Hi, I'm Lori Gephart, a Licensed Psychologist in Pennsylvania. I received my Masters degree from Duquesne University in 1990 and I have been providing therapy to clients of all ages for 34 years. I am here to help you on your journey to feel happy and healthy, cope with stress and become the best version of yourself. I provide a safe place for you to explore issues, identify goals, develop new tools and coping strategies, enhance self awareness and achieve personal growth, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life.
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions and a discussion about confidentiality, then begin to discuss your current concerns and reasons for seeking therapy. I will gather background information to begin to understand your specific situation. We will set your initial goals for therapy the specific challenges you're facing and begin to develop rapport and ensure that this is a good fit. I offer a custom approach for each of my clients. Helping people live a better life is my passion. I believe there is hope and there are answers. I can provide therapeutic tools to help. It might mean learning to set boundaries, working through a loss, trauma, or life transition or helping you change a pattern of behavior that is keeping you stuck.
I have 34 years of experience in working with a variety of issues to draw from in our work together. I create a safe, nonjudgmental environment that encourages trust and openness to enable clients to explore their thoughts and feelings. I develop personalized treatment plans for each client which are tailored to their unique needs. I use an eclectic mix of tools and approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Psychodynamic Therapy, as well as many others, based on experience to help you meet your goals so that you can take the next step on the journey to wellness. My goal is to help you feel better so you can live the life you’ve always dreamed of! I hope to have the opportunity to work together soon to help you reach the next chapter of a happier and healthier life. Contact me today to schedule and we’ll get started on your journey together either meeting in-person or via virtual appointments to suit your schedule.
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to emotional distress and maladaptive behaviors. I help individuals learn to recognize and reframe their automatic thoughts, develop more adaptive coping strategies, and engage in behavioral experiments to test out new ways of thinking and behaving. Through structured sessions, homework assignments, and skill-building exercises, CBT aims to empower individuals to break free from harmful patterns, manage their emotions more effectively, and achieve lasting changes in their mental health and well-being.
I use Mindfulness-Based Therapy to help individuals become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in the present moment without judgment. This therapeutic approach, which includes practices like mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, and body scans, aims to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by promoting a state of calm and clarity. By cultivating mindfulness, individuals learn to respond more adaptively to stressors and negative emotions, improving their overall mental well-being and resilience.
I use Eclectic Psychotherapy to tailor treatment to the individual needs of each client by drawing on techniques and theories from various therapeutic approaches. I assess the specific issues, preferences, and goals of each client, then integrate elements from different modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and humanistic therapy. This flexible approach allows me to adapt different methods to effectively address a wide range of issues, enhancing the likelihood of successful outcomes.
I use Psychodynamic Therapy to explore and understand the unconscious processes influencing a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This approach focuses on uncovering past experiences, unresolved conflicts, and deep-seated emotions that impact current psychological functioning. This technique helps individuals gain insight into their internal world, fostering self-awareness and emotional growth. This understanding helps clients resolve inner conflicts, improve relationships, and achieve greater psychological well-being.
I use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) techniques to help individuals with emotional dysregulation. It combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices to help individuals develop skills in four key areas: distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. DBT focuses on balancing acceptance and change, helping individuals understand and accept their emotions while also working on strategies to change harmful behaviors.