Therapists in Ridgway, PA

Hello and welcome! My name is Whitney Thomas and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania. I have 13 years of experience in the field of mental health. I received mt Bachelor's Degree in Social Science from the University of Pittsburgh (2005). After graduation I obtained a job at a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program where I worked with individuals on reaching their mental wellness goals to live their best lives. Due to the influence of this wonderful program I went on the obtain my Master's Degree in Community Mental Health Counseling (2014) and then on to obtain my Professional License (2017). Due to my experience in Psychiatric Rehabilitation my preferred therapeutic approach is person-centered. This gives me the opportunity to meet you where you are at and help you grow from there. Therapy is not a one size fits all program and I enjoy getting to know you as the unique individual that you are coming with your own unique experiences and backgrounds. I strive to make the therapeutic experience a positive one where you will feel confident to share openly and honestly about your accomplishment and hurts without the fear of judgment. With my 13 years of experience I have had the opportunity to work with adults, children, couples and families. In various settings I have been able to work with people individually and within the group setting. I have been trained in several trauma informed practices and attend yearly continuing education sessions to keep up with the latest skills and practices. I look forward to collaborating with you and thank you for choosing me to help you on your journey!

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with 10 years of progressive experience working with individuals, couples, and families. I am also experienced as a grief counseling specialist and have had the pleasure of helping people navigate through issues with depression, anxiety, loss, addiction, major life changes, symptom management, relationship conflict and regaining a sense of purpose and personal empowerment. I have a background in education as well, having taught college level courses in general psychology, human growth and development and abnormal psychology. I use an eclectic approach to therapy, incorporating my own life experiences and a variety of relevant therapeutic principles and techniques in a way that is tailored specifically to the needs of each individual client. Though techniques and interventions may vary by client, they are consistently fueled by a person-centered and humanistic therapeutic orientation, as I believe it is my role to provide a safe a secure space for you to grow through whatever barrier you are facing, while tapping into and further developing your own innate strengths and uniqueness. You are the expert, I’m only here to help. I like to call my therapeutic approach and personal style “carefrontational,” where I like to confront problematic issues honestly and straightforward with care and compassion. We are not our problem, but how we manage our problems can certainly shape the way we view ourselves. Overall, I’m here to help you find better ways to manage life’s problems and walk away with a renewed sense of peace, self-acceptance and resolve that allows you to fully embrace and appreciate the value behind being you. We all have a story and while I may not have experienced all of the situations you bring to the table first hand in my own life, I am confident that I have dealt with the range of emotions you may be feeling and have worked hard myself at learning ways to acknowledge, understand, express and validate those feelings. It is my belief that with the right support and a healthy alliance, you can make a change for the better and see the beauty in what life actually has to offer. I look forward to speaking with you soon!

I am a trauma-focused therapist, working with people who have been victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and various other traumas since 2017. People with unresolved trauma may have difficulty finding and maintaining an internal sense of peace and safety. They often struggle with symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and a variety of addiction behaviors. I have extensive training and experience in therapy skills that address current symptoms that are causing extra challenges in a person's life, with a focus toward obtaining healing for unresolved trauma experiences. While it is not possible to rewrite the past, it is possible to change the way you continue to be impacted by those painful experiences from your history. I also have four years experience as a hospice counselor/social worker, plus twelve years working as a social worker with people who have disabilities. These combined experiences have enriched my understanding of how the grieving process is engaged in many of our life experiences, including: life changes (job change, retirement, moving, empty nest, etc); loss/change of ability status; and witnessing or experiencing trauma. Some of the treatment methods I use: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), PC (Progressive Counting), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), IFS (Internal Family Systems), Mindfulness, Crave-Ex (addiction method that incorporates EMDR), attachment focused, somatic awareness, Trauma-focused Psychotherapy, Art Therapy, Systems Theory. As a trauma-focused therapist, this is the general path I follow: 1) learning skills to help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms; 2) learning about the connections between past traumas and current triggers in your life; 3) building a general emotional tolerance for working on healing from trauma history; 4) gently working through healing process for trauma history; 5) rebuilding emotional wellness to include an improved self-esteem, healthy boundary, relationship and communication skills. If you prefer a more traditional, talk-therapy type experience, I may not be the right choice for you. A major focus I have is to help a person gain a sense of hope by slowly replacing negative self-beliefs into positive beliefs that are enhanced and reinforced. I look forward to starting on this healing journey with you!

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, having worked in the field for the past 15 yrs. My experience has ranged from adjustment disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD all the way to severe and persistent mental illness, including bipolar, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. I look forward to working with you, offering an authentic, present approach to the needs you bring to the session, specifically trained in cognitive and dialectical approaches, as well as, client and emotion focused therapies. I believe in respect, wanting you, as the client, to have the space you need to process the unique and “very real” circumstances of your life and be able to express the success and barriers you are experiencing in this process. It takes a lot of courage and strength to reach out for help, and I look forward to walking alongside you as a support in your journey to health, strength and better wellness!

I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) outside of Phila. with over 12 years of clinical experience. I've worked with individuals, couples and families in both in-patient and out-patient settings dealing with a wide range of mental health and life issues. Prior to getting my training and degree from Bryn Mawr School of Social Work I lived at an intentional community on 130 beautiful acres in Wisconsin. Collaborating and communicating with people has always been most satisfying and important to me. My goal in providing coaching and therapy is always to promote effective solutions for whatever issues clients face. My style is warm, empathic and tailored to the individual. I am a strong advocate for self directed learning, having homeschooled my son and daughter for 9 years. I bring that same philosophy to facilitating growth in all I work with. My work with clients is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidenced based approach to problems in living. If you would like to have a more valued and vital life, have issues or problems you struggle with, and want to reduce your struggling and increase valued living, then ACT is for you! I will collaborate with you to promote psychological flexibility and self awareness.. I utilize the ACT Matrix to collaborate with clients in discovering how to move toward who and what is important to them.

I use experiential techniques to help you recognize the destructive patterns of behavior that may be causing conflict in your life. By teaching you to expose the lineage of self-sabotaging patterns, you will learn to accept them as part of your brilliant landscape. Through this work you will release yourself from the binds that hold you hostage and become truly free to embrace your authentic self. I am a spiritual adventurer who employs humor, compassion and to help you realize you are and have always been, “ENOUGH.” Allow me to support and guide your inner journey of self discovery toward becoming authentically human, and through this process your enlightened being will shine. I have been working in the field of addictions, counseling, and pattern releasing for over 28 years. I have designed my programs to assist individuals to take a deep dive into self-discovery. My approach is compassionate and direct. I utilize several techniques to help open the process such as exploring family dynamics, and relationships through generational patterning, systemic work, family constellation, Field constellation, 12-Step practice, yoga, meditation, eclectic spiritual paths, and lots of humor.

I am licensed in Pennsylvania with 32 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, & trauma and abuse. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.

I am licensed in Pennsylvania with 14 years of professional work experience. I received my bachelor's degree in Psychology and master's degree in Community Counseling from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. I worked hard to get my license and I have had my License in Professional Counseling for many years. I genuinely believe that our thoughts control our behaviors and how we feel overall. To that end, I practice trauma informed cognitive behavioral therapy with all of my clients. What that means is that I will help you understand how thoughts control feelings and behaviors keeping in mind that trauma comes in many forms and no trauma is too big or too insignificant to treat. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, & parenting issues. I also have experience working with depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes a lot of courage to seek out help and I'm SO PROUD OF YOU for asking for help! Let's get started!

I am licensed in Pennsylvania with 14 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, coping with grief and loss, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!

I am licensed in Pennsylvania with 45 years of professional work experience. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started! I know how difficult it is to acknowledge that sometimes in life we need help, and someone who is there to listen to us and offer help and suggestions to address the issues we are struggling with. I have extensive experience working with individuals and families with trauma from either childhood neglect or abuse, or traumatic adult experience and events. I have had considerable experience working with children and youth at risk, parent child conflict, depression , anxiety, and relationship issues. I believe that we can work together as team to address and alleviate the issues that brought you to seek counseling. You have taken the biggest step already by reaching out today and committing to moving forward in your life. I would like to be part of your journey.