Adoption Therapists in Washington, PA

"It's not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, & to make your Happiness a priority. It's necessary." So often we put off the pursuit of therapy because of our busy schedules. If you, you & your partner and/or you & your child know that the time has come to care for yourselves, I'd be happy to support your doing so while working around school/work schedules, rush hour traffic, and after school activities. Like all of us, life and how I approach it shifted when the pandemic occurred. One positive takeaway for me has been being able to be a part of life-changing therapy in a way I hadn’t yet experienced, Telehealth.

Hi! I'm Fai (/fay/). I believe that our experiences in society aren't one-size-fits-all, nor should our therapy be. I aim to support those impacted by queerphobia, racism, ableism, fatphobia, adoption, and other oppressive systems which contribute to mental health difficulties, poor self-regard, and complex trauma. Together, I hope we can challenge negative core beliefs, deconstruct the experiences that led to their development, and cultivate an authentic, compassionate sense of self.

I work with individuals, couples, and families who have experienced trauma as well as concerns related to depression, loss and grief, and anxiety. As a clinician, I hold safety as a non-negotiable imperative for the therapy space to be productive. I also encourage my clients to use the safe therapy space to lean into the discomfort required to make the changes that they wish to see in their lives.

Over the past 30 plus years of providing counseling to children/adolescents, adults, couples and families, I have offered a very safe environment for people to begin healing from relationship issues, past traumas, grief and loss, anxiety and depression, etc. I particularly work with individuals going through life transitions, healing from childhood trauma and/or abuse, divorce, adoption and addiction recovery. I utilize various therapeutic interventions, focusing on what is best for each individual. I have training in EMDR and have a trauma informed focus. I integrate mindfulness practices and somatic body work as well.

Does this describe you? You're a people pleaser, wanting to make everyone happy but yourself. You feel the pain of break-ups and grief very intensely. You are fiercely independent and hate taking help from others. Being placed for adoption can reverberate through all aspects of your life. I help clients grieving the losses associated with adoption; transracial adoptees dealing with identity issues; and adoptees working through all of the complex emotions related to search and reunion. As an adoptee myself, I "get it". I also work with the other sides of the adoption triad: birthparents and adoptive parents.

I am a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) currently working toward clinical licences (LCSW) with a wide background in working with children, teens, young adults, and families. I have 10 + years of experience in a variety of settings and capacities including foster care, adoption, residential treatment, wrap around, family preservation, outpatient, and school based mental health. As a therapist I have worked with individuals struggling with trauma, LGBTQ+ needs, self-harm, impulse/attention issues, anxiety/worry, foster care/adoption, and a wide range of other mental health diagnoses and needs.

Are you looking for support as a couple or during a period of grief? Or, in the areas of adoption, infertility, assisted reproductive technology, donor conception, pregnancy loss or pregnancy decision making? You may feel alone, but you are not. We’re here to help. The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh provides specialized counseling services to individuals, families, couples, and children. We work with all individuals and family types, without discrimination.

Are you looking for support in the areas of adoption, foster care, infertility, assisted reproductive technology, donor conception, pregnancy loss, pregnancy decision making, or a related area? You may feel alone, but you are not. We’re here to help. The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh provides specialized counseling services to individuals, families, couples, and children. We work with all individuals and family types, without discrimination.

When you want to feel better--about yourself, your relationships, your career--therapy can help. It is my job to listen and to make our time together work for you. A client-focused counseling relationship will help you untangle your issues and take a fresh step forward to feeling better.

Have you heard the phrase "If you're going through Hell, keep going”? Sometimes in our darkest moments, we need cheerleaders. We need people who recognize that what we are going through seems unbearable and that the simple act of going forward takes courage. Therapy can be the vehicle to help us move forward. When treatment is non-judgmental, supportive and encouraging, you and your therapist can make an unstoppable team. I believe that people want to be "well," but we just don't know an effective way to achieve it. Together, we can work on identifying your personal path to wellness and improved confidence in your strengths.

"I prefer to think of my patients and myself as fellow travelers, a term that abolishes distinctions between 'them' (the afflicted) and 'us' (the healers). ... We are all in this together, and there is no therapist and no person immune to the inherent tragedies of existence." (Borrowed from Dr. Irvin Yalom). My practice makes possible the important work of self-evolution & growth in part due to my eclectic approach & focus on the unique matters of every individual. My lived experiences have greatly influenced my desire to partner with my fellow travelers as we do our 'work' and to do so intentionally and mindfully.

Life can be chaotic, overwhelming, and leave us feeling stuck or questioning what to do next. These feelings can be difficult to describe and process on our own, and you shouldn’t feel alone in your journey. As a Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), I am trained in using art making and creativity within the therapeutic process to serve as an option when words are not enough. My therapeutic approach is tailored to meet you where you are in your healing process and provide you with the tools to reclaim the chaos in your life and begin experiencing life the way you deserve.

Maria has been practicing therapy for 8 years, specializing in family therapy, trauma, and attachment. She has experience in a variety of settings and uses techniques including but not limited to, EMDR, trauma-focused CBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Attachment-Based Therapy. She also has extensive training on adoption/trauma issues, and how developmental trauma plays a role in maladaptive behaviors.