Karla Joyce

More than a decade into this work, I've sat with a lot of different kinds of pain — anxiety that doesn't quiet down, grief that doesn't follow a schedule, depression that dulls everything, and the particular exhaustion of being a woman navigating a world that asks a great deal of you. I became a therapist because I believe you shouldn't have to white-knuckle your way through hard seasons alone. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker trained at the University of Pittsburgh, and I work with adults, teens, and seniors across Pennsylvania via telehealth. I'm direct, I'm warm, and I take this work seriously.

My sessions are collaborative and practical. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing — approaches that help you understand your patterns, shift the unhelpful ones, and build skills you'll actually use between sessions. I work from a strength-based lens, which means we'll spend real time on what's already working in you, not just what feels broken. Expect honesty, warmth, and a session that moves.

Show up — that's the hardest part, and you've already done it. In our first session, I'll ask you to share what's been going on and what you're hoping will be different. We won't rush through a checklist. We'll have a real conversation, and I'll share my honest initial thoughts about how I can help and what working together might look like. Most clients leave that first session feeling heard, a little lighter, and clearer on next steps.