LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Greensburg, PA

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity" Albert Einstein. As humans, our emotional system blind us to ways we can have better relationships and better lives overall. Through my years of education, training and self work, I have helped individuals and families through all types of issues such as relationship issues, anxiety, depression, abuse, trauma, LGBT and life transitions. What you can expect from me is acceptance, compassion, empathy, education and hope of a better life.

Life can be difficult to manage. I work with individuals, couples, and families. I am a down to earth and authentic person. My desire is to provide an empathetic and non-judgmental atmosphere where you can deal effectively with the challenges you are facing in your life. My hope is to facilitate change where YOU want it, in order to help YOU embrace a more satisfying existence. I work with those struggling with relational issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBT , health/cancer, grief, divorce/separation, parenting issues, and mood disorders. I utilize several therapeutic approaches in order to best serve you.

I enjoy working with children, adolescents, families, and adults. In particular, I work with individuals (and their families) impacted by traumatic stress. I would describe traumatic stress as an "unhealed wound." These wounds can manifest themselves in disruptive behaviors, defiance, anxiety, depression, struggles with focus, aggression, self-injury, perfectionism and substance use. When wounds are triggered it is common for the person to engage in a fight, flight, or freeze response. The trauma oriented work that I offer assists people of all ages to engage in more effective responses to their wounds. The fight, flight, or freeze response goes away.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change." Carl Rogers. I believe self-acceptance is often key to our personal growth and change.

Do you find yourself struggling with your identity or questioning “who am I, what do I want, how do I get there?” Are you in a relationship where things went stale and you’re looking to find what was lost? What if being aware of yourself and your relationships helped to ease some of those thoughts and led you towards a better understanding? My approach is simple. I love to be surrounded by a mellow atmosphere where hard work is done with warmth and encouragement. I believe that therapy is a collaborative process where diversity is honored, bravery is respected, and discovering your true-self is encouraged.

It can be easy to lose sight of who we are when faced with difficult life experiences and finding who we again can be challenging to navigate alone. I believe that when we discover who we are both in and outside of the context of our experiences, we develop the ability to better manage uncomfortable emotions, thoughts, and whatever else life throws at us. You no longer have to navigate this experience on your own!

I work from a Narrative Therapy approach to counseling which is a helpful tool to assist clients to look at their lives critically and holistically and to process changes they want in their lives and relationships. I work collaboratively to unearth themes of problems AND strengths, strategies my clients have already attempted to work through their problems, strengthen self-identity and awareness, and explore desired life changes by breaking them into manageable tasks. I also work systemically with couples and families to build more supportive and connected relationships.

“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable” - Fred Rogers Sometimes we all need someone to help process through every day struggles, whether it be struggles with relationships, identity, work, or school. I work primarily from a cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered and dialectical behavioral therapy approach and work to figure out the “why” behind emotions, help build awareness to emotions, reframe faulty thinking and find positive solutions to every day problems.

My goal as a therapist is to create an environment in which my clients can safely work though the complexities of their thoughts, feelings, and personal experience. Life presents many challenges and it is human to feel lost and unsure of our direction in life. The therapeutic relationship provides a unique opportunity for therapist and client to work together to make sense of one’s life and seek the truth of one’s experience.

When life becomes difficult, it can help to talk with a caring, seasoned therapist. I provide a safe, nonjudgmental atmosphere and will help you deal with the distress that is challenging and pulling you down. As an outpatient therapist, I have provided services to individuals, families, couples and groups. I was co-leader of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group for 8 years. Also, I received training in trauma focused CBT and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) in a specialized trauma treatment program. I am now in private practice.

I am a firm believer that life is a journey; sometimes you need someone to assist you in navigating your journey. I believe the answers to your questions are inside of you, but they can be covered by pain and fear. I use a combination of traditional talk therapy and possibly creativity to support you in your healing process as you move towards health and development. I will listen, provide education, mindfulness, and other techniques to assist you in identifying unhealthy patterns in a helpful and compassionate way.

Has your life become so overwhelming that your mind no longer feels like a comfortable, safe place? Maybe you recognize yourself struggling to work through painful memories or feel trapped by past hurt? Imagine what it would feel like to be able to more fully engage with those you love. As a licensed psychologist, I help people overcome difficult barriers in a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental way. I listen closely to understand your unique context so that we can collaboratively identify a plan to help you feel better as quickly as possible.

Currently Accepting New Clients! My name is Jess, and my goal in my work is to make sure the person I sit across from feels heard and understood, whatever their age or background. I tailor my approach to meet the client's needs, so if we find you need tangible worksheets, I'll get you those to work on... or, if I find your 10 year old relates to gaming or art, we'll find ways to integrate Minecraft or canvas painting! It seems to me that everyone just needs a safe place to process and grow in ways that are meaningful to them and that will highlight their strengths and abilities... it's my aim to provide that for every client.

Take care of yourself.... All too often we neglect our emotional health. Increased stress, worry and conflicts can all take their toll. The emotional impact of traumatic events affects the mind body and soul. I have 17 years experience in private practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to use to your benefit. You may just need a guide to help define what needs to be different in your life. I'll help you develop the skills you need to make changes for a satisfying life. I welcome the opportunity to help you resolve more deeply painful events with respect and my best skills possible.

Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step in your life. We are offering therapy in Norwin, Greater Latrobe and Penn Trafford School Districts along with our offices in Greensburg. Innersight is proud to offer quality care with one of our 15 licensed therapists. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 22 years of experience and owner of out group practice. We work children and adults with a wide range of mental health diagnosis including but not limited to : PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Adjustment Disorder, ADHD & ODD. We also provide medication management with our 2 CRNP's.

We are all different in the way we experience life; each of us has a unique perspective in the way we interpret and how we feel about our personal experiences. What I don't do: I am not here to pass judgment or to tell you how to live your life. What I can do: I provide a compassionate approach to help guide and support your decision to make positive changes in your life and help you find alternate solutions to your everyday or recurring problems.

As a therapist I believe all people have the inherent strength to make positive life changes and often just need empowered through compassionate support. We all have times in our lives when we get stuck in our relationships and just need new effective ways of coping and communicating. I practice from a trauma focused and structural family perspective. I have been very successful in helping couples, families, individuals, and adolescents make positive changes that have lead to feelings of peace, healing, a sense of personal accomplishment, and problem resolution.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Anxious? Depressed? Wanting to make life changes and not sure where to begin? Each person has their own journey to take in life. Life can be stressful at times and I can help. Together we can find ways to help you feel better and make the changes you want in your life. Each person deserves to be fulfilled, find their purpose and be happy.

We provide counseling services to individuals, couples and families through Western Pennsylvania. Whether you are seeking treatment as an individual adult, a child, or teen, our multi-specialty approach will support your goals of resolving emotional, psychological, and relationship issues. For couples and families, our mental health specialists are experts in supporting your relationship as you gain greater friendship, intimacy, and communication barriers.