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Discover how starting depression counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
6 therapists available in Philadelphia
As a neurodivergent queer person, I approach therapy as a collaborative process rooted in curiosity, meaning-making, and respectin...
About
As a neurodivergent queer person, I approach therapy as a collaborative process rooted in curiosity, meaning-making, and respecting lived experience.
I am a licensed social worker (LSW) with 5 years of experience supporting adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, identity concerns, self-esteem challenges, and feelings of overwhelm or disconnection. My practice is rooted in curiosity and collaboration, and I strive to create a grounded, respectful space for clients of diverse backgrounds, including those who identify as queer, trans, neurodivergent, ethically non-monogamous, or kink-positive.
I earned my master's degree in social work from Temple University. My approach blends reflective exploration with practical strategies, helping clients examine internalized beliefs, better understand their experiences, and build skills that support meaningful, lasting change.
Reaching out for support can feel vulnerable, especially when you’re already carrying a lot. I aim to provide a compassionate and thoughtful space where you feel heard and respected. If you’re ready to move toward greater clarity and self-trust, I welcome you to schedule a session to see if we’re a good fit.
Education and training
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As a queer therapist working from a trauma informed and social justice lens, I understand the importance of how our life experienc...
As a queer therapist working from a trauma informed and social justice lens, I understand the importance of how our life experiences and current contexts deeply impact our mental health experiences.
Nicole Lyman (she/they) is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor with 2 years of experience working with young adults, adults, and seniors. Nicole seeks to explore strengths and personalized goals to cope more effectively with life's challenges as well as move towards resilience and growth. Nicole's ideal clients experience a range of issues, often rooted in chronic stress or trauma, including anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, life transitions, trauma/PTSD, relationships, self-esteem, or grief. They also have experience working with clients identifying as LGBT+ and individuals assigned female at birth who are neurodivergent.
Nicole earned a Master’s in Counseling Education from Temple University. They help clients normalize their experiences and circumstances through examining the impact of life experiences and relational dynamics on daily functions and self-image. Nicole helps individuals gain insight into their behaviors and somatic symptoms.
The first step in growth is accepting the need for change and growth. Nicole will help clients learn more about themselves as well as make the changes they are looking for in a safe and nonjudgmental relationship. If a mindful and socially aware counseling relationship feels like a good fit for you, reach out to meet with Nicole.
I have 30 years of experience in various forms of therapy and am open to using any therapeutic techniques that would help....
I have 30 years of experience in various forms of therapy and am open to using any therapeutic techniques that would help.
MaryAlyce Rensa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania, who has 30 years of experience counseling adults, teens, and children seeking help with anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and trauma.
MaryAlyce completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of MD, University College, and received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Towson University in Towson, MD. She utilizes cognitive behavior approaches including rational emotive behavior therapy and other strength-based, collaborative, and solution-focused approaches. MaryAlyce specializes in the creative use of games, art, and music for helping clients to develop insight into their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and she is flexible in doing “whatever works” to best meet the needs of her clients.
MaryAlyce often gives homework on self-help activities and encourages participation in the therapeutic activities in sessions. She seeks to establish an open-minded, warm, honest, and caring relationship with you in order to assist in helping you learn to cope with your feelings in healthier ways, to understand and adjust your thoughts to improve your self-esteem and confidence, to build problem-solving skills so you can better help yourself in your life long goals.
Jacquelyn Farasat is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She holds National Counselor Certification and is also a Certified Clinic...
Jacquelyn Farasat is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She holds National Counselor Certification and is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She has 8 years of experience supporting the emotional, social, and personal growth and well-being of children, adolescents, and adults in both individual and group formats.
Jacquelyn has a Master’s degree in Counseling and a Master’s degree in Education. She strives to develop a caring relationship with the client that is built on trust, respect, and collaboration. Jacquelyn integrates mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing with a strengths-based, person-centered approach to support the client in becoming his/her best self. When working with children and families, she often uses play therapy to foster relational skills, develop emotional awareness and self-regulation skills, and promote positive problem-solving.
Jacquelyn recognizes that each client has a unique set of strengths, desires, and needs. Thus, she continually maintains flexibility and tailors strategies in response to the client’s needs and personal goals. Her goal is to encourage and empower you throughout your journey to becoming.
As a black male therapist, I’m passionate about breaking the stigmas around therapy, especially for men, and creating a space wher...
As a black male therapist, I’m passionate about breaking the stigmas around therapy, especially for men, and creating a space where healing feels safe, relatable, and real.
Clifton “Cliff” Ventour is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor with 3 years of experience supporting individuals through life’s emotional challenges. Coming from an urban community where therapy is often stigmatized, Cliff is passionate about changing that narrative. He helps clients process anger, manage anxiety and depression, and build healthier coping strategies to feel more in control of their emotional well-being.
Cliff earned his Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Temple University and integrates empathy, emotional regulation, and client-centered techniques into his approach. He supports individuals in processing difficult emotions and encourages growth through validation, trust, and building meaningful therapeutic connections.
Cliff understands healing takes time. He creates a safe, affirming space where clients can move at their own pace. With warmth and patience, he meets individuals where they are and walks alongside them as they navigate challenges, embrace their journey, and move closer to their goals.
Mark is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who works out of an office in Philadelphia, and holds licenses in both Pennsylvania an...
Mark is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who works out of an office in Philadelphia, and holds licenses in both Pennsylvania and California. He has 20 years of experience helping children, adults, and families work through challenges that impact their health and happiness. He spent much of his career working at a nonprofit agency that continues to serve trauma impacted children and families in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was through this work that Mark grew to understand both the grave impact of trauma and the healing power of psychotherapy. Mark works from a variety of therapies to best match an individual's needs. Some of these include cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and gestalt therapy. He also has subspecialties in parent training, behavioral intervention instruction, and play therapies. Regardless of the therapeutic orientation, he believes enriching an individual’s personal story is the key to change. When people can author strength based personal narratives, they are able to find the strength to overcome their doubts, fears, and worry. Mark believes every person carries within them the power to change and heal. He seeks to help individuals access this power through a safe, comforting, and expressive experience.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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When working with clients who come to therapy for help with depressive symptoms, I start with a comprehensive assessment to help determine factors contributing to the symptoms. While depression is often related to neurochemical reactions, there are other factors, such as trauma, grief, stages of psychosocial development, stressors, etc. that contribute to symptoms. From there, I use interventions from various modalities of care to address the identified factors. I use cognitive behavioral therapy to help a client learn ways to address unhelpful thoughts that interfere with their well-being and fuel feelings of sadness and hopelessness. I engage them in narrative therapy to help shift some of their internalized narratives of self toward the positive. I use other behavioral approaches to help them increase their engagement in activities that will inspire change, such as building routines, engaging in healthy activities like exercise, increasing social connection, and helping them find ways to fulfill their need for a sense of purpose. In some cases, when depression is moderate to severe and a client's functioning is impaired in various areas of their life, I help them connect with additional resources.
Some tools that I introduce to help clients who experience depression are CBT skills, such as cognitive restructuring (adapting negative thoughts so that they are more functional), thought-stopping (interrupting unhelpful thoughts that contribute to distress and focusing them on positive anchoring thoughts), and thought journaling (diagraming cognitive processes to increase awareness of self and provide opportunities for perspective shift). I also introduce self-reward as a means of incentivizing change.
I know when a client is making meaningful progress when they present with a more positive affect, when they can more easily engage in self-affirmation, and they consistently meet their treatment goals and objective. An increase in social engagement and engagement in interests can also serve as metrics for treatment progress.
With depression, the most important thing a client can do is “fake it until you make it.” The “taking oppositive action” skill serves to redirect a client away from maladaptive behaviors that can contribute to depression, such as excessive sleep, substance use, social isolation, and inactivity.
Someone coming to seek counseling for depression can prepare for therapy by committing to the process and recognizing that change may be slow, but is possible nonetheless.
Depression counseling can help those with major depression, minor depression, postpartum depression, persistent depressive disorder, and more. The providers at Thriveworks in Philadelphia, PA will develop a unique treatment plan based on your specific experience, needs, and goals.
It is absolutely worth going to therapy for depression — depression counseling helps people better manage their symptoms and get back to living happier lives again.
Depression counseling works by helping people pinpoint life problems, distorted thought patterns, and other causes of their depression, then process and work through them in order to mitigate the negative effects those factors have on their lives.
Common signs of depression include:
Thriveworks depression counseling in Philadelphia, PA is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
Depression counseling can last for a few weeks, months, or longer, dependent on the severity of one’s depression as well as their needs and preferences.
At Thriveworks, we accept most major insurance plans, allowing many clients to pay as little as $0–$50 per session with their co-pay. We also offer self-pay options for those out-of-network or without insurance. Self-pay rates for talk therapy range from $160 to $240 for intake sessions and $135 to $195 for follow-ups, depending on your state. For psychiatry services, self-pay intake sessions are $255–$375, with follow-ups ranging from $175–$300, also varying by state. More information on current self-pay costs is available on our pricing page.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Philadelphia is off of Ludlow Street and S 40th Street. We are near Smoke Shop Convenience and Locust Moon Comics.
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