LPC, 2 years of experience
New to Grow
Welcome, I’m Ben, a licensed counselor in Pennsylvania. I’m passionate about helping individuals heal, grow, and regain a sense of balance in their lives. My approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and respect for each person’s unique story. I specialize in working with individuals who have experienced trauma, helping them find safety, empowerment, and hope through the healing process. I integrate evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, and person-centered therapy to tailor treatment to each client’s needs. I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and offer EMDR therapy virtually, providing clients with an effective way to process traumatic experiences and reduce distressing symptoms from the comfort of their own space. While trauma work is a key focus, I welcome clients from all backgrounds and walks of life. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or simply seeking greater self-understanding, I aim to create a supportive environment where you can explore, heal, and grow at your own pace.
Your first counseling session will focus on getting to know you and understanding what brings you to therapy. This is the intake process, and it includes discussing your history, current concerns, and goals for treatment. Together, we’ll develop a treatment plan that outlines the focus of our work and the approaches that may best support your needs. This collaborative process helps ensure that therapy is tailored specifically to you and your goals.
My biggest strength is creating a therapeutic space for clients to authentically show up. I consistently provide a non-judgmental environment where it is okay to come as you are. In sessions with me, you are welcome to show up as your authentic self.
I work with clients from all backgrounds and with a wide range of concerns. However, a particular area of interest and specialization for me is supporting individuals who have experienced trauma. I’m dedicated to helping clients heal, build resilience, and regain a sense of safety and empowerment in their lives.
Everything I do in therapy is Person-centered at it's core. While I may have expertise in therapeutic methods, I believe that the client is the expert in their own life. I view my role as the therapist is to support the client and do my best to empower them to achieve the progress they deem as most important in their own life.
Positive psychology focuses on my clients’ strengths, values, and what’s going well in their lives. I help clients identify and build on their positive qualities, cultivate gratitude, and develop habits that promote well-being. Through exercises like savoring positive experiences and setting meaningful goals, I support clients in enhancing their overall happiness and life satisfaction. This strengths-based approach complements addressing challenges by promoting growth, hope, and a more balanced perspective.
As an EMDR trained clinician, I guide clients through the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing process using online tools that facilitate bilateral stimulation, including guided eye movements and audio tones. We begin by establishing a safe and comfortable space, reviewing the target memories or distressing experiences, and then proceed with the standard EMDR phases—processing the memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation. I ensure clear communication and frequent check-ins to monitor clients’ emotional states and adjust the pace as needed, creating a supportive environment that allows effective trauma processing.
As a trauma informed clinician, I do not presume to know your experience or the ways in which trauma has impacted your life. I put a heavy focus on client safety and ensuring to the best of my ability that clients leave sessions with me feeling safe and heard.
Using CBT, I work collaboratively with clients to identify and understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We begin by exploring specific situations that cause distress and then examine the automatic thoughts or beliefs linked to those situations. Together, we challenge and reframe unhelpful or distorted thoughts to develop more balanced and realistic perspectives. Throughout sessions, I help clients learn practical skills such as cognitive restructuring, behavioral experiments, and problem-solving techniques to manage symptoms and improve coping. Homework assignments can be used to practice these skills between sessions, reinforcing progress, and promoting lasting change.