Therapists in Bear Lake, 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!

Everyone deserves a journey of self-healing and self-discovery. In fact, allowing yourself to blossom is the avenue to experiencing self-love and meaningful connections with others. I have worked in the field of mental health for over 12 years, but have been researching and seeking methods of healing since my early teens. I attended the University of California, San Diego, followed by Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified EFT Practitioner. I have resided in California, Colorado, New Jersey, and now reside in Austin, Texas. I have experience assisting families, adolescents, and adults dealing with a range of issues including anxiety and mood disorders, trauma, addictions, end of life issues, and issues related to discrimination and marginalization. I am an experienced therapist, supervisor, and group facilitator in various settings. I also served as adjunct faculty at Naropa University, teaching courses on Transforming Addictions and Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Counseling. I was always fascinated by the intersection of mind, body, spirit, and emotion, and have undoubtedly learned the power of transforming harmful mental and emotional patterns. As such, I found myself specializing in mindfulness based techniques and with foundations in unique spiritual perspectives. I am certified in the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), a powerful, but simple method that provides immediate relief of distress. When offered in guided sessions, EFT also works to unravel and shift unhealthy patterns that the conscious mind and talk therapy alone cannot access. Your strengths lie in your weaknesses, and your power lies within your suffering. I will gently guide you through a journey where you can piece by piece, find balance and empowerment in your life. I am passionate about being an innovator in the field of psychology and supporting work that brings forth real change. Transformation is possible, and we often face systems and ways of approaching mental health that make us feel stuck. I am devoted to sharing knowledge and information with others on how they can create breakthroughs in their own lives, no matter where they came from and who they are. My youtube channel "Keep the Clarity" is a space where I share lessons and experience in moving towards real change with others, including work with other counselors pertaining how to better our work with our clients.

Hi, My name is Shanna and I am a professional counselor. I am committed to support each of my clients in a unique and targeted way that will best support each person's needs, capitalize on each person's strengths, and help move toward each person's goals. In order to do this, I spend time in the beginning of the counseling relationship to assess your background, successes, hurdles, prior experiences and your perceptions of the changes that you want to see for yourself and the world around you. With that understanding, I am able to help guide you on your journey to being your best self by taking advantage of the types of activities and interventions that work best for you. Though I utilize a vast array of tools to best support each person through an individualized lens, my work is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Being focused on wellness rather than just lessening illness, my driving belief is that people strive to lead lives that are meaningful and provide an overall sense of connection in order to enhance their relationships, work experiences and other activities. IFS is about learning about the various parts of ourselves and having awareness about internal conflict arises and can be managed. CBT is the science of changing, or re-framing, the way that we think about the world around us in order to also change our associated emotions and behaviors so that we are best able to fulfill our drive for happiness and inner peace. I have been working to support individuals with various strengths and needs for over ten years, with the past 8 of these as a licensed practitioner. I have worked with many different people with a variety of goals, strengths and struggles to overcome feelings of depression and anxiety, interpersonal distress, trauma, and more. I have experience working in settings ranging from residential facilities to in-home therapy and outpatient centers. When working together, I am committed to you and helping you create the sense of yourself that will lead to satisfying wellness. I can't wait to meet you and get started. Best wishes for wellness, Shanna

Megan Mercurio is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 14 years of expertise treating emotional concerns, relationship conflict, and addictive tendencies. She has a Master’s degree from Capella University in Marriage and Family Therapy and specializes in relationship dynamics. She uses a systemic approach to explore patterns within individuals, couples, and families to gain insight and facilitate change geared toward their desired goals. Megan also has expertise in trauma informed care and specializes in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) therapy. EMDR is a therapy used in reducing emotional distress and symptoms related to anxiety, fears, and trauma. EMDR is also used to address negative core beliefs that may be the culprit to worry, depression, low self-esteem, and unhealthy patterns related to use of substances Megan’s work experience has included various D & A facilities that treated an array of addictive tendencies, centers that specialize in eating disorders, and private practice where she would practice EMDR. Her last appointment was clinical supervisor at the intensive outpatient center for addictive problems. Megan’s clinical skill set and theoretical approaches include areas of Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavioral therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic approach, Mindfulness, and Trauma informed care. Her knowledge and expertise have led her to have a clinical understanding and eye for how the use of substances and emotional concerns go hand in hand. Her specific areas of interest and background with treating presenting problems include areas of trauma and PTSD, various addictive tendencies, eating disorders, anxiety and panic attacks, OCD, depression and negative thinking, and relationship and attachment issues. TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY: Megan has a keen, investigative approach to seeking underlying issues related to the problems that bring people to seek therapy. She has a view on doing therapy that involves a collaborative approach by matching the client’s personality and style and works at a pace comfortable for her clients. She believes therapy can be informative, insightful and the awareness that clients obtain about themselves assists in the cathartic change they are seeking. She strives to assist people in obtaining relief from what it was that brought them into therapy and bring about more frequent, authentic contentment with themselves and their relationships. “People may often be struggling to the point that they are not operating at their full potential and feel ‘stuck.’ I often find that people may be suffering or tolerating more than they should in life just to maintain or working hard at managing their symptoms leaving them feeling little or no relief. I believe that people are capable of managing their own lives in healthy, constructive ways and I view therapy as an opportunity to work from a psychodynamic, investigative approach on identifying the roadblocks that limit one’s aptitude, and hence, become unstuck. I like to connect with people on collaborative levels while working on navigating through the barriers that block and sabotage people’s full potential.” --Megan Mercurio

I entered the helping profession in 1991. Over the years I've had experiences working with individual from a variety of ages, cultures , and backgrounds. Prior to obtaining my masters degree I worked as a case manager with foster children, a counselor at a day program for adolescents struggling with behavior and developmental issues, as well as intake/referral counselor for individuals struggling with substance use disorders. While working as a an intake worker/case manager for individuals with substance use disorders I decided to further my education. I wanted to develop more counseling skills and education in the helping profession to better serve in my community. My education background is from Alvernia College I obtained my Bachelors degree in Social Work in 1991, and my Masters degree with the focus of Community Counseling in 2007. I have been licensed as an LPC by the state of Pennsylvania since 2010. My experience since obtaining my masters degree includes helping individuals in group, as well as individual settings to improve their quality of life by managing mental health symptoms. I really enjoy watching individuals grow and find their own paths. I was able to assist them to develop new ways to cope with stressors from; current living situations, past histories that may have included trauma, and struggles from mental health symptoms. I believe that I can help in developing coping tools as well as providing an empathetic listening ear. In turn those, and my other therapy skills will help to more effectively manage thoughts, emotions and situations that life has brought to you. I look forward to helping you work toward developing your personal resilience to help you with your journey through life

I am a licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience working as a counselor, caseworker and social worker in Pennsylvania. I have worked with clients to include teenagers and adults, both individually and in a group setting, with a wide range of concerns including depression, stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, self-harm, physical disabilities, chronic illness, relationship issues and legal issues. My therapy style is judgment free and interactive with some humor (when appropriate). I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. My approach is solution focused, client centered, and strengths based and utilizes Narrative Therapy as well as Motivational Interviewing and Collaborative Problem Solving. I believe in meeting an individual where they are at. You know yourself better than anyone (thanks Captain Obvious!); however, sometimes we need to engage in self-examination and open dialogue with someone who does not know us, that approaches us with no preconceived notions, opinions or judgement, thus truly allowing one to look inward and to freely express and process their feelings and experiences. This alone can be freeing. It’s amazing how talking through your experiences can lead you to so many eye opening conclusions. Technology has given us a unique opportunity to incorporate self-care into our busy lives. Thank you for being open to taking part in the virtual counseling arena. I also want to recognize you; for reaching out, I know it can be so hard—it really takes courage to seek help and work toward change. I am glad you’re here. If you choose to work with me as your BetterHelp counselor, I look forward to joining your support network. I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

My name is John and I am a licensed professional counselor. I have 20 years of professional work experience. Over that time I have developed skills to help clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, finding motivation, exploring self-worth, recovering from addiction and combating depression. My methods include Motivational Interviewing, psychodynamics, and person-centered therapy. I often utilize cognitive therapies, especially in their mindfulness-based forms, like ACT and DBT. But everything from simple conversation to behavioral strategies might be used, as long as the methods are suitable to your needs. Across these last two decades, I have learned that people are fascinatingly different from one another. Yet, almost any one of us can thrive in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Compassionate interaction can result in transformative moments, and to me, those moments are some of the best things in life. You are worth knowing and worth understanding, and the fact that you want to grow has me interested in you already. I am honored to be part of the change you want to make.

I am Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Pennsylvania with 3 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with coping with addictions, PTSD recovery, grief, bereavement, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, geriatrics related issues, Veterans related issues, Queer related issues (LGBTQ+). I believe in treating everyone with respect, positivity, sensitivity, and compassion. It takes courage to seek help to take the first steps towards a change. Providing psycho-education and utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are common intervention but I value a person centered approach to collaborate on a treatment plan. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am a licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania with 13 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress, anxiety, ADHD, sleeping disorders, motivation, self-esteem, confidence, depression, & traumatic brain injury. In my sessions, I strive to create a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental environment where clients feel safe to express themselves openly. My tone is collaborative and compassionate, with an emphasis on active listening and empathy. I encourage honest dialogue and aim to foster a sense of trust, allowing clients to feel both understood and empowered. Working with me feels like a partnership, where we focus on your goals at a pace that feels comfortable, while also gently challenging you to grow and explore new perspectives. There's a balance of warmth, guidance, and practicality in each session.

If you’re navigating difficult life experiences, anxiety, grief, personal growth, chronic illness, LGBTQ+ life experiences, or relationship challenges, I’m here to support you. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I offer a supportive, non-judgmental space where you can explore your emotions, build resilience, and feel empowered to make lasting changes. Using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), compassion-focused, and trauma-informed care, I’ll work with you to manage distress, regulate emotions, and improve your relationships. Together, we’ll focus on your goals, helping you build the confidence and tools you need to thrive.