Relationship Issues Therapists in Philadelphia, PA

We all need space to feel heard and understood. Whether you are managing a big life change, the aftermath of trauma, difficulties or discomfort with your sexuality, ongoing anxiety, or are just feeling generally crappy, you deserve to feel supported in your journey to find contentment. If you're struggling to make sense of your inner world, we can work together to make better understandings of you, your wants, and your needs.

I enjoy helping clients who want to explore themselves and work towards being more accepting and confident in who they truly are. If you want to gain a broader perspective in how you are approaching your relationships, both personal and professional, I'd love to help you. Growth and change are challenging, and can also be fun and exciting. In our work we'll practice being more aware of what is really there for you in the area(s) you're working on. It might be that devloping a new skillset in your relationship will help it grow, or that you need help ending a relationship and starting a new one.

Althea works in the field of Mental Health providing care in the areas of: anger management, conflict resolution, ADHD, ODD, Anxiety and Depression, Relationship Issues, Child and Adolescent issues.

I’m so glad you’re here. Welcome! It’s hard being human, and therapy can help. You may be wondering how therapy works. There is no magic involved and no cure for being human. The work we do in therapy, like our own brilliantly imperfect humanity, will get messy. Together we strive for progress, not perfection. Therapy can be useful to just about anyone. Our lives are filled with inevitable challenges, at times small, but nonetheless important. The truth is you don’t need to be in crisis to seek support. Your struggles, no matter how big or small, are real and valid.

Welcome, I am a licensed clinical social worker with over 25 years of experience. My goal is to offer a consistently safe and supportive space. I have found, and clinical research confirms that an effective therapeutic relationship is essential for positive growth. I seek to listen empathically and to work collaboratively. I use a strengths-based approach that focuses on your strengths and resilience. My practice is informed by significant advances in the field of neuroscience. Using these advances, I seek to incorporate a more clinically sophisticated understanding of how and where emotions are processed in the brain and body.

I believe that healing often occurs best in the context of a safe and trusting relationship between a client and therapist. As a psychotherapist, I strive to create a secure, caring, and collaborative relationship with each of my clients so that therapy is a place they feel fully seen, heard, understood, and respected. I work from an integrative and holistic perspective, meeting each client where they are and working collaboratively with clients to reach their own personal goals and to create lasting, meaningful change and healing in their lives.

Pursuing and going to therapy can be uncomfortable, scary, and exhausting. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and willingness. Living with and carrying emotional pain can be lonely and in therapy we will navigate this and work towards healing together. We will process how the past and unconscious resurface in the present causing distress in various areas including family, relationships, work, mental health, etc. As we do this work and build an open and trusting relationship, we can develop insights, bring about change, and further healing.

I am an experienced and compassionate Licensed Clinical Social Worker dedicated to helping individuals and couples navigate life’s challenges. Throughout my clinical career, I have specialized in working with children and adults involving traumatic related experiences, anxiety, and relationship issues. I employ a holistic approach, integrating evidence-based therapies tailored to each individual's unique needs. Each clients distinctive experience allows for the therapeutic relationship to fit their desired outcome.

I find that the ability to connect with a client, listen, and offer emotional support at challenging moments in their lives is what I value most about being a therapist. There is immense gratitude for being able to witness the transformation of someone who is progressing to live a life filled with purpose and meanings. I specialize in working with folks with traumas, depression, anxiety, and grief. I also work with clients struggling with relationships issues, OCD, ADHD, immigration issues, and addictions. I also practice psychotherapy in both English and Spanish, and I work with individuals, couples, and families.

My therapy style is warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative, with a little humor sprinkled in. I see therapy as a space where you should feel accepted, supported, and empowered to make changes. I use insight, strength-based approaches to help you gain a deeper understanding of your past and how it impacts your present relationships, both with yourself and others. Once we understand the origin of your problems, I can help you make more informed choices to create long-lasting solutions. Our work will help deepen your self-awareness, increase your resilience, improve your relationships, and enhance your overall fulfillment.

Areas of interest for individuals and couples: Relationship transitions (cohabiting, engagement, pre-marital counseling, etc.); Communication & conflict management; Processing and healing from break-ups/separation/divorce; Infidelity; Challenges with sexual desire/desire discrepancies; Sexual dysfunctions/disorders Increasing intimacy; Boundaries with family, friends, and partners; Understanding family dynamics; Exploring consensual non-monogamy; Religious trauma; Identity and sexuality after childbirth. I seek to provide an affirming practice that welcomes LGBTQIA+ and polyamorous/non-monogamous individuals, couples, and systems!

Do you have unresolved issues with yourself, in your relationship, or within your family? You are not alone, and you do not need to suffer. I provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, relationships and more. I will help you heal old wounds, form secure attachments, and develop effective ways of managing your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

You have noticed for a while that when you are around other people you take things personally, you don’t feel confident, you second guess yourself or find yourself replaying different situations you’ve been in over and over again. You aren’t “anti-social”, in fact you really want to BE social, but every time an opportunity comes up for you to do something you either need someone else to go with you or you talk yourself out of going. It has been a long time since you have been on a date or had what felt like a healthy relationship. You are starting to think that you will never find someone.

Our identities have been sculpted and influenced by what societal narratives say our lives are "supposed to be". I believe that human struggle and periods of transition are a natural part of life that can oftentimes make us feel as if we are living a life that is out of our control. Through self-exploration, strength identification, coaching, and supportive guidance, therapy can help to transform difficult experiences into rich opportunities for growth, healing, and change.

Feeling anxious, depressed or overwhelmed? Want to improve your relationships? Challenging times can also be opportunities because they activate the parts of us that need healing. This can also cause extreme feelings and thoughts to hijack us, making us feel overwhelmed or stuck. I truly believe we each have everything we need to live from a place of calm, courage, curiosity, and creativity. We just need to release the obstacles and burdens we carry and learn how to relate to ourselves differently.

I believe that the work of therapy needs to be done in an atmosphere of safety, intelligence, warmth and humor. Therapy is often hard work because it takes so much commitment for us to look at ourselves objectively and work through challenging issues in our lives. Sometimes we come to therapy because there is a specific situation that we need immediate and/or brief assistance with or for an objective voice of reason. Sometimes we come to therapy because there have been challenges over time that have gotten in our way of getting what we want out of our lives.

I believe that healing happens in relationship with others, and that therapy can be an excellent place to begin this practice. I know how tough it can be to have a rift in a romantic relationship, a friendship, or even in the relationship with ourselves. Additionally, I believe that trauma-informed, Queer affirming, and anti-racist methodologies are not only necessary but go hand-in-hand with radical growth. My primary focuses are on couples therapy, gender and sexuality, and folks struggling through rigid mindsets such as religious trauma and anxiety.

I specialize in working with anxiety, relationship concerns, and trauma. With an expertise in clinical hypnosis, I will help you: (1) improve your reflective awareness of how your feelings and thoughts impact your well-being, relationships and behaviors and (2) enhance your coping and stress management skills to deal with your problems more effectively. As we build our therapeutic relationship, I will challenge you to observe yourself and reflect. Together, we will work collaboratively to facilitate positive change in your life and relationships. Enhancing your wellness is central to my work.

It's easy to feel stuck or lost lately. I work collaboratively with clients to get a sense of relief from the daily grind and uncover patterns that are getting in their way. I tailor my approach to each client’s unique background, context, and personality with the goal of developing supportive and productive therapeutic relationships. As a result, clients are able to cope more effectively with whatever immediate concerns or stressors they are experiencing as well as work toward long-term changes that will make a meaningful difference in their lives.