I am Mark Shoaf and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Coach in Fox Chapel. Counseling is my second career. I previously spent 20 years working in higher education - first at IUP and then at Penn State. My goal is to create a warm safe place and a relaxed place for you to explore, to discuss and to learn. The ultimate goal is for you to feel empowered in your life and to have HOPE. Changing or healing often require learning new skills so my approach is as much about coaching as ...
Of all the relationships we have in our lives, I believe that the one you have with yourself is the most important and impactful. Therapy allows a person to create an authentic relationship with oneself. Through the therapeutic process, a person is able to find and access their own innate ability to heal and grow within a supportive, compassionate, and empowering environment. My passion for this work comes from seeing my clients evolve to feel happier and healthier in their daily lives. What ...
Many of my clients are making exciting but often daunting transitions -- either from Jr High to High School, High School to College, or whatever comes next. Change is so often viewed with anxiety and negativity. Yet, change is happening all around us every day. How can we make change a positive experience in our lives? How can we choose to change something that is not working? How can we learn and grow from a challenging experience? As a counselor, I believe my job is to create a space where cli...
I love working with people of all ages who are seeking to understand themselves and other significant people in their lives! It is my joy to help my clients find peace and make meaning of both the usual challenges in life and the events that threaten to rob us of hope. My work life before becoming a therapist in 1997 included working in child welfare, teaching in China, and volunteering in religious activities. As a therapist my training and experience have been focused on themes of attachmen...
Let's be honest...there is a lot of uncertainty and anxiety in the world right now and you don't have to carry it alone! Do you feel like life is too overwhelming or your strategies just aren't working anymore? Does anxiety hold you hostage or prevent you from living the life you want? I specialize in treating anxiety disorders and OCD utilizing an active, skill-based approach to treatment. I will help you overcome your fears and get your life back! With over 10 years of experience, I can hel...
At South Hills Counseling, everything we do is guided by our four core values: These principles inform not only how we approach therapy, but also how we build our team and our business. We believe we've struck a unique balance between having a warm, family-oriented feel and the professional structure of a well-run clinic. This allows us to create a comfortable environment for clients while ensuring consistent, high-quality care. 1. Always Caring. We approach every interaction with empathy an...
Hi there! Struggling with feelings in general? Don’t quite know where to turn? Well I am glad you found my page. I have worked with a diverse group of clients with many different struggles but I specialize in adults, young adults and teens. I like to take a conversational approach to therapy. I don’t want our sessions to feel like an uncomfortable doctor's appointment but rather a comfortable place to explore ideas and ask questions. I want to partner with you in the way you work best whether...
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
It can be difficult to navigate finding mental health care, but you’ve made it this far. I view my role as holding a warm space for us to explore what is working and not working for you in your life. Most of us weren’t taught how to experience our emotions mindfully and respond with intention. It makes sense that many of us struggle with responding to our emotions compassionately. I may help you identify, understand, and accept difficult internal experiences while taking meaningful action in you...
I specialize in working with children, teens and adults of all ages with life changes/ transitions, mood disorders and emotional regulation, stress management, self-esteem and self-confidence, and grief and loss. My approach to therapy is client-centered, solution-focused, strengths-based and trauma-informed....
Mental health challenges can impact your overall wellness and get in the way of attending class, completing assignments, or taking care of yourself. If you are feeling emotionally unwell and struggling to cope with life’s difficulties, attending therapy can offer you support and guidance during these challenging times. Our experienced therapists offer individual counseling services that allows privacy and confidentiality to talk about you, what’s troubling you, and how to make a sustainable ch...
Over the past 23 years, I’ve been very fortunate to have worked in a wide variety of clinical settings that have included inpatient psychiatric care, outpatient mental health, mobile mental health, WRAP services, psychiatric rehabilitation and case management services. As a result of working in such a vast array of settings, I have gained knowledge and experience working with a wide variety of mental health disorders. As a clinician who has previously provided case management services to individ...
Looking for support, problem solving, coping skills, or an opportunity to talk through what is not working? My goal is to create a working relationship that feels comfortable and hopeful. It takes courage to share personal information with someone new. Individuals and families are facing a lot of stress and difficulties which makes psychotherapy incredibly important. My work with clients has them feeling respected and involved in their own treatment goals. The clients I serve range in age from t...
I offer client-centered treatment options that are determined collaboratively between us. I value all people and work to be culturally sensitive and aim for cultural humility when working with someone whose identity is different from my own. I will always seek out information on my own to fill in gaps of general knowledge, but will look to you to share your own personal experiences and beliefs that may or may not follow the general norms of any given cultural identity. My clients often struggle ...
"The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination."- Carl Rogers. Sometimes in life, our path becomes tangled and foggy. It can be hard to find the next steps in moving forward in life. I can help you find the next steps to move forward in the journey that is called life. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked with children, adolescents, and adults to help find their true potential and thrive in life. I specialize in mood and anxiety disorders...
I believe in the inherent worth of everyone and that people genuinely do the best they can. We all experience joys and sorrows that can impact our daily functioning. Sometimes these experiences can make us feel "stuck," but we have the power to choose how we respond. Since learning never ends, we will discuss improving your self-awareness and build your "tool box" with strategies to empower you in everyday life. A caring atmosphere will be provided to help you discover your strengths, show yours...
NOW accepting new clients! Do you obsess over & replay conversations in your head, encounter decision-paralysis, or struggle with feeling “stuck” in life? If so, I get it - and you are not alone! If you are motivated & open-minded to exploring & making meaning of your current thinking patterns & emotional struggles, we could be a great match! Whether this is your first experience with counseling, or you’re returning for a different perspective - welcome! I am here to facilitate conversation & gu...
My practice offers both in person and virtual appointments, making it more convenient for your scheduling needs. My background has been working with college aged young adults who are experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, OCD, ADHD, eating disorders, and career counseling/ vocational planning. It can be uncomfortable to start therapy but I want you to acknowledge you have already made the first step, so you are already making progress!...
CURRENT OPENINGS available for telehealth (virtual sessions) in response to management of stay at home orders. Hello! I'm Jen, a Licensed Professional Counselor, working out of a private practice in downtown Pittsburgh (PKO Counseling). I have obtained a Masters of Counseling and Human Development at Walsh University. In my practice, I use a variety of approaches, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Art Therapy. I have particular experience in working with those facing depression, anx...
Many of us have been running all our lives. Practice stopping. Thich Nhat Hanh Thank you for Inviting us to meet you in the middle of your journey and taking us with you on your next steps. We want to acknowledge the courage it takes to seek the help when things get tough, and it feels unbalanced. We are here to walk with you and to help you find your way. We understand that you can’t change the past and want to help you bridge your life and values in order to move forward. We use an accep...