Oppositional Defiance (ODD) Therapists in Coraopolis, PA

Currently accepting new clients and EMDR Trained. Lets face it life is challenging and living is not an easy task. Everyday we wake up we never know what is going to occur or what challenges we may face. If you are finding yourself struggling on the day to day, having poor motivation, feeling lonely, or that you are just going through the motions in life rather than truly living, then please reach out to me. Take back the control you once had in your life and together we will work to find the root of these concerns you are struggling with as well as find techniques and skills that promote growth and overall wellness.

I have worked with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families to address emotion regulation, parenting approaches, anxiety, stress management, life transitions, executive functioning problems, and attachment issues. I use an eclectic approach to counseling, drawing from different theories to best meet each individual client’s needs. I meet clients where they are at and draw from their strengths to help them create meaningful connections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Growth and positive change comes from the exploration and incorporation of all parts of the self.

Opening yourself up to someone takes a lot of courage. Just beginning this step, looking for a therapist, shows that courage, whether it's for yourself or a family member. I have worked extensively with children (4+) teenagers, and families over the past 10 years in different mediums. I begin by helping my client to feel safe and and encouraged. One of the most important aspects of beginning this relationship is to encourage clients to identify strengths, resilience, and areas for growth. We will work by applying these strengths to address your goals and develop and practice coping skills to increase your belief in yourself.

"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habit. Keep your habits positive because your habit becomes your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." - Mahatma Gandhi Our thoughts and feelings are not determined by a situation, but by our perception and interpretation of the situation. By changing our thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors we can learn to respond in a positive way, maximizing our potential for a rich, full, and meaningful life.

Are you struggling with depression and/or substance use? Do you feel hopelessness and helplessness, have poor sleep, poor appetite, and increased alcohol intake? Your Goals may be to improve sleep, use 2-3 skills to help identify and work through ANT/Cognitive Distortions, keep a food mood diary, and incorporate foods to improve mood. You may be seeking psychoeducation surrounding the effects of alcohol, including it being a depressant, identifying 2-3 techniques used to promote physical wellness, and using 4-6 days per week (cardio, yoga, stretching, etc.).

Do you desire treatment for mental health diagnoses, grief/loss, disabilities, or stress/anger management? Do you want or need guidance and are willing to explore yourselves more deeply? My ideal client would be motivated for change and open to new perspectives to create healthy progress in their lives. They would feel comfortable in their rapport with me and supported in their treatment. My diverse experience in healthcare has allowed me to develop strong therapeutic skills using various strategies fitting the client's needs.

My ideal client would be someone ready to gain awareness and insight into their true self. This client may be struggling with anxiety, depression, or relationship issues. This client is ready to explore, challenge, and experiment with healthy changes mentally and physically to create a life they find peaceful, sustainable, and fulfilling.

Congratulations on taking the first step in your counseling journey! We all have the capacity for change, but sometimes we need help knowing where to begin. My goal is to help you to find where to start, and provide you with support, empathy, and honesty in my person-centered and strength-based approach. I highly value the relationship between counselor and client, and believe it is instrumental in facilitating healing. My goal is to help you cultivate skills to use outside of counseling, and provide an environment that is safe and empowering in the process.

I am the owner of a group practice, Cristina Panaccione and Associates, LLC. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in mental health services across the lifespan with expertise in treatment of depression and anxiety as well as therapeutic approaches from a family systemic and cognitive behavioral perspective. My clinical experience includes service coordination, school therapy, crisis intervention, Family Systems Theory, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as well has extensive work within an outpatient setting treating individuals, couples, families, children and teens. Let me help you handle life's challenges.

The brain is wider than the sky.- Emily Dickinson. Over my time in practice, I have come to learn that much of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors stem from parental figures and relationships, childhood experiences, significant life events, as well as responses to the here and now. My goal is to work collaboratively with you, to support you, and to assist you in attending to what you feel is important through the cultivation of a strength-based, empathetic, and warm environment.