Rosalind Pistilli

I'm an independently licensed clinical social worker (LISW-S, LCSW) with over 15 years of experience walking alongside people through some of the hardest and most important seasons of their lives. I hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Akron, and my approach is grounded in trauma-informed, person-centered care, meaning I meet you where you are, not where a textbook says you should be.

My clinical background spans trauma treatment, Trauma-Focused CBT, Brainspotting, and DBT, along with Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for clients who want practical, forward-moving support. I have significant experience working with Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder, and I bring a strong specialization in LGBTQIA2S+-affirming care, this is a space where all of who you are is welcome, not just tolerated.

Before becoming a therapist, I served in the U.S. Air Force, an experience that shaped my respect for structure, resilience, and the quiet strength it takes to ask for help.

Whatever brought you here today, I hope you'll find this to be a space where you can exhale.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, trauma-informed, and tailored to you, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

I don't believe healing happens through a single method, so I draw from a range of evidence-based approaches depending on what you need: Trauma-Focused CBT and Brainspotting for processing difficult or stuck experiences, DBT for building skills in emotional regulation and distress tolerance, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy when you're ready to move forward with practical, achievable steps. Some clients want to dig into the "why," others want tools for the "now", we'll figure out together what serves you best, and that can shift session to session.

My style is warm but direct. I'll challenge you when it's helpful, but I won't do it without first making sure you feel safe and seen. I hold space for the full complexity of who you are, your identity, your history, your culture, your body, and I don't ask you to leave parts of yourself at the door. This is especially central to my work with LGBTQIA2S+ clients and anyone whose lived experience involves navigating systems, stigma, or trauma that others might not fully understand.

I also bring a strong lens of intersectionality to my work, understanding that your mental health doesn't exist in a vacuum apart from your race, your immigration status, your health, your relationships, or the world around you. Whether you're managing a Serious Mental Illness, working through substance use, navigating a chronic health condition, or simply trying to understand yourself better, I want therapy to feel like a place where the whole picture matters.

Ultimately, my goal isn't to fix you, it's to walk with you while you find what already works, build what doesn't yet exist, and remember your own resilience along the way.

Your first session with me is less about diving deep and more about getting oriented, both of us learning how to work together well.

We'll start by talking about what brought you to therapy right now, in whatever amount of detail feels comfortable to you. You are never required to share more than you're ready to share, especially around trauma or difficult history. I'll ask about your background, your support systems, and what's been working or not working in your life, but this is a conversation, not an interrogation, and you're always allowed to say "I'm not ready to talk about that yet."

I'll also walk you through practical things: confidentiality and its limits, what to expect from our work together, and any paperwork or logistics we need to cover. If you're coming in for something specific, like a diagnostic evaluation, an immigration-related psychological assessment, or clinical supervision toward licensure, I'll explain how that particular process works so there are no surprises.

By the end of our first session, my goal is for you to leave with three things: a sense of whether this feels like the right fit, a rough idea of what we'll focus on together, and at least one small takeaway, whether that's a coping tool, a moment of feeling truly heard, or simply relief at having taken the first step.

The environment I aim to create is calm, unhurried, and judgment-free. You set the pace. My job in that first session is mostly to listen, ask thoughtful questions, and start building the kind of trust that good therapy is built on.