Therapists for college students near Philadelphia, PA

When I opened A Better Life Therapy in 2013, I had one goal: to create a practice where people feel truly welcomed and supported. In my own search for a therapist, I was surprised by how difficult it was to even get a call or email returned. I wanted to change that. At A Better Life, you’ll always hear back from us , whether you call, email, or schedule online. We believe finding a therapist should be simple, and you deserve to know that someone is here for you. (And yes, it’s true that I’ve been known to write prospective clients back at midnight just to make sure they could rest assured that there was an appointment available to them.) I also wanted to create a space where I am confident the therapist you are working with is not only highly trained to support you but genuinely cares about what you’re going through and where you want to go. Over time, A Better Life has grown into something even bigger than I imagined: a family practice for mental health. Much like a trusted family doctor’s office, we’re here for your whole family across the lifespan. We love being able to support parents as they navigate the transitions of raising children, help kids work through friendship struggles, guide young adults through the stress of college and career, strengthen couples as they build their relationships, and stand alongside families as they cope with loss or the challenges of aging. In short: we want to walk with you through all of life’s moments -the messy and beautiful — from birth to your second act, and every stage in between. Welcome to our practice. We hope to see you around!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Hi! My name is Emma and I’m a white, queer, cis femme millennial therapist. I know that’s a lot of descriptors, but social identity is core to my therapy practice. I believe that our social identities, along with our personal histories and relationships, shape our experience of the world. I’m a relational psychotherapist, which means I’m interested in your relationships and how they shape your life. This also means that our therapeutic relationship is the main tool for your growth and healing. When you feel heard and validated, it gives you the foundation to build healthy relationships with yourself and others. I’m not the kind of therapist who sits back and scribbles on a notepad. I believe that you’re the expert of your life and I’m here to support you—to hold the map, flashlight, and the bag of snacks. In my pre-therapist former life, I was a teaching artist, workshop facilitator, and nonprofit program coordinator. My academic journey focused on intersectional queer and feminist theory, history, and literature. I’ve also been active in organizing around racial and economic issues in my communities. I’m kink positive, fat positive, and pleasure positive. I affirm poly and queer identities. I believe white supremacy and internalized capitalism dehumanize us, and therapy is a space to name, process, and grieve these impacts. I might be the right therapist for you if: - you have anxiety and/or depression -you identify as LGBTQ or navigating questions around these identities -you struggle in relationships with family, friends, or partners, particularly around boundaries -you have experienced trauma -you navigate challenges around body image and self-esteem I also offer a free video consultation to see if we’re the right fit. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to take the next step!

Antonia Cianfrani is a board certified, registered art therapist and licensed professional counselor. Since 2015, she has been providing recovery-oriented treatment for a wide variety of disorders and diverse populations of children, adolescents, and adults utilizing art therapy techniques tailored to the client. She views art therapy as a collaborative process where client and therapist work together to identify potential areas for development and growth. Her approach to art therapy is infused with elements from evidenced-based interventions, behavioral, cognitive, and psychodynamic therapies. Antonia’s extensive experience working in inpatient behavioral health afford her the ability to assess the appropriate level of treatment for her clients needs as they improve or increase. She views the therapeutic process as an opportunity to model appropriate behaviors, foster meaningful connections, and develop positive identity formation. Antonia is also an Adjunct Professor at Drexel University.

Hi! I'm Grace, a white, queer, disabled, cis-woman. I believes that therapy is an intuitive and collaborative process. I view my work as a privilege, and believe that the therapeutic relationship is built over time. I hope to co-create a space of mutual growth with you, exploring pathways of healing, connection, and meaning. I bring humor, compassion, and support to the therapy space. I truly believe that we heal through our relationships with others, ourselves, and the world - and hope to provide safety and containment for folx exploring relational or attachment trauma, and/or those living with chronic illness and disability. Other areas of speciality include queerness and identity formation, anxiety and depression, disordered eating and body image, and life transitions.

Sometimes, everyone feels held hostage by their racing thoughts, intrusive memories, impulsive behaviors, low mood or existential dread. Sound familiar? I help clients looking to overcome these challenges so you can be the best version of yourself. I have over 10 years of experience in the field and primarily work with clients healing from trauma, including complex and developmental trauma. I also enjoy helping clients overcome people-pleasing tendencies, substance dependencies, anxiety and low-self worth.

Alex Kapnek, LPC, is an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist who specializes in working with neurodivergent clients navigating trauma, addiction, and emotional dysregulation. They bring a compassionate and collaborative approach to therapy, offering personalized care for those who have found that traditional talk therapy “just wasn’t working.” Their work invites curiosity, safety, and authentic connection—creating a space where clients can feel truly seen and supported in their growth. Drawing from somatic and cognitive approaches, Alex integrates modalities such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based practices, as well as specialized training in sex and love addiction and chemsex recovery. Their sessions emphasize grounding in the body and cultivating awareness, helping clients develop deeper self-understanding and sustainable coping strategies. With over a decade of experience in trauma recovery and addiction treatment, including three years working at an inpatient facility specializing in trauma and sex addiction, Alex supports clients in building resilience, reducing emotional reactivity, and living with greater clarity and self-compassion. Their therapeutic philosophy centers on the belief that healing happens in relationship—through trust, openness, and the courage to face what’s been avoided. Alex offers 60-minute telehealth sessions so you can fit therapy into your busy schedule. They also provides a free phone consultations to help prospective clients explore whether working together feels like the right fit.

I invite anyone who feels the need to talk to someone who is ready and eager to listen to them. I have worked in mental, behavioral and relational health for the last ten years and am excited to incorporate more couples, duos, ethically and consensually non-monogamous clients as well as individuals. As a student marriage and family therapist with a behavioral therapy background, I have worked alongside and with a diverse group of humans. One approach to issues which I have adopted in my practice is the idea that all behavior is communication, sometimes we need some help finding out what we are trying to say. In session, it is important that each person feels heard, seen and respected equally. I approach sessions with a focused ability to provide an outside set of eyes, voice, and join in a stance of co-collaborator with clients in the healing and problem solving process. Whether we are working through a conflict, identity questions, or just checking in.

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.

Meghan's style can be described as warm and collaborative. She believes everyone is an expert on themselves and has the innate capacity to care for their bodies intuitively. With disordered eating, the dialogue between the mind and the body has become disrupted and Meghan's goal is to help clients learn to trust themselves and their bodies again. Meghan utilizes humor and helps clients set actionable goals so they can make measurable changes. She believes the client/therapist relationship is the cornerstone of the healing that occurs through therapy. Meghan is trained as both a psychotherapist and a nutritionist so that she can better treat the psychological and physiological components of disordered eating. Meghan has experience with all types of disordered eating, including Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-Eating, Compulsive Overeating, Orthorexia and Exercise Addiction. Meghan has an extensive network of medical doctors, psychiatrists, dietitians, and other psychotherapists with whom she collaborates in order to make sure each client has a treatment team, if needed. Meghan utilizes Cognitive Behavioral therapeutic techniques, as well as Motivational Interviewing and Family Systems Theory. She works with individuals (adolescents and adults), couples, and families who are affected in some way by eating disorders. She has spent many years advocating for more treatment options for males affected by disordered eating, as well as families, and she welcomes both into her practice. In addition to eating disorders, Meghan sees clients dealing with a range of other issues. These include: - Identity development - Intimate relationships - Difficulties with family - Academic and career stress - Depression - Anxiety - Drug & alcohol abuse Meghan holds a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from The University of Pennsylvania and a Master's degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago. She is board certified as a Holistic Health Practitioner by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania. Meghan has worked for The Renfrew Center and was the Director of an Intensive Outpatient Program for Eating Disorders for several years. In addition to the treatment of disordered eating, Meghan has worked at Rehab After Work, counseling those with addictions to drugs and alcohol. She has also worked for The Light Program, counseling adults and adolescents struggling with anxiety and depression. Meghan currently teaches graduate courses in counseling at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Apraku is welcoming new patients for video appointments. As a Board-certified M.D. psychiatrist, she specializes in providing psychiatric diagnostic assessments and treatment recommendations for anxiety, depression, OCD and bipolar disorder. Dr. Apraku also gives guidance for mental health concerns related to life transitions, mood swings, anger and traumatic events. As a holistic provider, her focus is on medication management (including for patients wishing to decrease reliance on medication) in combination with extensive psycho-education and referral to a trusted therapist where appropriate. Effective psychiatry requires a relationship between patient and provider founded on trust and mutual understanding. Dr. Apraku's goal is to build such long-lasting relationships to get your mental health as good as it can be. She has a particular interest in treating young adults with non-traditional backgrounds, including racial minorities. Through secure video, Dr. Apraku can treat anyone located in state. The practice does not bill insurance carriers directly but instead provides a superbill which patients may use to claim out-of-network benefits. New patients are welcome to self-schedule their first appointment directly at apraku.com/book. We look forward to working with you!

Richard D’Amato, CRNP is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, with training and experience treating patients with various mild to moderate psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. Mr. D’Amato is trained in all areas of psychiatry including Attention Deficit Disorder, Mood Disorders (Bipolar Affective Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder), Anxiety, PTSD and Autism Spectrum Disorders (a particular focus). Mr. D’Amato brings a philosophy of holistic care, and an abiding commitment to personalized and comprehensive treatment for patients.

Through my experiences as a therapist, I have seen how life stressors, past experiences, and genetics can all play a role in the difficulties of our lives. My hope is that we can create a safe environment to enable you to grow and adapt to what life has to offer and start to explore the things that may be holding us back. I have worked with individuals and couples struggling with Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Adjustment Disorders, ADD, ADHD, Marital Conflict, issues surrounding substance abuse, and issues surrounding gender and identity. I specialize in working with individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. I offer a free phone consultation to help you determine if my services are a good fit for you or your family! Sliding scale rates are available upon consultation.

Many of my patients are people with multicultural/multiracial families and relationships, immigrants or the adult children of immigrants, people of Asian descent, graduate students, clinicians, or people who still feel empty and unsatisfied after achieving conventional hallmarks of success. Many have experienced shifts in class and/or religious identity who are looking to more deeply understand how their experience of depression, anxiety, or trauma is tied to these transgenerational and cross-cultural forces. With empathy and care, I will partner with you to explore your life, history, culture(s), and the wider world to see how these shape your inner experiences and relationships. In addition to feeling better, my hope is to help you to discover and create new ways of being in the world that feel more alive, flexible, authentic, resilient, and effective. Many people have mixed feelings about starting therapy and finding the right fit is so important for meaningful and long-lasting changes. If this profile has resonated with you in some way, there are no fees or commitments for the initial consultation. If you'd like to meet and learn more, please reach out today or visit my website.

I’m a good fit for students who get trapped in their head—overthinking everything, replaying conversations, second-guessing decisions, or feeling like they can’t relax unless everything is “handled.” You might be high-achieving, but constantly stressed, exhausted, or scared of messing up. Sometimes that turns into procrastination, avoidance, or feeling numb. In therapy, we’ll focus on helping you calm the mental noise, handle stress more effectively, and build confidence in your choices—so school and life don’t feel like a constant emergency.

My approach in working with clients is to explore and understand their psychological experiences. In addition, I use psychoeducation and neuroeducation to help clients intellectually understand why they are experiencing what they are experiencing, then collaborate on an actionable plan to change undesired behaviors and thought patterns. I incorporate mind-body interventions to help clients manage their symptoms. ​ My therapeutic approach is evidence-based & integrative. I have extensive trainings and experience in trauma therapy & dialectical behavioral therapy.

I am a licensed social worker who works with children (ages 4 to 18), families and adults by providing a trusting and supportive environment in our Philadelphia and NJ offices and virtually. I have experience working with various clients from diverse backgrounds across settings including the community, schools, homes and outpatient settings. I specialize in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, behavioral concerns, autism, and trauma. I am in the process of receiving supervision hours towards my clinical social work license. Using a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and motivational interviewing, I use client centered and trauma informed approaches to therapy. I can assist you in making positive changes while working toward your goals. Reaching out for support can be difficult, but I am looking forward to meeting you when you are ready!

You may be feeling that what you find anxiety-provoking, maddening, and depressing keeps appearing in your life. Without having an awareness of your unconscious processes, your deepest fears will continue manifesting in your relationships, friendships, work, and hobbies. Jared specializes in a range of techniques to bring compassion, confidence, and courage to exploration of the stories that generate daily experience. For Jared, committing to a non-pathologizing, psychodynamic approach means finding the thrill of meaning in every stuck point. The framing of therapy as an effort of "illness management" and "symptom control" is not only disheartening, it is ineffective. Specializing in addiction has led Jared to an understanding of the gift in any experience, even when it seems to be unambiguously bad, wrong, and destructive. The holistic perspective dictates that our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical reactions are always wise. Conversations with Jared reveal hidden personality parts that have long yearned for knowledge of and conversation with your highest Self. He is a devoted guide to all the corners of your cognition and character, excited to bring your desires to light and share with you how to embrace everything you are and have.

People come to treatment for a variety of reasons. I view each person as unique and strive to assist individuals to overcome challenges and meet the goals that are important in their lives. As we work to let go of stress, pain, behaviors, thoughts and feelings that are not useful in the present, new healthier patterns can emerge and be adopted.

Trauma Healing takes time and patience, and for a lot of us with Complex Trauma, this may be something we continually manage as life ebbs and flows. However, it doesn’t have to be a life-long pattern of pain and feeling constantly dysregulated. I invite you to feel within that fear/ anxiety/ dysregulation and make meaning from it. I support folx to heal deep emotional wounds that come from past anxiety, trauma, stress and help them hone-in on their inner experience as a means to gain insight. I offer individual sessions in person and via telehealth (please inquire about current COVID protocols and if in-person sessions are currently being held). My general goal for folx is to help them identify what they need so that they are able to continue on their healing journey, eventually, without my support. I do this by helping you to cultivate self-awareness and expose you to a variety of coping skills. I am LGBTQIA+ affirming, anti-racist, anti-fascist, and inclusive in my approach.