Therapists in Scottdale, PA

Momentum Couples and Family Therapy provides a wide range of mental health services including, but not limited to the following: conflicts or problems with a partner, difficulty adjusting to a new school, trying to cope with a divorce or separation, family conflict with children or need of parental support, struggling with decisions about marriage, physical, sexual, or psychological abuse; past or present, loneliness, anxiety, fear or thoughts of suicide, low self-esteem, assertiveness and decision making, depression, sexual orientation, lack of motivation, out of control thoughts/ behaviors, difficulty with attention/concentration, coping with medical illness, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, etc.

I create a warm and supportive environment where my clients feel safe in sharing their stories. I specialize in areas such as adolescents, young adults, families of adolescents, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, sport, health, human performance and trauma. I believe in treating the person as a whole. I can provide you with various coping skills. I am passionate about assisting my clients to move forward in their lives.

Accepting new clients! The world is just... really hard right now. It's difficult to imagine how therapy would even help when the world is on fire. You constantly feel "other", in so many ways, which makes maintaining social and romantic relationships nearly impossible. You know you have a long list of things to process, but have never felt like you've had a truly safe, nonjudgmental space to do that. In order to heal, you know on a visceral level that you need to feel fully accepted, not just tolerated. You are starting to drown from the overwhelming stress, anxiety, neurodiversity, perfectionism, low self-worth, and isolation.

I am a seasoned psychologist with significant experience counseling clients on career, addictions and family issues, in addition to depression, anxiety and general mental health problems. You can deal with issues of personal happiness and personal growth. We can create a dialogue about present situations and future plans.

Have you been feeling overwhelmed, like you are drowning and not able to catch your breath? Are you having trouble managing your thoughts and feelings? Are you having difficulty dealing with the loss of a loved one? Are you sad and unsure why or what to do about it? Do you ever find yourself talking and no matter how loudly you talk it seems like nobody is listening? Do you feel irritated and angry or are having trouble controlling your temper and it’s causing you difficulties at home or work?

Are you a parent who wants to help your child or teen to feel better? Does your child have problems with depression, worry, anger, social difficulties or disrespect? You want the best for your child, but parenting is hard. As your child's counselor, I use a variety of techniques such as talk, art, and play to help express emotions, connect with others, and solve problems. The first visit will focus on identifying treatment goals and a therapeutic plan. I will work with you and your child or teen to build skills necessary to live life well.

Through counseling, we have the opportunity to look at our lives and evaluate them with knowledge instead of assumption. I work with people to instill hope, correct erroneous beliefs, confront harmful behaviors, develop social competencies, mature spiritually and understand their own self-worth. Because each person is uniquely individual, I take an eclectic approach to therapy. I use a variety of therapeutic tools including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT), Gestalt techniques, Trauma Resolution Therapy (TRT) and client-centered techniques.

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.

I provide a safe and gentle place for you to work out whatever is bothering you. We all need a little help along the way. Life can be difficult and it's important to have a safe and completely confidential person to talk to. I have 30 years of training and experience that bring excellent help "to the table" in a compassionate and supportive way. I am looking forward to meeting with you.

I have been in private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor for the last 20 years. I have served as an Adjunct Professor for several Universities in the past & and I've run other service-related organizations throughout the years. Regardless of the many institutions that I have been involved with, my true love is practicing the Art of Psychotherapy. I counsel individuals, families & couples. I also provide group therapy and specialize in Anger, Depressive features & Anxiety. I also do a lot of work in the field of Addiction & Recovery. I'm here to walk with you & I don't want anyone to ever feel alone!

Therapy provides a space for safe exploration, connection and expressive development. My younger clients might be working to better communicate their needs or process trauma in non-verbal ways. They may be gaining the cognitive skills to work through anxiety and depression to better thrive in social settings. They might even be teens or adults searching for affirmation and nurturing of their inner child, which I support through guided talk therapy and encouraging new creative outlets.

I have specialized skills in the treatment of trauma and PTSD, anxiety disorders, and autism spectrum disorder. In addition, I have significant experience in working with relationship concerns, grief and loss, women's issues, and life transitions.

At this time, and throughout 2021, I am not able to accept new clients. At times, people need a safe and supportive environment to express their thoughts and feelings. Counseling is an opportunity for people to gain: awareness, acceptance, insight, and identify tools for relaxation and problem-solving. Counseling is a therapeutic relationship wherein your voice is heard.

My goal as a counselor is completely centered around the needs and desired outcomes of my clients. We will work together towards successful results. Throughout my career, I had the opportunity to work with individuals who were faced with a variety of difficult situations. I gained a wealth of personal and professional experience working through each situation.

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.

We develop strategies early in life to ensure our safety. As adults, we often find these strategies are no longer effective and often harmful. As a survivor of complex trauma and a family history of generational alcohol & substance abuse, I believe individuals can and do recover. My personal journey led me to pursue a career helping others to overcome the baggage of their past.

Finding balance and living a fulfilling life is easier said than done. But I'm in your corner to support the happier version of you. Knowing everyone is a fellow human journeying on a path to transformation, I bring to our talk therapy a sense of wonder, true curiosity, gratitude and honest compassion to meet you exactly where you are. We can be released from what holds us back, integrate hidden aspects of ourselves and fully embrace our authentic selves.

I am a Psychotherapist, Nutrition Therapist & Exercise Physiologist. With the Client/Therapist Relationship at CORE, I provide Individualized, Integrative Care: Eating Disorders, Trauma, Mood, Relationships, Transitions -acknowledging & encouraging growth of diverse values &/or needs, I use an Eclectic Therapeutic Approach –including Person-Centered, Mindfulness, Expressive (art, music, movement, writing), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), CBT, RO-DBT, Existential, Narrative, EMDR, Gestalt, Motivational Interviewing, Positive Psychology, Nutrition Therapy –Intuitive Eating/HAES (Health at Any Size) & Medical Nutrition Therapy.