Jessica Lampman

Hi! I'm Jess Lampman, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania. I have worked in both rural and urban Pennsylvania for about 10 years. I typically work with adults struggling with depression, anxiety, and difficulty adjusting after major life events (like relocating or divorce) or through major life transitions (like from college to workforce).

My approach

My approach is client-centered; we start with you and your needs and we go from there. My goal is to always build a relationship first... Once we have some rapport and trust, we can set goals that are meaningful to you and I will incorporate different techniques based on your needs.

My focus

I typically work with adults struggling with depression, anxiety, and difficulty adjusting after major life events (like relocating or divorce) or through major life transitions (like from college to workforce). Sometimes people who have these concerns also find themselves drinking or using drugs more than they used to. I walk side-by-side through difficult times with my clients and offer a place to share openly so my clients don't feel so alone in carrying the burden of pain or suffering anymore.

My communication style

I bring warmth, empathy, and humor to my virtual sessions. I typically use Google Workspace or other HIPAA-compliant platforms to offer video therapy, but I don't let the virtual experience get in the way of connecting. I am a good listener and will reflect back on what I hear with my clients to make sure I understand what they're saying. I also understand that some therapists are serious but I prefer to bring humor and a human touch to my sessions as this is true to my personality.

My journey to mental healthcare

For my whole life, I've known that I wanted to help people. I was raised in our local volunteer fire department where my parents (who were teachers) trained to be first responders and volunteer firefighters in their free time. I didn't always know what "helping people" meant to me - for some time I wanted to join the military, and at other times I wanted to be a nurse. When I was in college, I took a few classes that I really connected with and I found that psychology and counseling were my passion. I moved to Pittsburgh to complete my graduate training and worked in a variety of settings - a crisis hotline, a substance use disorder facility, and a community mental health clinic - all of which taught me different things about myself and life in general. I have found that doing this work helps me give back in my community and helps to normalize the notion that mental health is health.

My goals for you

Goal setting is important because it helps us know what we're working toward and it helps us to gauge when we are done with the work we set out to do. That said, sometimes people come to therapy thinking that they want to work on one area of their life, but they find that there are other areas that are more important or that also need some attention. I am flexible and work with my clients to reprioritize as needed since life circumstances often change.

My first session with you

During our first session, I will try to learn more about you - both who you are today and what you have experienced in your life so far. Usually, I have my clients fill out a questionnaire prior to the first session and I will review that independently prior to our meeting. Any areas that I have more questions, I will ask those in the first or second sessions so I can better understand where you're coming from and what your experiences have been. Together we can set some preliminary goals during those initial sessions, but we can also work to shape those during follow-up appointments as we get to know each other better.