Therapists for college students near Pittsburgh, PA

Hello and welcome to my page! I am an LCSW in Pennsylvania and am currently a Doctorate of Social Work candidate. My passion is in helping individuals to recover from traumatic events and have worked extensively with survivors of sexual trauma and other traumatic events. I have also worked extensively with survivors of forced migration, including refugees and asylum seekers and I offer evaluations for immigration court.

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.

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!

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.

Do you struggle with self esteem, decision making, or just life in general? Are you ready to make a change? Often times our experiences can/have shape(d) who we’ve become. You may be in need of support and that’s ok. Congratulations to you for taking the first step in seeking support. My mission is to help make a difference in the lives of others one day at a time. As a certified Compassion Fatigue counselor, I can assist with emotional exhaustion. Life experiences can often leave us drained, stressed and or overwhelmed. Are you one who has always been there for others in their time of need? Who helps you? Do you have a healthy support system? The helper often gets neglected because they’re busy assisting others which can lead to Compassion Fatigue. Let me assist you.

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.

3Rivers Therapists is dedicated to offering high-quality mental health counseling services for adults, teens, couples, and children. We believe the answers you seek are already within you. Our therapists create a safe and supportive space where you can heal and rediscover deeper connections with yourself and those around you. We have offices in Pittsburgh, PA, Somerset, and Philadelphia.

Kings And Queens Family Services LLC is now accepting new clients until April, 2025!!! (Please Note: We have a five (5) question screening requirement prior to scheduling) -Who We Are- *We welcome and accept all individuals seeking support and readiness for real change. Our world can be hard to navigate alone therefore, allow us the opportunity to support you. *We are up to the task and have various therapist on staff that specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, veteran adjustment and reintegration concerns, human sexuality, families and children. You will also discover our commitment to privacy to be far more than a promise, and therefore we do not display the last names of our therapists. *Our team works with several survivors of human trafficking and victims of extreme circumstance relative to domestic violence. WE WILL NEVER PUT ANY PRACTICE PARTNERS AT RISK and pledge to keep our therapeutic interactions in a safe and stealth space. *We have developed a discreet and rapid screening process which allows us to book much more efficiently, and it is a difference you need experience to believe. At Kings & Queens Family Services LLC, getting you the help you need is more than a promise- It is our dignity-driven, clear and compassionate priority with every call, appointment and referral. *Recovering and Reaching Your Life Goals With Us Is Real Royalty.*

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 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.

I work with students who struggle with managing their emotional, behavioral, and social needs. I know that therapy can be initially uncomfortable and/or anxiety provoking, yet I create a safe and supportive space for my patients. The therapeutic relationship is extremely important in my practice, as I believe that we need to work together in order to meet your goals and improve your overall quality of life. I will always bring honesty and compassion into our sessions. I utilize various approaches and interventions to target each individual's needs and to create the best treatment for you. I utilize techniques from CBT, ACT, and mindfulness practices. However, I tailor my practice and choose interventions that best suit your symptoms. I have extensive experience working with anxiety, relationship difficulties, and depression. I am offering and accepting referrals for ADHD neuropsychological testing as well. Feel free to reach out to me directly by phone or email to see if we would be a good fit. I offer in person and virtual sessions. My goal is to teach you skills and offer a different perspective to lead a fulfilling life. Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions; I look forward to working together!

My therapeutic approach is humanistic and combines creative expression with elements of CBT, DBT, and ACT. While my specialization is in Art Therapy, I am also trained in traditional counseling, Sports Counseling, and Adoption Competency and will work with you to decide what will best support you and your treatment goals. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, and day-to-day life stressors and transitions, as well as children and adolescents living with chronic pain and illness. My other experience involves individual, group, and familial support in medical, residential, and educational settings. I aim to provide a calm, relaxing, and inviting environment.

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 often work with individuals in recovery, teens, college students, young adults, and more. I work with LGBTQIA+ individuals focusing on self-discovery, empowerment, and identity exploration. I also work with individuals struggling with religious trauma or spiritual concerns.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Our Mission is to help clients reach their full potential. Everyone has their capacity for happiness and we want to help you find it. We believe that everyone can create a happy, healthy life, but it takes hard work and is not just handed to us. Happiness comes from creating connection to ourselves, our environments, our purpose, and others. We help adults looking for assistance in improving their lives and breaking through old patterns of behaviors. We help those looking for direction, purpose, and answers to questions about their experiences. People ask themselves why they keep having the same things happen over and over in their life, we can help figure out those patterns and help to eliminate them so that you can move forward.

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!

Rachel Porterfield is a licensed clinical social worker who provides psychotherapeutic care to adults of all ages. She has years of experience working with individuals who struggle with a variety of challenges, including anxiety/panic attacks, depression, grief and loss, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and relationship concerns. Rachel helps others to share their intimate thoughts and feelings while guiding them to learn new skills that will encourage them to develop healthy life changes openly and collaboratively. Rachel has been extensively trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches/models including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and psychodynamic therapy. Rachel has worked in outpatient dual diagnosed programs, hospitals, and primary care offices. Rachel received her master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh with a certification in mental health.

I am a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor with experience working with a diverse population in an outpatient setting. I believe that developing a deeper understanding of yourself is the key to facing your mental health struggles and creating a life which is meaningful to you. I endeavor to help you feel seen and understood and to create an environment which is judgment-free and supportive. As a counselor, my approach will vary depending on your individual goals and needs. I work mainly from an existential foundation and enjoy tackling the big questions such as Who am I? and What is my purpose? I also draw from other modalities such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I believe that you are the expert on your own life and will focus on what you want out of our sessions. Whether you are dealing with a condition such as depression, anxiety, or OCD or experiences such as stress, grief, or exploring your identity, I am here to accompany you on your journey and empower you to make the change you want to see. The office is located directly on the 61B bus line, making it a convenient trip for any students in Oakland.

CURRENT OPENINGS available for telehealth (virtual sessions) in response to management of stay at home orders. Hello! I'm Jen, a Licensed Professional Counselor, working out of a private practice in downtown Pittsburgh (PKO Counseling). I have obtained a Masters of Counseling and Human Development at Walsh University. In my practice, I use a variety of approaches, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Art Therapy. I have particular experience in working with those facing depression, anxiety, trauma, phase of life issues, LGBT concerns, anger management, and addiction. It is my hope to be able help you build the confidence and skills you need to manage the stressors in your life. My goal is to provide a non-judgmental, safe environment to work on whatever is interfering with your happiness. I am someone who enjoys bringing humor into our sessions, and look forward to having the opportunity to get to know you. I hope to help you find the strength and support you need through our sessions together.