Hi! My name is Justine and I am a licensed professional counselor based in Pittsburgh, PA. I am so happy that you are here and that you have decided to begin your journey to healing, understanding, and empowerment.

What I’m Passionate About

I believe that we are all impacted deeply by our family of origin, our generational history, and the systems we are a part of. My approach to therapy is colored by family systems, relational, psychodynamic, and liberation theories, all of which seek to understand, dismantle, and heal from systems that have harmed us. Vulnerability and genuineness are critical to change the systems we are a part of. We all have parts of identity that make up our holistic being. Each of these parts influence our perception through the world and how we move through it. I believe that it is important for therapists and clients to understand each others’ parts in order to make  sustainable change and healing. It is my job as a therapist to continue to learn and grow in anti-oppressive and liberation work in order to be my most genuine self, provide the best care for my clients, and to advocate for marginalized communities.

My Therapy Style

My approach to counseling is grounded in empathy, compassion, and trust. I want our time together to be a collaborative process built on respect, understanding, and authenticity. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is the greatest tool for healing, and it is my goal to create a safe space to foster our relationship. To do this, it is important to name and address the impact that power, privilege, and oppression have in the therapeutic space. I am sure to reflect and practice ethical and inclusive methods of counseling because it is important for me to validate and understand all the ways my clients identify themselves to create an authentic counseling space. 

Who I Work With

I am passionate about working with families and individuals who have been impacted by complicated family dynamics, generational trauma, attachment wounds, and early childhood experiences. This passion led me into working with reproductive mental health, which includes (but is not limited to) navigating fertility, reproductive loss, pregnancy support, first time parenting, postpartum support, birth & obstetric trauma, and child-free by choice. Additionally, I specialize in supporting sexual and intimate partner violence survivors, OCD, chronic illness and disability, and navigating the impact of anti-fat bias.

Me When I’m Not Being a Therapist

I am an introvert-nerd who loves to read, learn about family history and ancestry, and be out in nature with animals. I am a bird enthusiast and love to bird watch in any environment I am in. I love to spend time with my boyfriend, our two golden retrievers (Duncan and Wallace) and be around family and close friends. Other fun things I like include: cross-stitching, Halloween, rare books, native gardening, art history, and historical tours.  In my “other world”, I am a doctoral candidate in Duquesne University’s Counselor Education and Supervision program, currently working through my dissertation on birdwatching as a liberation counseling practice, and I am an adjunct instructor at Carlow University.