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Olivia Ruffin, MS, NCC, LPC

By on November 6, 2022 in Counseling, Creative Therapy, family therapy, Individual and Couples Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, mindfulness, Self Care Program

Olivia Ruffin, MS, NCC, LPC

Olivia Ruffin, MS, NCC, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor that provides individual counseling to teens and adults.

Carrying anxiety and stress can be challenging. Olivia supports clients in discovering how to put it down and live mindfully. She specializes in supporting adolescents and adults to develop tools to navigate both the world and inner self, become unstuck, and increase confidence to face life challenges successfully.

Education and Background

Olivia earned her Master’s Degree of Science in Counseling from The University of Scranton. She began her career in a community mental health setting, where she worked with children, teens, families, and emerging adults who had experienced significant trauma and mental illness. With compassion and cultural sensitivity, she supported individuals from a variety of backgrounds to focus on their strengths, learn new strategies for facing daily challenges, and achieve their therapeutic goals. She worked collaboratively within a team to foster individual, family, and community resilience.

Specialties

  • Pre-teens and Teens
  • College Students
  • Emerging Adults (20+)
  • Highly Sensitive Persons
  • Parent-Child Relationship Struggles
  • Friendship and Romantic Relationships
  • Managing Strong Feelings
  • Coping with Anxiety and Depression
  • Grief and Loss

Navigating Adolescence to Adulthood

Sometimes it is difficult to name our feelings and talk about what hurts. Olivia creates a warm and supportive environment where young people can feel safe to share their thoughts, feelings, challenges and strengths. With humor, compassion, and concrete skill building, she supports clients in getting grounded, deflating the experience of being overwhelmed, gaining perspective and curiosity as they define their uniquely given path.

Areas of focus include identity development, problem-solving, stress management, and tools to cope with anxiety and depression.

Solution Focused Therapy

Our problems may present as ‘big’ and we can sometimes lose sight of the strengths that have helped us to persevere in the past. With sensitivity and compassion, Olivia provides practical feedback to highlight your strengths, support your problem-solving skills, and boost resilience. Solution-Focused Therapy is an evidence-based practice of talk therapy for people seeking immediate change.

Olivia enjoys helping those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and stress to lean into the present and co-create conversations that facilitate direction for your future. Sometimes we may not be afforded the time and the knowledge to know why a problem occurred; however, there is current pressure and demand to solve it. With this therapeutic approach, Olivia will support your ability to identify clear goals, enhance your ability to problem solve and incorporate new perspectives to support motivation that leads to purposeful change.

Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Olivia integrates the DBT framework to support clients who want to break negative cycles, set healthier boundaries, increase confidence in decision-making, and embrace their authentic selves. It is common to feel conflict and tension within ourselves as we navigate life’s obstacles. Freedom comes when we find a path to begin creating movement once again. The combination of emotion-focused, somatic, and cognitive practices can empower you to reclaim and embrace your innate wisdom.

Olivia will support you in obtaining mindfulness skills to turn down the noise of stress; emotion regulation skills to support self-reflection; interpersonal effectiveness to communicate your needs and get your request taken seriously, and distress tolerance skills to support new ways of coping.

Positive Psychology

Mindfulness is about love and loving life. When you cultivate this love, it gives you clarity and compassion for life, and your actions happen in accordance with that.” -Jon Kabat-Zinn

Olivia specializes in helping you to cultivate your joy by focusing on the present moment. Despite our biggest worries life is meant to be lived and enjoyed. Mindfulness supports getting grounded and slowing down the need to solve and radically accept the present. I utilize mindful meditation, breath focus, and grounding skills to support you to slow down and tap into your most precious asset — now.

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Drew Underwood, M.Ed.

By on August 30, 2022 in Counseling, Creative Healing, Creative Therapy, Individual and Couples Counseling, Practitioner, Self Care Program, teens

Drew Underwood, M.Ed.

Drew Underwood, M.Ed., is a Master’s Level therapist providing trauma and grief counseling as well as support for those experiencing anxiety, depression, and other difficulties navigating school and career challenges.

He believes in the potential for radical growth and incorporates aspects of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and mindfulness-based counseling approaches to provide culturally sensitive care that centers clients’ diverse experiences. 

Education  

Drew earned his undergraduate degree at Duke University where he studied Psychology and Education and his Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Temple University. As a pre-licensed professional, Drew works under the supervision of current practitioner and Licensed Professional Counselor Jen Perry whose expertise in trauma and mindfulness-based counseling approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) will support his work.  

Experience  

Drew brings experience working with children, teens, and adults in both outpatient and school settings. He completed his practicum experience at Community Partnership School in North Philadelphia providing counseling services for Pre-K-5th grade students and implementing a social-emotional learning curriculum. For his internship, Drew provided counseling services for Temple University School of Pharmacy students as they navigated their program amidst the pandemic. Prior to Temple, he worked in student advancement and admissions for Duke University and Queens University of Charlotte respectively. Most recently, he was a dorm parent for Hill Top Preparatory School and an adjunct instructor for Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development.  

Services

Trauma and Grief Counseling 

Drew understands that unresolved trauma and grief lay beneath many of the struggles and symptoms people face on a daily basis. When people have the opportunity to share their stories in a safe, supportive environment, healing and change are possible. Drew draws upon teachings from mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and will also be getting trained in EMDR Therapy. Drew brings a rich understanding of the complexities of human diversity and is respectful of the ways our experiences of grief and trauma are shaped and influenced by our unique identity. As a pre-licensed professional, Drew works under the supervision of current practitioner and Licensed Professional Counselor Jen Perry whose expertise in trauma and mindfulness-based counseling approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) will support his work.  

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy 

Drew integrates teachings from mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients observe the impact of their thoughts, develop a deeper understanding of the ways thinking impacts their mood and behavior, and learn ways they can create a new path forward.  

Dialectical-Behavior Therapy 

Drew believes that DBT modules are effective in helping us combat, cope, and overcome concerns that inevitably arise, be they personal or professional. Mindfulness, Emotional Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Distress Tolerance skills have been proven to help those living with Borderline Personality Disorder and all those experiencing anxiety, depression, and overwhelming emotions. This approach teaches skills to create a life you want, to navigate stressors with greater calm, clarity, and perspective, and to create healthy relationships with self and others.  

School and Career Challenges 

Drew provides support to children, teens, and young adults facing academic, social, and behavioral difficulties. Left unaddressed, stress in one area can easily spill over into another, interfering with our ability to connect easily, concentrate, perform well, or manage tasks. From his work with pharmacy students and high achieving high school students, he knows the importance of understanding any current struggles in the context of one’s whole life. Drew offers a safe space to share concerns and invites clients to discover new tools for managing stress so they can get back on their path to success.   

Client Focus 

As a social justice oriented counselor, Drew works to create a safe space for all clients to share their experiences. In order to build a strong therapeutic relationship, he prioritizes culturally specific therapy that caters to your current strengths.  

  • Children 
  • Adolescents 
  • Emerging Adults 
  • Black Identified Individuals
  • LGBTQIA Individuals 

Research Interests 

Drew’s research interests include exploring racial disparities in mental health diagnosis and treatment. Most recently he co-authored a manuscript pending publication titled, An Analysis: Transformative and Restorative Justice that provides a comprehensive literature review of the topic. 

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Lindsay Roznowski, MA, LPC

By on August 7, 2022 in ADHD, Counseling, Groups, Individual and Couples Counseling, Lindsay Roznowski, Marriage and Family Therapy, mindfulness, yoga

Lindsay Roznowski, LPCLindsay Roznowski is a Licensed Professional Counselor providing individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults.

She specializes in trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy and other trauma-focused treatments; therapeutic work with children and adolescents; family therapy; and yoga and mindfulness. Lindsay uses a client-centered, strengths-based, holistic approach that takes into account how things like family history, significant life experiences, and relationships contribute to who we are today.

She believes that building a positive, authentic connection between therapist and client is essential for the trust it takes to do life-changing therapeutic work together. Because of this, Lindsay works hard from the very first session to get to know each client, meet them where they are, and explore the full context of any issues or presenting problems. She believes that therapy should always be a collaborative process and views the treatment plan between client and therapist as a living document, informed and updated each session through the dynamic interplay of the therapeutic relationship.

Family Therapy

Lindsay began her career as a Family Based Therapist providing therapy for families based on her training in Structural Family Systems Therapy. She truly enjoys working to understand the full context of the family system, relational dynamics, and how best to support each family member in reaching their personal and family goals. Sessions may include a combination of full family sessions, parent/caregiver sessions, and individual sessions based on needs.

Therapeutic Work with Children and Adolescents

Lindsay spent eight years of her career working as a therapist at a high school; working with adolescents is one of her passions. She specializes in client-centered, creative therapy with children and adolescents. Lindsay loves getting to know each child/adolescent’s strengths and interests and developing creative therapeutic interventions based on that knowledge. Lindsay focuses on the client’s developmental stage, family history, strengths and interests, and her collaboration with caregivers supports her in tailoring the therapeutic experience to provide the best support possible.

Trauma-Focused Care

Lindsay works with individuals to process traumatic events in their lives and heal from that trauma. She uses her training to assess how a client’s trauma is affecting their current patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Lindsay is trained in a number of trauma-focused modalities including the Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TFCBT), and Trauma Art Narrative Therapy.

Yoga and Mindfulness

Out of a need to provide more holistic offerings to her clients and because of her personal passion for yoga and mindfulness, Lindsay completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2014. She used the knowledge she gained through this experience to better support her clients in learning about the mind-body connection and how yoga and mindfulness-based skills can calm the nervous system and support meaningful healing.

Therapeutic Groups and Workshops

Lindsay offers therapeutic groups and workshops in several areas, including experiential support groups for adolescents and programs on yoga and mindfulness for wellbeing.

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Andrea McGady, M.Ed.

By on November 4, 2021 in Andrea McGady, Counseling, Creative Healing, Individual and Couples Counseling

Andrea McGrady

Andrea McGady, M.Ed., is a pre-licensed therapist providing mindfulness-based counseling services.

She works with teens and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and other difficulties navigating school, career, and life challenges. She earned her Master’s Degree of Education in Counseling Psychology at Temple University.

As a Master’s level, pre-licensed professional, Andrea works under the supervision of current practitioner and Licensed Professional Counselor Jen Perry whose expertise in trauma and mindfulness-based counseling approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) will support her work.

Experience  

Andrea brings experience working with children and adolescents in high school and grade school settings. Her experience includes Reach Charter School and Philadelphia High School for Girls (Girl’s High) providing counseling services for students working through grief and transitions. Andrea facilitated group sessions with topics of stress management, communication skills and other topics. In her work with teens and adults, she integrates teachings from mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients observe the impact of their thoughts, develop a deeper understanding of the ways thinking impacts their mood and behavior, and learn ways they can change their thinking to welcome greater self-compassion and happiness.

Additionally, Andrea has been leading weekly meditation classes at The Resiliency Center since 2020, developing mindfulness exercises and guided visualizations that supported participants through the pandemic. Her ongoing group meditation class provides meaningful opportunities for reflection and connection with self and others.

Services

Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT)   

Andrea integrates the principles of DBT into her work to support clients in learning effective stress management, distress tolerance, and communication skills. When we are able to mindfully observe our thoughts and feelings, rather than become swept up in them, react, or escape into avoidance, we can experience a sense of empowerment. This approach teaches skills to navigate stressors with greater calm, clarity, and perspective, and to create healthy relationships with self and others.

Counseling for Mind-Body-Spirit 

Andrea brings a rich understanding of the interplay between mind, body, and spirit – and how mindfulness practices can be used successfully to address anxiety and depression. Mindfulness practices have also been found effective in supporting those with chronic illnesses and pain. While mindfulness won’t change a chronic condition, it can help improve the quality of one’s relationship to the pain and create greater ease and acceptance. Andrea has been practicing meditation for the past seven years and began leading a weekly meditation class at The Resiliency Center in 2020. Sessions can integrate formal mindfulness practices when desired.

Client Focus 

As a mindfulness-based counselor, Andrea focuses on working with adolescents and adults. She loves supporting those who feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, lost, or disconnected to tap into their inner resources and find sure footing again. In the context of a strong therapeutic partnership, the path forward becomes clear. She believes that every person has within them the capacity for meaningful change and aspires to create a safe, supportive environment in which this growth can occur. She is particularly passionate about her work with young adults and adults in life transitions, focusing on those experiencing:

  • Anxiety and overwhelm 
  • Depression 
  • School and Career Uncertainty  
  • High Sensitivity 
  • Chronic Illness 
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Vanessa Mortillo, MA, LPC

By on November 4, 2021 in Counseling, family therapy, Groups, 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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Therese M. Daniels, MA, LPC

By on August 26, 2021 in Counseling, Self Care Program

Therese Daniels, MA, LPC

Therese Daniels is a Licensed Professional Counselor providing individual, couples, family, and group counseling.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Villanova University with a Major in Human Services and Minor in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Immaculata University. She began her experience in human services as a college intern and has been in the field ever since. Her early experience was mostly with children, adolescents, and families; later in her career, she added adults and couples to her practice.

She uses a variety of techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Nature Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy to help people of all ages through issues such as Anxiety, Depression, Life Transitions, Coping Skills Development, and Self-Esteem/Identity Growth. She believes in working collaboratively with clients to identify areas of concern and then working together to figure out how best to meet their needs.

Anxiety & Depression

Anxiety and Depression are two emotional states that can occur often, sometimes together and sometimes separately. Anxiety can lead to depression and vice versa. They can come about due to a life circumstance or just because of our natural brain make up.

No matter how these feelings arrive, Anxiety and Depression can make life very difficult and confusing for people of all ages. Motivation can be a struggle and isolation becomes inviting.

Therese uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help clients through these negative emotional states. She can help identify negative self-talk, mistaken beliefs, and altered thinking patterns and work to replace them with new positive thoughts, beliefs, patterns, and behaviors. Using DBT, she can also help introduce distress tolerance techniques and new coping skills.

Mindfulness

Being aware of the present moment, the here and now, can be a struggle.

The world around us is so busy. It is easy to get distracted and overwhelmed and this can create anxiety. Technology is great in many ways, but has also contributed to our minds being flooded with new information all of the time and to the idea that we are available for others nonstop and immediately. This makes it difficult for people to just be. To sit with themselves and their thoughts and feelings.

Therese can use Mindfulness techniques to help you figure out how to be in the present moment. Using the senses such as smell, touch, taste, sounds, and vision, she will help you discover the beauty that lives in the here and now.

Nature Therapy

It is so nice to get outside and take a breath of fresh air for anyone at any time. Nature is always growing and so are humans.

Therese believes that getting outside and connecting with nature can facilitate a link with a person’s ability to grow and connect with themselves internally. Nature can also be very helpful in alleviating the physical and emotional sensations that come along with anxiety and depression.

Using Mindfulness and Nature Therapy, Therese can help you see and appreciate the beauty that is all around and bring out the beauty and strength that is in you. She will offer the option to have Walk and Talk sessions for individuals in Fort Washington State Park which borders The Resiliency Center. She will also offer group walks on occasion.

Coping Skills Groups

Sometimes coming together with other people who are experiencing something similar to you can be comforting. When we are struggling, we feel alone, but it is very likely that there are a lot of other people feeling the same distress.

Coping Skills are important, but when we are in the middle of something stressful or are anxious in general, it can be difficult to come up with coping strategies on our own. Therese will work with you to create coping skills that will be helpful in both everyday life and in anxiety-provoking situations. She will offer groups and workshops for children, teens, and adults. Coping skills can be helpful at any stage of life!

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Carolyn Abele, MS, LPC

By on May 2, 2019 in ADHD, Counseling, Self Care Program

Carolyn is a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Carolyn received her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and has been in practice over 12 years. She has been the Executive Director of a therapeutic school in Philadelphia for 8 years, working with schools, students and their families. Carolyn has also worked at a group practice in Springfield prior to moving to Montgomery County.

Her experience includes working with children, tweens, teens, new moms and families, addressing depression, anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, building frustration tolerance, behavior management, navigating school challenges and parenting. She is trained in both Cognitive-Behavioral and Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral therapies.

Contact Carolyn

Contact Carolyn to learn more at CarolynAbeleTherapy@gmail.com or (215) 354-7941.

Individual and Family Counseling

Children, Tweens and Teens encounter stressors and challenges daily. Carolyn loves to work with these age groups to teach strategies and skills to manage anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, poor self-esteem, and peer conflicts, in the school setting or at home. Therapy sessions can be individual to address the challenges and skills, and/or include parents/guardians to reinforce skills to work on at home, between sessions. Therapy is most successful when clients know their goals, and have support to achieve them.

Behavior Support

Behavior challenges can impact the whole family.  When treating children with behavior challenges, Carolyn works with parents and siblings, offering support and techniques.   Behavior support plans for home and/or school can be key in improving a child’s functioning, relationships, self-esteem, confidence and overall success. Topics to tackle include opening lines of communication, creating healthy boundaries, and setting limits and consequences consistently. Carolyn and also support parents in accessing Special Education support if academic, emotional or behavior concerns qualifies student for supports in school.

New Parent Support

Adjusting to parenthood is a major transition in life, and can bring highs and lows. Pregnancy and becoming a new parent can bring up a lot of feelings that most women (men, too!) experience, but aren’t comfortable addressing openly. It is so important that new parents take time to take care of themselves, so they can be the best parent they can. Carolyn has experience working with women and couples to navigate this exciting, and sometimes difficult, transition.

Adoption Support

Carolyn has a certificate in Adoption from Rutgers University. Adoption can present unique challenges at key points in development for adopted children, their siblings and families. Carolyn can offer support around emotional and/or behavior issues that can affect a child’s typical development.

LPC Clinical Supervision

Carolyn offers clinical supervision for counselors earning hours towards their Licensed Professional Counselor PA state credential, as well as ongoing support for professional counselors.

Moms Club

Mom’s club is a supportive, stress free zone for moms to gather, learn tips tricks and information on topics such as development milestones, managing behaviors, how to promote healthy communication within the family, and to promote wellness for mom. Group meets monthly on Mondays during the day.

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Michael R. Bridges, M.S., Ph.D.

By on December 14, 2017 in Counseling

MichaelBridges-ProfilePhoto-RCClinical Psychologist

Michael R. Bridges, Ph.D. is a former Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at Temple University and a Licensed Psychologist in the State of Pennsylvania.

25 Years of Experience in Psychotherapy

Dr. Bridges has 25 years of experience in providing psychotherapy, assessment, psychotherapy research, teaching, supervision, and continuing education. For six years, he worked as a clinical and forensic psychologist for the U.S. Department of justice and contributed to the scientific literature on the assessment and treatment of various types of offenders.

Academic Research

He then became an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and the Director of the in-patient Dialectical Behavior Therapy Unit at John Umstead State Hospital. He moved to Philadelphia in 2001 to become an Associate Professor and Director of the Psychological Services Center at Temple University. He received international attention for his research on the physiological and emotional processes involved in healing attachment injuries. Because of the importance of this research he was asked to contribute an article, “Activating the Corrective Emotional Experience” for a special issue of The Journal of Clinical Psychology on emotion regulation in psychotherapy.

In 2006 he joined the Council for Relationships and Jefferson University to help develop their graduate program in Couples and Family Therapy.

Full-time Practice of Clinical Psychology Since 2012

Since 2012, Dr. Bridges has been involved in the full-time practice of clinical psychology with an emphasis on individual therapy and couples therapy for issues related to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, infidelity, and attachment injuries related to abuse or family of origin issues. Recently, he was also a consultant, supervisor and therapist on a multisite research project that examined the impact of cognitive-behavioral and emotion focused psychotherapies on depression with woman suffering from Ovarian Cancer and men who were recovering from Prostate Cancer.

Dr. Bridges is sought out as a guest lecturer in graduate programs and to provide continuing education to professional organizations of therapists.

Psychotherapy Specialties

Individual, Couples, and Group Psychotherapy

Dr. Bridges’ psychotherapy specialties include depression, trauma and anxiety, job stress and career transition. He has experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds but currently works with many physicians, health-care professionals, attorneys, business professionals, academics and other therapists who function in demanding work environments.

He is trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) which is one of the most empirically informed treatments for couples who are struggling with negative cycles related to infidelity, or early attachment injuries and trauma related to their family of origin. Dr. Bridges also has an interest and experience in working with college students and those involved in the creative-arts.

Many clients who had been in psychotherapy before but found themselves talking about the same issues over and over with no real change, have found Dr. Bridges’ skill at helping them access the core emotions in sessions that their problems stem from very helpful.

An Attachment and Emotion-Focused Approach to Therapy

The foundation of Dr. Bridges’ work with individuals, couples, and groups is relational and empathetic and based on the importance of early and later attachments in our life and the basic human emotions that form the basis of these relationships. Dr. Bridges’ warmth, sensitivity, humor and intelligence help most clients experience a sense of respect and safety in just a few sessions so that deeper issues can start to be addressed.

Strategies and Solutions Used in Psychotherapy

Dr. Bridges recognizes that people come to therapy looking for new information and resources to help them, especially when struggling to create new patterns in their relationships or working to overcome experiences of depression, anxiety and trauma. As a former professor in top graduate programs in clinical psychology and marriage and family therapy, and as a psychotherapy researcher and practioner, Dr. Bridges has extensive knowledge and training in cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, somatic and emotional focused approaches.

The following are the approaches that have most influenced his practice.

Dialectical-Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dr. Bridges was one of the first psychologists to use DBT with incarcerated, personality-disordered offenders in the early 1990s. When he became an assistant professor of clinical psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill, he was appointed director of the inpatient DBT unit at John Umstead Hospital.

While Dr. Bridges’ approach is more experimental than cognitive, he uses principles from DBT, particularly mindfulness to help clients learn to identify how their thoughts can contribute to or help lessen their experiences of emotional pain—and to learn various methods for slowing down their mind so that they can more fully experience the present moment.

Accelerated experiential-dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP)

Accelerated experiential-dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on healing-oriented techniques and aims to achieve a transformation in client behavior by exploring the in-depth processing of difficult emotional and relational experiences. This innovative method was developed by Dr. Diana Fosha and has roots in and resonances with many disciplines, amongst them attachment theory, affective neuroscience, and body-focused approaches.

Dr. Bridges was among the first psychologists that realized the important contributions of AEDP and sought out training and supervision with Dr. Fosha. Dr. Fosha was also impressed with Dr. Bridges’ ability to use somatic approaches in accessing core affects and has invited him to present to her graduate classes and at AEDP trainings.

Learn more about AEDP

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapy approach developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, that recognizes and respects the complexity of each person’s inner world. Inner conflict between parts (often recognized as having competing beliefs and desires) is often at the root of anxiety, depression, indecisiveness, and dissatisfaction. By listening deeply to all parts of self, we can have greater ease in our lives, greater compassion for ourselves, and less distress and reactivity. When we begin to understand our inner conflicts through the lens of IFS and parts, we develop an ability to see our struggles more clearly and with greater compassion. In couples therapy, this lens leads to deeper understanding about habitual reactions and patterns and, ultimately, greater intimacy and connection.

Dr. Bridges has spent the last two years in intensive study and training in IFS, including workshops and trainings with Dr. Richard Schwartz. In 2017, he began a year-long Level 1 IFS training in Philadelphia.

Learn more about IFS

Emotion Focused Therapy for Individuals and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) is a structured approach to couples counseling formulated in the 1980’s by Dr. Susan Johnson and Dr. Leslie Greenberg that integrated the emerging science on adult attachment and the importance of different types of emotional expression that bring couples closer or tear them apart.

A substantial body of research outlining the effectiveness of EFT now exists. Research studies find that 70-75% of couples move from distress to recovery and approximately 90% show significant improvements.

The founders of this type of therapy, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Greenberg, eventually went their separate ways, with Dr. Johnson continuing to refine the EFT approach to couples counseling and Dr. Greenberg focusing more on EFT approaches in individual therapy.

Dr. Bridges considers himself fortunate to have experienced advanced training in EFT couples therapy from Dr. Johnson and her colleagues as well as advanced training and supervision from Dr. Greenberg in individual EFT. Dr. Greenberg also agreed to serve as a consultant and mentor for Dr. Bridges’ psychotherapy research at Temple University and Dr., Greenberg and Dr. Bridges have presented together at national and international conferences.

Learn More about Emotionally Focused Therapy

For Couples For Individuals
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Elizabeth Campbell, MS, LPC

By on November 3, 2015 in ADHD, Counseling, Play Therapy, Self Care Program

Elizabeth Campbell is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and is certified in EMDR. She provides Integrated play therapy, EMDR therapy, and supervision. She specializes in support for Highly Sensitive people, help for helpers, and EMDR therapy for a variety of needs.

I began my work in the counseling field in community mental health in a program that served children at risk for out of home treatment. This gave me experience in crisis interventions, working with a variety of concerns in children and adults, and in family therapy. My work continued in victim services, where my knowledge of support for individuals that have experienced trauma expanded and my training in mindfulness as a tool for healing began. In the years that I have worked in private practice, my work with children, families, and individuals that have endured trauma has continued. I also specialize in working with Highly Sensitive People and children to support them in managing their unique strengths and challenges. I welcome child, adolescent, and adult clients experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders, and issues surrounding grief and loss, transitions, abuse, and trauma.

In addition, as a Licensed Professional Counselor, RPT-S, and EMDR Consultant-in-Training, I am open to supporting counselors in expanding their professional knowledge and experience while they work towards licensure or certification. My areas of expertise are child and family therapy, play therapy, parenting, trauma treatment, mindfulness, and a variety of treatment modalities grounded in humanistic counseling. I also specialize in blending IFS and EMDR as well as EMDR and play therapy. I am passionate about supporting helpers in building their awareness and prevention of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.

Play Therapy

The ability to express oneself is directly correlated with one’s developmental level. Therefore, children express themselves in much different ways than adults and require different therapeutic interventions than traditional talk therapy. Elizabeth provides a variety of mediums for children to express themselves through their language: play. She is trained in Child-Centered Play Therapy and in Eliana Gil’s Integrative Model of Play Therapy for children that experienced trauma. She also partners with parents in Filial Therapy, which builds strong relationships with children and supports parents in creating consistent structure at home.

Elizabeth Campbell's office

Elizabeth Campbell’s office

Creative Counseling for Adolescents

The developmental task of adolescents is to create a sense of identity. Elizabeth’s humanistic, client-centered, empowerment approach, founded in the individual’s strengths supports teenage clients in doing just this. Elizabeth also utilizes creative, mindful, and expressive strategies to engage teens and promote change inside and outside of sessions.

Trauma-Informed Care

In this approach to treatment, the clinician asks “what happened to you” rather than “what’s wrong with you.” Trauma impacts the whole individual. Elizabeth’s holistic, humanistic approach addresses the whole person and provides support in moving forward with one’s life.

Elizabeth is a certified sexual assault counselor and is trained in a variety of trauma-specific treatment modalities including EMDR Therapy, the Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Art Narrative Therapy, and Eliana Gil’s Integrative Model of Play Therapy.

Elizabeth Campbell's office

Elizabeth Campbell’s office

Workshops and Mind-Body Treatment

Elizabeth has had the joy of combining a personal passion, yoga, with her professional path through workshops and groups to bring yogic principles into treatment and subsequently, into one’s life. Elizabeth runs ongoing groups and workshops that address emotional healing through a combination of yoga and therapy as well as bringing these and mindfulness principles into individual sessions.

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Kathleen Krol, MSS, LCSW, RPT-S

By on November 3, 2015 in ADHD, Clinical Supervision, Counseling, EMDR, Play Therapy

KathleenKrolKathleen Krol, MSS, LCSW, RPT-S provides individual counseling and child and adolescent family therapy.

She uses Play Therapy and Sand Tray Therapy, two established modalities that are recognized for their effectiveness with children and adolescents.

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over ten years post graduate training in Mindfulness-Based Play-Family Therapy, Contextual Family Therapy, Trauma Focused Therapy and Sand Tray Therapy. She is credentialed  as a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and Certified Play-Family Therapist. She has completed the EMDR Basic Training, EMDR Training with Children and Adolescents and Trauma Art Narrative Therapy training.

Family and Child Centered Therapy

Typical therapy sessions begin with a comprehensive developmental and life history to identify and resolve “root” causes of problems to promote long-term healing. Treatment includes family therapy with the parent and child together, individual play therapy or sand tray therapy with the child, and parent coaching and feedback sessions.

Family Therapy

My work is with the family as well as with the child or adolescent. My family focused approach to treatment looks at both the immediate problem and the underlying causes. Through training and experience, I understand how unless the ‘root’ cause of the problem is addressed, symptoms will cease only temporarily, manifest in different behaviors later or develop in another family member. I recognize that problems or behaviors exhibited by one child often impact other members of the family and when family dynamics may play a role in their continuation.

Play Therapy and Sand Tray Therapy

As a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, Kathleen facilitates healing through play therapy and sand tray, the child’s tools for communication and self-expression.

I enjoy using play and sand in my work with children and find myself blessed to observe the healing process as it unfolds.  I strive to be open to the unique characteristics and resources of each family with whom I work.

Adult, Children and Teen Therapy Specializations

Kathleen brings with her a range of experiences over the course of the past ten plus years including work with children, adolescents, and families at an outpatient mental health clinic, home settings, schools, acute and chronic inpatient hospital units, and employee assistance programs.

I provide a safe and supportive environment for children, adolescents and adults experiencing trauma, grief and loss, sexual abuse, anxiety, depression, behavior issues, and ADHD.  The treatment approach I use to best fit your individual or family needs may incorporate Sand Tray, Mindfulness-Based Play-Family Therapy, cognitive behavior techniques, stress management and relaxation techniques,EMDR, Trauma Art Narrative Therapy and Filial Family Therapy.

Kathleen Krol's Sand Tray Office

Kathleen Krol’s Sand Tray Office

Sand Tray Therapy with Adults and Teens

Kathleen provides Sand Tray Therapy, in addition to counseling, as an approach to working with adults and teens. Sand Tray therapy offers another modality for reluctant teens to express themselves. Both adolescents and adults may experience emotional release through use of symbolism and projection of feelings unto the sand tray miniatures. Individualized Sand Tray sessions offering self-awareness, clarity and self-growth can be scheduled for one or more sessions.

Focusing Sand Tray Therapy 

This is a specialized means of using sand tray therapy that allows one to focus specifically on a problem, issue or fear. It might be a problem or place where one feels continuously stuck. This sand tray approach uses mindfulness meditation techniques combined with guided exploration or dialogue leading to deeper insight into the problem, issue or fear. It involves tuning into one’s somatic (body) experience and feeling affect awareness. The experience of Focusing Sand Tray can be profoundly meaningful. Individualized Sand Tray sessions offering self-awareness, clarity and self-growth can be scheduled for one or more sessions.

Supervision for Play Therapists and Social Workers

Kathleen Krol, LCSW, RPT-S, provides clinical supervision for social workers and for play therapists earning hours towards their Registered Play Therapist credential. Kathleen has over eleven years experience in diverse client settings including inpatient and outpatient mental health, home and school-based settings. Her strong background in Contextual Family Therapy and trauma enriches the case conceptualization process.

In supervising Social Workers and Play Therapists, she practices from a child centered play therapy approach combined with knowledge of developmental stages and their connection to subsequent trauma and attachment issues. Supervisees will have the opportunity to enhance their clinical skills using Sand Tray Therapy and learning concrete strategies when coaching and providing feedback to parents.

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