Hi, I am Patricia Hanson. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and I also own a business that supports the needs of older adults, individuals with disabilities, and children with special needs, making me highly skilled in care-related concerns. Whether you're in the throes of a crisis, seeking strategies for specific challenges, or yearning for personal growth, our collaborative journey is designed to illuminate paths forward and cultivate enduring mental and emotional strength. My clients often remark that our sessions ignite a newfound wisdom within them. They appreciate the environment of trust I foster, allowing them to delve deeper into their emotions and thoughts than they initially believed possible.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
What you can expect from our first session • A Safe and Nurturing Environment • Enhanced Self-awareness • Practical Coping Strategies • Holistic Well-being • Empowerment • A Deepened Connection • Transformational Conversations In essence, sessions with me are a blend of empathy, expertise, and empowerment. Whether you're in the throes of a crisis, seeking strategies for specific challenges, or yearning for personal growth, our collaborative journey is designed to illuminate paths forward and cultivate enduring mental and emotional strength.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Co-Managing Director at IKOR of Western Pennsylvania, my professional journey is deeply rooted in guiding diverse populations, ranging from young adolescents aged 13 to seniors 65 and older, towards holistic well-being and empowerment. My approach in counseling, especially with a keen focus on women's issues, is to foster a nurturing and empathetic environment. This allows individuals, whether they are navigating the complexities of adolescence, facing mid-life challenges, or seeking support in their senior years, to find strength and resilience through transformational conversations.
My educational background in professional counseling from Carlow University, enhanced by my expertise in Gestalt Psychotherapy and Life Care Planning, equips me to sensitively and effectively address the unique needs of each age group, mainly focusing on the challenges faced by women throughout different life stages. The "Solutions for Dignity" programs, which I have been instrumental in developing, reflect my commitment to offering comprehensive care that integrates medical, psychosocial, legal, trust, and financial considerations, addressing the specific needs of women and families across the lifespan.
In leading IKOR, I prioritize creating a collaborative environment where our multidisciplinary team, including Registered Nurse Patient Advocates and Personal Needs Coordinators, works together to ensure our strategies and interventions are inclusive and reflect our clients' holistic well-being. This approach is crucial for women, who often juggle multiple roles and face unique societal pressures.
My involvement with various professional organizations, such as the Estate Planning Council of Pittsburgh and the nonprofit Senior Partners of Pittsburgh, has allowed me to advocate for and address issues about women's health and well-being across all ages. Being a part of the Aging Life Care Professional Association and the Employee Assistance Professionals Association continually inspires me to strive for excellence in our field, ensuring that we provide the highest quality of care and support to all clients, especially women and young girls facing life’s diverse challenges.
About Patricia Hanson
Address
1001 Ardmore Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA, USAAppointments
Virtual & in-person
My treatment methods
Gestalt
Gestalt Therapy, a form of psychotherapy that I incorporate in my practice, is centered on enhancing self-awareness and personal growth. This approach emphasizes the holistic view of individuals in their current environment, focusing on their experience in the present moment rather than on past events. Gestalt Therapy encourages clients to explore their feelings, thoughts, and actions, fostering a deeper understanding of how they relate to themselves and the world around them. This therapy is particularly effective in helping individuals become more aware of how their unconscious patterns affect their daily functioning, enabling them to live more fully and authentically. As a practitioner, I guide my clients through this process, facilitating self-discovery and empowering them to make more creative and responsible choices, leading to a more fulfilling life.
Attachment-based
Attachment-Based Therapy is a therapeutic approach I use to address relational and emotional issues, stemming from one's early attachment experiences. This form of therapy is grounded in the theory that early attachment relationships with primary caregivers significantly influence a person's emotional and social development. The therapy focuses on exploring these early attachment styles—whether secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized—and how they manifest in adult relationships and behaviors. By understanding and addressing these foundational attachment patterns, clients can work towards healing from past traumas and building healthier, more secure relationships in their present lives. As a counselor, I facilitate this journey by creating a safe and empathetic therapeutic space, where clients can explore their attachment history and its impact on their current interpersonal dynamics. This process aids in fostering self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience, contributing to an individual's overall well-being and relational satisfaction.
Christian Counseling
As a counselor, I understand the importance of respecting each client's unique belief system, including their stance on faith-based counseling. While I am trained in Christian counseling and can integrate its principles such as compassion, forgiveness, and hope into therapy, I am fully committed to tailoring my approach to the individual needs and preferences of each client. If a client expresses that they are not interested in incorporating elements of faith into their sessions, I honor that choice and ensure that our sessions do not include faith-based tools or references. My approach remains secular and focused on the client's personal experiences and therapeutic goals. This flexibility allows me to create a supportive, empathetic, and respectful environment for all clients, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof. It's crucial for me to provide a space where clients feel heard, understood, and respected in all aspects of their identity, including their spiritual or non-spiritual views. My practice is built on the foundation of inclusivity and respect for all faiths and belief systems, ensuring that each client receives care that is aligned with their personal values and comfort levels.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely utilized therapeutic approach in the counseling field, employed by professionals across various specialties, including myself. Renowned for its effectiveness, CBT is based on the concept that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and that altering negative thought patterns can lead to changes in feelings and behaviors. This therapy is highly practical and structured, focusing on equipping clients with skills to identify and challenge distorted cognitions and develop healthier cognitive and behavioral patterns. As counselors, we often integrate CBT into our practice due to its versatility and evidence-based success in treating a range of issues, such as anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders. The approach is tailored to the individual, making it effective for a diverse range of clients and presenting problems. CBT's emphasis on skill-building and empowerment aligns with the goals of many counseling professionals, as it not only addresses current issues but also equips clients with tools for long-term self-management and resilience.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a cornerstone in the field of counseling, widely adopted by therapists, including myself, due to its effectiveness and versatility. This therapeutic approach is based on the concept that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and that identifying and changing negative thought patterns can lead to positive changes in behavior and emotional well-being. CBT is highly regarded for its structured, goal-oriented, and practical nature, making it suitable for addressing a variety of issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress. As counselors, we utilize CBT because it empowers clients with tangible skills to manage their thought processes and behaviors more effectively. The approach is highly adaptable, allowing therapists to tailor it to the unique needs of each individual. CBT's emphasis on skill-building and self-empowerment is a key reason why it's a fundamental tool in our counseling toolbox, helping clients not only in addressing their immediate concerns but also in building resilience and coping strategies for future challenges.
Gottman method
In my practice as a counselor specializing in couples therapy, I have integrated Gottman Method Couples Therapy, having completed Phase One of its training. The Gottman Method, developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, is a highly respected approach in couples counseling, renowned for its research-based strategies to improve relationships. This method focuses on building strong relationship foundations by enhancing communication, deepening emotional connection, and managing conflicts effectively. Through the skills and insights gained in Phase One of the Gottman training, I am equipped to help couples identify and address the barriers to a healthy relationship. The method emphasizes the importance of friendship in a partnership, shared meaning, and ways to manage conflicts constructively. My application of the Gottman principles in therapy sessions includes guiding couples through exercises to increase intimacy, respect, and affection, while helping them navigate through the challenges they face in their relationship. This approach aligns with my commitment to provide tailored, compassionate, and effective counseling to couples seeking to strengthen their bond and resolve interpersonal issues.
