Therapists for college students near University of Pennsylvania
Finding a good therapy match is crucial to bringing about the change that you desire in your life. Working with someone where you feel seen, understood and challenged in a non-threatening way creates the safety to explore the unknown and grow into your full potential. I have been in private practice for 16 years and I trained and worked at Tufts University Counseling Center for 4 years. In the wise words of author Sharon Salzberg, "If I opened my heart and mind big enough to take in the suffering, then there would be healing- not because the suffering itself is redemptive or healing, but because of the opening I was cultivating in the face of it."
Are you having difficulty managing life’s challenges such as transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, or attention issues? I understand how scary it can be to take the first step towards change and I am honored to work with you through this. You are the expert on your own life and we will work collaboratively to develop effective strategies to better manage your life. I specialize in working with teens and adults who are struggling with sadness, constant worries, difficulty concentrating, loneliness, relationship difficulties, traumatic experiences, feeling overwhelmed, and/or stress in the family, work, or school environment. With 8 years of experience in mental health, I present an eclectic, creative approach to identify your strengths and abilities to develop a plan that works for you. This allows us to start where you are now and help you to move forward at the pace at which you are ready. At LifeSpire, we work hard to assure you and your family are comfortable, regardless of what experience brought you through our door. Our office is easily accessible to Enola, Camp Hill, Harrisburg, New Cumberland, and Mechanicsburg residents.
Therapy should be an environment where you feel accepted and empowered so you can face the difficult challenges that are part of the human experience. When we feel lost in life, that can often lead to feeling overwhelmed and doubt within ourselves. You can end up questioning who you are and if you can be truly accepted as your authentic self. You deserve a space where you can learn about and face the scary parts of you in order to build self-confidence and navigate the world. In my practice, I first use authenticity, transparency, and compassion in order to build a strong therapeutic relationship with you. Then I utilize different techniques in order to help you understand the root of your behaviors, develop skills in order to cope with difficult thoughts and feelings, and identify your values in order to create a life worth living.
I am a holistic psychotherapist with over 20 years experience. I am passionate about helping creative, motivated, ambitious, open-minded people feel confident & comfortable in their own bodies, reclaim their sexuality and desire, heal through sexual difficulties, and live happy, healthy, and empowered lives. I work with people to better understand their relationships. Not only in relationship with partners and family members, but also their relationship to their own body, thoughts, stress, and Self. I aim to help you feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin. My professional and personal journey have led me to blend Western Psychology and Eastern Philosophy, mindfulness, compassion, breath and bodywork, neurobiology, mind-body techniques, and the creative healing arts when appropriate.
There is incredible knowledge and healing potential within each of us. My job as your therapist is to carry the flashlight as we explore your inner world together. I work with adults ages 18+ on a range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, neurodiversity, psychosis, gender and sexual identity, relationships and more. I offer therapy to individuals and couples. If you are searching for an accepting, supportive space where your concerns will be heard and never dismissed, I encourage you to schedule an appointment. As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I offer a safe, affirming space to people of all genders, sexualities and relationship styles. I specialize in helping queer, neurodivergent adults self-advocate, set boundaries and navigate adversity, trauma and life transitions. I have in-person openings in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood and virtually across PA. Reach out today to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation.
Todd Pungratz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, and over a decade of experience supporting individuals through life’s most complex and meaningful challenges. His career has taken him through hospital settings, primary care clinics, and community mental health, where he’s worked with people facing trauma, grief, mood and thought disorders, substance use, and neurodivergence. He draws from a range of evidence-based approaches – including CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care – and collaborates with prescribers when medication is part of your healing process. Todd offers a safe, nonjudgmental space in which clients can feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward at their own pace.
Many of the students I work with are navigating a lot internally—stress, anxiety, self-doubt, or feeling unsure about their path. You might find yourself overthinking, putting pressure on yourself to have everything figured out, or struggling in relationships while trying to balance it all. You may look like you’re doing fine on the outside, but feel overwhelmed or stuck underneath. You don’t have to have everything figured out. If you’re open to growing, gaining clarity, and building a stronger relationship with yourself, we’d likely work well together.
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.
Therapy for college, graduate students, and student athletes - social justice oriented. Queer and genderqueer affirmative. A a therapist I specialize in working with first generation college students, athletes, acculturation, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and trauma. College is tough! I specialize in anxiety, imposter anxiety, perfectionism, sleep, and mood. Are you overwhelmed trying to figure out the future while managing life obligations and feel like no one understands you? Together we will figure out unhealthy behaviors and relationships that do not serve you, learn skills to manage stress, and make changes to live a balanced, more meaningful life. I strive Likewise, I strive to provide a safe space to process unique experiences of systemic racism, injustice, and inequity. What will therapy be like? It will be a blend of discussing stress and learning skills. Don't want to talk? That's cool too- let's learn skills. I use both relational and research informed approaches (meaning research studies have found these therapies help people feel better, so they work!) including Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills.
The search for a counselor/therapist can be overwhelming. It is my goal to present a clear and comprehensive picture of my services and approach to therapy. I strive to create an environment where my clients can feel accepted, safe and understood. You are the expert on your life. My job is to make sure that you are utilizing all your expertise. Are you someone who feels that life has no meaning or purpose? Are feelings of depression and anxiety holding you back from finding your true potential? Many times, life transitions and sudden change can magnify these feelings of uncertainty. You are not alone. I specialize in assisting those who are uncertain of what they need or want from life. Learn ways to manage your discomfort so that you can begin to focus on what is truly important to you. The best time to consider counseling is when troubled thinking or behaviors begins to affect your daily living; jobs, friendships, family and intimate relationships. For some, these issues may be longstanding patterns that began years ago. For others, sudden changes such as a loss, crisis, trauma or addiction can trigger unfamiliar feelings that paralyze your ability to get through the day. My focus is on that voice in the head we all hear. It is the voice that shapes our perceptions of people, the world and ourselves. It is the voice that tells us that we are deficient, that life is scary, that things are never going to get better. Those thoughts are not as significant as you may believe.
I'm glad that you've found your way to my profile! I'm providing online individual therapy and group therapy to adults anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania. I have worked with college students for the last 7 years and work hard to help students on their journey of healing to help set them up for success and fulfillment in the future. I work with most mental health concerns but specialize in trauma recovery and working with LGBTQIA+ identified individuals. Please see my website for more in depth information about me and my work. Note that my fees are listed as my general fee but I offer a sliding scale for those who would have difficulty in being able to pay for sessions given that I don't take insurance and am private pay only.
Students who come to work with me often share some things in common: -They're high-achievers. Driven, capable, and holding it together on the outside, but quietly exhausted, burned out, or feeling like something's missing on the inside. -They might be navigating anxiety or OCD, going through a major life transition, or questioning their purpose and what comes next. They may be working through shifts in their relationships, with a partner, with their parents, or with themselves. -Many have never asked for help before. They're used to being the one who has it together, and reaching out takes real courage for them. If any of that sounds familiar, reach out for a free 20-minute consultation and let's get started together :)
My practice is here to support those who need someone to talk, by being someone who will listen and can offer some help. It is a safe place to process and discuss your challenges, and to learn more about taking care of your mental health. Most often I am helping clients who are dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and just the difficulty of adjusting to life's stressors. Adjusting to the college experience, and the transition from college to the real world can be tough. I have found that clients have done well through these times when supported with process, education, skill building, and reflection. If you are interested please reach out. I offer free 15 minute consultations for all new clients who are interested. Currently I am accepting Self Pay, Highmark Plans, Blue Cross plans, Aetna, and Optum.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Something feels off, and you can't quite name it. You're doing everything you were supposed to do, but the life you're living doesn't feel fully like yours. You look around and it seems like everyone else found their footing, their person, their purpose. And quietly, you've started to wonder: Why not me? What am I missing? The gap between where you are and where you thought you'd be by now can feel like failure, even when, logically, you know it isn't. You're measuring yourself against a timeline you didn't write, comparing your insides to everyone else's outsides, and coming up short every time. The loneliness isn't just about being single or not having the career you wanted. It's the disconnection from yourself, from knowing who you are and what you actually want, separate from what you were always told to want. You don't need to have it all figured out. But you do deserve to feel at home in your own life, curious about where you're going rather than ashamed of where you are. You deserve to trust yourself again. I work with women who are navigating that in-between, exploring who they are, longing for real connection, and untangling the anxiety that comes with feeling behind. Together, we'll loosen the grip of comparison, get clear on what you actually value, and help you build a life that feels genuinely yours, not a performance of what it was supposed to look like. I offer online therapy in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. If this sounds like you, please reach out to schedule a free 15 minute consultation!
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Loren is a practitioner who works with a group of other therapists, mental health clinicians and psychologists at Serenity Center. Loren is caring and empathic and knows the tools to help you get over the hurdles that are your struggles right now. Loren has a knowledge base to help with anxiety, depression, sexual, physical, emotional and mental abuse. PTSD, harming behaviors (cutting, burning, pinching, pill popping, and others), suicidal ideation (when you think, or plan to want to hurt yourself by death), and assault. It would be an honor to Loren to help you on your journey of getting better. Licensed only in NY.
Many of the clients I see are dealing with some form of anxiety, depression, adjustment-related issue, or life transition. Most often, my clients are young adults who are having problems in interpersonal relationships, such as feeling extremely anxious in social situations, having difficulty finding or maintaining healthy relationships, struggling to communicate effectively with others, or experiencing uncertainty what their wants and needs are in a relationship. I have a great deal of experience working with students. My internship and postdoc were both in a university counseling center, and afterward, I was a psychology professor for a number of years. In these roles, I worked with both undergraduate and graduate students. Therefore, I'm very familiar with the challenges that students can face. Whatever it is that is getting in the way, I can help! I utilize evidence-based approaches and methods that have been proven to work. However, because there is no single approach that works for every person across all situations, I practice in a way that will be responsive to your unique needs. We may work on identifying problematic thoughts, putting new behaviors into action, or learning how to better identify, express, and manage your emotions. If your concern is relationship-related, we will explore your relationship patterns, identify factors that are having a negative impact on your relationships, and help you develop the skills to find and maintain healthy, fulfilling relationships. Regardless of the specifics, I place a prime emphasis on providing a safe, supportive environment that is free from judgment. My style has been described as highly collaborative.
Hi, I'm Rebecca! I'm passionate about working with people who struggle with depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, & overall transitional life challenges. If you want a life with less worry, anxiety, or hopelessness, we can work together to explore attainable goals to get you where you'd like to be. My goal is to create a safe, inclusive space for you to talk about your individual challenges & how you envision your ideal life worth living. I respect & encourage the individuality of every person's life story. We’ll work together to explore your potential for change & growth in a supportive & collaborative environment. I've worked with people struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, addiction, & people struggling with difficult life transitions. I treat couples, and have worked with couples struggling with addiction in their relationship. I have experience as a crisis & trauma counselor, particularly with people who've experienced sexual assault. Starting therapy can be the most intimidating part for many people. I hope to prevent that and to talk with you about your goals for therapy, and how you envision a life worth living. I focus on creating an engaging, open space for everyone, and to value & respect everyone's individuality. Reach out via email or phone with any questions you have!
My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and empowering. I support college students as they navigate life transitions, build self-awareness, and discover their strengths. I believe healing and growth begin with genuine connection—one built on trust, empathy, and mutual respect. In our work together, I create a safe, inclusive space where you can explore challenges such as stress, anxiety, academic pressure, identity, relationships, and life direction. I honor neurodiversity and use a strengths-based, solution-focused approach that helps you tap into your own insight and resilience. Whether you’re managing change, redefining your goals, or learning to care for your mental well-being, my role is to help you build clarity, confidence, and a sense of balance as you move forward.