Therapists for college students near Pittsburgh, PA

Thanks for checking out Thrive Counseling Center. We are here to assist when life's challenges tend to become overwhelming and begin to impact you, your relationships, and your educational and career goals. We work with a variety of mental health and relationship issues, including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, grief and loss, stress, relationship issues, sexuality, gender issues, ptsd/trauma. Using a variety of techniques, we look forward to assisting you in improving your health and well-being on your journey to living your best life!

I work best with people who are going through change, feeling stuck, or struggling in their relationships and want a space where they can be honest and understood. Many of the people I work with are dealing with stress, anxiety, past hurt, or conflict with partners or family. I also work with people in poly, open, and kink relationships who want a supportive place to talk about communication, boundaries, and connection. My clients are usually people who want to understand themselves better, improve how they relate to others, and live more authentically.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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 South Hills Counseling, everything we do is guided by our four core values: These principles inform not only how we approach therapy, but also how we build our team and our business. We believe we've struck a unique balance between having a warm, family-oriented feel and the professional structure of a well-run clinic. This allows us to create a comfortable environment for clients while ensuring consistent, high-quality care. 1. Always Caring. We approach every interaction with empathy and compassion. 2. Remain Committed. We're dedicated to providing consistent, high-quality care for every client. 3. Be Inspiring. We encourage growth and positive change in both our clients and our team. 4. Forever Growing. We continually evolve our practice to better serve our community. Our mission is grounded in our greater purpose—Navigating Pathways to Wellness through Growth—which guides every aspect of how we serve our clients, support our team, and build a thriving practice. Our approach focuses on providing a private practice atmosphere without the impersonal aspects sometimes found in larger clinical settings. This creates a warm, welcoming environment where healing can truly take place.

Nadine M. Cramer, LPCC-S, LPC College life comes with incredible opportunities — and real challenges. Whether you're managing stress, struggling with anxiety or depression, navigating a difficult transition, or carrying the weight of past trauma, you don't have to figure it out alone. With over 22 years of experience working with adults, I bring a grounded, compassionate approach to helping you understand what's getting in your way — and build the practical skills to move forward. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we'll work together at your pace, in a space where you are always safe to be honest and never judged for where you are. You've already done something brave by being here. Let's take the next step together. Accepting new clients. Virtual sessions available.

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.

Welcome! I'm glad you're here. Taking the first step in seeking therapy can feel overwhelming in itself. We know life can be complicated, unpredictable, and at times challenging to navigate. I've been working as a therapist for over 13 years and have experience supporting individuals and families across the lifespan. Helping young adults navigate life transitions as they embark on adulthood and gain newfound independence has become a particular passion of mine. I work from a trauma-informed framework with clients and students experiencing a range of mental health challenges, including anxiety, PTSD, depression, social pressures, identity exploration, disordered eating, life transitions, grief, loss, and concerns related to the LGBTQ+ community and their families. I strive to meet clients wherever they may be on their own journey. Sessions with me are authentic, supportive, creative, compassionate, and collaborative as we work together to develop individualized goals. As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Board-Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC), and EMDR-trained clinician, I offer art therapy services and interventions alongside other counseling approaches, including CBT, DBT, person-centered, and solution-focused techniques. Disclaimer: You do not have to be “good at art” to benefit from art therapy. You also have the freedom to decline art therapy altogether if you prefer more traditional talk therapy sessions. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. I look forward to hearing from you!

We meet you where you are and help you become a “BETTER YOU”. Meet Sandra I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and have been working in the field for 15 years. I believe we all have the capacity to change and grow, and that we possess the skills to do so. Sometimes, we need someone to guide us through this transformation. When working with individuals, I work strongly from a Person-centered background, meaning that throughout the therapeutic process I will empower and motivate you in finding your most authentic self. My passion is providing therapy for adults struggling with depression, anxiety, family conflict, life transitions, and relationship difficulties. Each person I see is unique, so I individualize my approach based on your goals. Treatment will be tailored to your cultural and social background, including ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, gender, religion, and sexual orientation. I have worked across a variety of treatment settings, from outpatient services, to family based services, crisis intervention, school counseling, and more recently drug and alcohol recovery services. I draw from CBT, DBT, Person-centered background and Motivational Interviewing Therapy to help my clients develop healthy coping strategies to make positive changes in their lives. I have also led an Anger Management group for adults and adolescents, as well as an early recovery Drug and Alcohol Recovery group for adults. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa, in Portugal, and a Master’s of Education minor in Mental Health Counseling from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. I am fluent in Portuguese.

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.

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 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 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.

Stephanie is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and a Certified School Counselor for children in grades K-12. She holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor's of Science degree in Developmental Psychology. Prior to working at Cornerstone Wellness, she was a School Counselor for 12 years in a public-school setting and also spent two years prior to that working as a School Counselor at a Cyber-School. Stephanie did mental health counseling in a private practice setting and worked at the post-secondary level as an Academic Advisor at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh as well. She is very passionate about working with young adults and strongly believes that all people are deserving of love and respect. "In order for positive change to happen, we need to work together as a team to support your goals of achieving happiness, success, balance, and peace. I know that this season of life can come with many challenges but I vow to work closely with you to create a therapeutic plan that we both feel comfortable with". Stephanie's therapeutic approach is centered around a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model which helps people to understand how their thoughts and emotions affect their behaviors. Her goal is to help her clients learn how to replace their negative thought patterns with more productive ones which will then, in turn, change their behaviors. She knows that teaching people how to shift their mindsets and how to discover new ways of thinking will help them to respond differently to life's stressors and ultimately improve their overall well-being. Stephanie understands that counseling can seem "scary" at first but prides herself on making sessions collaborative and relaxed. She wants therapy to be a safe place where her clients can feel comfortable to just be themselves! "I truly love what I do and I see it as a privilege to witness the change and growth that can happen for my clients as they move through therapy. With that being said, I hope to become a person that they trust and look forward to spending time with."

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with college students, adults, and couples. I specialize in treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and coping with life stressors. I am a cognitive-behavioral therapist and my goal is to help clients develop strategies to make meaningful change in their lives. Goals for therapy could include better understanding your thoughts and emotions, learning to practice healthy ways of coping, processing traumatic events, increasing self-esteem and self-compassion, improving emotion regulation, and improving relationships with boundaries and assertive communication. I have extensive experience working with clients using short-term, evidence-based treatments. I also enjoy working with longer-term clients who want to focus on increasing self-awareness, identifying your values, and achieving personal growth. Therapy is a collaborative flexible process tailored to each individual’s unique needs and goals. I use a strengths-based approach. I received my undergraduate degree from Brown University and my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Binghamton University (SUNY). I am a certified provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, and Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD and I have served as a consultant for the National Center for PTSD training program.

Therapy should provide a safe space free from judgment where you can seek support, be genuine, feel heard and grow into the person you want to be. In sessions, we will work together to identify your unique abilities, strengths and successes. We will explore how to use those strengths and abilities to process past events, feel better, achieve your goals and live a life that feels meaningful to you. My integrative approach is strengths based and person centered with elements of evidence based approaches including CBT, DBT, narrative therapy, and EMDR. I have extensive experience working with adolescents, teens and young adults who are dealing with anxiety, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, depression, parenting issues, life transitions, effects of trauma and relationship struggles. I am trained in EMDR via EMDR Consulting, an EMDR International Association Approved Training Provider. I look forward to meeting with you!

Maybe chronic stress, anxiety, or trauma has your nervous system stuck on high alert, so that even when life is relatively stable, you don't actually feel that way. Maybe your past experiences show up now as hypervigilance, tension, irritability, insomnia, or shutting down. Maybe you're managing burnout, depression, relationship struggles, or patterns you just can't seem to shake. Maybe you're tired of merely surviving and ready to actually feel different. With a background in social justice, many of my clients are queer, activists, neurodivergent, and others for whom identity/politics/systemic context are part of their story. We start by helping your body feel safer through various approaches such as biofeedback, breathwork/meditation, or the Safe and Sound Protocol so your nervous system doesn’t have to work so hard. From there, we look deeper at the patterns, relationships, and stories that shaped how you move through the world. We explore what matters to you at your own pace. Our work together isn't about fixing what's "wrong" with you. It's about understanding what has happened to you, how you've adapted, and finding out what is possible when we have more awareness and more options. My approach is a deeply relational one. You're the expert on your own life and I'm here to serve as a supporter and collaborator in the process.

The Center for Advanced Psychotherapy (CAP Clinic), is part of Bellefield Outpatient Behavioral Health Services, UPMC in Oakland. Most cases referred will likely be seen by a trainee under supervision of a psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed mental health counselor through the CAP clinic. Trainees are either advanced students earning their doctorate in clinical psychology (PhD or PsyD) or medical residents (MDs) who are specializing in psychiatry and receiving specialized psychotherapy training. Video or audio taping of sessions is required in the CAP Clinic for supervision and training purposes. Patients participating in weekly psychotherapy can also be seen for med management services by a Psychiatrist or Psychiatry Resident, if appropriate. Lauren Bylsma, PhD has expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches for mood, anxiety, traumatic stress (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders in adults and adolescents. Other providers in our clinic (Holly Swartz, MD and Kelly Wells, MSW, LCSW) have expertise in interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) for unipolar and bipolar depression in adults. Some patients may not be a good fit for our clinic, including those with active alcohol or substance abuse issues, active psychosis, uncontrolled mania, high risk for suicide, homicidality or history of aggression, eating disorders, or those not appropriate for an outpatient level of care. Session fees are based on your insurance co-pays but it may be possible to see a trainee who does not bill insurance (i.e., no session fees), depending on trainee availability. We currently have availability with psychology trainees who do not bill (no charge for sessions, any insurance or no insurance is ok). Med management visits are billed to insurance. We currently offer both in-person and Telehealth services.

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.

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.