Therapists for college students near University of Pittsburgh
Looking for a compassionate, trauma-informed space to grow your sense of empowerment? My approach to therapy starts with building a therapeutic relationship with authenticity and humor. Let’s get to know each other to find out if we’re a good fit! I specialize in depression, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders in young adults and college students. I frequently work with queer and trans individuals, neurodiverse clients, and anyone hoping to reconnect with their emotions. I am confident in helping survivors of complex trauma revisit and process painful memories, then ground in the present moment before leaving the therapy office. I have received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Integrated Treatment for Complex Trauma. I also incorporate principles of mindfulness and somatic therapy that emphasize the mind-body connection. While my style is informed by these modalities, each session will be unique to your preferences, needs, and goals.
(Under Development)
We are located a few blocks off campus and seek to provide prompt, professional psychotherapy for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and personal adjustment issues for students. Our counselors are psychologists and social workers with experience and compassion. We accept most major insurance providers.
We are a collection of dedicated therapists specializing in neurodivergence (particularly ADHD and Autism), trauma and dissociation, and LGBTQIA+ issues.
Strong Foundations was founded and is actively managed by a licensed child psychologist, ensuring our practice prioritizes the highest quality of care in psychotherapy and assessments. Guided by the ethical principles of our field, our primary mission is to provide the best possible match between patient and provider. We don’t focus on filling schedules—we take on new clients only when we are confident we have the tools and training to help them effectively. Strong Foundations began in 2018 with a simple goal: to create a team of exceptional providers who work collaboratively to address the mental health needs of our community. We’re proud to have achieved that vision and continue to work diligently every day to maintain the quality and trust our clients have come to expect.
Sometimes life feels overwhelming — stress, anxiety, depression or relationship challenges can leave you feeling stuck and unsure how to move forward. Therapy can help you understand why you feel this way and explore new paths toward change. Often, what seems like the “problem” on the surface is connected to something deeper. Together, we’ll work to uncover and understand these underlying patterns so that meaningful change can happen. I provide a safe, supportive space to explore your experiences and help you create more satisfying relationships and a life that feels aligned with your goals.
I am an LGBTQ-competent therapist working with adolescents (16+), college students, and young adults who experience stress and worry, feel down or hopeless, who struggle to focus in school or employment, and/or who are exploring their gender and sexual identities. I empower my patients to identify their own goals and intentions in therapy that support their values. Some examples include: improving ability to cope with anxiety; learning to set and communicate boundaries; managing difficult emotions; and creating structure and habits that optimize success in school or employment. I use evidenced-based methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy-informed skills, Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness-based interventions. I will invite your feedback on which interventions you find most helpful and adapt sessions accordingly. Engaging in therapy, especially as a young person, takes great bravery and vulnerability. I hope to provide a welcoming and calming environment to support you through meeting your goals. I see patients virtually and in person.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with college students, adults, and couples. I specialize in treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and coping with life stressors. I am a cognitive-behavioral therapist and my goal is to help clients develop strategies to make meaningful change in their lives. Goals for therapy could include better understanding your thoughts and emotions, learning to practice healthy ways of coping, processing traumatic events, increasing self-esteem and self-compassion, improving emotion regulation, and improving relationships with boundaries and assertive communication. I have extensive experience working with clients using short-term, evidence-based treatments. I also enjoy working with longer-term clients who want to focus on increasing self-awareness, identifying your values, and achieving personal growth. Therapy is a collaborative flexible process tailored to each individual’s unique needs and goals. I use a strengths-based approach. I received my undergraduate degree from Brown University and my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Binghamton University (SUNY). I am a certified provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, and Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD and I have served as a consultant for the National Center for PTSD training program.
Todd Pungratz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, and over a decade of experience supporting individuals through life’s most complex and meaningful challenges. His career has taken him through hospital settings, primary care clinics, and community mental health, where he’s worked with people facing trauma, grief, mood and thought disorders, substance use, and neurodivergence. He draws from a range of evidence-based approaches – including CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care – and collaborates with prescribers when medication is part of your healing process. Todd offers a safe, nonjudgmental space in which clients can feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward at their own pace.
Accepting NEW individuals! Hello and welcome! I practice with the belief that YOU are the expert of your own life and the person who knows what is best for you. That said, sometimes we all get a little stuck along the way. Since you're here, you (or a loved one) are likely contemplating making some positive changes and could benefit from some help and guidance. Whether you are challenged with anxiety, depression, PTSD, past trauma, or something else, I believe we can work together to reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life. My sessions are goal oriented and future focused, guided by you, working at a comfortable pace. Treatment techniques include: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectal behavior therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing (MI). LGBTQIA+ community welcome, working knowledge of most religions/spiritualities, willing to discuss upon request. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and a Certified Clinical Tele-mental Health Professional. Almost a decade in crisis work and community mental health has honored me with the opportunity to share in the lives and stories of so many people. I bring that with me to my work and look forward to sharing in your journey as well. Please reach out for a free consultation to explore if us working together would be a good match. Call me and let's talk more!
We are currently accepting referrals and meeting clients virtually. Live Life with Purposeful Balance Life is complicated with competing demands for our time, energy and resources. Whether you're struggling with a particular issue, or just can't shake the feeling that there should be more to life, we can help you to develop balance in your life, relationships, and career. By providing you a caring environment you will be able to identify and explore those issues that may be getting in the way of a more rewarding life, career, or more fulfilling relationships. Resiliency and persistence are characteristics of people who face challenges and traumas, and come out on the other side with new appreciations and well-balanced lifestyles. At times, even the most successful individuals have difficulty overcoming obstacles. We invite you to take the first step to build your resilience and perseverance. We will work through the challenges you are facing to remove obstructions, open doors to improve relationships and social interactions, experience a calm and stable mood, and obtain clear thinking with a positive outlook. We want to help you find your inner motivation and grow toward your lifelong pursuits. We also offer group therapy options, and executive functioning coaching. We welcome neurodiversity and Understand the unique challenges college brings. Our website provides further details about groups and the difference between coaching and counseling.
At Pittsburgh PCIT and Counseling our experience enables us to offer effective individual counseling for adolescents and young adults. Whether starting college or transitioning into adult life, late teens and early twenties can be a seriously exciting, but stressful time. We are able to address a number of behavioral and mental health concerns including, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, trauma, behavior problems, personal adjustments, LGBTQ+ issues, and other life stressors.
Maybe chronic stress, anxiety, or trauma has your nervous system stuck on high alert, so that even when life is relatively stable, you don't actually feel that way. Maybe your past experiences show up now as hypervigilance, tension, irritability, insomnia, or shutting down. Maybe you're managing burnout, depression, relationship struggles, or patterns you just can't seem to shake. Maybe you're tired of merely surviving and ready to actually feel different. With a background in social justice, many of my clients are queer, activists, neurodivergent, and others for whom identity/politics/systemic context are part of their story. We start by helping your body feel safer through various approaches such as biofeedback, breathwork/meditation, or the Safe and Sound Protocol so your nervous system doesn’t have to work so hard. From there, we look deeper at the patterns, relationships, and stories that shaped how you move through the world. We explore what matters to you at your own pace. Our work together isn't about fixing what's "wrong" with you. It's about understanding what has happened to you, how you've adapted, and finding out what is possible when we have more awareness and more options. My approach is a deeply relational one. You're the expert on your own life and I'm here to serve as a supporter and collaborator in the process.
I am passionate about helping individuals on their path to self-discovery and leading a genuine and authentic life. Drawing upon my background in counseling and neuroscience, I integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and existentialism into my approach. I also offer Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration therapy. I aim to help individuals cultivate openness, awareness, and engagement with themselves, their loved ones, and the world around them. By incorporating meditation, relevant literature, art, and nature, I aim to create a holistic therapeutic experience. These elements enrich the exploration of subjective experiences, self-perception, and the profound aspects of existence. ACT emphasizes acceptance of one's thoughts, emotions, and experiences, while also encouraging commitment to taking meaningful action aligned with one's values. In our sessions, I guide individuals to develop psychological flexibility, allowing them to respond more effectively to life's challenges and pursue a rich and purposeful life. While I am excited to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, I have a special interest in supporting those who experience chronic conditions such as pain, grief, psychosis, and trauma. Together, we will delve into meaningful discussions about topics like death, identity, and the transformative potential within each person's existence.
Our goal is to empower individuals, couples, and families to overcome life’s challenges and to achieve their goals. Our experienced therapists will work with you to find new ways to manage emotional or relational stressors that are impacting your ability to be your most confident and powerful self. We believe in a collaborative approach where you as the client are in the captain’s seat, and our therapist acts as your compass, guiding the way to achieving the healthy and vibrant life you deserve. We can’t wait to meet you!
My experiences stem from working with children of all ages within a variety of educational and therapeutic settings that ultimately led towards my work with at-risk children as a Family Based Therapist. Working hands on with families in their homes within authentic and relational setting(s) (i.e., home and community) had shaped my learning experiences and identified my growth as a person and a therapist. My work prepared me to differentiate my therapeutic approaches and enable connections that no traditional clinical experience could offer. Fast forward, working as a Licensed Professional Counselor, I have the privilege to work with a variety of populations, with clients ranging from mild to severe mental health conditions. I offer a warm safe setting that enables a professional therapeutic collaboration and growth towards client centered therapeutic goals. I continue to rely upon evidenced based interventions to help guide our therapeutic relationship towards progress or help uncover potential barriers to that may impede your therapeutic progress.
Hello! Searching for a therapist can be an overwhelming task. I am hoping to make this a bit easier for you. I currently have availability on Tuesdays during day the day (9:30-3:30). Telehealth sessions are offered to accommodate your needs. I hope to help you in building coping skills and to challenge difficult thoughts and patterns you may find yourself experiencing. My objectives are to individualize your care, help you to develop and work towards your long-term goals, and also process through the general difficulties that every day life presents.
I provide experienced, thoughtful care to young adults and college students navigating a wide range of challenges. Whether you’re feeling stuck, anxious, disconnected, overwhelmed, or simply seeking clarity and direction, therapy can help you better understand yourself, shift unhelpful patterns, and create meaningful change. My approach is holistic, warm, and relational. I work collaboratively with each client to uncover the underlying forces shaping their current concerns, helping them identify choice points and reconnect with their strengths. While I work with a wide range of presenting issues, I have a special focus on treating trauma in its many forms. I am especially committed to providing safe, affirming, and effective care for survivors of sexual abuse and assault, and for those carrying the long shadows of past experiences. Regardless of the content, I approach every session with cultural humility, clinical attunement, and deep respect for each client’s lived experience. Therapy is your time—for insight, healing, growth, or simply space to breathe and think. A strong therapeutic relationship is at the heart of this work, and I invest fully in building that alliance with every client I meet. To learn more about my practice or see if we might be a good fit, please scroll down and click the link to my website.
With over a decade of experience, Emerson specializes in helping college students navigate the unique challenges of young adulthood. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression, ADHD, self-esteem, academic stress, relationship conflicts, substance use, or grief, Emerson provides a supportive space to work through it. He focuses on identifying and challenging negative self-talk while fostering self-compassion, self-love, and personal growth. Understanding that meaningful connections enhance the therapeutic experience, Emerson prioritizes building strong, authentic relationships with his clients. He takes a Solution-Focused approach, integrating CBT and Positive Psychology techniques, and is also certified in Brainspotting and Motivational Interviewing for specialized care. Emerson has dedicated much of his career to supporting young adults through transitional periods, helping them develop the confidence and resilience needed to thrive in college and beyond. As an old Greek proverb says, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” Emerson embraces this wisdom, committing himself to helping students build a foundation for a successful future.
Hi. I am glad you are on this journey to feel like yourself again. We have a variety of clinicians with different specialties, though we are all focused on growth and recovery - no matter where you are starting. We look forward to hearing from you. Lorie, our client care manager will return all emails or phone calls and get you set up with someone ASAP. Depending on your availability, we may even have appointments as soon as this week!