Pittsburgh · Altoona · Philadelphia · Statewide Telehealth
Condition Guides from our Therapists
Practical articles on relationships and how to improve your life using modern therapy practices.
CPA Counseling publishes condition guides and therapy articles written by our licensed therapists in Pittsburgh, Altoona, and Philadelphia. Every article is written from clinical experience — not generic wellness content. In-person and telehealth statewide.
Articles to Improve your Understanding
Agoraphobia: When the World Starts to Feel Unsafe
Agoraphobia is more than fear of leaving home — and in our anxious, screen-lit, post-pandemic world it’s quietly more common than ever. The good news: it’s very treatable.
Reiki: A Holistic Approach to Energy and Healing
A gentle, calming practice many people find a soothing companion to their healing. What Reiki is, how it’s used, and where it fits alongside therapy.
Coping with Your Kids: Parenting Stress & Support
Parenting is demanding, and feeling overwhelmed doesn’t make you a bad parent. Coping well means protecting your own well-being, keeping routines, staying patient through big feelings, and asking for help when you need it. Support for parents is a strength, not a failure. Amber Kottner, LPC helps parents and families across Pittsburgh’s South Hills.
The Power of Positivity (Without the Toxic Kind)
Positivity isn’t about forcing happiness or ignoring real problems — that kind of "toxic positivity" tends to backfire. Realistic positivity is a trainable skill: noticing what’s genuinely good, building on your strengths, and practicing gratitude, often alongside therapy for depression or anxiety. It’s a complement to treatment, not a replacement. Rachel Nash, LPC, MAC helps clients across Pittsburgh’s South Hills, in person or by telehealth across Pennsylvania.
Should You Take Your Kids Out of School for Therapy?
Taking a child out of school occasionally for therapy is usually worthwhile — a child’s mental health is as legitimate as their physical health, and most parents wouldn’t hesitate to miss class for a dentist appointment. Try to minimize disruption with after-school slots, telehealth, or rotating times, but don’t let a missed class stop a child from getting help they need. Shannon Wyzkoski, LPC and the CPA team support children and families across Pennsylvania.
Your Partner Wants Better Communication
When a partner says they want better communication, they usually want to feel heard and understood, not criticized. Better communication comes from listening to understand, speaking from your own experience, managing conflict without contempt, and repairing after disagreements. Michael Breitenbach, MS, LPC helps couples across Pittsburgh’s South Hills and Robinson.
READY TO START?
Don’t let fear keep writing your story
Anxiety rarely stays where it is. Left alone it tends to ask for a little more room each year — one more thing declined, one more route avoided, one more part of life quietly made smaller until the smaller version starts to feel like who you are. It doesn’t take a crisis to justify starting. It only takes deciding that this year isn’t going to look like last year. You don’t have to have it figured out first; you only have to make one decision that isn’t fear’s.