- CBT techniques
- Mindfulness practice
- Solution focused work
About Colleen
Colleen Mest is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, practicing in Pennsylvania with 12 years of clinical experience. She works with adults coping with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, anger, grief, parenting concerns, relationship and family difficulties, and related challenges.
Colleen uses a collaborative style that focuses on clients' strengths. She listens to what people want to change and helps them try concrete steps to get there. Sessions are practical and paced to the client's needs rather than driven by jargon or a single method.
Her approach draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral techniques, and mindfulness ideas to help people notice patterns, test new behaviors, and reduce unhelpful thinking. She also uses solution-focused strategies to set short-term goals and Imago relationship ideas when conversations about connection are needed.
People who have lived through trauma or who struggle with caregiver strain or codependency can expect attention to safety, pacing, and grounding skills. Colleen helps with relationship communication, family of origin concerns, fertility-related stress, postpartum mood changes, seasonal mood shifts, workplace stress, and struggles common to young adults.
Her way of working emphasizes clear steps and small experiments. That can mean practicing a new boundary, learning a short mindfulness exercise, or trying a different script in a tough conversation. She asks questions and suggests options, then the client decides what to try next.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, reflecting, and following what matters most to the client. Online sessions using this approach center on the client's goals and the therapist's responsive questions to clarify what to try next. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses short exercises to test new ways of responding. This can help with anger, anxiety, and depression by spotting patterns and practicing alternatives in real life.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will review your concerns, preferences, and goals and suggest which methods to start with. That recommendation is collaborative and can change as you try techniques and see what fits.
The biography does not list which online session formats are used, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, and allow check-ins during a lunch break or between errands. They also make it simple to use recorded mindfulness exercises, share worksheets on screen, and practice new communication scripts between sessions.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
Pennsylvania
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She supports adults with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, anger, grief, parenting strain, relationship and family concerns, and related issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She works collaboratively and focuses on clients' strengths, using clear steps and practical exercises rather than abstract theory.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 12 years of experience in assessment and mental health treatment.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a Pennsylvania Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, and practices in Pennsylvania.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
International clients are not currently accepted; sessions are offered in English.
Which session formats are used?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.