Heather Szarmach, LPC

Heather is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received her Bachelors in Science from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 2008 and then her Masters of Science in Professional Counseling from Carlow University in 2012. Heather interned with the University of Pittsburgh psychiatric department, studying schizophrenia in young adults, and also with Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC), working with children and adolescents with anxiety. Heather then went on to work as a Research Specialist for WPIC's Course and Outcome of Bipolar Youth (COBY) Study, interviewing children, adolescents, and young adults with Bipolar and Co-occurring disorders.

The majority of my professional experience is with children, adolescents, and young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and other mood and behavioral issues. In addition to professional experience, various life experiences have enabled me to empathize and deepen my understanding on a variety of issues. Some examples are anxiety and fear relating to school, college, and career development; young relationships, marriage, parenthood, postpartum depression and anxiety, miscarriages, and infertility; Alzheimer's and end of life circumstances; and same sex relationships and marriage and child bearing within a same sex relationship.

I believe that therapy should be flexible and fluid and reflect the needs and goals of each individual client. I aim to provide an open and safe environment where clients are able to set goals, examine thoughts and behaviors, and identify strengths that will guide them toward living their most peaceful and fulfilled lives. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is just as important as therapy interventions and promise to be sincere, honest, and authentic. I wish to collaborate with my clients in figuring out how to make the hard stuff easier to sit with, and find ways to cope and overcome life's difficulties.