Therapists for college students near University of Pennsylvania
College life can feel like a lot sometimes. It’s “supposed” to be fun, but there’s often so much to navigate that it ends up feeling overwhelming. I often work with students dealing with anxiety, relationship stress, and social or family worries — whether that means overthinking, feeling unsure in friendships or dating, or trying to make sense of complicated dynamics. Many students come in wanting to understand their reactions and emotions, and to feel more in control of their anxiety so it doesn’t interfere with their college experience. In our sessions, I’m committed to creating a warm, supportive space where you can feel safe exploring your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. With patience and careful listening, I offer insights and guidance in a gentle, thoughtful, and non-judgmental way. Together, we’ll slow things down so you can make sense of what’s happening beneath the stress — the patterns, experiences, and dynamics that shape how you think, feel, and relate to others. My goal is to help you feel understood, supported, and more grounded, so you can move through college with greater confidence and a stronger connection to yourself.
The Essential Counseling Services team is a group of mental health providers helping adolescents and adults through challenging times. Our professional therapists help people heal through traumatic experiences, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and other emotional hardships.
Fine Tune Psychiatry accepts many commercial insurances, including: Aetna/CVS, IBX, Highmark, United Healthcare/ Optum, Horizon BCBS of NJ, Oscar, OneNetPPO and more. Rittenhouse Psychiatric is fee-for-service, but has specialists in neuropsychological evaluations, eating disorders and other areas of psychiatry. We have about 40 providers (psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners) who are board certified and experts within the mental health field, within our networks. We offer child, adolescent and adult psychiatry at both locations. The practice's founder, Dr. Chris Pagnani, is an Instructor at Johns Hopkins Hospital, supervisor at Jefferson Hospital, serves on the board of uplift: the center for grieving children (which provides free grief therapy to predominantly inner-city children who have lost a parent to violence, overdose, natural causes and incarceration, and he maintains a private practice seeing patients throughout the states he's licensed.
Are you looking for a space to process anxiety, trauma, or other life events? I enjoy working with those who are living with ADHD, have experienced trauma, or have anxiety. I tailor our work to your unique situation. I bring warmth, energy, and openness to each session. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and bring a trauma-informed approach to therapy. I integrate psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and holistic therapy in my work. We will work together to achieve your goals and address underlying factors. My style is strengths-based and non-judgmental. I look forward to working with you! I'm a therapist with Octave and Evernorth Behavioral Care Group. Octave is a mental health practice providing high-quality care covered by multiple insurances. Evernorth Behavioral Care Group is a behavioral health provider group in-network with Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth. For my availability, please reach out to Octave’s team by emailing or calling.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
I have worked collaboratively and effectively with those individuals addressing their difficulties such as anxiety, depression, interpersonal issues, self-esteem, life transitions and trauma. While working together in a safe space, we will strive to reduce/eliminate negative thoughts and feelings. To achieve this outcome, I utilize a client-centered approach along with a CBT framework. Strengths are emphasized in therapy as an important asset to treatment success. Although individuals going through challenging times tend to seek out therapy, caregivers are often overlooked as those who could benefit from support themselves. I have been trained in the nurtured heart approach and have provided caregivers with techniques to assist with the individual’s treatment progress. I have worked in a multitude of settings including a hospital-based residential treatment facility for adolescents, a county care management organization, and in a community outpatient therapy setting. Along with a master’s degree in counseling, I have a post master’s certificate in clinical mental health. I am a licensed therapist in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I have also earned my credential as a clinical supervisor (ACS) to provide peer/collegial support.
Springfield Behavioral of Pennsylvania, formerly Springfield Psychological, provides high quality and affordable behavioral health treatment to children, adolescents, adults, and older adults to enhance overall health and well-being.. Our compassionate and caring team of licensed clinicians offer diverse expertise to support individuals, couples, and families to effectively navigate and manage lifes challenges. Everyone experiences emotional ups and downs. At times, lingering symptoms can create lasting changes in how one thinks, feels, or behaves. With professional treatment, you or your loved one can live a productive and fulfilling life!
Moving through change, feeling disconnected, or questioning what’s next can be overwhelming. You don’t have to navigate that alone. I offer a collaborative and compassionate space for individuals, couples, and families to explore the stories that shape their lives. Together, we’ll consider what still rings true, what feels heavy, and what you may be ready to release. I’m especially drawn to working with LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent clients, as well as those navigating belonging, intersecting identities, and spiritual shame. Our work will move at your pace and center the questions that matter most to you. I’ll walk alongside you as we untangle confusion and constraints to foster greater connection, clarity, and choice. You’re the expert on your experience. My job is to help create space for your voice and to support you in honoring what it has to say. If you're ready to begin, I am currently accepting new clients and would love to connect with you.
We all strive for success in our lives. How we function as parents, professionals, students, or children is shaped by a delicate interaction between factors inside us and outside of us. Our inherited traits, past experiences, and current circumstances all play a role in influencing how we navigate life’s challenges. Yet, it can sometimes be difficult to identify which of these factors are enhancing or hindering our ability to function at our best. The key to greater satisfaction and success lies in being aware of these internal and external factors, understanding how they influence our behavior, and learning how to regulate their impact. As a physician trained in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry, I take a deeply individualized approach to each of my patients. I work with you to promote a healthy, psychoanalytically oriented exploration of yourself, helping you uncover the root causes of any emotional or psychological distress. By understanding these underlying factors, we can work together to create a clear path toward healing and growth In addition to working with individuals, I also collaborate closely with parents to support the emotional and psychological development of their children. Parenting can be incredibly challenging, and it’s important to approach it with insight and support. I work with families to develop highly individualized strategies that promote mental health, emotional resilience, and a more fulfilling life for everyone involved. Whether you are facing longstanding struggles or simply want to explore your thoughts and feelings more deeply, I invite you to reach out. Together, we can enhance your mental health, achieve greater emotional balance, & improve your overall satisfaction with life. I look forward to hearing from you and supporting you on your journey.
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 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.
People seek therapy for a variety of reasons. Though the process of therapy can be difficult, I bring an accepting and compassionate mindset to our relationship that will help you feel comfortable in session and leave therapy feeling more satisfied, skillful, and empowered. I typically work with college students, adults, and older adolescents. I primarily work from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) perspectives. I also integrate components of other orientations where helpful and tailor my therapeutic approach to the individual characteristics and needs of each client. The majority of my training has been in college counseling and community mental health. My areas of interest and expertise include trauma, OCD, social anxiety, specific phobia, panic disorder, emotion dysregulation, issues of overcontrol, nonsuicidal self-injury, depression, and LGBTQ+ issues. I look forward to meeting you and beginning our work together!
We are committed to helping individuals heal emotional wounds that may be preventing them from being their most extraordinary self. Our work focuses on targeting ineffective behaviors and beliefs to enhance self-worth. Our clients appreciate our easy going nature and holistic approaches, because everyone deserves to be accepted. We are all innately resourceful and self-healers, and we are passionate about guiding individuals towards finding peace and bringing balance to their lives. If you are interested in learning more, please message us and Let’s journey through this together! “I’m a strong person but every now and then I would like someone to take my hand and say everything will be alright” – Unknown
Starting or returning to college can bring up unique challenges—navigating relationships, managing stress, adjusting to new independence, or figuring out who you are and what you want. I work best with students who are thoughtful, curious, and open to exploring their inner world, even if that feels a little intimidating at first. Many of my clients are balancing academics with the ups and downs of friendships, family, dating, and questions about their identity. My practice is LGBTQ-affirming and welcoming to students of all backgrounds. I provide a calm and supportive space where you can slow down, untangle what feels overwhelming, and begin to feel more grounded. Whether you’re seeking clarity in relationships, support with stress or anxiety, or a place to process deeper emotions, therapy can be a meaningful step toward feeling more connected and at ease with yourself. I look forward to supporting you!
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.
I am a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and a doctor of nursing practice. I believe in a holistic treatment approach based on evidence-based practice and patient-centered care. I believe in meeting the needs of each patient individually to help improve their quality of life. I have worked in the mental health field for over 15 years. I enjoy working with patients who struggle with mental health issues and I am dedicated to helping them live their best life. Mental health care is my passion. My mission is to provide quality, patient-centered, holistic care to all those I work with.
Andrée Collective is a nonprofit events organization that leverages the wedding industry to provide employment, financial literacy, and therapy to female survivors of trauma and abuse, including intimate partner violence, and human trafficking. ✨ In-Person Art Therapy Group Starts: January 20, 2026 Meets: Tuesdays, 6:00–7:20 PM Location: In person (Philadelphia) Sliding Scale: $5 per session 💻 Online Group Therapy Starts: February 18, 2026 Meets: Wednesdays, 6:00–7:20 PM Sliding Scale: $1 per session Note: Must be a Pennsylvania resident to attend virtual groups. 💰 Free Virtual Financial Literacy Class Starts: February 9, 2026 Meets: Mondays, 6:00–7:30 PM Cost: Free