Adoption Therapists in Pittsburgh, PA
I also draw strongly from training in Internal Family Systems, Narrative, Gestalt, Trauma-Informed, and Adoption Competent therapies.
Whether you are in the midst of one of life's many challenges, or looking to better understand yourself, therapy is an opportunity to navigate uncharted waters with support.
As a clinician with close to 20 years of practice in the the discipline of social work, I've come to understand that while you alone are making the choice to do the hard work, that you are bringing with you the echoes of a larger culture that has shaped who you are.
I also draw strongly from training in Internal Family Systems, Narrative, Gestalt, Trauma-Informed, and Adoption Competent therapies.
Whether you are in the midst of one of life's many challenges, or looking to better understand yourself, therapy is an opportunity to navigate uncharted waters with support.
As a clinician with close to 20 years of practice in the the discipline of social work, I've come to understand that while you alone are making the choice to do the hard work, that you are bringing with you the echoes of a larger culture that has shaped who you are.
Elizabeth specializes in Family Therapy, Attachment therapy, and adoption/trauma issues with children, teens and adults and their families.
She believes that issues occur within the context of the family, and that by focusing on the relationships between people instead of one person in isolation, lasting change and wellness is possible. Families develop patterns to move forward and survive through difficult times, unaware that those patterns may be why they are stuck.
Elizabeth specializes in Family Therapy, Attachment therapy, and adoption/trauma issues with children, teens and adults and their families.
She believes that issues occur within the context of the family, and that by focusing on the relationships between people instead of one person in isolation, lasting change and wellness is possible. Families develop patterns to move forward and survive through difficult times, unaware that those patterns may be why they are stuck.
Daytime availability only. Erika is an experienced psychotherapist with a diverse background in the mental health field. She has treated a range of clients such as toddlers, school-age children, teenagers, children in foster care, adoptees, college-age students, and adults in counseling settings. Erika works with both adults and children on healing the wounds that trauma has created in their lives, as well as those experiencing other symptoms that are impacting their lives. When working with clients, Erika utilizes an integrative approach to best meet the needs of the client. This therapeutic space is LGBTQIA+-affirming.
Daytime availability only. Erika is an experienced psychotherapist with a diverse background in the mental health field. She has treated a range of clients such as toddlers, school-age children, teenagers, children in foster care, adoptees, college-age students, and adults in counseling settings. Erika works with both adults and children on healing the wounds that trauma has created in their lives, as well as those experiencing other symptoms that are impacting their lives. When working with clients, Erika utilizes an integrative approach to best meet the needs of the client. This therapeutic space is LGBTQIA+-affirming.
I am a mother, creative, historian, writer, and identity navigation specialist working in the clinical mental health space. I am passionate about our pasts, our brains, anti-racism, justice, relationships, and identity. I received my Masters in Clinical Mental Health and Applied Psychology from Antioch New England. I like to take big-picture societal and systemic issues and ground them down to our everyday experiences. I believe that building strong, equitable, and informed relationships, with ourselves first, can begin to shift toxic societal narratives that have created cycles of trauma and suffering for far too long.
I am a mother, creative, historian, writer, and identity navigation specialist working in the clinical mental health space. I am passionate about our pasts, our brains, anti-racism, justice, relationships, and identity. I received my Masters in Clinical Mental Health and Applied Psychology from Antioch New England. I like to take big-picture societal and systemic issues and ground them down to our everyday experiences. I believe that building strong, equitable, and informed relationships, with ourselves first, can begin to shift toxic societal narratives that have created cycles of trauma and suffering for far too long.
In the words of Mr. Rogers, “Play is really the work of childhood." I see kids who have prenatal, preverbal, or early childhood trauma; attachment and behavioral issues; or struggle with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and anger. I will work with you to create a flexible treatment plan tailored to your child's individual needs, using techniques like prescriptive play therapy, filial therapy, expressive arts, sandtray, geek therapy, and attachment-based activities to directly address and heal the impact of stress on the body and brain. I help identify the reasons for children’s behavior and healthier ways to meet those needs.
In the words of Mr. Rogers, “Play is really the work of childhood." I see kids who have prenatal, preverbal, or early childhood trauma; attachment and behavioral issues; or struggle with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and anger. I will work with you to create a flexible treatment plan tailored to your child's individual needs, using techniques like prescriptive play therapy, filial therapy, expressive arts, sandtray, geek therapy, and attachment-based activities to directly address and heal the impact of stress on the body and brain. I help identify the reasons for children’s behavior and healthier ways to meet those needs.
As someone who is also neurodivergent, I help my clients learn how neurodiversity shows up for them in their spaces. I also support clients with their adoptee journey in whatever that means for them. I often work with clients who are trying to make sense and navigate their complex experiences as an adoptee. Sometimes, this looks like helping clients learn to be authentically themselves even when their childhood/environment require(d) them to assimilate. My work also extends to members of the LGBTQIA+ community in providing validating/ affirming care. I am interested in helping you find your voice even in the discomfort of others.
As someone who is also neurodivergent, I help my clients learn how neurodiversity shows up for them in their spaces. I also support clients with their adoptee journey in whatever that means for them. I often work with clients who are trying to make sense and navigate their complex experiences as an adoptee. Sometimes, this looks like helping clients learn to be authentically themselves even when their childhood/environment require(d) them to assimilate. My work also extends to members of the LGBTQIA+ community in providing validating/ affirming care. I am interested in helping you find your voice even in the discomfort of others.
Hello! I'm Sophia, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). My background is in working with young people transitioning to adulthood. Navigating life transitions can be confusing and difficult, but also exciting and made easier with someone to support you along the way. I utilize an eclectic, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach. If you're looking for a therapist to help you understand yourself better, I might be the right fit for you!
Hello! I'm Sophia, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). My background is in working with young people transitioning to adulthood. Navigating life transitions can be confusing and difficult, but also exciting and made easier with someone to support you along the way. I utilize an eclectic, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach. If you're looking for a therapist to help you understand yourself better, I might be the right fit for you!
The Children's Home & Lemieux Family Center
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LSW
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
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?
Erika Schmitt has been at The Children's Home since 2006 and has provided counseling since that time. She has experience working with all races as well as LGBTQIA+ population. She can see clients virtually or in person. She especially enjoys counseling in the realm of infertility, pregnancy, donor conception, grief, and reproductive trauma.
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?
Erika Schmitt has been at The Children's Home since 2006 and has provided counseling since that time. She has experience working with all races as well as LGBTQIA+ population. She can see clients virtually or in person. She especially enjoys counseling in the realm of infertility, pregnancy, donor conception, grief, and reproductive trauma.
You're busy. You're pulled in a million different directions and you have a million more responsibilities. Sometimes you have someone to share this with, and sometimes not. Sometimes you feel lost under all of the pressure to "be better." I'm here to help. Let's peel away the layers of stress, grief, trauma, and pressure to reveal the very best version of you. Let's take journey of self-discovery together. I'm here to listen, support, and help.
You're busy. You're pulled in a million different directions and you have a million more responsibilities. Sometimes you have someone to share this with, and sometimes not. Sometimes you feel lost under all of the pressure to "be better." I'm here to help. Let's peel away the layers of stress, grief, trauma, and pressure to reveal the very best version of you. Let's take journey of self-discovery together. I'm here to listen, support, and help.
Michael Van Ness
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LSW
1 Endorsed
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Waitlist for new clients
I am adoption competent and specialize in the impacts of early childhood trauma and complex trauma across the lifespan, spiritual and religious trauma, ADHD, men's issues, and autism.
Life is hard! There is no instructional manual for how to figure it all out! I value authenticity and attunement in session-my job is to be someone you can trust and someone you feel comfortable with I hope that we can come up with a way of exploring your life in a way that is meaningful to you and helps you make sense of your life and your experiences.
Come skeptical! Come with questions! Its not your job to trust me, or open up to me if you don’t want to-its my job to help create a genuine and authentic space so we can sort out the problems you are dealing with together, and help you come up with a better way to handle them.
I am adoption competent and specialize in the impacts of early childhood trauma and complex trauma across the lifespan, spiritual and religious trauma, ADHD, men's issues, and autism.
Life is hard! There is no instructional manual for how to figure it all out! I value authenticity and attunement in session-my job is to be someone you can trust and someone you feel comfortable with I hope that we can come up with a way of exploring your life in a way that is meaningful to you and helps you make sense of your life and your experiences.
Come skeptical! Come with questions! Its not your job to trust me, or open up to me if you don’t want to-its my job to help create a genuine and authentic space so we can sort out the problems you are dealing with together, and help you come up with a better way to handle them.
Great to meet you! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 12 years of experience working with clients to help them feel empowered to make positive changes in their lives. It is important to me to make you feel heard and not judged. I will help you stay accountable to your desired goals and walk beside you on this journey.
Great to meet you! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 12 years of experience working with clients to help them feel empowered to make positive changes in their lives. It is important to me to make you feel heard and not judged. I will help you stay accountable to your desired goals and walk beside you on this journey.
I am also an adoption competent therapist via NTI training.
I provide therapy for anxiety, chronic stress, trauma, sleep difficulties, & neurodivergence. I offer in-person therapy in Exton, PA, & telehealth across Pennsylvania & PSYPACT states. I also have specialized experience working with adoptees/adoptive families & understand how identity, attachment, & early loss shape emotional regulation. Many people I work with feel overwhelmed, stuck in worry, & struggling to rest. My approach is research-based & grounded in attachment & nervous system science. I integrate evidence-based methods to provide thoughtful, personalized care. I also offer private pay online ADHD evaluations for adults.
I am also an adoption competent therapist via NTI training.
I provide therapy for anxiety, chronic stress, trauma, sleep difficulties, & neurodivergence. I offer in-person therapy in Exton, PA, & telehealth across Pennsylvania & PSYPACT states. I also have specialized experience working with adoptees/adoptive families & understand how identity, attachment, & early loss shape emotional regulation. Many people I work with feel overwhelmed, stuck in worry, & struggling to rest. My approach is research-based & grounded in attachment & nervous system science. I integrate evidence-based methods to provide thoughtful, personalized care. I also offer private pay online ADHD evaluations for adults.
Hello and welcome! I am glad you're here. Adjusting to the stressors that life is sending your way can feel like an isolating (and overwhelming) process. Sometimes it is hard to know what next steps to take. Sometimes it is scary to try new ways of being. Sometimes we get in our own way. And sometimes it is good to talk about these things with someone who is on your side.
Hello and welcome! I am glad you're here. Adjusting to the stressors that life is sending your way can feel like an isolating (and overwhelming) process. Sometimes it is hard to know what next steps to take. Sometimes it is scary to try new ways of being. Sometimes we get in our own way. And sometimes it is good to talk about these things with someone who is on your side.
I work with individuals, couples, & families struggling with challenges such as individual/generational trauma, sex/intimacy, adoption/fostering, multiracial couples/families, neurodivergence, and LGBTQIA+.
I am a relational and systemic therapist that believes people heal in relation to one another and the systems in which they are a part of. I utilize a trauma-informed approach and integrate therapy models including Attachment-based, Experiential, Emotion-focused, Contextual, ESFT, and was trained in Person of the Therapist under founder Dr. Harry Aponte.
I work with individuals, couples, & families struggling with challenges such as individual/generational trauma, sex/intimacy, adoption/fostering, multiracial couples/families, neurodivergence, and LGBTQIA+.
I am a relational and systemic therapist that believes people heal in relation to one another and the systems in which they are a part of. I utilize a trauma-informed approach and integrate therapy models including Attachment-based, Experiential, Emotion-focused, Contextual, ESFT, and was trained in Person of the Therapist under founder Dr. Harry Aponte.
Hi! I'm a Licensed Professional Counsellor (LPC) based in Pennsylvania. I received my Masters from Liberty University and have been practicing for 7 years. I help youth in the foster care system, adolescent struggles, and adults trying become the best versions of themselves. I empower others to seek the core of their challenges and find effective skills to implement for the desired change they want in their life.
Hi! I'm a Licensed Professional Counsellor (LPC) based in Pennsylvania. I received my Masters from Liberty University and have been practicing for 7 years. I help youth in the foster care system, adolescent struggles, and adults trying become the best versions of themselves. I empower others to seek the core of their challenges and find effective skills to implement for the desired change they want in their life.
In my career I have worked in a variety of settings, such as crisis counseling, community mental health and adoption counseling.
I love working with adults and teenagers, couples and families. I focus on helping individuals to feel more comfortable in their own skin and to resolve long standing issues. My goal is to help client to meet his/her needs in personal, professional and spiritual aspects of life.
In my career I have worked in a variety of settings, such as crisis counseling, community mental health and adoption counseling.
I love working with adults and teenagers, couples and families. I focus on helping individuals to feel more comfortable in their own skin and to resolve long standing issues. My goal is to help client to meet his/her needs in personal, professional and spiritual aspects of life.
Hi, I’m Sabrina, & I am a queer, neurodivergent woman doing her best to balance working full time, engaging with my amazing partners, spending time with friends &
comrades, and trying to makes this hellscape we call our country a little bit more bearable. I’m also a person-centered therapist. I love working with LGBTQIA+ related concerns, gender identity, trauma & PTSD, neurodiversity, & relationship concerns especially folks in non-traditional relationships. I also work with anxiety/depression, family conflict/dysfunction, codependency, intimacy, parenting, ADHD, body image, emotional understanding, & love play therapy with kids.
Hi, I’m Sabrina, & I am a queer, neurodivergent woman doing her best to balance working full time, engaging with my amazing partners, spending time with friends &
comrades, and trying to makes this hellscape we call our country a little bit more bearable. I’m also a person-centered therapist. I love working with LGBTQIA+ related concerns, gender identity, trauma & PTSD, neurodiversity, & relationship concerns especially folks in non-traditional relationships. I also work with anxiety/depression, family conflict/dysfunction, codependency, intimacy, parenting, ADHD, body image, emotional understanding, & love play therapy with kids.
I have experience working with individual adults, adolescents and children, couples and families.
I provide a safe and comfortable environment in which you can explore your feelings and develop self-awareness of your perspectives and insight into your motives and fears.
I help you with feelings of depression and anxiety due to relationship issues-between individuals or within a family, life changes or loss.
Together we can uncover unresolved issues from past experiences or trauma which often impact present behaviors and feelings.
I have experience working with individual adults, adolescents and children, couples and families.
I provide a safe and comfortable environment in which you can explore your feelings and develop self-awareness of your perspectives and insight into your motives and fears.
I help you with feelings of depression and anxiety due to relationship issues-between individuals or within a family, life changes or loss.
Together we can uncover unresolved issues from past experiences or trauma which often impact present behaviors and feelings.
Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unlike yourself? Emotions need movement—and when life feels heavy, the right support can help you find momentum again.
I offer a warm, grounding space where you can be fully yourself, without judgment or pressure. Clients describe me as attuned, intuitive and compassionate. I blend clinical expertise with a genuine human connection (and a bit of humor when it fits) to help you feel understood, supported, and empowered.
Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unlike yourself? Emotions need movement—and when life feels heavy, the right support can help you find momentum again.
I offer a warm, grounding space where you can be fully yourself, without judgment or pressure. Clients describe me as attuned, intuitive and compassionate. I blend clinical expertise with a genuine human connection (and a bit of humor when it fits) to help you feel understood, supported, and empowered.
My experience includes attachment , adoption issues, addiction & recovery, ACOA/codependency, trauma, women’s issues, and mood disorders.
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.
My experience includes attachment , adoption issues, addiction & recovery, ACOA/codependency, trauma, women’s issues, and mood disorders.
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.
See more therapy options for Pittsburgh
Nearby Adoption Therapists Searches for Pittsburgh
- Allison Park
- Bethel Park
- Gibsonia
- Glenshaw
- McMurray
- Monroeville
- Mount Lebanon
- Sewickley
- Swissvale
- Upper Saint Clair
- Venetia
- Wexford
Adoption Therapists
Does my adopted child need therapy?
Not every adopted child needs therapy. However, many can benefit from seeing an adoption-informed therapist, especially if they were victims of abuse or neglect, appear withdrawn or disconnected, have behavioral or developmental issues (which may or may not be related to their adoption), are struggling with feelings of grief or loss surrounding their birth parents, or find it difficult to establish an identity, a challenge that often becomes most apparent during adolescence.
When should adoptive parents seek therapy?
Prospective parents can benefit from therapy even before an adoption—for example, to voice worries and fears; to reconcile infertility struggles, if relevant; or simply to prepare themselves for parenthood. After the adoption, parents who are struggling to bond with their child; are unsure how to talk about adoption or related issues, such as race; or whose child is dealing with developmental, behavioral, or psychiatric concerns can address these and other issues with the help of an adoption-competent therapist.
Is family therapy appropriate for adoptive families?
Family therapy can be invaluable for strengthening the bond between adoptive parents and children, helping the latter feel more secure in their place in the family. Family therapy can also help adoptive families navigate complex communication issues—for example, parents who feel uncomfortable discussing race with their child, who in turn feels invalidated by their silence, or a child who has questions about his birth parents but avoids asking them out of fear of hurting his adoptive parents’ feelings.
What therapy is not appropriate for adoption issues?
A discredited therapy known as “attachment therapy” (sometimes called “holding therapy” or “rebirthing therapy”) should not be used to treat adopted and foster children, though it was largely designed for this population. Attachment therapy involves restraining, coercing, and punishing the child in order for them to “release” negative emotions and attach to their new caregivers—techniques that are abusive and dangerous and have even proven fatal in some cases.