Alison Hess, LPC

The decision to seek counseling is highly personal and can feel overwhelming. My goal is to make the process as simple as possible.

I strive to provide the type of sessions you need based on your individual situation and to provide tools and education that will be useful in your daily life.

I take the time to listen to every client to create a personalized plan that focuses on your goals and values. For some clients, digging into the past and discussing current habits and relationships can reveal patterns that are preventing you from moving toward a balanced and fulfilling future. For others, focusing on the source of your immediate distress can help while we practice skills to reduce anxiety and increase emotional regulation.

All clients are given respect and attention, as you are the expert on your own life and experiences. I work with clients with ADHD, anxiety, adolescents, depression, PTSD, and trauma.

I completed my coursework at Northwestern University to obtain my Masters of Mental Health Counseling with a focus on children and adolescents. I am a licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania (PC016951).

I work with clients of all ages and have received training centered on working with LGBTQ+ clients and families. An active member of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), I lobbied for LGBTQ+ rights and for essential legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in February of 2020. I am also a member of PFLAG, Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE), American Counseling Association, and Pennsylvania Association of Child and Adolescent Counselors (PACAC).

My life experiences and transition to counseling as a middle-aged mom of two inform my treatment style and temperament. I have experienced the stages of child growth and development firsthand, and I continue to learn as my young adults create their own lives. From years of volunteering in school, sport, and community leadership roles, I have developed a caring, patient style of interacting with children and adults, encouraging them to try and fail, then try again. Success through failure is a theme that guides my life and helps me keep a balanced perspective.