Hannah Gross
Are you a teenager, college kid, grad student, or young adult who is interested in therapy? Great, that's my thing! I work exclusively with young adults, from high schoolers to 20-somethings. Working with this specific age group is more than a job to me; it is both a calling and my greatest honor.
I like to use the "best of the best" method; pulling the most impactful or relevant pieces from a variety of modalities and integrating them into your personal treatment.
I'm immensely proud to be considered a safe & supportive adult for many young people during this exciting (but sometimes stressful, lonely, or scary) time in their lives.
First session
Our first session will always be an intake appointment where we'll discuss your history, current concerns, and goals for therapy. Don't worry about not knowing where to start; I have an intake form that we'll talk through together to help me learn more about you. The overall purpose of an intake is to paint the big picture, not finalize all the details and shading.
Strengths
My biggest strength is that I'm extremely relatable. I try to be myself both outside and inside of sessions; I am goofy, sarcastic, a proud Slytherin, and a big fan of a well-placed "wtf" in real life, so that's how I show up in my therapeutic relationships as well. It's served me and my clients well so far. On a more clinical note, I consider my integrative approach to be a benefit to my work. There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all modality in therapy, so I tailor our sessions based on what you need that week. My go-to's include: CBT, DBT, Humanistic, Compassion-Focused, Strengths-Based, Feminist & Queer-Affirming therapies. Right now I'm learning about Internal Family Systems, and am excited to add it to my toolbox.
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are the girls, the gays, and the theys (also anyone who isn't harshly judging my eyebrows in that headshot - it's microblading from 2019 sue me). I am a loud ally for marginalized groups and I do not play well with conservatives. My clients are roughly ages 15-25 give or take a couple years on each end. Some common themes in my work include: managing anxiety, stress, depression, and/or feelings of overwhelm; adjusting to changes/transitions such as graduating, moving, starting a new job; navigating relationships with family, friends, romantic partners, peers, and co-workers; taking care of our bodies through healthy nutrition, sleep, and self-expression; living with chronic illness or invisible disabilities; building confidence, self-esteem, and self-advocacy skills; women's issues and dismantling the patriarchy.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
True story: CBT changed my life. The main idea of CBT is that our thoughts directly impact our feelings, and our feelings directly impact how we act or what we do. If we can change our thoughts, we can change our feelings, and thus we can change our behavior. CBT helps us recognize unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to chronic feelings of anxiety, shame, and depression. Here's an example: say you're transferring to a new college and you're thinking "what if I don't make friends!?" --> those thoughts lead you to feel anxious & sick to your stomach --> those feelings make you panic and have trouble completing basic tasks like eating and going to class. CBT teaches us to recognize that our initial thoughts (no friends, so alone) are assumptions rooted in anxiety and self-consciousness. You can reframe your initial thoughts into ones that are more realistic and fair, such as "I have made friends before and I will make them again." Those reframed thoughts now allow you to approach your transfer with more confidence, and a level of anxiety that is much more manageable and appropriate for the situation.
Compassion Focused
I tell my clients to speak to themselves the way they would a loved one or dear friend. If a friend turned in a project late because they were overwhelmed or confused with the work, would you ever say to them "you're so lazy you really need to get your act together" ? No! Most likely you'd say something like "I feel you, we have so much work this quarter" or maybe even "let me know if you need help next time." Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is an approach that greatly benefits those of us who are quick to self-shame and self-criticize. Some people tend to be unreasonably harsh and don't treat themselves with the same sense of love, patience, and understanding that they would give someone else. The overarching goal of CFT is to build a sense of compassion and understanding towards ourselves and others. I support my clients in recognizing and calling out their own internal hostility, and replacing it with kindness and respect.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
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Licensed in
- PennsylvaniaLicense PC014537