Howard Hansell
Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or burned out? When life becomes too much, it can lead to anxiety, low energy, decreased productivity, and strain in relationships. Many people come to therapy during moments like these — when they’re trying to hold everything together but feel themselves slipping. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and better days are absolutely possible.
I have a sensitivity for multicultural concerns and promote a safe and non-judgmental therapeutic atmosphere where healing and personal growth can take place.
I’m a licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania with over 30 years of experience helping adults navigate anxiety, trauma, OCD, PTSD, depression, work stress, grief, and major life transitions. I specialize in trauma-informed care and integrative approaches that help you understand what’s happening internally and build tools to feel more grounded, capable, and connected. My style is warm, collaborative, and structured. Therapy with me is a safe place to explore your thoughts and emotions, understand patterns that may be keeping you stuck, and turn insight into meaningful action in your daily life. Together, we’ll identify your strengths, clarify your goals, and develop practical strategies to help you move toward the life you want.
First session
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
Strengths
I bring over 30 years of experience supporting clients through a wide range of emotional and interpersonal challenges. My strengths include creating a safe, nonjudgmental space, offering attuned and culturally sensitive care, and integrating multiple therapeutic approaches to meet each client’s unique needs. I’m both compassionate and structured — I listen deeply, help you understand your patterns, and work with you to create a personalized plan that supports real, lasting change.
Ideal clients
I work with individual clients ages 18 and up who struggle with anxiety, OCD, adjustment, depression and adjustment. I also have a strong background in career and work issues.
Treatment methods
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I integrate Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients understand and heal the protective parts of themselves that carry trauma, anxiety, or OCD-related fears. By building a compassionate relationship with these parts, clients learn to reduce internal conflict, soften rigid patterns, and access a calmer, more grounded sense of Self.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I assist client's in identifying how their thoughts, feelings and behaviors all interact and have an influence on one other. By identifying unhelpful and irrational thoughts and beliefs, you will have the power to change them for the better.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients relate differently to difficult thoughts and emotions rather than getting stuck in them. Through skills like mindfulness, cognitive defusion, and values‑guided action, clients learn to reduce the struggle with anxiety, depression, or OCD and build a more flexible, meaningful life.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
In ERP, we work together to gently face the fears OCD creates, one manageable step at a time. I support clients in resisting compulsions and learning that anxiety can rise and fall without needing to ‘fix’ it. Over time, this process builds confidence, freedom, and a growing sense of trust in their own strength.
Location
Virtual sessions