Therapists for college students near University of Pittsburgh
I have practiced child, adolescent and adult psychiatry in Pittsburgh since 1976. I graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in 1972 and completed specialty training at the University of PIttsburgh School of Medicine/Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in 1976. I am a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, and bipolar disorders. My approach is to be thorough and to evaluate and treat each individual systematically and carefully. I have extensive experience with difficult to treat psychiatric conditions. I have a full time office manager and a 24 hour per day answering service. I am available for emergencies. Someone will always answer my telephone and all telephone calls are returned. My typical visits are from 20 to 60 minutes depending on the needs of each person.
Are you, or a loved one, struggling with relationship issues, depression, anxiety, or a difficult and painful past? Understanding painful feelings can be difficult and making meaningful connections as to how, and why these developed can help alleviate symptoms & lead to change. You may be looking for therapy because there is an issue you hope to change, like low self-esteem, or a behavior pattern that is distressing to yourself or others (such as being reactive, critical). Perhaps you are finding it difficult to move toward your desired goals. You may be struggling with a relationship. I am a non-judgmental, compassionate, and formally trained Clinical Social Worker and Therapist. I am qualified to help you understand and resolve a wide array of issues that can be problematic in your life, while just as importantly, helping you to recognize your own strengths and potential for growth. My interest is working with you to help you better understand yourself through a process of exploration, support, respectful listening, and honest dialogue.
I am committed to providing a safe, empathic environment. I will meet you right where you are at - accept you for you; no judgement. I believe before we can move forward, we need to become aware of what is going on in the present. I want to help you become mindful of what is affecting your life so you can move forward to live the life you want to live.
We provide a safe, caring environment with only top-rated specialists. We provide secure online therapy & counseling that fits your life. With a results-based, individualized approach, our goal is to help you heal and become happy again.
I am a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), and a queer and non-binary person who uses they/them pronouns. I am also half-Taiwanese and half-White, neurodiverse and chronically ill. I love working with clients who don’t fit neatly into society’s pre-determined “boxes,” and are seeking to experience more enjoyment, fulfillment, and authenticity in their own lives – especially in terms of expressing themselves fully. This may involve experiences of gender, sexuality or perhaps a life transition such as career change, I’m open to all of it. Ultimately, I am curious about learning about people for who they are, and how they move through the world with whatever intersections of identity they may possess. My approach is grounded in anti-oppression and social justice principles and centered around the foundation of a genuine and compassionate therapeutic relationship with each and every client. I am here for the open acknowledgment of all that you have experienced, and all that you are, by providing plenty of space for both curiosity and reflection. In our work together, I will prioritize your autonomy, trusting you as the expert for you. Through a collaborative, non-judgmental, “as structured as you want it” approach, I am here to show up for you - to support you through your walk through life – however that may look like for you. I am trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and take a Strength-Based and Culturally Sensitive approach. I utilize Psychodynamic therapy and techniques and skills taken from other modalities as needed, as they apply to the work you would like to do in therapy.
You might be here because you’re feeling anxious, stuck, or overwhelmed—and you’re ready for change. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor with 20+ years of experience helping individuals find relief and growth through compassionate, evidence-based therapy. My approach is warm and holistic. I integrate traditional talk therapy (CBT and Gestalt) with trauma-informed practices like Brainspotting and the Safe and Sound Protocol, which help regulate the nervous system and gently process deeper emotional wounds. Therapy with me is collaborative—we’ll honor your pace and goals as we work together toward healing and lasting change.
As a therapist, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other strategies to help clients explore the interactions between their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors. My style is collaborative, client-driven, and forward-focused. Additionally, I enjoy looking at the systemic factors in a person's life, including family dynamics, relationships at work or school, and even interactions with friends or partners. My purpose is to help you maximize the opportunities in your life to achieve your goals through empathy and a strength-based focus. I specialize in anger and anxiety management across the life span, especially with teens and adults. I am certified in Thinking for a Change (T4C) and Aggression Replacement Training (ART). Additionally, I have extensive experience working with and advocating for people going through the legal system, including people facing domestic violence charges. I invite you to reach out to schedule a session by contacting our office to see if we would be a good therapeutic fit. I look forward to talking with and meeting you to help you achieve your goals!
I work w/ adults 20 y.o. and up. I approach symptoms not as nuisances to be managed or reduced, but rather as signposts to be read. They point us to the deeper, meaningful issues that compel thoughtful reflection both in and outside the consulting room. We can look forward to exploring the patterns/themes that announce themselves in our work together, approaching all that we see w/ the respectful curiosity that sets the conditions for growth. I have experience working with adults struggling with mood disorders, anxiety, traumatic experiences, relationship difficulties, and the universal issue of learning to live in the face of loss. Since 1987 I’ve done psychotherapy in a variety of settings. Early on I worked in community mental health and then a rape crisis center. Later, I was a member of a large group private practice for over 25 years. My clinical orientation is psychodynamic with a strong relational orientation. My continuing education in psychodynamic approaches is ongoing. If you're interested in meeting, we'll first have a brief conversation on the phone so that I'll have a chance to tell you more about how my practice works and you'll have the opportunity to tell me more about your expectations or ask any questions you might have.
You may look like you have it all together yet inside you feel anxious, exhausted, or like you’re never “enough.” The need to be “perfect”, frequent memories of past traumatic experiences, or challenges navigating unfulfilling relationships may have left you feeling disconnected from yourself and who you believe you truly are. You want to feel present, more confident, and at peace with yourself - to stop just “surviving” and start healing. My approach is rooted in EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and mindfulness-based therapies, aiming to help release the emotional charge of painful memories while gaining greater self-awareness, compassion, and balance. Together, we’ll work to heal old wounds, quiet self-doubt, and cultivate a more grounded, fulfilling life. You don’t have to carry the weight of “having it all together” anymore. In doing the work, you can reconnect with your strength and rediscover peace within yourself. If this resonates with you, I invite you to reach out. Healing can begin with one courageous step.
You want to be successful and self-assured, but your anxiety or depression has left you struggling with confidence and unsure of who you are. You may even feel confused as to what emotions you are experiencing or why you are feeling this way. This could be affecting your relationships, your work, or other areas of your life, and you're tired of pretending everything is fine when it's not. One thing is for certain: you're ready for relief. You're ready to feel good about yourself, to learn how to navigate these thoughts and feelings. You're ready to feel peace. Clients come to me looking for a therapist who they can genuinely connect with, because therapy should be a place where you feel understood. We will work together to identify new perspectives, increase awareness, and identify methods for you to effectively manage whatever causes you distress. I believe that we all possess the power to make necessary changes to live our most fulfilling lives. It is my goal to provide you with the support and guidance you need to discover the path to wellness that lies within. You don't have to continue managing your anxiety and depression alone. Reach out today for a free consult. I can't wait to hear from you.
Mark Thomas, PhD, DBSM, is a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist who is passionate about improving patients' sleep. Dr. Thomas earned his doctoral in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and completed his clinical internship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. He received specialized behavioral sleep medicine training and experience during his postdoctoral fellowship at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, where he addressed a wide range of sleep issues in Veterans. He is the founder of Restore Sleep Health, a telehealth private practice offering evidence-based therapy to adults with sleep disorders. Dr. Thomas’ clinical work is focused on the treatment of sleep issues including insomnia, PAP adherence, circadian rhythm disorders, and nightmares.
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.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and I am a perfect fit if you are missing your pet and believe healing feels better with an animal by your side. At Comfort Companions Counseling, I bring the human-animal bond into therapy in a real and meaningful way, creating a warm and judgment-free space where you can slow down, reconnect with yourself, and build real coping skills. I specialize in working with college students navigating anxiety, depression, chronic stress, trauma, life transitions, and the emotional exhaustion that comes with trying to do it all. Services include individual telehealth therapy, Animal-Assisted Therapy, and The Comfort Canine Program, a 5-week therapy dog assisted somatic group designed specifically for college students. I also conduct ESA evaluations with care and thoroughness, and a letter will be provided if clinically appropriate following the completion of the evaluation. Sessions are held via telehealth so you can show up from wherever feels most comfortable — your dorm, your apartment, or your couch. Your pet is always welcome to join, and my co-therapist Milly, a certified therapy dog, can also be part of your sessions for extra support and comfort.
Melissa's diverse experience had lead her to focus on the importance of contentedness of relationships in fostering personal and spiritual growth in her clients. At the core, Melissa's goal is to help each person find the freedom that comes with pursuing wellness in every area of life. She strives to help people find a place of well being that goes beyond the sense of disease or illness but to a place of thriving state of health and balance.She has worked at various levels of mental health care including outpatient therapy, inpatient hospitalization, and residential treatment since 2005. In residential treatment, she worked with adolescents with behavioral difficulties and mental illness. While working in a psychiatric hospital, Melissa provided individual support and group therapy for adults, adolescents, children and their families who have struggled with disordered eating. She worked with children and their families who have struggle with anxiety and sleep disturbances in a university research setting. Her understanding of the connection between the mind and body was furthered while working in a medical hospital helping children, adolescents, and young adults with gastrointestinal disorders or sleep problems. These experiences have provided advanced knowledge in treating, not only eating disorders and anxiety but depression, sleep problems, trauma, body image disturbance, life transitions, communication difficulties, self esteem, chronic pain and other medical conditions. She has advanced training in non-pharmaceutical interventions, CBT for Insomnia and trauma, EMDR, attachment and dissociation. She enjoys working with transition age and early professionals who experience chronic anxiety and/or depression, complex trauma, and adjustment issues. She lived in Southeast Asia for 6 years and loves working with cultural adjustment issues.
We all have struggles. Despite our best efforts and intentions, those struggles can leave us feeling overwhelmed and we don't even understand how we got here. I want to help you explore and address your concerns, by encouraging a sense of curiosity and humor, when appropriate. Rather than approach our troubles with trepidation, why not approach them with interest – be curious about ourselves, how we came to be who/how we are, how the things we have tried have worked/not worked or even made things worse and what other options may exist that we have not yet thought of or tried? Learning to be curious about ourselves and the challenges we face, and to find humor and grace along the way, allows us to be less judgmental and feel less ashamed of ourselves and our struggles, so we can build a life we want on more solid ground. I’m a psychologist with 20 years of experience working with college-aged (traditional and non) individuals. I have a very collaborative approach – you are the expert on you. I incorporate a number of therapy approaches, using what I believe will best fit you and the difficulties discussed. I know how difficult it is to seek help and it's my job to make this easier by offering a warm, empathetic and safe place to explore and address your concerns. If you are ready to feel better about yourself and explore how you might meaningfully address the challenges in your life, I am excited to join you in this process!
If you’re a high-achieving student who looks “fine” on the outside but feels overwhelmed, anxious, or exhausted on the inside, you’re not alone. The pressure to perform academically, have a thriving social life, and figure out your future (all at the same time!) can quietly take a toll on your mental health. As a licensed mental health counselor, I help driven college students build lifelong coping skills and find balance—without pushing themselves harder or burning out. Together we can work to identify what you would like to be different in your life, and make a clear plan to help you get there. By the way - I'm also a certified career counselor, so if landing internships or planning life beyond college is stressing you out, I can help you there too. If you’re looking for therapy that’s down-to-earth, compassionate, and focused on helping you actually enjoy your college experience instead of just pushing through, let's connect! I offer a free 30 minute consultation call to see if we're a good fit before we start working together.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
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 provide effective help for individuals, couples and families, who are seen by scheduled appointment via secure and confidential telehealth sessions. Issues of concern include mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, communication problems, child/adolescent behavior, bereavement and emotional trauma, among others. I participate with most health insurance plans and many employee assistance programs.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.