I enjoy being authentic and connecting with my patients on a genuine level. I bring the same calm, positive, and empathetic energy to every session, staying true to myself.

Andrea provides a safe, calm, non-judgmental space for engaging in therapy. Although very straightforward, Andrea is validating and approachable.

I have experience and a passion for working with clients through a faith-based lens, including Christian counseling, healing from spiritual trauma, or deconstruction. I also enjoy working with clients living with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, body image, self-esteem struggles, relationship or workplace difficulties, and those walking through grief. I have worked in various settings, from helping students better learn when addressing their emotional needs to providing family reunification services to people who have been formerly incarcerated.

I believe that therapy is most helpful when it is an experience and not just talking about thoughts. As a relational psychodynamic therapist, I think there is a lot to be gained from having more insight and clarity into ourselves and the ways we function in the world and our relationships. As a somatically informed therapist, I think building awareness of our bodies and what they are telling us opens up even more avenues for healing, especially when insight doesn't feel like it is enough. I work holistically and from a trauma-informed lens to combine the two in a way that is uniquely right for you and your needs. To this end, I have completed foundational training in Sensorimotor Therapy for trauma, a somatic psychotherapy, as well as a three-year training in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, a modality which combines psychoanalytic insight and depth with a focus on our bodies and emotions. The style of therapy I practice is active and collaborative, focusing not only on intellectual insight but also on helping you to have a new, meaningful experience. I believe a good therapy relationship, like any good relationship, allows us to feel seen, heard, and compassionately challenged to grow and create the change we want in our lives.

If you’re here, something likely feels off. Maybe you’re exhausted from holding things together, stuck in the same arguments, or feeling disconnected from yourself or the people you love. You might not know exactly what needs to change, but you know something does. I work with individuals and couples who want more than surface-level coping. My approach is honest, steady, and compassionate. Together, we slow things down enough to understand what’s really happening beneath the surface. We look at patterns that keep you stuck, how they formed, and how to respond differently moving forward. Therapy with me is collaborative and active. I’ll listen carefully, ask direct questions when needed, and offer tools that fit your goals and values. I draw from relational and trauma-informed approaches, always shaping the work to you, not forcing you into a formula. You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin. We’ll take this one step at a time, building clarity, trust, and a stronger sense of connection along the way.

"We are only as needy as our unmet needs" - John Bowlby At Matters of the Heart Counseling, we specialize in working with families parenting children from hard places (adoptionfoster care). We have a team of people ready to assess and provide a fully developed plan for working with your family. We utilize individual, family and couples therapy and also incorporate Neurofeedback as appropriate Matters of the Heart Counseling was established out of Karen's desire to provide, teach, and cultivate quality mental health counseling with an attachment focus to those specifically desiring a Christian faith-based perspective. All of our counselors have experience and specialized training to work with trauma and specifically, adoption. Many of our therapists can support a Christian perspective. Karen’s primary focus is to supervise and work with the team of therapists at Matters of the Heart Counseling to ensure quality services and therapy for all who enter our practice. Karen is specially trained in EMDR (through EMDRIA approved trainer), and Level II Certified Internal Family Systems therapist. Karen additionally utilizes the creative arts in her therapy through the use of art, sand tray, and other creative outlets as it is often difficult to find words for the experiences one has endured. Karen is a trained Neurofeedback technician, incorporating it into sessions. Karen closely supervises the clinicians on staff to impart her experience and cultivate their growth. Karen also enjoys being a speaker at conferences & has spoken on topics of adoption, self-injury, compassion fatigue, and trauma, Please contact Karen for her speaking fees.

Accepting New Clients! Finding a therapist and starting your journey towards a more fulfilling life can be a daunting task. The first question I ask all of my clients is "How can I help?" I believe that authentic therapy is the best therapy so I create the space for truth and transparency to shine. I assist individuals navigating an array of mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, life transitions, grief, men's issues, career issues, burnout, entrepreneurssmall business owners, cultivating and sustaining healthier relationships, and offering additional non-judgmental support at any juncture in life. As an eclectic therapist, I draw inspiration from a diverse toolkit to address your unique needs. My approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Techniques, Career Counseling, and considerations for diet and exercise, fostering holistic well-being. I offer individual therapy sessions for both adults and teens. I invite you to reach out and take the first step towards a more fulfilling and authentic life. I am excited at the prospect of working with you. I am accepting new clients on weekdays, weekends, as well as evening hours. Don't let the time or cost deter you from treatment.

My goal is to provide counseling, psychotherapy and treatment for individuals, couples and families struggling with a variety of psychological and mental health issues including stress, relationships, marital problems, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol, eating disorders, learning disability attention problems etc... As the Coordinator of Campus Alcohol and Substance Awareness at Temple University and as the past Assistant Director of Student Health and Counseling at The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia I have a lot of experience working with clients facing all the above issues and more. I believe that counseling is a collaborative process where clients sort out their thoughts and feelings in order to get a better understanding of who they are. My approach is eclectic or integrative but I use many psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral approaches in my work. I trust that clients know deep down what should be talked about in therapy and that they mostly need help knowing how to access these thoughts and feelings in order to realize what it is they want and need from others and their lives. I am very open to sharing my personal thoughts and experiences as a way of helping others. I find that it often helps patients to know that their therapist is a human being too and much can be learned from the relationship of therapy. Many clients come to a therapists office because they struggling in their relationships. Paying attention to how your relationship develops with your therapist can help you understand how the really important relationships in your life outside of the therapeutic relationship work.

My training as a mental health professional has taught me to be highly attuned to individuals' needs, with a strong desire to help my clients overcome life's difficulties. I know asking for help can be challenging, but I aim to build and maintain positive and effective therapeutic relationships built around the confidence and trust of my clients. In over a decade of experience, I have used a variety of approaches to meet my clients needs. I originally relied on cognitive-behavioral therapy, but I now use an eclectic approach, embracing psychoanalytic and existential approaches. I am also a licensed behavior specialist. I work with autism-spectrum clients to implement behavior programs that strengthen their skills and abilities. While in Europe, I gained expertise in progressive body relaxation.

Josephine Dakin-Davis is a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) in the state of Virginia. With over 15 years of clinical nursing experience, Josephine has come to believe that a sound mind is the precursor to a sound body, and she has an ardent passion for mental health.

Let's combine forces. You are the expert on you! I bring evidence-backed theoretical approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and psychodynamic therapy, which seek to transform your thoughts and reframe your situations, so that you become equipped with applicable skills to address panic, shame, loneliness, negative self-image, grief, and depression. Therapy is relational, but it is goal-oriented too. It is my hope for you that counseling will be a safe place in which you develop coping mechanisms, create unshakable inner peace, cultivate compassion and forgiveness, and find freedom from abusive and/or addictive patterns. Now that you know about me, I look forward to getting to know you! Best wishes in your pursuit of well-being and happiness!

Dr. Katelyn Shaffer, DNP, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)-BC, CARN-AP, is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) providing care to patients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Dr. Shaffer has taken on many roles as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She has worked with patients across the lifespan in settings including outpatient psychiatry, acute inpatient care, research, and education. Working with adult patients in outpatient psychiatry has always been Dr. Shaffer’s primary interest and specialty. She is well-versed in treating an array of diagnoses, including mood-related challenges, anxiety-related challenges, attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), and trauma-related challenges. As a PMHNP and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Dr. Shaffer’s role is multifaceted, including medication manager, therapist, educator, and mental health advocate.