Paul Tierney
My name is Dr. Paul Tierney, LPC, and I am licensed to practice in both Alabama and Pennsylvania with more than 14 years of experience in the mental health field.
I try to help turn awareness into action through practical, collaborative goals that support change between sessions.
I have had the privilege of working with people facing a wide range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, life transitions, low self esteem, relationship problems, and LGBTQ+ concerns.
First session
In your first session, we’ll focus on understanding what brought you to therapy right now and what you’d like to be different. We’ll talk about your current concerns and the context behind them, and we’ll begin shaping a shared plan for what we’ll work toward together. If this is your first time in therapy, you can also expect space to ask questions and share what feels most important to you in getting started.
Strengths
My therapy style is warm, supportive, and collaborative. I don’t believe therapy is about telling people how to live their lives. Instead, I see it as walking alongside you, helping you make sense of your experiences, discover your strengths, and move toward the kind of life you want for yourself. I am a strong listener, and I believe that feeling truly heard can be a powerful part of healing. My approach is grounded primarily in a cognitive framework, which means I pay close attention to how you think about yourself, the world around you, and the situations you face. I also believe our past experiences play an important role in shaping those beliefs and patterns. I try to help turn awareness into action through practical, collaborative goals that support change between sessions. I move in stepwise fashion, addressing issues at a pace that feels comfortable for my clients. I try to tailor the structure of my sessions based on individual preferences, understanding that some clients prefer a lot of predictability and knowing in advance what type of underlying problems we'll be working on, while others prefer more supportive counseling based more on day-to-day circumstances. I think you'll find me very flexible and encouraging as a helper. I would love the opportunity to meet you and get started working together!
Ideal clients
I’m a good fit for people who are ready to better understand what’s been driving their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and who want support that feels safe, affirmed, and nonjudgmental. You may be working through anxiety, depression, stress, trauma-related impacts, addiction, or the emotional strain that can come with major life transitions. You might be tired of feeling stuck in patterns like self-criticism, people-pleasing, relationship conflict, or emotional overwhelm. I especially work well with clients who are open to reflection and self-discovery, and who want practical change that actually fits real life. If you value collaboration and you’re looking for therapy that helps you move from awareness to growth—without being told how to live your life—I would be honored to walk alongside you.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I incorporate CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) by helping you notice how thoughts, beliefs, and interpretations influence emotions and behaviors. In session, we work collaboratively to identify patterns—such as self-criticism, catastrophic thinking, or “should” statements—and then examine whether those thoughts are accurate, helpful, or just inherited from past experiences. From there, we build more balanced, realistic ways of thinking and practice using them in everyday situations, so change isn’t theoretical—it becomes something you can apply between sessions.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
LGBTQ
Man
Non-religious
White
Top specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Life Transitions
Other specialties
Addiction / Substance Use
Emotional Regulation
Family Conflict
Foster Care/Adoption
Loneliness / Isolation
Self Esteem
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Couples Counseling
Elders (65 and above)
Individual Therapy
Man
Non-binary
Transgender
Doesn't specialize in
Autism
Child or Adolescent
Dissociative Disorders
Eating Disorders
Family Therapy
Family Therapy
Fertility & Reproduction Issues
Learning / School Challenges
Parenting
Perinatal / Postpartum
Spirituality
Licensed in
AlabamaLicense LPC03385
PennsylvaniaLicense PC020563