Therapists in Philadelphia, PA

I am so glad you are here. Being here is the first step in your healing journey. And taking that first step is one of the bravest things you can do. I specialize in helping with anxiety, health anxiety, trauma, family dynamics, women’s issues, pre-natal/post-natal, burnout, and substance misuse. In addition to somatic work, I use several other modalities in my practice: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness. Based on my clients’ needs, my modality may vary. Overall, I’ll use a strengths-based holistic approach, catering to each individual’s personal needs and goals.

"I think we can all agree, life is hard! Sometimes the most honest, brave, and difficult thing we can do is reach out for support. Kudos to you for starting this courageous (and maybe scary) process! Needing support does not mean you are weak or broken, it means you are human. My goal as a therapist is to help you feel safe and comfortable bringing your whole, authentic self into our work together. I find using humor, whenever appropriate, helps to disarm fears and facades while building a trusting relationship between client and clinician.

Does any of this sound like you? You're a mom struggling with the challenges of being a parent. You feel frustrated and overwhelmed by all your responsibilities but then feel guilty for feeling this way. Or maybe you are struggling with trying to conceive. You feel so isolated from your friends and family, social media is an endless reminder of what you don't have. Maybe you are struggling in your relationship.. you became parents and now you feel so disconnected from your partner. You are not alone. I provide you with s safe space to express your challenges and with the tools you need to take your life back.

I utilize an eclectic, psychoanalytic, and relational approach while employing a strong racial justice, feminist, and queer theory lens. I practice from a fat-lib, sex-positive, and intersectional feminist perspective. I believe that one's past informs how they interact with and experience the world. Healing takes place as one fosters empathy and consideration for their past and present selves. The therapeutic relationship allows for gaining deeper perspective and understanding of oneself. I strive to build genuine and earnest rapport with my clients by being deeply nonjudgmental and always practicing with respect.

Philadelphia Talk Therapy is a counseling practice serving center city and Greater Philadelphia. We specialize in young and middle-age adults (18-40’s) facing life challenges and/or mental health issues; or simply seeking greater fulfillment in life. Our most common treatment areas are anxiety, depression, career & relationship difficulties, ADHD, OCD, panic attacks, and trauma—among others. Sometimes just feeling stuck or adrift in life.

My strengths as a clinician are working with young adults, young couples, and women who have survived traumatic events, including ongoing interpersonal trauma, and who want support to process these experiences in order to show up more fully for their lives in the present. I also really enjoy supporting individuals and couples as they are making transitions in their lives and in their relationships, growing their family, navigating pregnancy and postpartum stages, striving to better integrate their careers and family, and deepening intimacy and connection with each other.

Problems and challenges are real and difficult, but for each of us they may be challenging for different reasons. Sometimes we are stuck in a problem because of the ways in which our past experiences, relationships, traumas, and families have shaped our feelings, thoughts, and physiological reactions. Part of our work together involves creating space for new situations and understandings from which a new solution to a problem can evolve. While sometimes that work is brief, it can take a bit more time when we are looking at lifelong patterns, issues related to family, dynamics, and attachment, or different types of trauma.

Whether you're going through a life transition, struggling in a relationship, or experiencing anxiety, it takes courage to seek help. Regardless of what you're going through, I want you to recognize that your resilience in life has brought you this far. I would like to help you from here by guiding you through this therapeutic process, as it may relate to personal trauma, early life experiences, and/or unhealthy patterns. I will help you unlock old patterns and beliefs about yourself that are no longer serving you or your relationships. I will support you in tapping into a deeper understand of who you are at your core.

Hey, I am Djola McGowan, also lovingly called DJ. I am a neurodivergent Licensed Professional Counselor, based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. I identify as a woman and use the pronouns she/her. I am also a first-generation American, hailing from the land of wood and water Jamaica. I understand therapy to be a revolutionary act of self-care, and I view therapy as a collaborative process, she looks forward to working with her clients to find the best path to achieving their goals for wellness.

We are all living through an incredibly stressful and difficult time. My goal is to offer a safe space to discuss issues and thought patterns that maybe preventing you from living your best life. I specialize in working with adolescents and adults who are experiencing depression, grief/loss issues, those recently diagnosed with illness or long term diagnosis, suicide loss survivors, anxiety, interpersonal conflict, family/relationship issues, mood disorders, adolescents involved with the legal system; LGBTQI+ coming out and internalized shame and active military/veteran issues.

Are you dealing with life transitions and trying to find yourself? Are you trying to break the cycle and begin the process of learning to be vulnerable and self-reflect? Are you committed to “showing up”? You may have difficulty finding independence in your unhealthy family dynamics and are working on finding a sense of self outside your relationships. You have dealt with anxiety and negative thoughts and no longer want these issues to hold you back.

Therapy is about relationships. Whether we are creating personal healing through the therapeutic relationship, changing the way we interact in romantic partnerships, at work, or with family, or shifting our relationship with trauma and other past wounds, we are creating a new space where empathy and compassion can grow. When you make the choice to begin work in therapy, it is a radical act of love, both for the self and for others, and you can expect our work together to reflect this. I work with clients from all backgrounds, but have particular connection to the LGBTQ+, polyam/CNM, kink, artistic, & neurodiverse communities.

Each of us has the capacity to flourish into our true potential. I work with children, adolescents, and adults to uncover their wholeness and belonging, which may be clouded by challenging behaviors or feelings such as shame, guilt, anger, anxiety, grief, or hopelessness. I specialize in working with people of all ages who are struggling with anxiety, depression, complex PTSD, attachment and relationship issues, sexuality and gender expression, creativity and self-esteem.

Finding a Therapist/Counselor/Spiritual Life Coach can be challenging. However, locating one that is a right fit for you can take time. Be gentle with yourself through the process and trust that you will find what and who you need. Building a trusting relationship within the therapeutic process is a major component for success. This is one I take seriously. I like to start with building a healthy and trusting relationship in a safe space. I offer a free 15 minute consultation to help you the client see if you feel comfortable working with me. I am trained in family therapy.

Laura is a Marriage and Family Therapist who is passionate about cultivating meaningful and healing relationships with her clients by working with each client individually to understand and empathize with their unique set of challenges and needs. Laura’s approach to therapy is taking on a compassionate, caring, and genuine therapeutic stance with all of her clients, creating a safe and warm environment for everyone who walks through her door. She uses a multitude of systemic approaches when working with her clients, with an emphasis on Emotionally Focused Therapy and The Gottman Method, in which she holds a Level 3 certification.

I am an experienced and empathetic Family Therapist, specializing in adoption, foster care, trauma and grief. My goal is to hold space for people to share their stories and work toward healing. I have over 18 years of experience working with people from diverse family constellations. I enjoy helping them find a way to move toward a better future.

In each of my therapy sessions, I seek to give the right support for clients to talk about the things that really matter. I listen carefully and engage deeply so I can provide the feedback and reflection you need to find your path forward with more clarity and confidence. I use my knowledge and experience to help you connect the dots and realize you are not alone. I believe change comes in small steps and I'm here to support you and to celebrate every victory.

Seeking help is a sign of strength and health, not weakness or shame. You have a story and it matters. As an experienced mental health therapist, I feel honored to listen to your story and work together toward change and healing. My style is very warm, supportive, emotions-focused and collaborative. I place the utmost importance on developing a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship. Most often I work with individuals affected by issues of depression, anxiety, trauma, identity/self-esteem, attachment and relationship issues. I also help clients with other challenges including grief, self-harm, and chronic health issues.

Accepting new clients! My clients often struggle with symptoms such as recurring negative patterns in their life, anxiety, depression, anger, overwhelm, relationship issues, problematic family dynamics, trouble getting new habits to stick, compulsively using external things to feel better (i.e. work, people, alcohol), pain, headaches, and more. Through a mixture of talk therapy and body centered approaches, we will explore sources of trauma and healing with curiosity.