Samaritan Counseling, Guidance, Consulting

06/19/2026

https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/events-festivals/annual-events/juneteenth/
Samaritan proudly acknowledges Juneteenth. Visit this site to learn about the celebrations occurring in Pittsburgh this weekend.

Are you ready for Juneteenth in Pittsburgh? Explore our guide for the Juneteenth Pittsburgh 2026 schedule of events and details about the parade.

06/11/2026

Samaritan profoundly thanks the Child Health Association of Sewickley for its $5,000 grant to support affordable mental health therapy for kids. L-R: Beth Healey, Samaritan's director of development and marketing; Luci Ramsey, director of operations and finance, and Laura Mastrorocco and Nicole Hasak from Child Health.

06/09/2026

https://www.samaritancounseling.net/about-us/jenny-richardson
Thank you, Jennifer Kruczek, one of our Sewickley and Beaver therapists, for offering a very fun and informative presence at the Beaver County Bounces Back event in May to promote mental health awareness for kids.

05/12/2026

Many war veterans suffer from PTSD—Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The main causes are experiencing life-threatening events and the loss of life of fellow soldiers. People who are not war veterans also experience trauma that leads to PTSD, although some do not realize this is true.

“When a client feels that PTSD is ‘just for war veterans,’ I patiently explain the true definition of PTSD,” said Jennifer Edmonds, a Licensed Professional Counselor with Samaritan. “Any one of us, in any given moment, could experience a traumatic event. Most of my clients share a trauma history. When they learn that I support sexual trauma survivors, they often say, ‘Well, my issues are not as bad as theirs. They probably need more help than I.’ I remind them that each client issue is important and there is no hierarchy. Each individual has different needs in treatment, but I make a strong effort to meet each client where they are, in their faith, and when practicing in the secular arena of care. I believe that it is our role as counselors to educate and reassure in working through this particular myth.”

05/08/2026

It is difficult to talk about the horrible things that have happened in life, especially if you’ve bottled them up for years. We tend to develop our own coping skills (good and bad) to push through and move forward. At first, you may feel uncomfortable starting therapy. It’s the therapist’s role to create an emotionally safe environment for people to feel comfortable working through their issues. We can walk "hand in hand" with them, one problem at a time, to recognize how they have been carrying these issues for years. Therapy becomes their safe space to talk, process, and heal, as we guide them as "fellow travelers."

05/05/2026

https://www.nami.org/blog/9-ways-to-fight-mental-health-stigma/
Only half of people who need mental health therapy seek care. The top barriers to care include lack of affordability and accessibility, shortage of care providers, and stigma. Samaritan addresses these barriers, but stigma is a tough one to overcome. Many still view mental health issues as weaknesses or character flaws. What can we do? For starters, talk openly about it. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers great suggestions—click the link to learn how you can combat stigma.

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05/04/2026

https://www.samaritancounseling.net/articles
Many people hesitate to see a therapist for a variety of reasons. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we'll explore some of these reasons, talk about what the actual benefits are of working with a therapist, and much more. Click the link above to get started.

05/01/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Today, we're going to direct you to info on the stigma that surrounds talking about or getting help to improve our mental health. Our society has come a long way, but stigma still lingers... What are YOUR thoughts?

Learn about Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness

04/20/2026

https://www.samaritancounseling.net/so/d0PsSPysS?languageTag=en

Everyday, women of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life reach out to Samaritan for help. Their stories are heartbreaking, but through therapy, we help them rewrite the endings. Why do we ask you for help? Because some of these women have no insurance or are under-insured, through no fault of the...

03/31/2026

https://www.samaritancounseling.net/jonathan-alvarado
Licensed Associate Professional Counselor JONATHAN ALVARADO counsels people at our Sewickley and Upper St. Clair offices as well as via teletherapy. Jonathan believes in holistic healing that takes into consideration the whole person—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Click the link to learn more about Jonathan.