Therapists for college students near Pittsburgh, PA

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!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Spiegel Freedman Psychological Associates has provided psychotherapeutic care to our Pittsburgh community’s young children, teenagers, adults, and elderly since 2003. We are fortunate to have a clinical team who have the collective expertise and experience in helping those who struggle with depression, anxiety, marital problems, gender identity and transitions, medical complications, and decline associated with aging, to name just a few areas of common concern. We provide psychological care for people with problems including: ADHD Anxiety Chronic Illness Dementia Depression Eating Disorders Family Conflict Gender Identity Issues Grief and Loss Marital Issues OCD Parenting Concerns PTSD Sleep Disturbance Women’s Issues

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Hi! I’m Tori I’ve been working in the mental health field for 10 years, gaining experience in a variety of settings, and I’ve found my passion in helping adolescents, young adults, and adults navigate the ups and downs of life. This time in life is full of growth, change, and self-discovery—exciting, but also intimidating. I love supporting my clients through managing anxiety, depression, stress, and interpersonal challenges, and helping them build the skills to thrive. I take a laid-back approach to therapy, aiming to create a space where you feel safe, supported, and genuinely understood. Humor is a big part of my style—life is tough enough, so I believe therapy should have some light moments. That said, I know when to be serious, and I’ll be right there with you as we work through whatever’s on your mind. I’m here for people from all walks of life, and I’m a strong ally of the LGBTQIA+ community. My approach combines Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you develop practical tools for managing emotions, improving relationships, and making real, lasting changes in your life. In our work together, you’ll gain valuable insight into your thought patterns, learn skills to cope with stress, and build the resilience to live more authentically and mindfully. Outside of therapy, you’ll probably find me spending time with loved ones, catching concerts, watching horror movies, or taking walks. I’d be honored to walk alongside you on your journey to greater well-being. Reach out if you’d like to learn more or get started!

Strong Foundations was founded and is actively managed by a licensed child psychologist, ensuring our practice prioritizes the highest quality of care in psychotherapy and assessments. Guided by the ethical principles of our field, our primary mission is to provide the best possible match between patient and provider. We don’t focus on filling schedules—we take on new clients only when we are confident we have the tools and training to help them effectively. Strong Foundations began in 2018 with a simple goal: to create a team of exceptional providers who work collaboratively to address the mental health needs of our community. We’re proud to have achieved that vision and continue to work diligently every day to maintain the quality and trust our clients have come to expect.

I help my clients get results fast. Therapy isn't a complicated process. We meet, we talk about the expectations of therapy, identify specific treatment goals and map out a plan. Our work takes place in the boundaries of a safe, corrective emotional relationship. I put patients’ feelings into words, focus on symptom management and reduce their impact on personal and professional lives. I've been practicing as a licensed psychotherapist and clinical social worker for over 15 years. I use a CBT/ Solution Focused approach in helping patients reduce anxiety and elevate and stabilize depressed mood. I help people move toward wellness in a safe, non-judgemental space. Therapy works. It is about growth and evolution, and I've observed that there is great joy in embracing positive new behaviors based on this collaborative approach. I look forward to working with you via telehealth or in-person in our Squirrel Hill office.

We all want to be happy. We may feel stuck or face challenges. Getting support from someone on the outside, in the counseling or psychology field, can help you gain a new perspective. You can learn to make better choices, feel less anxious and feel more optimistic; find peace in the day-to-day. In my practice, I see adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families, and here’s a little bit about how I work: I work in the here-and-now and have background training in Gestalt theory and utilize a variety of psychotherapy techniques. I take a creative and practical approach to counseling that allows you to understand more quickly what drives you and helps you identify new and better ways of living. Quieting the “noise” that distracts you will help so you can focus your energy on what’s meaningful and fulfilling. I earned my masters in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA in 2007 and went on to complete the necessary 3+ years of post-graduate training to qualify for a psychotherapy license in the state of PA. I am paneled with many of the major commercial insurance plans as well as several employee assistance programs. During my 17 years experience as a counselor and research clinician, I was trained to utilize several semi-structured interviewing tools such as KSADS, SCID, and ISCA-D. I have published social psychology testing materials at the University of Pittsburgh while working on several major nationally-funded depression and anxiety studies under Doctors Birmaher, Axelson, and Kovacs. In 2010, I spent a year as a volunteer with the Good Grief Center of Pittsburgh where I had extensive training in grief counseling.In addition to my clinical skills, I hold a substance abuse education/SAP certification from UPMC. In addition to my clinical skills, I hold a substance abuse education/SAP certification from UPMC. Both my creative approach to counseling as well as my comprehensive diagnostic experience help formulate a plan of action that can help put you on the path to recovery. A Unique Approach Therapy should be as unique you are. We don’t wear the same clothes or read the same books. People respond differently to different types of interventions, so I always tailor treatment to respond to the your specific needs and situation. My goal is to leave you with strategies, communication skills, and new ways of thinking. Research shows that cultivating skills learned in therapy help people manage anxiety more easily and thrive their lives. I help people with a variety of issues, and I have particular expertise in: Depression and Anxiety Grief Overcoming Creative and Emotional Blocks Career and Life Transitions Child and Adolescent Therapy/IEP and School Consultation Experience Substance Abuse/Anger Management Life Coaching/Stress Management Couples Counseling Panic Disorders/Phobias OCD PTSD

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.

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.

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)

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.

Life is hard, especially when you feel like you just can’t manage everything on your plate. From school to work to relationships with friends and family, there is always a lot to juggle, and stress can build up quickly! When you’re overwhelmed, your behavior, mood, and relationships are all impacted, and it’s harder to be able to fully enjoy life. I help people who feel stressed and overwhelmed learn to manage their emotions so they can be the best version of themselves. I want to hear what is already going well for you, so that we can build on what is already working to improve behaviors, mood, and relationships. From there, we can make a plan to get you back to experiencing the best parts of life. Reaching out for support can be the hardest part, so I’m glad you are here. Contact me by phone or email to discuss options for setting up a consultation call or scheduling an appointment.

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.

As a licensed psychologist, I can help you cope with depression, anxiety, life transitions, and trauma. I also specialize in working with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, whether in exploring one’s identity, navigating coming out, considering or actively transitioning, relationship and sexual concerns, coping with queerphobia, or looking for connections. I do my best to be genuine, respectful, and honest with my clients so together, we can create a collaborative relationship that allows for vulnerability. I approach therapy from a relational-existential perspective, also drawing on feminist psychology and trauma-informed practice. In therapy with me, I will help you understand your relationship patterns and empower you to make autonomous, well thought-out decisions in your life, as well as get relief from your symptoms and generally cope better. Coming from a somatic and trauma-informed background means I deeply appreciate the ways our bodies carry the potential for healing within psychotherapy. As a queer transgender person, I am thankful to be able to give back to my community as an “out” therapist. I believe it is also important to take care of my own well-being, since I’m a person too! I do so by spending time with loved ones, exploring natural spaces, reading, baking, and gardening.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

My counseling style is grounded in the belief that, as humans, we are all imperfect; but are also inherently "ENOUGH". I believe in an empoweringly collaborative approach to help clients identify patterns and address cycles of distress.

I believe that the therapeutic relationship, the relationship between the therapist and the client, is the cornerstone of therapy and is an essential tool in working through interpersonal issues. I would provide a warm and safe environment in which to collaboratively address your concerns. Therapy would entail learning skills to more effectively cope with your stressors and exploring your understanding of yourself and underlying causes of your difficulties in order to enhance your quality of life. While this process can be challenging, it can also be meaningful and rewarding. I have experience working in community and academic settings with diverse adult populations experiencing a wide array of problems.