Chris Gardner, LPC (She/Her)

The Basics

Title: Clinical Therapist

Availability: Availability within one month

Location: Downtown + Telehealth

Schedule: Weekdays + Evenings

Insurance/payment: UPMC, Highmark BCBS, Untied/ Optum, Cigna, Aetna

Sliding Scale: $100-140

My Specialties

• Reproductive mental health issues (infertility; abortion; challenges across pregnancy; postpartum anxiety, OCD, depression, or other challenges; early parenting support)

• LGBTQIA2S+ support

• Trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse support

• Neurodivergent support (please note our approach is generally therapeutic/acceptance-based, not coaching)

• Grief and loss

• Adjustment, stress, transitions

• Anxiety and mood symptoms

• Couples/partners

• Relational & Psychodynamic; Attachment-Based

My Orientation & Approach

Systems (including familial, transgenerational, historically oppressive, intersectional identity frameworks); Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT), including process-based; Strengths-based; Evidence-based trauma therapies; Feminist; and Attachment-based

Some Fun Facts

I love digging and playing in the dirt, collecting cool rocks, hiking, and gardening. I also like working with my hands and over the years have explored metalworking, blacksmithing, woodworking, knitting, and drawing and collage. When, inevitably, my body and hands are weary I savor curling up on the couch with a cup of tea and listening to music or watching an episode of "Only Murders In the Building...."

What working with me is like

I utilize a Relational and Integrative approach to treatment and feel strongly that each client is unique and entitled to a personalized therapeutic experience. Because I am curious about how you became the person you are I initially ask a lot of questions. As sessions progress therapy becomes an increasingly collaborative relationship. Together we set goals and explore new perspectives and strategies. My part in this collaboration is to provide you with a safe, compassionate and supportive environment – one where you are comfortable sharing your hopes and dreams, your struggles and fears, and experimenting with new ways of thinking and being in the world. My hope is that our work together will facilitate growth toward self-determination and greater joy in daily life.

Quote

“I want to think again of dangerous and noble things. I want to be light and frolicsome. I want to be improbable beautiful and afraid of nothing, as though I had wings.” -Mary Oliver

Important about me

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and provide individual, couples and family therapy to adolescents, and adults. I received a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh, a Masters of Science in Education from Duquesne University and further training in WPIC's Structural Family Based Curriculum. Over the past 20 years I have worked in non-profit community mental health providing intensive in-home family therapy and case management, in a partial hospitalization program treating children ages 5-12, and in reproductive healthcare and family planning with adolescent girls and women providing counseling, education and crisis management. I have been here at Forward Wellness since 2019 and am grateful to be working with this outstanding team committed to providing accessible mental health care for individuals, couples/partners, and families.

I enjoy working with and welcome members of the LGBTQIA2S community. Through personal experience and professional training I am committed to supporting and empowering adolescents, adults, couples, parents and families in navigating issues including sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, as well as relationship health.

I am here to provide you with the culturally affirming support, resources, and the encouragement you deserve.

I believe that “what happens to one member of the family happens to everyone in the family.” So, if one member of the family is experiencing distress all members of the family system will be impacted - which often leads to further instability and distress. This "systems-based" approach facilitates members of the family move toward a better understanding of one another, improve communication, change behavior, resolve conflict and generate stability. My approach is appropriate for individuals, partners, and families in resolving issues related to their current situation as well as issues related to their family of origin.