where you feel safe, supported, and heard. I’m currently taking new clients for individual therapy and have immediate openings. If you’re ready to take the next step, I’d love to connect. Email me to schedule a free 15-minute virtual consultation so we can chat about your goals and how I can best support you. I’m so glad you’re here - let’s get you feeling better! Insurance Note: I plan to take multiple types of insurance - as a new clinician, I'm starting the process of credentialing with various insurance panels; in the meantime, sessions will be considered self-pay. I'm happy to discuss details and answer questions in consultation with potential clients.

At some point along the journey, our stories demand to be told. Whether through painful emotional and physical symptoms, relationship struggles, or other interruptive experiences, our lives catch up to us. They ask for our attention. Therapy is a place where, together, we can pay closer attention to your story and the person you are becoming. We are all always in process. I believe that we can experience true healing in a human encounter, and I strive to deeply listen to my clients, bringing curiosity and attention to the parts of you that may have gone unnoticed. Approach to Therapy My counseling approach is rooted in relational psychodynamic therapy, which focuses on patterns and themes from early childhood and how they show up in your life today. This approach also emphasizes the relationship between the therapist and client as a vehicle for healing and change. It’s important to find someone you feel comfortable with, and it may take you some time to discern the right fit. I respect the vulnerability and bravery required to step into this work, and aim to meet you with humility, curiosity, and a responsible awareness of my own intersecting identities. Each person brings unique concerns and needs, and I am committed to ongoing research and training to provide the best care I can. I draw from a variety of approaches, including attachment-based therapy, family systems work, liberation psychology, Internal Family Systems (informed, not certified), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Narrative-Focused Trauma Therapy. Background: I have worked with at-risk youth, college students, and folks from all walks of life in outpatient and community mental health settings. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Theater, and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology with a Concentration in Trauma and Abuse from the Seattle School (2023). Outside of therapy, I enjoy lots of things, including yoga, performing arts, poetry, and being outside!

I am a psychotherapist with over 20 yrs of experience and expertise in eating disorders, women's issues and working with college students. I provide therapy for those struggling with depression, anxiety, ocd, grief/loss, co-occurring illnesses and life transitions. I welcome a collaborative approach in which we work together to best understand your needs and concerns and to help you in the most impactful way.

Perhaps you are struggling with a life transition or an unexpected loss in your life? Are you struggling with adjusting to college life, finding your place or with friendships? Concerned about depression or anxiety? Do you have strained relationships or trouble communicating? Counseling can help you navigate these difficult experiences with more confidence.... After an assessment of your conflicts, we will work together to set goals for approaching life in different ways. We use an evidence based, integrated approach to help you learn new skills and attitudes for managing your life. I use a variety of tools to help you move to your next level, including mindfulness practices, commitment and acceptance (ACT), cognitive behavioral and expressive art therapy. I am a skill based therapist. One essential part of the counseling process is finding "the right fit". Bottom line, counseling is about stretching yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Finding the "right fit" helps you access your courage to stretch yourself toward your goals. Visit our website to learn more: www.counselingworks.pgh.com

Marybeth Kennedy, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in outpatient psychotherapy with children, teens, and college-age young adults. She has practiced in the field of mental health since 1984 in a variety of settings, including foster care, schools, group homes, and in the pediatric hospital setting. Her areas of expertise include working with patients with adjustment problems, mood disorders, ADHD, and chronic medical illnesses. She focuses particularly on children and teens with anxiety. Ms. Kennedy incorporates cognitive behavior therapy, anger management training, relaxation training, mindfulness interventions, and individualized psychotherapy in her outpatient practice. Ms. Kennedy has provided consultation to schools that specialize in serving students with behavior disorders by advising teachers and administrators in best practice behavioral interventions in the school setting and in the development and implementation of school-wide behavior management systems. She has been an adjunct faculty at several colleges in the Pittsburgh area, teaching courses in psychology. She has also been a guest lecturer in the special education department at the University of Pittsburgh, addressing behavioral interventions for classroom management. Ms. Kennedy earned her master’s degrees in psychology and social work. She is an alum of West Virginia University and the University of Pittsburgh. She holds a Home-School Visitor certification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

At Strong Foundations, we understand that finding the right mental health provider can be a daunting task. Please see our website for a full list of services we offer and description of our counselors. As a practice, our highest priority is providing supportive, personalized, and effective care to every individual and family. We offer individual therapy, neuropsychological testing, family & marital therapy. We use evidence-based treatment methods, including CBT, DBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing, and PCIT. Our therapists offer daytime, evening, and some weekend hours to accommodate busy schedules. Sessions can be scheduled in person or virtually. Please call (412) 368-2211 to schedule an appointment or contact us via email: support@sfpgh.com

At times, people need a safe and supportive environment to express their thoughts and feelings. Counseling is an opportunity for people to gain awareness, acceptance, insight, and identify tools for relaxation and problem-solving. By applying complementary therapy approaches and techniques, we will unearth long-standing behavior patterns or negative perceptions that may be holding you back from experiencing a more fulfilling and meaningful life. If you're looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you're just ready to move in a new direction in your life, I look forward to working with you to achieve your goals.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in private practice and have worked with a wide range of clients over my career, from teenage years all the way through late adulthood. I specifically specialize in Women's Health, where I help those struggling with PMDD, hormone related mood/anxiety issues as well as perinatal mental health, infertility and loss. In addition to this specialty, I very much enjoy working with college-aged individuals navigating depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, trauma and grief and loss. College can be a time of growth for many and also a time of major transition and change. I would be privledged to work together with you to help navigate this time in your life.

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!

My experience includes 20+ years as at Carnegie Mellon University's Counseling Center and 6 years at Persad Center. The work I do focuses on helping folks understand themselves and feel understood. Working together, we change help you work with difficult emotions,change patterns that cause distress, and nurture a meaningful life, as you define it.

I'm a psychotherapist and licensed psychologist specializing in trauma, body image, anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns. I strive to cultivate a safe and open environment to explore each client’s experience with curiosity and compassion. I support each client’s goals and desire for meaningful change through a collaborative and nonjudgmental approach. With clients, I will strive to work towards genuine growth and self-understanding about the past and present, while strengthening relationships and navigating difficult feelings. I bring my authentic self into each session and will continue to encourage you to be you. I believe the therapeutic relationship can be a vehicle for healing and I invite honest feedback about our work together. I'm attentive to the nuances of identity and committed to integrating a social justice approach. Therapy can be a process of healing and transformation with challenging moments along the way. I'm interested in joining you on this process and working through moments together. Prior to Forward Wellness, I was a staff therapist at CaPS at Carnegie Mellon University.

I believe each of us has deep intuition, wisdom and knows what we need in order to heal; I will help you clear that path to healing. Making peace with the changes in our lives and finding acceptance can be extremely challenging. I would be honored to be present with you as you navigate this experience. I work well with individuals who are motivated and ready to transform by providing practical, research based tools and interventions that can help alleviate symptoms like stress, anxiety, sadness or irritability. I often encourage clients to continue our work outside of the therapy hour to expedite progress. I have 15 years of experience working with individuals and families across the lifespan in various settings including outpatient, home, school, community mental health, and crisis support. I help clients understand thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, blending somatic approaches, mindfulness and other therapeutic techniques to repair the body-mind connection and facilitate healing. Known for my calm, grounding presence, I bring authenticity, humor, and intuition into my work. Drawing on my knowledge as a Reiki Master and yoga teacher, I incorporate holistic practices such as relaxation, breathwork, and embodiment. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community with lived experience managing the chronic pain of endometriosis, I bring both clinical expertise and personal understanding to my work. I believe in the inherent dignity and worth that each of us carries and in our innate capacity for healing.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I specialize in helping individuals manage anxiety, stress, and the unique challenges of life transitions. I offer a supportive nonjudgemental space where you can work through situations such as relational difficulties, internal battles of self esteem or difficulties with facing life head on. My goal is to help you thrive personally inside and within the world you are able to create.

Are you trying to navigate life's many challenges in a more flexible, aware, and skillful way? Let's collaborate to change patterns that aren't working for you. Respecting that you are the expert on your life and goals, I will integrate my training and experiences to support you in growth. Individuals often work with me to shift patterns of anxiety or depressed mood, to reclaim the energy wasted on perfectionism or overly harsh self-criticism, to reduce procrastination and improve effectiveness, to make progress on health goals, to improve the quality of their relationships, and to manage stress more efficiently. I also specialize in perinatal mental health (pregnancy, post-partum, fertility, loss) and in working with parents of children of all ages. Most people I work with choose online therapy, and some meet with me in the office. As a member of PSYPACT I can often continue to work with you online while you visit home or work/study outside of PA. (For participating states: https://psypact.org/page/psypactmap)