Reaching out for mental health support takes courage, but you’re not alone in your journey. At New Directions Mental Health, our treatment services meet you wherever you are, whether you’re navigating everyday stress or something more overwhelming. Our compassionate, experienced therapists provide care tailored to your specific needs, if this is your first time in therapy or you’re ready to start again.
With clinic locations across southwestern Pennsylvania, in-person therapy is likely more accessible than you think. Prefer the comfort of home? Our telehealth services make quality care available wherever you are. Call 724.374.7414 today to schedule an appointment or learn more.
What Is Therapy?
Therapy is a form of talk-based support that can be shaped to fit whatever you’re going through, whether that’s a diagnosed mental health condition, a specific situation, or just daily stress. You’ll sit down with a licensed professional in a space designed to feel both structured and safe, giving you room to look closely at your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, you might work through something painful from your past, find new ways to show up in your relationships, or learn coping strategies that support your healing.
How Therapy Helps You Feel Better
Talk therapy looks different for everyone depending on their unique needs and goals. Whether you’re processing trauma, managing anxiety, or wanting to strengthen relationships, therapy can help you understand yourself more deeply while building sustainable tools for change.
Therapy is backed by strong evidence. Research from the American Psychiatric Association shows that talk therapy reduces symptoms both quickly and over the long term. Many people treated for anxiety or depression continued showing improvements even after finishing therapy, attesting to the lasting benefits of processing feelings and learning helpful coping skills.¹ Additionally, people who completed therapy showed a lower likelihood of relapse compared to those relying on medication alone.²
Beyond learning coping skills or getting to the root of negative feelings, therapy also offers a safe, judgment-free space to be heard by a trained, empathetic professional. The unconditional support you receive from a therapist can be especially meaningful for those without a strong personal support system, as it’s a space to practice recognizing and asking for what you need.
What’s the Difference Between Therapy & Counseling?
Therapy and counseling are often interchangeable terms. You might hear either one in our clinics, and both refer to sitting down with a licensed therapist to address whatever mental health concerns are on your mind.
When Should You Seek Therapy?
It’s time to consider therapy if you’re experiencing persistent sadness, anxiety, or overwhelm that’s starting to affect your daily life. Other signs are changes in sleep, appetite, or energy, or feeling stuck in negative thought patterns. Major life events, like losing a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a big transition like a career change or move, can also create a need for extra support.
Therapy isn’t only for moments of crisis. It can also be a proactive tool for building resilience, developing self-care strategies, and maintaining emotional wellness. Sometimes, you just know something is “off” but you don’t know what. A therapist is highly skilled at helping you gain a better understanding of what makes you tick and your long-term goals, making it useful even if you don’t know where to start.
Types of Therapy Offered at New Directions Mental Health
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all care. Every person has unique needs and goals, and our therapists tailor sessions and treatment plans accordingly. Most therapists utilize ideas and skills from multiple modalities as different needs arise during sessions, called an “eclectic” approach.
Our clinicians draw from a range of evidence-based approaches, including:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Supports emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
- Psychodynamic therapy: Explores how past experiences shape current behavior.
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): A CBT variant focused on mindfulness, self-compassion, and accepting difficult thoughts and feelings.
- Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT): A time-limited approach focused on improving relationships and communication.
- Internal family systems (IFS): Examines how different parts of someone’s personality interact and protect each other.
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT): Combines mindfulness with cognitive techniques for managing thoughts and emotions.
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy: Gradually exposes someone to their specific fears or triggers in a controlled setting, often used for OCD.
- Play therapy: Uses play and creative activities to help children learn more about expressing their thoughts and feelings.
- Creative arts therapies: Uses artistic expression as a tool for communication and self-discovery.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Uses bilateral stimulation to help process traumatic memories and reduce related distress.
- Behavioral activation therapy: Encourages engagement in positive, meaningful activities to counter depression or anxiety symptoms.
We aim to meet you exactly where you are and provide the support you need. Our team is here to listen, help you feel safe, and support your sense of empowerment throughout the process.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy offers a confidential, one-on-one space to talk openly with a licensed therapist. Together, you’ll unpack your history and symptoms, set goals, build strategies, and grow at your own pace.
One-on-one therapy can help with concerns such as:
- Depression, anxiety, or trauma
- Relationship or family stress
- Major life changes, like divorce or job loss
- Grief and loss
- Stress management strategies
- Parenting support
- Simply wanting to understand yourself better
Some people find clarity in just a few sessions, while others continue long-term as their needs evolve. You and your will therapist decide together what timeline makes sense, checking in as-needed on your progress.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy focuses on improving communication and resolving conflict within romantic relationships, whether married, unmarried, same-sex, or any partnership working to strengthen their bond. It can support couples experiencing challenges as well as those simply looking to deepen their connection.
Both partners typically attend sessions together with a trained therapist, who may also meet with each partner individually at times. Together, you’ll work through things like communication issues, repairing broken trust, financial disagreements, or intimacy challenges, with the goal of helping both partners understand each other and build healthier ways of connecting.
Family Therapy
Family therapy focuses on improving communication and resolving conflict within the family unit, addressing challenges like strained relationships, divorce or separation, blended family dynamics, parenting concerns, and mental health struggles.
This approach can be especially valuable for children and teens facing behavioral or emotional difficulties. By involving the whole family, a therapist can identify underlying contributors to a child’s struggles and work collaboratively toward solutions that involve parents and siblings for additional support.
Family therapy can also support families through major transitions, such as divorce, loss, or adjusting to a new family structure, offering guidance to help maintain strong connections through change.
Group Therapy
Group therapy offers regular, mediated connections with others who understand what you’re going through. Led by an experienced therapist, our groups create a supportive space to share, listen, and grow together. Many people find that group therapy reduces feelings of isolation while offering new perspectives and a place to practice coping tools.
Group therapy offerings vary by location across the greater Pittsburgh area, but our intake team can help identify what’s available near you.
What Therapy Looks Like (and What It Doesn’t)
Many people hesitate to start therapy because they don’t know what to expect. Some worry they won’t know what to say, or that their problems “aren’t serious enough.” Others are afraid of judgment or stigma about their concerns.
Therapy doesn’t follow a script. Some sessions will dig into your past, while others will focus on practical strategies for everyday stress. Some might even include laughter or silence as you learn to sit with your emotions. All of it is part of the process.
Your therapist’s job isn’t to “fix” you. You’ll work together as a team to figure out what actually helps, with you at the helm of your care. Whatever you’re navigating, having someone who listens without judgment can be genuinely valuable on its own.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Therapy
Therapy generally falls into two categories:
- Short-term therapy typically runs 8 to 16 sessions, meeting weekly or biweekly, and focusing on a specific issue or challenge. This approach works well for concrete, defined concerns like grieving a loved one, job loss, a life transition, or another specific stressor.
- Long-term therapy is more open-ended, often lasting months or years, and centers on building deeper self-understanding and addressing underlying patterns. This approach can support more sustainable, lasting change over time.
There’s no single right choice between short- and long-term therapy, and both offer benefits depending on individual needs. Our therapists will help you figure out the best fit, so you don’t have to decide alone.
Cost & Insurance Concerns
Many people worry that therapy will be too expensive, especially for longer-term care. We’re committed to making treatment as accessible and affordable as possible, and we’re in-network with nearly all major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid at most locations.
Our intake team can walk you through your expected copay before you begin, so there are no surprises.
In-Person & Telehealth Therapy Options
Some people prefer the connection of in-person sessions, while others value the convenience of telehealth, particularly if they live further from a clinic. We offer both based on what works best for you, and many people use both depending on the needs of the day.
How to Choose a Therapist
When starting your therapy journey, it’s a good idea to think through some of the key things you’re looking for in a therapist:
- Experience: Ask if the therapist has direct experience working with concerns similar to yours.
- Approach: Every therapist will use a slightly different combination of modalities and tools, so ask about what to expect during appointments.
- Format: Choose between in-person sessions at a clinic or telehealth appointments.
- Comfort: After your first few sessions, think about whether you feel seen and heard and if you can trust your therapist to help you find healing.
New Directions Mental Health therapists each have their own unique background and perspective. When you talk to an intake specialist, they can help match you with the provider who best suits your unique situation and goals.
Why Choose New Directions Mental Health for Therapy?
We’re proud to serve communities across southwestern Pennsylvania with mental health care that’s accessible, evidence-based, and grounded in empathy. Our therapists come from diverse backgrounds and specialties, including those who work exclusively with couples and children. We make every effort to match you with someone who respects your preferences around language, gender, cultural identity, and spirituality.
Accessibility matters to us. That’s why we:
- Make finding the right provider simple through an easy intake process (you’ll speak with a real, human intake specialist who can talk you through your options)
- Offer psychiatric medication management at our clinics
- Provide access to advanced treatments like Spravato® and TMS therapy
- Offer both in-person and telehealth services
- Accept most major insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare at most clinics
- Provide therapy for children, adolescents, adults, and couples
- Maintain convenient clinic locations across the greater Pittsburgh area
We want to support your journey to better mental health through care that’s convenient, compassionate, and centered on you.
Connect With New Directions Mental Health to Start Therapy
Whether this is your first time seeking therapy or you’re returning to care after time away, we’re honored to be part of your healing journey. Call 724.374.7414 today to learn more or schedule your first appointment now.
Frequently Asked Questions About Starting Therapy
What happens during therapy sessions?
Therapy creates a space where you can speak freely about your inner world, from exploring your emotions to unpacking significant life events. Over time, your therapist can help you build coping strategies, deepen your self-understanding, and feel more equipped to face the ups and downs of daily life.
Is there a typical length of time people stay in therapy?
There’s no set formula for how long you “should” be in therapy. Some people come in with a single issue they want to resolve and end sessions relatively quickly, while others end up working with a therapist for years. The timeline is something you and your therapist shape together as you go.
How does New Directions Mental Health pair me with the right therapist?
Our intake team learns about your history and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy, then connects you with someone whose expertise and approach fit those goals. Once you’re in your first session, feel free to ask a few questions to see how the connection feels.
Therapy didn't work for me before. Is it worth trying again?
Definitely. It’s common to need a few tries before finding a therapist who feels like the right match, particularly since every provider specializes in different approaches and areas of focus. As you begin with someone new, notice whether you feel genuinely heard, whether their questions help you think more deeply, and whether you can imagine growing into the person you hope to become. If it’s not clicking, reach back out and we’ll help you find someone else.
Will my insurance cover my therapy sessions?
In most cases, yes. New Directions Mental Health partners with the majority of major insurance plans, plus Medicaid and Medicare for most of our services. An intake team member can discuss your coverage and potential copays ahead of your first visit.
Do you offer online therapy sessions?
Yes, most of our clinicians provide online therapy. Depending on their schedule and preference, clients often choose to go fully virtual, fully in-person, or a combination of both.
What will I talk about in therapy?
People come to therapy for all kinds of reasons, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, stress, relationship struggles, and major life changes. Your therapist will help you unpack these experiences and work with you toward building the life you want.
Sources:
- Recognition of Psychotherapy Effectiveness. (2012). American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/about/policy/resolution-psychotherapy
- Psychotherapy is effective and here’s why. (2011). American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/10/psychotherapy