Therapists for college students near Pittsburgh, PA
Rachel Buffo
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who has expertise in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. I provide individual therapy to those who want to enjoy life and get to know themselves better in the process. Through my experience, I have learned the value of an interactive and collaborative environment to best support my client’s growth and development. I take a client-centered and strength-based approach to treatment. I utilize various therapeutic interventions based on the individual client’s needs and interests. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, play, art, music, and writing.
Thrive Counseling Center
Thanks for checking out Thrive Counseling Center. We are here to assist when life's challenges tend to become overwhelming and begin to impact you, your relationships, and your educational and career goals. We work with a variety of mental health and relationship issues, including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, grief and loss, stress, relationship issues, sexuality, gender issues, ptsd/trauma. Using a variety of techniques, we look forward to assisting you in improving your health and well-being on your journey to living your best life!
Marisa Miller
I believe therapy works best as a collaborative relationship rooted in compassion and respect. My goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment to encourage personal insight and provide skills to help you navigate challenges and enhance your overall well-being.
Prathma Sharma, M.A., Ph.D
I have over 11 years of experience working with student populations, especially in University Counseling settings. I welcome LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent clients, and especially value supporting people whose identities, cultures, and lived experiences intersect in complex ways. I enjoy working with folx who may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to move forward - whether they’re navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship concerns, or a major life change. Together, we'll create a compassionate, affirming space to make sense of difficult emotions, heal from past harm, strengthen self-understanding, and move toward a life that feels more grounded and authentic. I offer trauma-informed, relational therapy that makes room for your full story - your relationships, culture, identity, emotions, and body. Together, we’ll explore patterns that may no longer serve you, put words to what feels hard to explain, and build insight, compassion, and practical ways to feel more grounded and connected. Reaching out for support can feel vulnerable, especially when you’ve been carrying a lot alone. You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. I offer a warm, collaborative space to explore your experiences at a pace that feels right for you. When you’re ready, I invite you to reach out.
Skukura Woods
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Elizabeth Berk
People come to therapy for many different reasons, but, at the core, they are looking for understanding, relief, or growth. Maybe you’re trying to understand why you feel the way you do, or you find yourself caught in the same difficult thoughts again and again. Perhaps you’ve noticed patterns of behavior that seem to work against your own well-being. You might be facing a life transition—chosen or not—and are feeling anxious about what’s next. Or maybe you just feel stuck. Therapy offers a space to slow down and make sense of what’s happening. Together, we can clarify your current experience, explore how you got here, and begin to shape a healthier, more fulfilling path forward.
Avellar Warden Psychological Associates
Based in Pittsburgh, PA, AWPA is an insurance-accepting psychological practice with two convenient locations in Squirrel Hill (2345 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh PA, 15217) and the South Hills (927 Brookline Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15226). Telehealth appointments are also available, allowing clients to receive care from anywhere. AWPA provides the quality, attentiveness, and personalized care often associated with high-end self-pay practices. Our services are delivered by licensed psychologists who are directly involved in treatment, rather than through a rotating corporate model. We offer individualized, evidence-based care and take the time to understand each client’s goals, experiences, and life context. Our therapists work with individuals from all walks of life and support clients through a wide range of emotional, behavioral, relational, and life-transition concerns. For individuals in need of a low-cost therapy option, AWPA also offers reduced-rate, sliding-scale services. Session fees range from $35–$95, based on the client’s ability to pay. These services are provided via telehealth by highly qualified doctoral trainees enrolled in an APA-accredited Clinical Psychology program, under the direct supervision of licensed psychologists within our practice.
Lucent Counseling and Consulting
Hi, I’m Rich a fantasy nerd, adrenaline junky, and gamer. i am also an experienced counselor who offers a grounded, experiential approach to therapy and coaching. I have extensive experience working with young adults through life transitions, identity formation, confidence building, and anxiety. My time in the outdoor industry teaching snowboarding, climbing, and backpacking has shown me that people are capable of a lot more then they know. My goal is to share these lessons with you and help you become the person you want to be. Therapy is weird, vulnerable, and a little awkward to start. Reaching out is the first step to that and one that I try to make easier by just connecting as a fellow human and not a professional robot. Thanks for reading and hope to talk to you soon.
Ian Halim
Hello! I’m a Harvard-trained, board-certified general adult psychiatrist, based in Pittsburgh. My practice focuses on psychotherapy, and behavioral treatments. I also offer evidence-based behavioral treatment for insomnia. I see adults with with anxiety, depression, panic disorder, insomnia, and with most common mental health problems. Therapists who are warm, empathic, humble, committed to honing their skills, and who make effective positive working relationships with their patients, tend to be most effective. To paraphrase the psychotherapy scholar Leigh McCullough, a therapist should aim to do the most good, in the shortest time, with the least stress for the patient. I believe this is what it means to be patient-centered. I'm accepting new patients for telehealth visits throughout Pennsylvania, or for in-person visits at my office in Shadyside (in Pittsburgh). I accept private pay, and, through the Headway app, selected health insurances (including Aetna & Cigna).
Elliot Counseling
We are a collection of dedicated therapists specializing in neurodivergence (particularly ADHD and Autism), trauma and dissociation, and LGBTQIA+ issues.
Hey-Mi Ahn
I believe that the therapeutic relationship, the relationship between the therapist and the client, is the cornerstone of therapy and is an essential tool in working through interpersonal issues. I would provide a warm and safe environment in which to collaboratively address your concerns. Therapy would entail learning skills to more effectively cope with your stressors and exploring your understanding of yourself and underlying causes of your difficulties in order to enhance your quality of life. While this process can be challenging, it can also be meaningful and rewarding. I have experience working in community and academic settings with diverse adult populations experiencing a wide array of problems.
Sydney SeNay
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Kailey Andrew Therapy Services
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.
Creating Connections Counseling
Do you feel stressed, helpless or overlooked? Are you seeking a change? In our sessions, you’ll find a supportive environment where you can be heard and understood without judgement. Together, we will create a safe space for authentic self-expression and address difficulties affecting your wellness. I am dedicated to supporting you in your journey of self-discovery and healing, respecting your unique life stressors and allowing you to move at your own pace – so you can feel empowered to create meaningful change in your life. I specialize in addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relationship concerns. Our work together will be rooted in client-centered care, allowing us to use evidence-based techniques tailored to your specific needs. I have comprehensive training in EMDR, Mindfulness, CBT, and DBT. I work with teens and adults of any age. Therapy thrives on a strong therapeutic alliance built on empathy, respect, and trust. If you are curious about what therapy might look like for you, feel free to reach out! I offer in-person sessions at our Squirrel Hill office as well as telehealth options for your convenience.
Strong Foundations
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.
Stephany Katsur, MFT, Vital Voice Healing
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Spiegel Freedman Psychological Associates
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.
Elizabeth McBride!
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Training and professional background: I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, graduating in May of 2014. In the Fall of 2012, I received training as a victims’ advocate and crisis line operator at the Family Justice Center in South Bend. For the rest of my time as an undergraduate, I continued volunteering for the FJC, focusing on taking crisis calls, yet unaware of the skills I was building in attending to each caller’s concerns. I utilized my training again during grad school to volunteer for Crisis Text Line, where I honed my skills in crisis management and planning. In December of 2018, I graduated with my Master of Science in Education from Duquesne University, specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Duquesne’s program is CACREP accredited and meets all standards and requirements as an institution for counselor education. I received my license November of 2023. Theoretical orientation and approach to counseling: My clinical approach is rooted in two orientations: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Narrative Therapy. I also draw heavily from the Humanistic-Existentialist perspectives of Psychology and philosophy in helping my clients better understand their feelings, goals, and experiences. My clinical practice embodies the spirit of meeting clients where they are. I enter each session with one objective: a readiness to talk and warmly receive. Client rights and responsibilities: As my client, I encourage you to ask questions and raise concerns about anything, especially my credentials and qualifications, the progress of our work together and its cost, my therapeutic approach, or anything else that concerns you. I take my role seriously as a helper and strongly believe that healthy relationships, especially therapeutic, require communication, consistency, and warmth. Therapeutically, we might be a good fit if: -- You are ready to make new moves in your life and relationships – So many of us know what must be done to address problematic behavior or to build better habits. What might be lacking is an awareness of the theory or tools to support those efforts. I am equipped to teach you how to individualize widely known coping skills, if you are ready to prioritize your mental health treatment. -- You are a creative person – The scaffolding or foundation you need to accomplish your long-term goals comes from your ability to generate creative solutions—no matter the medium! Your unique skills and worldviews can enrich to the work we do in the room. This takes the form of interesting, billowing conversation, not traditional art therapy. -- You are looking for a space to feel seen and heard – I take great pride in my ability to attend to the emotional needs of my clients. A dedicated space where the floor cedes to you, a conversation that is focused with warm curiosity on you, that is quickly becoming a rarity in our social interactions. While attentiveness is one of my biggest strengths to offer, I find being a witness to my clients’ concerns and vulnerabilities the greatest honor and reward in this field; we are the most human in these moments. It sets the stage for therapeutic collaboration and honors our innate drive to identify and hold our emotions without urgency or shame.
Elena Runco
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Amber Bahler
Amber is a keen listener and highly values the relationship between the therapist and the client. She values trust, empathy and authenticity and believes strongly in the power of journeying with someone as a pathway to change. Amber’s style is warm, genuine, supportive and direct. Her theoretical approach is eclectic in nature and client-centered, drawing from psychodynamic and mindfulness-based modalities as well as parts work, and EFT. She works with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship issues, life transitions, trauma, and grief/loss. Amber is well-versed in the concept of Self-Compassion by Dr Kristin Neff and she works with adults of all ages. Amber has experienced religious deconstruction and enjoys working with individuals and couples who are going through these processes or those have experienced religious trauma. She believes spirituality is an integral part of a healthy, happy life and loves to explore meaning making with individuals regardless of religious/spiritual affiliation or non-affiliation-(atheists and agnostics welcome!). Amber loves working with couples, has completed Gottman levels 1 and 2, and has an understanding of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT). She enjoys working to improve conflict, connect past experiences to current relationship struggles, and improve intimacy. Amber was an ASL Interpreter for many years and enjoys working with individuals and couples who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. She is fluent in ASL and has a deep understanding of Deaf Culture. Amber graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s MSW program in the Spring of 2026. Prior to that, she worked as an ASL/English Interpreter for 24 years, specializing in mental health, higher education, and legal settings. She also served as a professional mentor and taught at the college level. Her B.S. is from Indiana University and is in ASL/English Interpreting. Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there. -Rumi For the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house. -Audre Lorde