Meet The Team

Amy is the owner of Thrive and a counseling supervisor. She counsels adult individuals and couples. Amy earned a PhD in Clinical Sexology from the Modern Sex Therapy Institute and is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist. She is an LGBTQIA+ affirming and sex positive therapist who approaches therapy with a Feminist and Person-Centered Perspective. Her work with clients focus on gender identity, body image, relationship issues, sexual concerns, infidelity, kink, and consensual non-monogamy. Amy brings lightheartedness and laughter into sessions, while being supportive and affirming throughout. Outside of therapy, Amy enjoys traveling, creative endeavors, trying new restaurants, spending time with her three dogs, and laughing with family and friends.

Dawn provides services to people across the lifecycle including children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Dawn has over twenty years of experience working with people in various areas of life. Her focus includes, anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQ+, substance use disorder, people new to the area from other nations, ADHD and other forms of neurodivergent diversity. She uses client-centered, CBT, family systems, and narrative, therapeutic approaches in her work. Dawn’s sessions are in a trauma-informed and non-judgmental space to provide support. Dawn’s dedicated to supporting people as they grow through self-discovery in their journey through life. In her spare time, Dawn is a prolific reader who also enjoys watercolor and urban sketching. Dawn teaches as an adjunct professor when possible. She spends time with her husband of twelve years and their two cats, Loki and Marcus.

Carolyn offers therapy services for women and LGBTQIA+ clients aged 16+. She has devoted her practice to working with clients with Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia, ARFID, OSFED, and Binge Eating Disorder) and Anxiety diagnoses. Creating a safe and validating space for all client presentations is of the utmost importance to her. Carolyn has an empathetic and eclectic therapeutic style. This tends to take form as person-centered talk therapy, and pulls from CBT, CBT-E, DBT, and ACT, in addition to feminist and mindfulness practices. Her main goal is to validate and empower her clients to live authentic and meaningful lives; she views healing and growth as a lifelong practice. As a member of The Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH), Carolyn’s practice is informed by the principles of Health at Every Size and body neutrality. Therapy with Carolyn supports self exploration and allows for clients to improve their relationships with themselves and others, confront and challenge diet culture and Euro-centric metrics of health and beauty, develop and implement boundaries, view rest as a deeply radical act of self love, and learn and actualize what health—physical and mental—means to them. In her spare time, Carolyn enjoys visiting local and national parks with her partner, caring for her cats and rabbits, and catching up with friends near and far.

Ana offers therapy for adults, specializing in LGBTQIA+ folks and women in their 20s and 30s. Ana’s areas of clinical interest and training include trauma therapy, LGBTQIA+ issues, life transitions, and neurodivergence. Ana is trained in EMDR, parts work, and integrative somatic trauma therapy. As a clinician, Ana hopes to help clients develop their relationship with themselves and find the inner strength to heal from their pasts. Ana’s style is collaborative and laid-back. As a therapist, she is sex and kink-positive, anti-oppressive, and systems-aware. You won’t experience any shaming, judgment, or values-imposition in this therapy space! You can expect to learn about nervous system regulation, trauma processing, and parts work in your sessions. Ana also has considerable experience with diet culture and eating disorder recovery and can provide unconditional support through these challenges. If traditional talk therapy and cognitive approaches such as CBT haven’t worked for you in the past, Ana’s therapeutic style may be for you! When not practicing therapy, Ana loves to cuddle with her cats, make art, go dancing, walk in nature, and laugh with friends and loved ones.

Ashlee works with adults, college-aged adults and adolescents struggling with a wide variety of mental health issues. Ashlee feels that providing an equal balance of challenge and support to her clients is the best recipe for a solid therapeutic alliance and consistent improvements. She strives to assist her clients in building their “mental tool box” encompassing effective coping skills, confidence and self-awareness that allows her clients to feel they can tackle any challenge or obstacle. Ashlee is currently trained in EMDR therapy and is working towards certification. Additionally, Ashlee has a specialization in working with athletes from youth to college-aged on a variety of mental skills and resiliency techniques. Ashlee also commonly utilizes therapeutic techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and solution-focused therapy. Ashlee's style is encouraging, collaborative, and compassionate, with the goal of her clients becoming 1% better each day. "Life is filled with unexpected turns and curveballs. Through some of my own personal challenges, I learned that as long as I continued to put one foot in front of the other, I could focus on moving to the next ring of the ladder into becoming a better version of myself… and I saw that the view was absolutely beautiful!” Outside of being one of our part-time therapists, Ashlee works full-time at the Allegheny County Jail as a mental health therapist and she is also a part-time faculty member in the Department of Psychology and Health Sciences at Robert Morris University. In her free time, Ashlee spends time with her puppy, Peaches (who will also be present in some of Ashlee’s in person sessions). She also enjoys playing slow-pitch softball, going to the gym and spending time with friends and family.

Bernadette sees adult individuals, couples, and families. Using techniques from Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy, Bernadette aims to assist those clients simply trying to make sense of their journey in the midst of struggles that cause angst and distress. Sessions with Bernadette leave clients feeling relaxed, heard, and appreciated while incorporating space for humor and vulnerability. Bernadette says "It took me many years to work through my own family dysfunction before I was able to recognize the beauty of a life well lived. After a long career in aviation, I began college at the age of 50 and am currently working on my PhD. This made me realize that starting over is filled with ageless and infinite adventures. It is never too late to be free and happy as the journey inward is filled with great possibilities." Bernadette's interests outside of therapy include spending time with her husband and grown sons, writing and producing television and film, and celebrating fashion.

It is my passion to help others see the strength and beauty within themselves. As a therapist, I strive to be accepting and affirming. I work collaboratively with others to find balance, emotional acceptance, and empowerment in their lives. I have experience working with a variety of difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, addiction, low self-worth, trauma, family dynamics, and more. I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and I strive to be a lifelong learner. I would be grateful for the opportunity to learn from you too!

Gabriella sees individual clients of all ages and couples. She uses CBT, DBT, and Mindfulness to provide person-centered therapy. Gabriella has experience working with Autistic clients, as well as those seeking support for anxiety, depression, personality disorders, or sexually maladaptive behaviors. She has lived experience with chronic illness and adoption. Outside of therapy, Gabriella enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and going to the movies.

Lauren has extensive experience treating an array of issues and speacializes in Adult ADHD, Social Anxiety, and Over-eating. Seeing adults in tele-video sessions, her therapeutic approach is eclectic with an emphasis on Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral, and Existential-Humanistic modalities. In sessions, Lauren aims to provide a supportive, non-judgmental space where clients can feel heard and accepted, encouraging them to try new perspectives and behaviors. She says "Life can be tough. Childhood wounds or recurring problems in relationships may be kick-starting your desire for change. Often, it helps to understand how your current patterns evolved and how you, inadvertently, maintain them. Habits come in a variety of forms! Perfectionism, procrastination, masking your true self, self-doubt, and catastrophizing are common sources of unhappiness. Let's start the journey together of clarifying what you really want in life and how to get it." With a casual, warm, and conversational style, Lauren identifies as a life-long feminist who values social justice and compassion for all living beings. Many of her clients are professional women, women struggling with fat shame, and women who are singe or child-free, as well as ADHD and LGBTQIA+ individuals. In her free time, Lauren enjoys creating mixed. media art, playing with her lovable rescue cats, dancing, watching movies, and savoring the gift of a rainstorm.

Maddie sees adolescent and adult individuals, as well as couples, and families. Maddie uses Client-centered, Cognitive Behavioral, and Relational-Cultural approaches when working with clients, with sessions having a laid-back, comfortable, non-judgmental vibe. Maddie is also EMDR certified. Maddie enjoys working with teens and young adults, helping them heal and grow through life challenges. In her spare time, Maddie makes jewelry, spends time with family, hangs out with her cat, and enjoys taking walks.

Debrah provides online therapy for couples, and individuals age 16+. She works with individuals who are dealing with “family of origin” issues, loss, and life transitions. She sees couples who want to increase connection, improve communication, and learn to have “hard conversations”. She also has a specialty working with adoptees age 16+. She strives to accompany her adoptee clients as they work through the grief and loss associated with adoption. As an adoptee herself, she sees this work as her calling. Trained as a couples and family therapist, she sees the world through a systemic lens. She has training in family systems theory, attachment based therapy, mindfulness, and “trauma informed” therapy. She works eclectically, and may also use art and “parts work” during the course of therapy. Debrah is a collaborative therapist who will both challenge and support you. She believes that humor and spirituality have a place in therapy and strives to practice antiracist, LGBTQIA+ affirming and feminist therapy, creating a safe space for my clients. Debrah says: “I will help you dig into your past, make changes, and emerge as a happier, more content person/couple.” Debrah is a single Mom by choice of a college aged child. In her spare time she enjoys going to Art museums, taking walks, and weeding her garden.

Lexi looks to bring genuine warmth, care, and connection to sessions as well as humor, authenticity, and empathetic directness. She believes in approaching one’s wounds and struggles with compassionate curiosity and remaining open to the idea that healing is a lifelong journey of evolving and getting connected with ourselves over and over as we navigate the many seasons of our lives. Lexi’s work is grounded in attachment theory, and she believes that the power of the therapeutic relationship is the foundation upon which healing is facilitated. Lexi strives to always function from a client autonomy focused, social justice, feminist, anti-oppression, and Health at Every Size lens. Lexi strives to provide truly individualized, collaborative, and creative treatment and therefore the logistics of therapy will look different for everyone. However, Lexi is developmentally oriented and heavily influenced by Narrative therapy, Existential therapy, parts work, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, and DBT. While Lexi loves working with all her clients, she finds her deepest passion lies in helping folks navigate trauma, PTSD, CPTSD, attachment wounds, and the many related struggles that often come along with these experiences. Whatever brings you to therapy it is Lexi’s hope that you will leave this work feeling deeply empowered and capable of enacting the change you wish to see in yourself and the world. When not in sessions, Lexi enjoys snuggling with her dog Franklin, connecting and laughing with her friends and chosen family, taking walks outside and connecting with nature, cuddling up with a good book, listening to podcasts and new music, attending live shows, singing showtunes in the car with the windows down, and rewatching comfort shows.

Joan Soulliere is a Licensed Social Worker who brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her practice. With a deep commitment to providing compassionate and effective mental health services, Joan is dedicated to supporting individuals throughout the adult lifespan, from college students to older adults. Her extensive experience encompasses a diverse range of populations and issues, making her a versatile and empathetic therapist. Joan specializes in working with the following types of concerns: veteran mental health, older adults, caregiver concerns, adults adjusting to changing roles, physical disabilities, identity exploration, and college students. Joan's therapeutic approach is rooted in empathy, respect, and collaboration. She believes in the inherent strength of each individual and works to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their challenges and find pathways to healing and growth. Her integrative techniques combine cognitive-behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness practices tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

Aly is one of our Interns. She is able to see clients for pro bono sessions under the supervision of our clinical supervisor. Aly offers therapy to individuals, couples, and families virtually. Her work is guided by a passion for advocating for nondiscriminatory societal changes, aiming to break down barriers and limitations to contribute to a more equitable and culturally-informed practice. Aly approaches therapy with an understanding that one’s healing process is a deeply personal and transformative journey, which requires a compassionate and unconditionally supportive environment. Aly values establishing a therapeutic alliance that is both collaborative and rooted in rapport, which is derived from fostering trust and empowering clients to recognize their strength and potential. Her commitment is to support clients in their self-discovery, personal growth, and healing by meeting them where they are in their lived experiences day by day. Outside of therapy, Aly enjoys reading fantasy books, playing video games, crocheting, cooking, spoiling her two cats (Cashew and Fudge), watching anime, and laughing to tears with her loved ones.