Hello and welcome! I’m Beth, and I’m so glad you’re here and have taken the important first step toward self-care. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania. You may be feeling like you've lost motivation or that your emotions have taken over, or perhaps you're worried about a child. Whatever challenges you're facing, EVERYONE deserves to lead a meaningful life. My goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals can confront their struggles, find empowerment, and regain a sense of security to start living their best lives. As a highly sensitive person (HSP) with strong empathy, I understand the importance of compassion. I'm a down-to-earth person who has my own struggles, just like everyone else. I have two children: a son who recently got married and a daughter currently in college. Between my family, including my husband, we certainly know how to drive each other crazy! I love spending time outdoors in nature, as it helps me stay balanced. The tools and strategies I share with my clients are ones I’ve used in my own life, and I believe my experiences as a therapist, educator, mother, wife, daughter, and friend make me a relatable ally for those I work with. Before becoming a counselor, I spent the first 20 years of my career as a school teacher in Philadelphia. During that time, I was privy to many difficult situations in my students' homes, including various forms of abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, the education system's main focus was on meeting academic standards, leaving little room to address the mental health challenges these children faced. I did my best to support them both academically and emotionally. Over time, I realized what my true calling was and I resigned from teaching to pursue a graduate degree in mental health counseling.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session together, my clients will learn from the get go, that they will be heard and valued. They will share their concerns with me and we will begin to develop some goals, both short-term and long-term. My clients will see that I am the least judgmental person out there and will feel validated and reassured that no problem is "too big" or "too small" to experience relief.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I love working with individuals of all ages but seem to have found my niche with the adolescent and young adult populations. My mental health background is rather diverse. For a couple of years, I worked in a hospital setting, serving children and adults who were in active crisis mode. I spent time supporting domestic violence survivors at a woman’s shelter, both in person and on their hotline. Additionally, I have experience working at partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs for teens and adults who were struggling with a variety of mental health issues. Most recently, I have been providing outpatient therapy for people of all ages, who face a multitude of challenges and/or diagnoses. I counsel many clients who have come to me with traumatic backgrounds and are looking to break free. I also enjoy providing tools and support for exhausted and frustrated parents who are mentally, emotionally and physically depleted. My 20 plus years as a teacher and raising two of my own children, provided me with a great deal of experience in that department! Anxiety and depression run in my family so I know, first in hand, just how debilitating it can make life feel. Some are of the belief that when we do not have all our needs met as children, we will always continue to struggle, even as adults. I can tell you from personal experience, this is not the case. I have many clients who have come to me feeling disillusioned and skeptical about whether healing can take place. I believe and continue to witness that if you are willing to put in the work, positive change is possible!

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

My mental health background is rather diverse. For a couple of years, I worked in a hospital setting, serving children and adults who were in active crisis mode. I spent time supporting domestic violence survivors at a woman’s shelter, both in person and on their hotline. Additionally, I have experience working at partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs for teens and adults who were struggling with a variety of mental health issues. Most recently, I have been providing outpatient therapy for people of all ages, who face a multitude of challenges and/or diagnoses. I counsel many clients who have come to me with traumatic backgrounds and are looking to break free. I also enjoy providing tools and support for exhausted and frustrated parents who are mentally, emotionally and physically depleted. My 20 plus years as a teacher and raising two of my own children, provided me with a great deal of experience in that department! Anxiety and depression run rampant in my family so I know, first in hand, just how debilitating it can make life feel. Some are of the belief that when we do not have all our needs met as children, we will always continue to struggle, even as adults. I can tell you from personal experience, this is not the case. I have many clients who have come to me feeling disillusioned and skeptical about whether healing can take place. I believe and continue to witness that if you are willing to put in the work, positive change is possible!

About Beth Ungaro