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Victoria Leister, M.S., NCC

By on September 16, 2025 in Counseling for Individuals and Couples, Counseling with ADHD Focus, Counseling with Autism Focus, family therapy, Marriage and Family Therapy, Play Therapy, Victoria Leister

Victoria Leister, M.S., NCC

Tori Leister, MS, NCC, has a Master’s Degree in Counseling and is a Play Therapist Mentee working under the supervision of Licensed Professional Counselor Elizabeth Campbell.

Tori offers individual counseling and family check-ins to clients aged 3-18. She describes her counseling style and presence as warm, attentive, empowering, and client-led. She works with clients experiencing anxiety, life/developmental transitions, behavioral concerns, interpersonal difficulties, and emotion dysregulation. She offers play therapy as well as strengths-based, client-focused, neurodiverse-affirming counseling and support.

Experience

Tori began her journey within the mental health field in a community mental health facility in 2022. Her experience includes an after-school intensive outpatient group counseling program for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Through this program, clients gained valuable social, emotion regulation, coping, and life skills. Tori recognizes therapeutic relationship-building, with clients and with other members of the client’s support team, as a core determinant of client progress.

Tori also worked in a private, emotional support school — for children whose home school districts lacked the resources necessary to meet their emotional needs. This role cemented Tori’s belief in the therapeutic importance of connection over correction. She understands that all behaviors are attempts to meet unmet needs and that children can and will learn and grow in an environment of emotional safety. Tori also provided individual outpatient therapy to child and teen clients with a variety of presenting concerns.

She draws from various therapeutic approaches, including trauma-informed, attachment-based, play therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), customizing treatment to meet clients’ unique needs.

Specialties

Play Therapy

The primary task of childhood is play. Tori believes in the power of play because of its universal understanding and application, as well as the ability of play to promote healing and growth in children (and with people of all ages). Play therapy is the preferred therapy approach for children 3-12 because it offers children the space and tools to express and process difficult emotions, develop strong interpersonal relationships, problem-solve, and communicate in a developmentally-affirming way. What children cannot yet express or understand with their words, they can process through their play. In play therapy, children have the additional support of a play therapist who offers acceptance, presence, and evidence-based knowledge to empower clients toward growth and discovery.

“Toys are children’s words and play is their language.”
— Garry Landreth, Author of Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship

Adolescent Counseling

Adolescence is a time of immense physical, mental, and emotional growth. While this can be exciting for some young people, others feel overwhelmed by this stage of life. Tori’s approach to adolescent clients is considerate of this change in body and mind. One of Tori’s therapeutic strengths is tailoring therapy interventions and activities to meet clients where they are developmentally. She prioritizes creating a safe space for clients to explore their evolving identities and interpersonal relationships. Tori also provides support to parents who may feel overwhelmed or unequipped to handle their tween or teen’s emotional intensity, novelty-seeking, and desire for independence.

“Adolescence is not a period of being ‘crazy’ or ‘immature.’ It is an essential time of emotional intensity, social engagement, and creativity.”
— Daniel J. Siegel, Author of Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain

Behavioral Approaches

Tori’s background working with clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, ODD, and other behavioral concerns has provided her with a functional behavior perspective. Tori believes that every behavior is a form of communication and is an attempt to meet an unmet need (e.g. sense of belonging, sensory stimulation, emotion regulation, independence, or escape). Children and teens may not have the understanding or vocabulary to communicate their needs to adults; as a result, they seek to meet their needs on their own through behaviors (sometimes very challenging ones).

Tori has experience and knowledge in managing challenging behaviors and providing clients with alternatives. By seeking to know the person and the needs beneath presenting behavior, clients feel seen and understood, rather than invalidated and reprimanded. Clients can then explore alternative, more effective ways of expressing and meeting their needs, which reduces the functionality of challenging behaviors.

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Allison Beer, MSW, LCSW

By on April 22, 2025 in ADHD, Counseling for Highly Sensitive Persons, Counseling for Individuals and Couples, Counseling with ADHD Focus, Counseling with Autism Focus, EMDR, Internal Family Services (IFS)
Allison Beer, MSW, LCSW

Allison Beer, MSW, LCSW

Allison is a licensed clinical social worker providing individual therapy to teens and adults.

Allison provides EMDR and Internal Family Systems therapy to individuals. Her approach is neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, as well as collaborative, down-to-earth and nonjudgmental. At the core of her work is a belief in the transformative power of the therapeutic relationship. Allison believes that meaningful growth and healing are rooted in connection—which is why building strong, trusting partnerships with her clients is central to her practice.

Background

Allison’s journey in mental health began in community mental health and hospital settings, where she supported individuals facing addiction, crisis situations, and systemic barriers. She spent years working in victim services, supporting sexual assault survivors, all of which deepened her understanding of trauma. Beyond her clinical experience, She has also lived in intentional communities all around the world centered on mindfulness and yoga—experiences that continue to inform her holistic, person-centered approach to therapy, emphasizing connection, resilience, and the mind-body relationship.

In her role as therapist, she focuses on helping clients reconnect with themselves, build resilience, and move toward healing.

Specialties

Allison loves to support individuals navigating:

  • Anxiety & Depression
  • PTSD
  • Grief & Loss
  • Challenging life transitions
  • Relationship stressors
  • Low self-esteem
  • Struggles related to being neurodivergent (ADHD, Autistic, AuDHD, and more) in a world that caters itself to neurotypical minds

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS is a research-backed therapy that helps you understand and heal all parts of yourself. We all have parts—some examples include inner critics, perfectionists, planners, strivers, and people-pleasers. Our parts aren’t bad; they’re simply trying to help or protect us, even if the impact of their behavior can be frustrating. Rather than pushing them away, IFS encourages us to get curious about our parts and our systems. As an IFS therapist, I help you build a deeper connection with these parts, cultivating healing, self-acceptance, and greater balance in your life.

Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

EMDR is an evidence-based, trauma-focused therapy that follows an eight-phase structured approach to help the brain process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity. EMDR supports the nervous system in integrating past experiences so they feel less overwhelming. This process fosters deep healing, resilience, and lasting relief from trauma, anxiety, and other emotional challenges, empowering you to move forward with greater ease and clarity. Learn more about EMDR in this video.

Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy

Neurodiversity-affirming therapy is about embracing and honoring neurodivergence (Including and not limited to Autism, ADHD, AuDHD, Dyslexia, etc) as a natural variation of human experience, not something to be fixed. It’s about accepting who you are, rather than trying to change you. In this approach, we focus on understanding and supporting you in navigating challenges, while valuing your unique strengths. The goal is to help you build confidence and self-compassion, so you can show up fully as yourself in a world that often misunderstands or marginalizes neurodivergent identities.

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Lucas Valitski, MS

By on October 30, 2024 in ADHD, Counseling with ADHD Focus, Counseling with Autism Focus, Lucas Valitsky, Marriage and Family Therapy, Play Therapy

Lucas Valitski, MS

Lucas Valitski, MS is a Master’s Level Counselor & Child-Centered Play Therapist.

Lucas specializes in child-centered play therapy for children aged 3–12, focusing on trauma, ADHD, and autism. Through a compassionate and empowering approach, he helps children navigate emotional challenges, develop resilience, and gain essential skills for emotional regulation and healing.

Experience

Lucas has  experience as a school therapist in the Philadelphia school district, where he provided individual and group counseling for students from kindergarten to 8th grade. During his time at Creative Health, he specialized in play therapy for children with trauma, ADHD, and autism, creating safe and supportive spaces for children to express themselves freely through play. Lucas is a Master’s level, pre-licensed Counselor working under the supervision of Elizabeth Campbell, LPC, as part of the Mentorship Program. He sees clients at both the Flourtown and Schwenksville offices.

Specialties

Lucas offers individual therapy focused on emotional regulation, enhancing communication and social skills, developing problem-solving abilities, and facilitating healing from trauma.

Neurodiversity: ADHD and Autism

Lucas specializes in neurodiversity and works closely with children with ADHD and autism, using play therapy as a valuable tool to help them express themselves and learn new skills. Lucas creates a nurturing environment for growth and development by tailoring his approach to the unique needs of each child. His ultimate goal is to provide children with the tools they need to gain confidence and successfully navigate the world around them.

Child-Centered Play Therapy

Lucas believes that play therapy engages a child’s natural imagination, providing a safe space for them to process significant events, work through emotions, and make sense of their surroundings. Through play, children develop key life skills like problem-solving, emotional regulation, communication, and social interaction. Lucas’ approach not only helps children navigate challenges, but it also builds resilience and confidence in a way that feels natural and enjoyable to them.

Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT)

Lucas also utilizes CBPT, a structured approach to play, to help children solve problems, build relationships, and develop emotional resilience. This method encourages cognitive and emotional growth while fostering positive behaviors and emotional regulation through playful exploration.

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Vanessa Mortillo, MA, LPC

By on November 4, 2021 in Counseling for Highly Sensitive Persons, Counseling for Individuals and Couples, Counseling with Autism Focus, family therapy, Marriage and Family Therapy, Play Therapy, Self Care Program

Vanessa Mortillo, LPC

Vanessa Mortillo is Licensed Professional Counselor that provides individual counseling and group therapy to youth and young adults.

Vanessa believes that therapy should be as fun, collaborative, and easily accessible as possible. Utilizing mindfulness, talk therapy, expressive arts, and play therapy modalities, she harnesses creativity and imagination in the service of growth and healing. She has worked with families and individuals from a variety of backgrounds and is committed to advancing equity and social justice in the therapeutic relationship and beyond. Vanessa has a Master’s Degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy from Naropa University.

Specialties

Play Therapy and Expressive Arts

Vanessa will meet with your child, on their level, by utilizing their natural language: play. Through play-based and art-based interventions, she supports children working with anxiety/depression, divorce/separation issues, trauma, and a range of issues, to process, heal, and gain new skills.

Learn more about creative and integrative therapies.

Autism

Vanessa is experienced in supporting individuals on the Autism Spectrum at all ages including preschool-aged youth to help them build skills necessary for thriving. For youth, she utilizes a Floortime-influenced play-based approach using your child’s natural interests to build connections, gain social skills, and reach developmental milestones.

Mindfulness Psychotherapy and Teen Mindfulness Groups

With extensive training in mindfulness-based contemplative psychotherapy through Naropa University, Vanessa utilizes mindfulness with adults and adolescents to help them become aware of the present moment, including their feelings, thoughts, and reactions. Mindfulness has been shown to promote feelings of calm and well-being as well as greater connection and insight into oneself. Vanessa facilitates Teen Mindfulness Groups to help build coping skills.

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