Therapists for college students near Pittsburgh, PA

Relationships are both the most difficult and the most rewarding things about being human,and they are HARD! I believe very strongly in the power of relationships to heal as well as hurt. I help people look at the relationships in their lives and figure out how to move forward in a new way. I work with all types of relationships. My particular areas of interest include defiant teenagers, self-harm, couples therapy, mindfulness, and trauma work. When the most important relationships in our lives are strong, I believe that we can handle whatever problems life throws at us.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I am honored to provide Pittsburgh with quality mental health services. I truly believe that people have the capacity to change, grow, and achieve their full potential within the context of a supportive environment. This belief fuels my work as a therapist. I completed my undergraduate work at the University of Pittsburgh and received my Masters in Social Work from New York University. I help adults with trauma histories & adverse childhood experiences, college students who are overwhelmed, and I provide relationship support for those of us who keep playing out toxic patterns.

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“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” ― Albert Camus. Choosing to be alive in our society and culture 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 to themselves and the world around them. I am a gentle person who enjoys using humor and delicately mixing the light and dark of the world in the healing journey. I am skilled in DBT and ITCT. I am currently pursuing training in Somatic Experiencing Therapy. I have specialized in working with young adults who are experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-harm, BPD, bipolar disorder, and complex trauma. I am passionate about supporting survivors of child abuse/neglect, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence. I am dedicated to anti-racism. I am of the LGBTQ+ community and bilingual in Spanish and English. I accept Highmark insurance and am currently in the process of credentialing with UPMC, Medicaid, Cigna, Aetna, and United. I offer sliding scale sessions. I can offer free introduction phone calls to see if we are a good fit. Reach out with any questions or interests!

I specialize in supporting international students as they navigate the unique challenges of adapting to a new culture, managing academic pressures, and balancing personal and family expectations. Together, we can work through feelings of homesickness, anxiety, identity shifts, or loneliness in a safe, nonjudgmental space. My approach is collaborative and compassionate, with a focus on building resilience, fostering self-awareness, and helping students feel more grounded and connected.

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I founded Tranquil Trails with a vision to create a therapeutic space where young adults entering the "real" world feel safe to bring their whole selves into the room—without fear of judgment or dismissal, using unconditional positive regard and holistic therapy that encompass an individual and does not place people into boxes or make assumptions. I believe that when we as therapists approach our work with the vulnerability, compassion, and transparency of our humanness, we invite our clients to do the same. At Tranquil Trails, we specialize in working with youth and adults—as they navigate the ebbs and flows of transitional age, complicated by economic hardship, daily reminders of systemic oppression, access to violent videos occurring in real time across the world, AI and misinformation, fear of rights being taken away or have been, frequent complicated family histories with psychosocial stressors daily. And on top of that many of our clients are in college, graduate school, medical school or pursuing an academic career. We invite our clients into the process of collaborative treatment planning, using their own words to create positive and achievable goals. We notice when something is different and we highlight it. We teach them that to see the positives in oneself is to go against the grain of all we have been taught as members of the system. Overachieve, don’t rest, never stop producing, never slow down. We are missing out on life, and the ability to sit with emotions. The ability to notice any positive emotions at all. Our vision at Tranquil Trails is to create a compassionate, inclusive, and supportive community where individuals feel empowered to take charge of their mental health journey. We aim to foster a world where mental health struggles are not only normalized but seen as a trait of humanness, and where healing, personal growth, and resilience are accessible to all. We envision a future where every client, regardless of background or limitations, has the tools, support, and confidence to craft a life that works for them. Through authenticity, collaboration, and evidence-based care, we strive to break the stigma around mental health and create lasting positive change in the lives of those we serve.

(Under Development)

Barbara is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who received her Master's Degree from Slippery Rock University in Psychology. She has over 25 years of experience in providing mental health counseling to adults, couples and families. Barbara provides individual, family and couples counseling that specializes in mental health counseling. Areas of focus include: anxiety, depression, life transition issues, conflict resolution, stress management, loss & bereavement issues, self-esteem issues, emotional regulation issues, and communication issues. Her counseling approach is eclectic in nature and adjusted to meet the existing needs of the client in relationship to their own individual developmental needs. Barbara utilizes treatment modalities such as: Cognitive Therapy, Existential Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Therapy, Reality Therapy and Developmental Psychology. In addition, Barbara is also a certified addiction and co-occurring disorders therapist.

I work with athletes, performers, and professionals to improve focus, confidence, and emotional agency under pressure. I will support you in attaining mindful engagement and psychological flow in your daily life. If you’re looking to navigate an important career transition, improve relationship patterns, or heal after a breakup, I’m also here to help. Regardless of your circumstances, you deserve to experience life to its fullest potential. My style is practical, collaborative, and tailored to your specific needs. Whether you are preparing for a critical moment, navigating a high-pressure or professional transition, working through relationship challenges, or trying to break through a plateau, I will help you gain the insight and skills needed to overcome barriers that may be holding you back. Over time, my goal is to help you stay present under stress, recover more quickly from setbacks, and respond to situations with clarity and control rather than force or self-criticism. I bring over a decade of experience as a psychologist, academic instructor, training director, and clinical supervisor. I look forward to serving you. Education and Career I am a licensed psychologist and a founding co-owner of Avellar Warden Psychological Associates, PLLC. I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed my doctoral and post-doctoral residencies respectively at the University of Delaware and University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am a licensed psychologist in PA, NY, and a certified member of The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which allows me to work with clients in almost every state within the U.S.

Many of us have been running all our lives. Practice stopping. Thich Nhat Hanh Thank you for Inviting us to meet you in the middle of your journey and taking us with you on your next steps. We want to acknowledge the courage it takes to seek the help when things get tough, and it feels unbalanced. We are here to walk with you and to help you find your way. We understand that you can’t change the past and want to help you bridge your life and values in order to move forward. We use an acceptance stance and behavioral activation skills in order to assist you with finding your most fulfilling path. We will provide you with support and guidance through difficult times and life’s transitions. We want to help provide you with useful skills to answer the questions that you may face. We have over 15 years of experience working with a variety of people. We have the knowledge of working in a variety of settings and seeing people in different struggles in their lives. We have learned to engage with people in a variety of different ways in order to help promote healing and understanding that is unattainable on your own. It takes different questioning and new lenses to break old patterns of behavior and old responses. We teach people to be proactive and understanding instead of reactive and repetitive. If you want to have a healthier more understanding view of yourself with skills to deal with those difficult times, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

As a licensed psychologist, I specialize in delivering empathic, client-centered mental health care for individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, and trauma. As a member of both the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, I bring a unique lived perspective to my work and am deeply committed to providing culturally sensitive, affirming, and evidence-based care that is tailored to your individual needs and goals. I draw on a range of evidence-based approaches in my work, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma. I also integrate cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior strategies to help individuals build effective coping skills, manage distress, and navigate life’s challenges more confidently. Personally, I am a proud pet parent and enjoy spending time with my chosen family and friends. Interests and hobbies include going to concerts, dancing, creative activities, going on adventures, leisure hikes, jigsaw puzzles, and playing board games.

25+ yrs of post-licensure experience. Co-owner of Existential-Dynamic Associates. I see counseling as a collaborative process designed to help you overcome problems & live more fully. I believe that seeing yourself & others with compassion & acceptance is a path to well-being & meaning. I have an engaging, experiential style. I also lecture domestically & internationally on anger management, mindful eating, & perfectionism. My approach to self-criticalness was validated by an independent research team. I am on the Advisory Board of The Mindfulness Project (London, UK).

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 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.

Hello and welcome. Are you struggling with life transitions, feeling anxious and/or depressed? Have you been struggling with self confidence or self esteem? These are just some of the areas if you are ready we can work on together. These are just a few of the topics we can discuss together if you are ready. I believe in meeting you where you are and helping you meet the goals you want to work on. I look forward to speaking with you and learning about what you would like to work on.

Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh is Pittsburgh's most trusted resource for therapy, marriage counseling, and family counseling. Our providers serve Northside, Wexford, South hills, and Monroeville in treating anxiety, depression, stress, adjustment, life transitions, relationship challenges, and many other diagnosis.

I specialize in working with children, teens and adults of all ages with life changes/ transitions, mood disorders and emotional regulation, stress management, self-esteem and self-confidence, and grief and loss. My approach to therapy is client-centered, solution-focused, strengths-based and trauma-informed.

I believe you have the power to create and live a life that feels fulfilling to you. I would be thrilled to partner and work with you to create and nurture an existence that is authentic, while navigating the challenges of existing within our society. Together, we'll place emphasis on your positive traits and behaviors to enhance your ability to use your personal instincts. Through therapy, you will be empowered to cultivate your inner wisdom, growth, healing, and fulfillment.

I see one of the most important roles as a therapist to be putting in the work to earn someone’s trust and walking beside them as an accomplice on their path towards growth. I don’t believe that people are “broken” or “need to be fixed”, but rather that somewhere within every person lies the capacity to generate change. I believe this change begins by finding someone trustworthy to support them through this process. And—that being kinder and gentler towards ourselves goes a long way to building the foundation for this change to occur. My experiences span across 15 years, with the scope of my direct work supporting clients in their exploration of gender expression/transition, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief/loss and more- all within Allegheny County. I am also happy to provide evaluations and letters for Gender Affirming surgeries, Green Card Status, and Emotional Support Animals. The world is an often hard place to be, and my goal is to create a space for softness to occur. To not only listen but to hear and understand. To respect through accountability. To address struggles through processing and also through action leading to systemic change.