Our counselors in Philadelphia, PA offer child therapy

Jacquelyn Farasat is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She holds National Counselor Certification and is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She has 8 years of experience supporting the emotional, social, and personal growth and well-being of children, adolescents, and adults in both individual and group formats.

Jacquelyn has a Master’s degree in Counseling and a Master’s degree in Education. She strives to develop a caring relationship with the client that is built on trust, respect, and collaboration. Jacquelyn integrates mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing with a strengths-based, person-centered approach to support the client in becoming his/her best self. When working with children and families, she often uses play therapy to foster relational skills, develop emotional awareness and self-regulation skills, and promote positive problem-solving. 

Jacquelyn recognizes that each client has a unique set of strengths, desires, and needs. Thus, she continually maintains flexibility and tailors strategies in response to the client’s needs and personal goals. Her goal is to encourage and empower you throughout your journey to becoming.

Sarah Steenbergen is a Licensed Social Worker with 2 years of experience working with adults in community health settings. She has assisted clients looking for support with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, addictions, and trauma experiences. Her training in social work and public health informs her views of clients as acting upon and being influenced by environmental and societal systems. She approaches clients with cultural humility and authenticity with a developmentally informed approach to help them reach their goals.

Sarah has a Master of Social Work from Temple University. Drawing from cognitive behavioral, mindfulness-based, person-centered, and dialectical behavior therapies, Sarah will work with you to strengthen your existing coping skills, learn new skills, and explore growth opportunities.

Wherever you're at in life, Sarah will meet you there. If you're feeling stuck, reaching out is the first major hurdle. You are showing yourself care by asking for support! Sarah knows healing and growth don’t happen in isolation, and she is committed to fostering relationship-building as an essential part of the therapeutic process.

Jonathan Lewis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who also holds a Master of Human Services Graduate Degree (MHS). Jonathan has over 15 years experience partnering with adults seeking help with depression, anxiety, life transitions, men’s issues and relationship issues. He received his Master of Human Services Degree from historic Lincoln University. Jonathan utilizes relational, collaborative, strength based, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness based, solution focused and emotionally focused approaches to therapy always maintaining the creativity, flexibility and awareness necessary to best meet the needs of every unique individual and couple. Jonathan seeks to establish a warm and caring relationship with you in order to assist in building on your strengths and better collaborate with you toward meeting your goals and living the meaningful life you value and desire. Aside from his experience and personal qualities, Jonathan's passion for change is at the core of his counseling. Jonathan is a firm believer that Human Beings have the capacity to change, and many of his clients can attest to that. Jonathan takes pride in providing care with openness and empathy, while providing balance and stability. Jonathan is eager to learn more about you and how he can contribute to your patient care and treatment goals.

Hannah Irwin is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor with 1 year of experience. Hannah’s ideal clients seek a safe, affirming space to explore identity, process life transitions, and build resilience. She values collaboration and transparency, working best with clients who appreciate honest feedback and shared input on the treatment process. Her collaborative and integrative approach empowers clients to be active participants in their healing journey.

Hannah has a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy, feminist theory, acceptance and commitment therapy, internal family systems, narrative, and mindfulness-based approaches in her work. She provides care rooted in trauma-informed, systematic, and sex-positive frameworks.

Hannah understands that reaching out for help is not always easy. She provides a judgment-free space and welcomes you to connect when you’re ready. She responds promptly during business hours, and while messages sent outside those hours will be answered the next business day, your well-being remains her priority.

MaryAlyce Rensa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania, who has 30 years of experience counseling adults, teens, and children seeking help with anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and trauma. 

MaryAlyce completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of MD, University College, and received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Towson University in Towson, MD. She utilizes cognitive behavior approaches including rational emotive behavior therapy and other strength-based, collaborative, and solution-focused approaches. MaryAlyce specializes in the creative use of games, art, and music for helping clients to develop insight into their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and she is flexible in doing “whatever works” to best meet the needs of her clients. 

MaryAlyce often gives homework on self-help activities and encourages participation in the therapeutic activities in sessions. She seeks to establish an open-minded, warm, honest, and caring relationship with you in order to assist in helping you learn to cope with your feelings in healthier ways, to understand and adjust your thoughts to improve your self-esteem and confidence, to build problem-solving skills so you can better help yourself in your life long goals.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 5 years of experience helping children, adolescents, and young adults navigate life’s challenges. I specialize in supporting individuals through career transitions, relationship struggles, dual diagnoses, and personal growth. My own journey of healing and self-discovery has shaped how I guide others today. I believe the best teachers are often those who were once students of their own healing.

I earned my Master’s in Psychology from Holy Family University. I take a collaborative, solution-focused approach, working with clients to identify strengths, address barriers, and set goals that lead to meaningful, lasting progress.

I provide a judgment-free space where you can feel supported in exploring your goals. Together, we will work through challenges, past traumas, or obstacles that may hold you back. My goal is to help you get to the place where you see and feel your best self.

Mark is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who works out of an office in Philadelphia, and holds licenses in both Pennsylvania and California. He has 20 years of experience helping children, adults, and families work through challenges that impact their health and happiness. He spent much of his career working at a nonprofit agency that continues to serve trauma impacted children and families in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was through this work that Mark grew to understand both the grave impact of trauma and the healing power of psychotherapy. Mark works from a variety of therapies to best match an individual's needs. Some of these include cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and gestalt therapy. He also has subspecialties in parent training, behavioral intervention instruction, and play therapies. Regardless of the therapeutic orientation, he believes enriching an individual’s personal story is the key to change. When people can author strength based personal narratives, they are able to find the strength to overcome their doubts, fears, and worry. Mark believes every person carries within them the power to change and heal. He seeks to help individuals access this power through a safe, comforting, and expressive experience.

Clifton “Cliff” Ventour is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor with 3 years of experience supporting individuals through life’s emotional challenges. Coming from an urban community where therapy is often stigmatized, Cliff is passionate about changing that narrative. He helps clients process anger, manage anxiety and depression, and build healthier coping strategies to feel more in control of their emotional well-being.

Cliff earned his Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Temple University and integrates empathy, emotional regulation, and client-centered techniques into his approach. He supports individuals in processing difficult emotions and encourages growth through validation, trust, and building meaningful therapeutic connections.

Cliff understands healing takes time. He creates a safe, affirming space where clients can move at their own pace. With warmth and patience, he meets individuals where they are and walks alongside them as they navigate challenges, embrace their journey, and move closer to their goals.