Licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and accepts 13 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Life Transitions and 5 more.

Carolyn Lavella

(she/her)

LPC, 14 years of experience
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New to Grow

VirtualAvailable

About me

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania, and I believe that therapy should feel like a safe, judgment-free space where you can be yourself, feel heard and work toward meaningful change. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of therapeutic settings, including school-based behavioral health and outpatient clinics. Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to support individuals and families through anxiety, stress, emotional challenges, life transitions, behavioral concerns, relationship difficulties, and other experiences that can make a life feel overwhelming. I work with children ages 6 and older, adolescents, and adults, and I understand that therapy looks different for everyone. With children and teens, I focus on building trust and creating a space where they feel comfortable expressing themselves. I also believe in working collaboratively with parents and caregivers when appropriate, because supporting the while family can be an important part of progress. With adults, I strive to create a genuine and supportive environment where you can slow down, make sense of what you're experiencing, and develop practical tools to move forward. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, feeling stuck, navigating a major life change, or simply feeling like you need someone in your corner, you don't have to figure everything out on your own. My approach is person centered, compassionate and collaborative. I don't believe there is a one size fits all approach for therapy. I take time to understand who you are, what has brought you to therapy, and what you hope to get from the experience. Together, we can identify goals that feel meaningful to you and work at a pace that feels comfortable. I want my clients to leave sessions feeling heard, understood and supported, while also gaining practical strategies they can use in their everyday lives.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you're not sure what to expect. My goal is to make that first session feel comfortable, welcoming and judgment-free. During our first session, we'll spend time getting to know each other and learning what brought you to therapy. We will talk about what you've been experiencing, what's important to you and what you hope to get out of therapy. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for whether I'm the right therapist for you. You don't need to have the "right" words or everything figured out before you come in. You can simply show up as you are. Together, we will begin identifying what you need and what you'd like to work toward. My hope is that you leave your first session feeling heard, understood, and a little more hopeful about taking the next step.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

One of the greatest strengths I bring to therapy is my ability to create a space where people feel comfortable being honest and truly themselves. I'm warm, approachable, and non-judgmental, while also being willing to gently challenge clients when it can help them grow. I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation for meaningful progress. My experience working with children, adolescents and adults has taught me that every person brings a different story, personality and set of strengths into therapy. My goal is for clients to feel both supported and empowered, while developing practical tools they can use outside our sessions. I am a mother of three, and owner of a very active puppy--so I understand that life can be busy, messy, unpredictable, and sometimes overwhelming. I understand the challenge of balancing work, family, relationships, responsibilities and trying to find time for yourself somewhere in the middle of it all. I believe therapy should acknowledge all of these realities. My life experiences have given me the opportunity to understand that families, relationships, and life paths can look very different from one person to another. As a gestational surrogate, I experienced first-hand the importance of respecting individual choices, perspectives, boundaries and the many different ways people define family. That experience broadened my perspective and reinforced something I value deeply in my work: Meeting people where they are without assumptions or judgement.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal clients are children, adolescents, and adults who may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or simply unsure of what to do next. You don't have to be in crisis or have a specific diagnosis to benefit from therapy. Sometimes you just know that something doesn't feel right and you're ready for support. I work well with clients navigating life transitions, anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, self-esteem, family dynamics, parenting, emotional overwhelm and major changes in their lives. I also welcome clients who are simply looking for a safe space to process what they're experiencing and better understand themselves.

Specialties

Top specialties

Anxiety

Depression

Identifies as

Serves ages

Licensed in

Location

Virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Often, the way we think about a situation can influence how we feel and how we respond, and those patterns can sometimes keep us feeling stuck. In sessions, we may identify unhelpful thought patterns, explore whether those thoughts are accurate or serving you, and work together to develop healthier and more balanced ways of thinking. We can also focus on practical strategies and behavioral changes that can help you feel more confident and better equipped to handle challenges. My goal is for clients to not only understand why they may be feeling a certain way, but to leave therapy with practical tools they can use in their everyday lives.

Strength-Based

I believe every client brings their own strengths, abilities and experiences into therapy. A strengths-based approach focuses not only on the challenges you're facing but also on the qualities and resources you already have that can help you move forward. In sessions, we will work together to recognize your strengths, build confidence, and identify what is already working in your life. My goal is to not define you by your struggles. Instead, I want to help you recognize that you are more than the challenges you're facing and build on the strengths you already possess to create meaningful and lasting change.

New to Grow
This provider hasn’t received any written reviews yet. We started collecting written reviews January 1, 2025.