

Alena Kupchella Gourley
Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Clinical Hypnotherapist
I work with all age groups to manage life changes, grief, trauma, suicidal ideation, self harm, parent-child dynamics, phobias, addictions, chronic pain and conditions. We work together to improve the mind, body and heart connection for mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.
Soothing the nervous system and shifting thought patterns can be helped with the tools from many therapeutic systems and skills you'll learn in sessions. A favorite part of most sessions is the deep relaxation and positive suggestions. The mental, emotional and physical pain relief achieved in session carries into day to day life.
I received my B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from IUP and my Master of Social Work from the University of Kentucky. Further areas of specialty are as a NGH Clinical Hypnotherapist and Hypnotherapy trainer.
I believe that humans should ideally be unfolding and growing throughout their lifetime. This means embracing change, especially when life gets difficult and we feel stuck, dissatisfied, or overwhelmed. Change is a journey with ups and downs. Personally, I believe we all struggle with challenges at different times in our life and it's the courageous who seek help.
I am a professional counselor who recently began working part-time with Headway and am currently accepting new clients.
I have been working in the mental health field since 2015 across a variety of settings, including residential treatment, inpatient rehabilitation and detox, and school-based services. I currently work full time with Allegheny Health Network as a Behavioral Health Clinician, where I provide counseling to college students through the Chill Project.
As a clinician, I take a person-centered approach and draw from a range of evidence-based modalities tailored to each client’s needs, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and others. I also have a strong interest and experience in working with substance use disorders. In addition, I am a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC).


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