Couples therapists in Lancaster, PA

Hi I am Nora, a therapist with over a decade of experience serving teens to mature adults. I help people pick up the pieces after something terrible has happened in their life. My specialty is trauma and things adjacent to trauma like grief, anxiety and depression. The most common transitions I help clients work through include; break up/divorce, medical issues, civilian life, parenthood, retirement, family changes, loss of loved one, career changes, abuse, or past traumas.

I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and certified in addictions (ICAADC) with years of experience working with individuals facing substance use, trauma, mood disorders, and major life transitions. I'm bilingual (English/Spanish), culturally competent, and bring deep compassion and professionalism to every session. Clients appreciate my direct, honest approach that still feels safe, supportive, and empowering. I believe that healing is possible with the right tools, guidance, and trust.

I embrace the philosophy of "meeting people where they are at" when it comes to treatment. Whether it is serious mental illness or "first world problems," the first step is understanding the symptom experiences and environmental/relational factors, building a safe therapeutic environment, and determining what progress in treatment looks like for you. My aim is to empower you, be curious and open-minded about your lived experiences, explore meaningful ways to make changes, utilize non-judgmental approaches to challenge thoughts/narratives that have contributed to the reason(s) for treatment, and/or facilitate better communication with supports. I specialize in working with people who who struggle with communicating their unique symptoms/experiences, making therapy difficult to try or intimidating or as a result have been through the "ringer" of mental health treatment with a variety of potential diagnoses.

I am curious and validating, providing a nurturing environment to talk openly and honestly about your struggles, strengths, weaknesses, needs, likes, and dislikes. I love helping people explore their unique and particular powers as well as how these powers impact their world and their relationships. As a passionate supporter of those who have been through unjust or otherwise traumatic experiences--including those experiencing discrimination based upon race or gender identity or sexual orientation--I am particularly interested in helping people gain skills for dealing with, and making sense of, the remnants of their pasts.

Having completed Bessel Van der Kolk's Trauma Research Foundation's Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies in early 2025, I have a strong foundational understanding of the most cutting edge approaches to treating trauma. I am also comfortable using a combination of approaches, including Psychodynamic, Gestalt, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I received an MSW from the University of Pennsylvania, a psychodynamically focused program, after which I completed Bryn Mawr's certificate program in psychodynamic psychotherapy. I have also completed 1 year of Gestalt Therapy training and the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Immersion Program.

As an LCSW, my training emphasized the role of social environment--from the family to society at large--in how we construct our narratives, enabling me to help you make sense of what in your life is yours to own and what is a product of your environment.

Uncomfortable as they may be, emotional struggles often develop for understandable reasons. They reflect what we’ve experienced, how we’ve learned to cope, protect ourselves, and navigate important relationships over time. And while these patterns may have once served an important purpose and still carry valuable information, they can also keep us tied to past experiences in ways that make it difficult to feel fully present, connected, and grounded in ourselves. Therapy can help us better understand these experiences so that we can move forward with greater flexibility, self-understanding, and connection in our lives and relationships.

I work with clients navigating anxiety, interpersonal or family conflict, life transitions, trauma, depression, OCD, and questions related to identity, relationships, and emotional meaning. I also work with individuals who are simply looking for a thoughtful space to reflect, grow, and better understand themselves.

My clinical work has been shaped by training at the University of Pennsylvania, the Institute for Relational Psychoanalysis of Philadelphia, and experience working across multiple levels of care, including residential and intensive treatment settings.

Are you taking care of others but don't seem to find the time to take care of yourself? Do you seem strong to everyone else but feel disconnected from the person you used to be? Are you struggling to just survive and breathe? Do you need support managing the role of caregiver, sandwich generation challenges, personal health issues, loss, grief, bereavement, or isolation? Do you face a life transition or transition to retirement? Our time together will focus on finding your strength, building resilience, re-connecting to your own creative spark again. Let's work together to lift your spirits and find some peace.

Gentle, Intuitive & Reflective Is Who I AM!

Hello future client, I'm Yvette. I approach therapy with curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for each person’s story. My personality is naturally reflective and intuitive, and I create a space that feels calm, intentional, and emotionally grounding. Clients often share that they feel understood and emotionally held in our work together.

Therapy with me is not about rushing or forcing change—it’s about building awareness, strengthening emotional boundaries, and learning how to care for yourself without guilt. I work with adults who are navigating emotional fatigue, disappointment, anxiety, or relational stress and are ready for a more compassionate, values-aligned way of healing.