Counseling Services
Educational Services
Rachel provides mental health counseling with a specialty in walking with people in their spiritual, emotional and relational lives. Among other life situations, Rachel seeks to listen deeply to people who struggle with depression, anxiety, grief, unresolved issues from the past, family or other relational tensions and faith struggles. Rachel sees individuals and couples. Rachel seldom works with minors but makes occasional exceptions.
Rachel specializes in using a variety of clinical perspectives such as Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Rogerian client-based approaches, Bowen Family Systems theory, Internal Family Systems, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and others. What this means in practice is that Rachel listens deeply, reflects what she is hearing, and provides clients with perspectives on possible ways forward. While an understanding presence is always the basis for therapy, clients frequently seek active participation from their therapist and new options for the future. Rachel uses the theoretical frameworks she has learned and her own experience to help clients gain insight into new possibilities. When changes are not possible due to circumstantial realities, Rachel stays present with clients as they come to terms with their current realities.
Rachel currently accepts UPMC Commercial, Highmark Commercial and Medicare insurances in Allegheny County. Sliding scale options and scholarships can be accessed through Christian Counselors Collaborative by calling their intake line at 888-222-2575.
Rachel provides educational opportunities on request for other mental health providers around spiritual integration in therapy. Rachel comes from a Christian background but is committed to working equally with all religious and spiritual perspectives. She has a Masters in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is currently getting a Masters of Arts in Theology from Fuller Seminary.
Although most counseling professionals recognize the importance of holistic care, most do not have adequate guidance and education in how to include spirituality in a way that encourages rapport and brings refreshment to the client. Research shows that many are concerned that touching on such a sensitive and variable area of diversity will make everyone in the room uncomfortable or be harmful in some way. Those who include spirituality usually come from a strong faith background themselves, but carry the risk of approaching spiritual concerns only from a single perspective. Rachel helps clinicians move past these barriers to more effectively serve clients.
Rachel’s most frequent modes of education are guiding groups through case studies or providing facilitated discussions so that each participant can bring their own wisdom and experience into the conversation. She includes conceptual content as needed for each context.
If you are interested in Rachel’s educational services, please contact her at 412-609-0448 or nurturedheartcounseling@gmail.com. Educational services are customized to each setting as are financial agreements.