Therapists for college students near University of Pittsburgh

Please see www.drramirao.com for more information! Office hours are by appointment, M-Th and Saturday.

Many of us have been running all our lives. Practice stopping. Thich Nhat Hanh Thank you for Inviting us to meet you in the middle of your journey and taking us with you on your next steps. We want to acknowledge the courage it takes to seek the help when things get tough, and it feels unbalanced. We are here to walk with you and to help you find your way. We understand that you can’t change the past and want to help you bridge your life and values in order to move forward. We use an acceptance stance and behavioral activation skills in order to assist you with finding your most fulfilling path. We will provide you with support and guidance through difficult times and life’s transitions. We want to help provide you with useful skills to answer the questions that you may face. We have over 15 years of experience working with a variety of people. We have the knowledge of working in a variety of settings and seeing people in different struggles in their lives. We have learned to engage with people in a variety of different ways in order to help promote healing and understanding that is unattainable on your own. It takes different questioning and new lenses to break old patterns of behavior and old responses. We teach people to be proactive and understanding instead of reactive and repetitive. If you want to have a healthier more understanding view of yourself with skills to deal with those difficult times, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

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.

I work with individuals/families who are experiencing OCD, Social Anxiety, Generalized Anxiety, Perfectionism, Phobias, BFRBs, Body Dysmorphia, Emetophobia, and other OC spectrum and all Anxiety Disorders. My treatment is focused on using Exposure Response and Prevention Therapy for OCD and other anxiety disorders, along with ACT or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I focus on helping folks develop tools for coping and then problem solving, goal setting and encouragement to face fears head on. This leads to freedom from Anxiety and transformation, building inner confidence and strength. If you or someone in your family is feeling constantly anxious, stuck in rumination cycles or sticky thoughts, or if you want to take your life back from the binds of anxiety and OCD this might be the right next step for you. If you want to learn to trust yourself better, rather than constantly doubt, this may be the place for you to start your journey. I'd be honored to walk beside you if you would like support and learning along the way.

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.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

I help my clients get results fast. Therapy isn't a complicated process. We meet, we talk about the expectations of therapy, identify specific treatment goals and map out a plan. Our work takes place in the boundaries of a safe, corrective emotional relationship. I put patients’ feelings into words, focus on symptom management and reduce their impact on personal and professional lives. I've been practicing as a licensed psychotherapist and clinical social worker for over 15 years. I use a CBT/ Solution Focused approach in helping patients reduce anxiety and elevate and stabilize depressed mood. I help people move toward wellness in a safe, non-judgemental space. Therapy works. It is about growth and evolution, and I've observed that there is great joy in embracing positive new behaviors based on this collaborative approach. I look forward to working with you via telehealth or in-person in our Squirrel Hill office.

At some point along the journey, our stories demand to be told. Whether through painful emotional and physical symptoms, relationship struggles, or other interruptive experiences, our lives catch up to us. They ask for our attention. Therapy is a place where, together, we can pay closer attention to your story and the person you are becoming. We are all always in process. I believe that we can experience true healing in a human encounter, and I strive to deeply listen to my clients, bringing curiosity and attention to the parts of you that may have gone unnoticed. Approach to Therapy My counseling approach is rooted in relational psychodynamic therapy, which focuses on patterns and themes from early childhood and how they show up in your life today. This approach also emphasizes the relationship between the therapist and client as a vehicle for healing and change. It’s important to find someone you feel comfortable with, and it may take you some time to discern the right fit. I respect the vulnerability and bravery required to step into this work, and aim to meet you with humility, curiosity, and a responsible awareness of my own intersecting identities. Each person brings unique concerns and needs, and I am committed to ongoing research and training to provide the best care I can. I draw from a variety of approaches, including attachment-based therapy, family systems work, liberation psychology, Internal Family Systems (informed, not certified), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Narrative-Focused Trauma Therapy. Background: I have worked with at-risk youth, college students, and folks from all walks of life in outpatient and community mental health settings. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Theater, and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology with a Concentration in Trauma and Abuse from the Seattle School (2023). Outside of therapy, I enjoy lots of things, including yoga, performing arts, poetry, and being outside!

My therapeutic approach is humanistic and combines creative expression with elements of CBT, DBT, and ACT. While my specialization is in Art Therapy, I am also trained in traditional counseling, Sports Counseling, and Adoption Competency and will work with you to decide what will best support you and your treatment goals. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, and day-to-day life stressors and transitions, as well as children and adolescents living with chronic pain and illness. My other experience involves individual, group, and familial support in medical, residential, and educational settings. I aim to provide a calm, relaxing, and inviting environment.

Hello and welcome to Pittsburgh PCIT and Counseling! My experience to therapy is eclectic-meaning I use many different approaches including: person-centered, trauma informed, and mindfulness. Through these approaches I am able to address a number of mental health concerns including, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, trauma, personal adjustments, stress, LGBTQ+ issues, and other life stressors.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

The Center for Advanced Psychotherapy (CAP Clinic), is part of Bellefield Outpatient Behavioral Health Services, UPMC in Oakland. Most cases referred will likely be seen by a trainee under supervision of a psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed mental health counselor through the CAP clinic. Trainees are either advanced students earning their doctorate in clinical psychology (PhD or PsyD) or medical residents (MDs) who are specializing in psychiatry and receiving specialized psychotherapy training. Video or audio taping of sessions is required in the CAP Clinic for supervision and training purposes. Patients participating in weekly psychotherapy can also be seen for med management services by a Psychiatrist or Psychiatry Resident, if appropriate. Lauren Bylsma, PhD has expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches for mood, anxiety, traumatic stress (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders in adults and adolescents. Other providers in our clinic (Holly Swartz, MD and Kelly Wells, MSW, LCSW) have expertise in interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) for unipolar and bipolar depression in adults. Some patients may not be a good fit for our clinic, including those with active alcohol or substance abuse issues, active psychosis, uncontrolled mania, high risk for suicide, homicidality or history of aggression, eating disorders, or those not appropriate for an outpatient level of care. Session fees are based on your insurance co-pays but it may be possible to see a trainee who does not bill insurance (i.e., no session fees), depending on trainee availability. We currently have availability with psychology trainees who do not bill (no charge for sessions, any insurance or no insurance is ok). Med management visits are billed to insurance. We currently offer both in-person and Telehealth services.

I work with students who have experienced traumas and are finding it difficult to sleep or function in school as a result of stress or anxiety. I also work with students who feel uneasy in social situations, or have expectations of themselves that are difficult to maintain. Reach out and talk with me about how I can help.

Hi! I’m Tori I’ve been working in the mental health field for 10 years, gaining experience in a variety of settings, and I’ve found my passion in helping adolescents, young adults, and adults navigate the ups and downs of life. This time in life is full of growth, change, and self-discovery—exciting, but also intimidating. I love supporting my clients through managing anxiety, depression, stress, and interpersonal challenges, and helping them build the skills to thrive. I take a laid-back approach to therapy, aiming to create a space where you feel safe, supported, and genuinely understood. Humor is a big part of my style—life is tough enough, so I believe therapy should have some light moments. That said, I know when to be serious, and I’ll be right there with you as we work through whatever’s on your mind. I’m here for people from all walks of life, and I’m a strong ally of the LGBTQIA+ community. My approach combines Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you develop practical tools for managing emotions, improving relationships, and making real, lasting changes in your life. In our work together, you’ll gain valuable insight into your thought patterns, learn skills to cope with stress, and build the resilience to live more authentically and mindfully. Outside of therapy, you’ll probably find me spending time with loved ones, catching concerts, watching horror movies, or taking walks. I’d be honored to walk alongside you on your journey to greater well-being. Reach out if you’d like to learn more or get started!

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.

My counseling style is grounded in the belief that, as humans, we are all imperfect; but are also inherently "ENOUGH". I believe in an empoweringly collaborative approach to help clients identify patterns and address cycles of distress.

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or trauma you may feel stuck in cycles that once helped you cope but now feel overwhelming, isolating, or out of control. I specialize in supporting individuals healing from eating disorders and attachment-related trauma. Disordered eating often develops as a way to cope. Together, we explore these patterns with curiosity and compassion while building safer, more sustainable ways to cope. I hold advanced training in eating disorder treatment, am an Inclusive Eating Disorder Specialist (IEDS), and am fully trained in EMDR to help process trauma at the root, not just manage symptoms. If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or trauma you may feel stuck in cycles that once helped you cope but now feel overwhelming, isolating, or out of control. I specialize in supporting individuals healing from eating disorders and attachment-related trauma. Disordered eating often develops as a way to cope. Together, we explore these patterns with curiosity and compassion while building safer, more sustainable ways to cope. I hold advanced training in eating disorder treatment, am an Inclusive Eating Disorder Specialist (IEDS), and am fully trained in EMDR to help process trauma at the root, not just manage symptoms. My approach is person-centered, relational, and attachment-focused. I integrate EMDR, ACT, DBT, CBT, parts work, and polyvagal-informed interventions to support both emotional healing and nervous system regulation. My practice is inclusive, anti-diet, and aligned with Health at Every Size (HAES), providing affirming care for all bodies. It makes sense if part of you feels hesitant to reach out. Healing often begins in the very places that feel most vulnerable. If you’re longing for a space where you can feel understood, supported, and not judged, I invite you to connect. We can take this at a pace that feels safe for you.

Rachel Porterfield is a licensed clinical social worker who provides psychotherapeutic care to adults of all ages. She has years of experience working with individuals who struggle with a variety of challenges, including anxiety/panic attacks, depression, grief and loss, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and relationship concerns. Rachel helps others to share their intimate thoughts and feelings while guiding them to learn new skills that will encourage them to develop healthy life changes openly and collaboratively. Rachel has been extensively trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches/models including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and psychodynamic therapy. Rachel has worked in outpatient dual diagnosed programs, hospitals, and primary care offices. Rachel received her master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh with a certification in mental health.

Hello and welcome to my page. My ideal client is struggling with their self-esteem, anxious and/or depressive symptoms, relationship issues, and even substance use/misuse. Most of my clients' goal is to live a more fulfilling and content life. They want to feel understood, supported, and listened to empathetically. I can help by primarily trying to understand you. That is the bottom line. I will offer you a safe, caring, and nonjudgemental environment to do this. I will listen fully with interest and respect so you can begin to talk about the parts of your life and yourself you are struggling with. I have worked as a social worker for 18 years, first at a community mental health center, then at a private group practice, and now solely in my own private practice. I work with young adults, adults, and older adults.

As a licensed psychologist, I specialize in working with clients who are experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). I have extensive experience working with individuals who have experienced sexual trauma. I am certified in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), a leading trauma treatment. Furthermore, I have additional training in the treatment of OCD through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) treatment. No matter the approach, I strive to provide a safe, non-judgmental space to support clients through these challenging change processes. I incorporate a holistic, integrative approach based on the client’s unique needs while acknowledging their individual culture, identities, experiences, and values. I find it especially rewarding being with clients through their journey towards self-compassion, change, and healing. I draw from various therapeutic practices, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), humanistic-existential therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Outside of work, I enjoy yoga, meditation, crafting, and spending time outdoors. As a lifelong learner, I also enjoy taking classes and reading, usually with my dog, Stewie, by my side.