Therapists for college students near University of Pennsylvania

Our therapists strive to create a non-judgmental and compassionate space to offer guidance and help create change. We offer both shorter term solution-focused therapy as well as longer term in-depth psychotherapy depending on your individual needs. Our goal is to help you uncover your true potential and understand yourself better, leading to symptom reduction and lasting change. Common issues we address that bring people into therapy are: depression, anxiety, relationship conflicts, trauma and PTSD, and low self esteem/self worth. We are also skilled at working with people with psychotic and bipolar disorders. We offer individual therapy as well as couples counseling. We celebrate and treat with the utmost respect all diverse backgrounds including sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, and gender identity to name a few.

We are a small private practice dedicated to supporting college students through life’s challenges. While we work with a wide range of concerns, we specialize in trauma, sexual assault, anxiety, and relationship issues. Our therapists provide a warm, flexible, and nonjudgmental space where you can process your experiences, build coping skills, and work toward meaningful change. Whether you're struggling with past trauma, feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, or navigating complex relationships, we’re here to help.

Philadelphia Couples Therapy is the city's premier couples therapy practice for couples navigating life together and for individuals hoping to improve their relationships. We use a treatment team approach offering individual, couples, or group therapy to provide the best possible support for each couple. We specialize in every developmental season of romantic relationships, such as dating, premarital therapy, infidelity, chronic illness, heartbreak, mediation and alcohol abuse. Our clinicians are couples specialists with Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) and systems theory training. We also have backgrounds in Gottman, relational and CBT techniques. We pride ourselves on walking with our clients toward the health, stability, and joy they yearn for.

Dr. Spano treats adults (18+) in her private practice located in Philadelphia. She specializes in treating a host of psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, and difficulty navigating work and relationship stress. Dr. Spano is a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania and New York. She earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to opening her own practice, she served as the Head of Adult Neuropsychology and the Director of Psychotherapy at Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates. She is an active member of the Philadelphia Society of Clinical Psychologists (PSCP). She earned her B.A. in Classics from Drew University.

Taking the first step to start therapy can be hard, but we are here to help. We offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to email or call! All of our clinicians at the Anxiety and Agoraphobia Treatment Center are compassionate and caring, highly-trained psychologists who are experienced using the most effective treatments. We value getting to know you as an individual, so you will get results from a therapist who really understands. We treat the full range of anxiety, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, fears and phobias, perfectionism, test anxiety, adjustment to college life, stress and more. We can help with concerns other than anxiety, too. Our psychologists collaboratively partner with you to help meet your personalized treatment goals using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) combined with other modalities when appropriate (supportive therapy, exposure therapy, DBT, ACT, mindfulness). We have immediate availability and offer both in-person or virtual options. We also have daytime, evening and weekend hours to accommodate busy schedules. Our practice is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment where all feel accepted.

Desiree (she/her/hers) is a Nationally Certified Counselor. She earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Cognitive Science from the University of Richmond. She continued her education at Wake Forest University where she earned her masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In addition to her career as a counselor, Desiree is a mother (and bonus mom!) to five wonderful boys who have inspired her to be a mental health advocate for our next generation of leaders. Desiree has experience providing school-based and outpatient therapy services to children, adolescents and young adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders, childhood trauma, life transitions, and also providing support to LGBTQ+ individuals. Desiree also has experience working with student athletes of various ages and skill levels in youth sports who are struggling with performance anxieties, positive self-talk, and self-actualization. She believes that each person has the potential to change, and counseling is a safe space where an individual can learn how to tap into that potential. Desiree believes in meeting her clients where they are and utilizing a person-centered, strength-based approach while incorporating cognitive behavioral techniques to help clients effectively achieve their long-term goals.

Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of who you are or where you belong? You’re not alone. I specialize in working with queer and trans students, those exploring identity and relationships, survivors of trauma, and recovering perfectionists. Therapy with me is about creating a safe, affirming space where you can process your experiences, build self-trust, and move toward a more authentic and fulfilling life.

I use client-first approach in my work. Whether you’re a young person feeling overwhelmed, a couple looking to reconnect, or an individual working toward body acceptance, I see you. In therapy, I blend kindness, humor, and warmth to create a space where you can feel heard. Together, we’ll build tools to manage anxiety, depression, and change— finding light even in some of our toughest moments.

People often seek therapy to resolve past experiences and life complexities and the decision to enter therapy may carry feelings of ambivalence and uncertainty. I believe that therapy is most effective when persons are offered an environment that is inviting, collaborative, affirming, and safe. Subsequently, my goal is to provide a challenging, but non-judgmental and encouraging atmosphere for persons to explore concerns and difficulties as a means of achieving desired change. I have been trained in psychodynamic and gestalt therapy and trauma and attachment theory and I integrate these theoretical constructs to understand the uniqueness of each person. Further, I include harm reduction, cultural, strengths perspective, and social justice lenses to recognize each person's lived experience. In end, I have an extensive history working with persons of queer and trans/GNC experience and specific interest in working with complex trauma, substance misuse and addiction, attachment, and grief/loss. I offer an informed perspective when working with persons in polyamorous relationships and/or the kink community.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I am honored to provide Pittsburgh with quality mental health services. I truly believe that people have the capacity to change, grow, and achieve their full potential within the context of a supportive environment. This belief fuels my work as a therapist. I completed my undergraduate work at the University of Pittsburgh and received my Masters in Social Work from New York University. I help adults with trauma histories & adverse childhood experiences, college students who are overwhelmed, and I provide relationship support for those of us who keep playing out toxic patterns.

Hello! I am a double board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with Fine Tune Psychiatry. I treat individuals 18 years and older and am trained in all areas of adolescent and adult psychiatry including mood and anxiety disorders, OCD and adult ADHD. My years as a nurse practitioner at the University of Pennsylvania’s Student Health and Wellness Center shaped my deep appreciation for the unique pressures that students face. My clinical approach blends evidence-based psychiatric care with whole-person wellness, holistic coping strategies and sustainable mental health habits. I also bring years of experience from emergency and urgent care settings, which have helped to create my calm, approachable, and thorough clinical style.

Welcome! I am a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Philadelphia. I provide therapy to adults of all ages struggling with a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, coping with medical illness, trauma, unsatisfying relationships, low self-esteem, general stress, and other difficulties. College students can be particularly susceptible to these kinds of distress. When you're trying to manage intense coursework and maintain a satisfying social life while also considering what kind of a life you might want to live and the kind of person you want to be, it is not unusual to struggle with feelings of stress, fear, anxiety, and depression. Searching for a therapist can also seem intimidating, particularly during a stressful phase of life; however, it is my goal to ease the process and be of help. Your mental health is important and deserves attention, especially if you are not feeling well. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or feel I might be of help. It would be my pleasure to work with you.

People often want to improve some aspect of their emotional and mental health. In our work together, we will explore the areas of your life that are challenging or distressing, access and process difficult emotions, and make meaning of patterns in your unique narrative. I have specialized experience in working with transgender and queer individuals and provide affirming, nonjudgmental therapy for all folks from age 4 to 54. I believe in creating a safe and empathic space for a collaborative therapeutic relationship. Each session provides an opportunity for strength, self-awareness, and self-compassion, and I strive to provide a supportive and holding environment for such growth to be possible. While my practice is specialized to provide non-pathologizing and affirming therapy for queer and trans individuals, I welcome clients of all gender identities and orientations. I look forward to sharing in your journey and self exploration.

One of the main components of therapy is to provide a safe environment for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings. My office offers teletherapy play sessions with children and is also easily transformed into a space comfortable for adolescents, adults, and couples. For more than 10 years, I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults with behavioral and emotional challenges. My professional experience consists of working in a variety of settings including: in-home therapy, outpatient, and group practice. My clinical areas of specialty include: anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and trauma. I utilize a broad range of evidence-based modalities to help assist clients through their journey to mental wellness. These treatment modalities include: person-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), child development, and play therapy. I believe therapy is a highly individualized and a personal experience. I have experience working with children, adolescents, adults and couples. I offer phone coaching in between sessions. I return EVERY call and email.

I am now offering in-person sessions with safety protocols. Please reach out with any questions. Welcome! I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist conveniently located in Center City Philadelphia. In my practice, I provide psychotherapy and psychological testing services to adults and adolescents with a wide range of difficulties, including depression, anxiety, educational difficulties, trauma, relationship problems, and other life stressors. Additionally, I offer couples counseling to help partners find health and happiness in their relationships. It would be my pleasure to work with you.

I work best with students who are motivated and thoughtful, but feel stuck—whether that’s struggling to focus, feeling overwhelmed by academic pressure, or wondering if ADHD, a learning difference, or anxiety might be part of the picture. I offer neuropsychological evaluations to help students understand how their brain works—clarifying strengths, challenges, and what may be getting in the way of learning or performance. These evaluations are often helpful for students seeking answers, clarity, or documentation for academic supports. I also provide CBT-based therapy, which focuses on practical tools to manage anxiety, stress, perfectionism, and unhelpful thinking patterns. Therapy is active and collaborative, and we work toward concrete changes that make daily life and school feel more manageable. If you’re looking for clearer answers about yourself and support that’s structured, practical, and grounded, I may be a good fit.

I provide individual, couples, and family therapy in person in Philadelphia, and I can see clients virtually in most states including New York. Because I completed my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and was the director of Penn's O’Brien Center for Addiction Treatment, I have extensive experience with the needs of Penn students. I work well with student athletes, including those who are recovering from injuries. I am very familiar with the application processes for medical school, veterinary school, law school, and business school--and with careers in competitive industries such as consulting, investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, and real estate development. I can help students with burnout and academic stress as well as anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt. In addition to working with Penn Students, I also have experience with students from NYU, Georgetown, the University of Michigan, Yale, Brown, Fordham, Drexel, Bryn Mawr, Villanova, St. Joe's, Cornell, the University of Delaware, the University of Pittsburgh, American University, Penn State, Thomas Jefferson University, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and many other schools. I have helped students to find meaningful romantic relationships and to heal earlier relationship injuries that may be getting in the way of intimacy. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can be very helpful for overcoming childhood and relationship wounding. More broadly, I am skilled at helping with career coaching, anxiety, depression, trauma, insomnia, grief, loneliness and addiction. I also work with people to improve their relationships with social media and screens. My style is nonjudgmental and flexible. I often use EMDR to help people to work through stressful or traumatic events and to better understand themselves. Depending on the client’s goals, I can integrate CBT, DBT, and solution-oriented approaches. I have extensive training in IFS (Internal Family Systems) and, for couples, IFIO (Intimacy from the Inside Out). I also have specialized training in the CRAFT approach for how to talk to loved ones about addictive behaviors without hurting the relationship. Using EMDR, I can help people to address the root causes of complex issues like addiction. My background is in positive psychology and addiction. My postdoctoral fellowship at Penn was in positive psychology. From that I learned to help people to use their strengths to build happier lives and careers.

Complex trauma can be a stubborn and unwanted life companion. Living through repeated exposure to traumatic and harmful experiences can leave you feeling unable to trust yourself or others, seeing yourself differently, and feeling chronically unsafe. And alongside those wounds, complicated grief can also be woven into the mix of post-traumatic pain. Complicated grief is so much more than “just” a loss - it’s anger, sadness, guilt, and confusion surrounding losses that can’t always be easily defined. As a licensed professional counselor with a special interest in trauma treatment, I understand the profound impact these experiences can have on an individual’s emotional well being. Working together, our sessions can be a safe space to share your experiences, knowing you will be met with empathy and a commitment to helping you rewrite the narrative. Childhood trauma might have cast a long shadow, and grief might feel like a complex maze, but I will work with you to find the path forward. In our conversations, we will not only acknowledge your pain but craft a narrative that honors your resilience and strength. Whether we're unwrapping the layers of childhood echoes or tenderly exploring the nuances of grief, my goal is to empower you to tell a new, more liberating story. If you're ready to embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery, I'm here to be your guide. Let's turn the page and start a chapter that speaks to your courage and resilience. Your story is worth telling, and I'm honored to help you shape it in a way that reflects your strength. Ready to begin?

Masters of Science in Community and Trauma Counseling. Eating Disorders, Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression. Offering in-person therapy in Society Hill, and Telehealth therapy. “Hopefulness lies in knowing that while early experiences shape the nervous system, ongoing experiences can reshape it” - Deb Dana I approach healing through a lens of restorative embodiment. My intention is to create a safe space as an empathetic witness and an honored collaborative partner in your therapeutic journey. In the therapeutic room I will bring in authenticity, laughter, presence, hope, and intentional moments of silence. I believe in an i-thou relationship and that you are the best guide for me to support you. With that, I also believe that while each of us are the experts in our own lives, we often do not know how to access or trust in our inner-knowing to make the necessary steps towards adaptive change and cultivating a fully embodied life that is worth living. My passion is to support you in finding and trusting your inner knowing, embrace your worthiness and strength, experience safety in using your body as a resource, and reinforce your internal sense of self-agency. In the therapeutic room, I prioritize trauma-informed and LGBTQIA-affirming care as well as harm reduction. I have experience in social work providing housing-first and strength-based care. In addition, I have experience providing individual, group, and family therapy in different settings such as a psychiatric inpatient hospital for adolescents, an eating disorder residential treatment center, and a Comprehensive DBT-focused outpatient practice. I primarily support clients ages 14 and up, college-aged individuals, and young adults. I am passionate about working with those navigating this world with an eating disorder, depression, anxiety, substance recovery, and differing levels of trauma and PTSD/CPTSD. Grounded in the principles of Health at Every Size®, I endorse Intuitive Eating, body neutrality, radical acceptance, and body liberation. I often draw upon these principles as well as embodiment in the treatment of eating disorders. I also practice with aspects from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Trauma Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (TF-ACT), using a mindfulness and somatic approach. I fully believe that every human has done and is doing the best they can with the tools they have or were given, whether effective or ineffective, with the information the body has interpreted and stored. The body and brain is malleable, flexible, and able to change. Let’s re-align with our inner-knowing, physical sensations, and core-values; change our interpretations and the narrative, to cultivate a new path forward that supports you as you level up with new and more effective tools. There is hope and I am so honored to join you on this next part of your journey. I facilitate a body image group called Embodiment. I accept Aetna & Cigna insurances.

Many of the students and young adults we work best with are in the middle of a transition. They may have just moved away from home, started college or graduate school, begun a new job, or are trying to figure out who they are outside of their family. On the outside, it can look like they’re “doing fine.” On the inside, they often feel anxious, overwhelmed, uncertain, or afraid of making the wrong choices. You might relate if you’re struggling with independence — wanting space from your family but also feeling pulled back by guilt or expectations. Maybe you worry about the future, question your decisions constantly, or feel behind compared to everyone else. “Adulting” can feel harder than anyone warned you about. If you’re navigating identity, relationships, pressure to succeed, or fear of what comes next, you’re not alone. We work well with students who are thoughtful, self-aware, and ready to better understand themselves — even if they’re not sure where to start.