Molly Silverman, LPC (she/her)

The Basics

Title: Clinicial Therapist

Availability: Limited availability

Location: Telehealth

Schedule: Weekdays + evenings

Insurance/payment: Highmark BCBS, Cigna, Aetna, Optum/United,

Sliding scale $105-140

My Specialties

• LGBTQIA2SP+ 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

My Orientation & Approach

Strengths-based; Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Mindfulness-based therapies; Person-Centered Therapy; Gestalt Therapy; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

What working with me is like

Person-Centered Approach: This means that I prioritize building a genuine, compassionate, and non-judgmental relationship with my clients. After all, the quality of the relationship between client and therapist is one of the top predictors of positive therapeutic outcomes!

Gestalt Therapy: This means that I help guide clients through building awareness of their needs, the options they have to choose from to support the life they want to live and meet their needs, and what might be getting in the way of taking action or making desired changes. I believe my client’s are the experts of their own lives, and as the therapist, I act to empower my clients in making choices to support their authentic selves, instead of trying to make those choices for them. I am currently participating in the Gestalt Institute of Pittsburgh’s 2-Year Training Program.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): This means that I prompt my clients to reflect on their values and the extent to which they are living in alignment with their values. ACT can be particularly helpful for clients faced with uncertainty and experiencing uncomfortable emotions, as we work on building confidence and courage in getting through moments of discomfort using personal values as an anchor and guide.

Trauma-Informed Approach: This means that I prioritize creating a therapeutic space where my clients feel safer to be themselves, respecting my client’s autonomy and choice, maintaining transparency with my clients, and recognizing that past experiences in the mental health care system may have been traumatic for many clients.

Skill Building: I help clients gain skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance (such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy), gain internal and external awareness through mindfulness-based exercises, and strengthen their capacity for self-compassion.

What I provide support for

Mood: Sometimes, the world can be a total dumpster fire, and our bodies and minds react to the environment, events, and people around us in ways that may impact our wellbeing. For some folks, this can look like feeling hopeless, lonely, or numb, difficulty sleeping or trouble getting out of bed, feeling angry or annoyed all the time, lacking the motivation to do seemingly ‘simple’ tasks, or feeling that it would be easier to just not exist. I aim to help my clients cope with what they may be struggling with, let them know that they are not alone, and develop strategies to support their wellbeing.

Anxiety: Anxiety can take many forms, such as difficulty talking to new people, trouble focusing due to racing thoughts, difficulty falling asleep, waking up in a panic, or feeling physically unwell. I aim to support my clients through their worries, build skills to better tolerate feelings of anxiety, and incorporate more comforting thoughts into their internal dialogue.

Identity: Each of us is made up of a unique combination of identities. This can include race, ethnicity, religion, ability, gender, sexual orientation, body size, health status, personal values, and much more. Navigating one’s own identity can often be stressful and at times can lead to feelings of confusion, anger, guilt, or shame. I aim to help my clients explore their identity, build self-confidence in who they are, build spaces and relationships in which it feels safer to be themselves, and, if desired, find additional support to affirm their identity.

Neurodivergence: I aim to help my neurodivergent clients find skills that are helpful for coping with the neurotypical world while also helping them to create environments and systems that honor their way of thinking, feeling, and experiencing instead of telling them that they need to change.

Grief & Loss: Whether it is an unexpected job loss or change in career trajectory, the death of a friend, family member, or pet, the end of a relationship, or any other change where life does not end being what you had wished for, I aim to help my clients find hope and build a life worth living alongside grief instead of being consumed by it.

Some Fun Facts

These days when I’m not providing therapy, I spend most of my time with my chosen family, 4 cats and a 75-lb lap dog. I love traveling, getting tattoos, going to concerts, and exploring new places to eat with friends. If I’m not doing those things, you might find me listening to any of Brandi Carlile’s albums on repeat, rewatching my favorite Marvel movies (let’s be honest, it’s probably Thor Ragnarok), listening to comedy podcasts, or lounging on the couch as I scroll through TikTok. I am a serial hobby starter (not necessarily a finisher), and that’s okay because trying new things can be a hobby in itself!

Quote

“Your life is in fact twisted and beautiful, and you'll find that as you peel back the layers, the unexpected side effect is that it feels wonderful to be known. Even if it's just by you.” – Brandi Carlile