Therapists for college students near University of Pittsburgh

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.

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.

College can be exciting and overwhelming. I work best with students who feel stuck, stressed, or unsure about who they’re becoming. Whether you’re navigating identity shifts, relationship challenges, family pressure, or big decisions, I offer a calm, nonjudgmental space to sort things out. You don’t have to have it all figured out. We’ll work together to help you feel more grounded, clear, and confident in your next steps.

I believe in the inherent worth of everyone and that people genuinely do the best they can. We all experience joys and sorrows that can impact our daily functioning. Sometimes these experiences can make us feel "stuck," but we have the power to choose how we respond. Since learning never ends, we will discuss improving your self-awareness and build your "tool box" with strategies to empower you in everyday life. A caring atmosphere will be provided to help you discover your strengths, show yourself compassion, and to find balance in your life. I work with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, abilities, and ages. Together, we'll build a tool box, so that you're better able to deal with situations that may cause discomfort. An eclectic and solution-focused approach to counseling is used. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness approaches are used as well. As we work together, we'll discuss ways to help improve your quality of life. I enjoy helping adults dealing with mental health changes, students with disabilities, individuals struggling with transitional issues (e.g. new diagnoses, elderly parents, veganism), career counseling, grief, pet loss, and how nutrition impacts mental health. If you are interested in learning what openings are available, please call 412-354-0636 Thank you, Megan

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.

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.

Many of my clients are making exciting but often daunting transitions -- either from Jr High to High School, High School to College, or whatever comes next. Change is so often viewed with anxiety and negativity. Yet, change is happening all around us every day. How can we make change a positive experience in our lives? How can we choose to change something that is not working? How can we learn and grow from a challenging experience? As a counselor, I believe my job is to create a space where clients can explore these and other topics, in a way that ultimately positively impacts their day to day lives. I have 10+ years of professional experience working with adolescents and adults in outreach and community based organizations. I have a client centered, strengths-based approach to my work that integrates Positive Psychology and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I believe that it is critical that the client takes an active role in the counseling process. My clients face a range of life’s challenges: depression, anxiety, peer conflict, communication, transition to college/work, enhancing self-awareness, relationship/family dynamics (separation/divorce), grief, and autism or attention deficit/executive functioning challenges. I work primarily with young adults and their families, adults, parents and couples.

At Ellsworth Counseling, we are dedicated to providing compassionate and effective mental health services to help you heal, strengthen, and grow. We believe in the inherent strength and potential within each individual. My name is Darci Ellsworth and I am the owner of Ellsworth Counseling. I have been in the mental health field since 2008 and I am passionate about helping individuals and family achieve balance, well-being and a fulfilling life. My approach is characterized by warmth, empathy, and a focus on your strengths. I believe in fostering a collaborative therapeutic relationship where we can work together to: - Identify and build upon your unique strengths and resilience. - Develop a healthier relationship with yourself and others. - Recognize and shift dysfunctional patterns and habits. - Empower you to create lasting positive change. If you are interested, please reach out by phone or email!

I am licensed to provide therapy for 18+ and adults who are experiencing a variety of issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, self esteem and relationship problems. I have been practicing for over 25 years with experience in mood disorders (depression, anxiety, SAD, panic) and relationship issues. Other areas of interest for me include grief, self esteem issues, issues of college aged & young adults, and the elderly. My approach is warm, accepting and straight forward. I use many treatment modalities, but focus on problem solving collaboratively with my client. I can respond to e-mail quicker than voicemail.

I have been a therapist for over 30 years and have focused my work around helping clients develop healthy, satisfying relationships. I find that the people I see feel isolated, disappointed, and fearful of connecting with others. My approach is psychodynamic meaning that I see current concerns as a function of past relationships with significant people in one's life.

To live is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in the suffering (Neitzsche). We would never be able to experience our joy had we not of grown through our pain. GROWTH is the key component of findings ones true self. Be it feelings of anxiety, depression, or symptoms of PTSD, you CAN and WILL grow to be a better version of you when you take this journey of wellness. Exploration of ones self and mental toughness are key components to living a healthy and fulfilling life. Sometimes our past experiences, generational patterns, or our current thought patterns prohibit us from achieving greatness. I have over 15 years of experience I specialize with teens, young adults, and pro athletes. I am LGTBQI affirming. As a former Division 2 basketball coach, I enjoy working with college bound students and student athletes along with folks just experiencing stressors of everyday life. I utilize a strength based and holistic approach that incorporates pieces of DBT, CBT, MI, and mindfulness While we share time together you will find me to be a genuine, humorous, and empathetic clinician. Therapy should be about being authentic not only as a client but as your clinician. At the end of the day my job is to work myself out of a job where you feel empowered, self aware, and motivated to hit the ground running to achieve your life's purpose.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

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.

I know each individual is universally unique which means our thoughts, feelings and perceptions are also unique. As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), I use a range of modalities including ACT, DBT, CBT, and Mindfulness as well as approaches catered to meet your individual needs and help support your holistic wellness. I specialize in working with adults who are college- aged who are dealing with a wide range of experiences. I have experience working with adults experiencing addiction issues, mood disorders, behavioral issues, sexual issues and relationship issues. Additionally, I specialize in anxiety and depression and have experience working with folks 17 and over. I have worked in both community mental health and outpatient settings. It takes a lot of courage to reach out for help and finding the right person to assist on the journey can feel daunting. I provide a welcoming environment, flexible scheduling and access to community resources as needed. If you would like to discuss scheduling I encourage you to reach out and start your journey to healing and wellness.

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."

Are you in search of a therapist who understands the unique experiences of trans and queer individuals? Are you navigating how to address trauma, cope with late-stage capitalism, handle ADHD and autistic burnout, or explore gender and sexuality? I am committed to serving individuals within my community, particularly those who identify as trans and queer. I approach my practice as kink-aware, anti-capitalist, pro-sex worker, and knowledgeable about non-monogamous relationships. ​​ Because you know you best, we will collaborate to explore your intentions, identify therapeutic goals, and establish an individualized plan. I am IFS informed and utilize art therapy to deepen self-understanding and promote healing with clients. My aim during our sessions is to create a safe, inclusive space where you can freely express yourself. ​ I highly value and respect your identities, understanding their significant impact on your lived experiences and our work together. If you resonate with my therapeutic approach, I warmly invite you to reach out about how we may work together.

Trying to find a therapist can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already juggling classes, jobs, friendships, and figuring out your next steps. Who We Work Best With: Students Just Like You The students who thrive most in our practice often share a few things in common. They are typically high-achieving, thoughtful, and determined, but right now, they're feeling overwhelmed and stuck. They are excellent at pushing through difficult situations but realize that the old methods of "just toughing it out" aren't working anymore. You might be a great fit for us if you are experiencing any of the following: The "Burnout Beast": You're running on empty. You feel anxious every Sunday night, your motivation is low, and you constantly feel like you should be doing more, even when you're exhausted. You're ready to stop stressing and start enjoying your college years. The Social Maze: You're struggling to make real connections, dealing with roommate conflicts, or navigating a difficult dating scene. You want your relationships to feel supportive, not draining. The Future Fog: You're feeling pressure about your major, your career path, or even just whether you're where you're "supposed" to be. You need help quieting the noise so you can figure out what you truly want. The New Normal: You're struggling to adjust to a new semester, a move away from home, or even life after graduation. Change is hard, and you need a steady, non-judgmental place to process it. We specialize in working with college and graduate students to manage anxiety, perfectionism, stress, and life transitions. Our goal isn't just to help you survive campus life—it's to help you genuinely thrive. We provide practical strategies, emotional support, and the clarity you need to move forward, all without the confusing jargon.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

If you feel overwhelmed, confused, anxious or alone, it might help to have someone on your side to help you sort through the mess without judging you. I enjoy helping fellow humans adjusting to changes big and small, experiencing anxiety, perfectionism and self-esteem issues, questioning sexual/gender identity, or struggling with disordered eating and/or body image. We will work together in a way that aligns with what you need at the time, whether that's coping strategies to manage daily stressors or a nonjudgmental space to process what's happened to you and figure out where you want to go from here. I will acknowledge how your identities (including LGBTQIA+, neurocomplexity, and disability) intersect with each other and the environment, and can help you know yourself better and become more self-empowered and self-compassionate.