Colleen Mest, LCSW

Colleen Mest is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Pennsylvania who supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and caregiver strain. She also helps with relationship and family concerns, parenting stress, grief, self-esteem, and life changes. Colleen writes plainly and listens closely to understand what matters most to each person.

Her style is collaborative and compassionate. She focuses on individual strengths and works alongside clients to identify areas they want to change. Sessions aim to be a place for honest reflection and practical problem solving.

Colleen uses methods that match the person's needs. She draws on client-centered approaches to follow what a person brings to sessions. She uses cognitive behavioral tools to notice and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also incorporates mindfulness and solution-focused ideas to build moment-to-moment coping and small achievable goals.

Her background includes more than 12 years of experience in assessment and mental health work across a variety of concerns. That experience includes supporting people who have histories of trauma and those managing compassion fatigue or workplace stress.

Colleen often supports women working through barriers to find more fulfillment, and she helps young adults navigating life transitions. She speaks English and practices in Pennsylvania as an LCSW. If someone thinks she might be a good match, the next step is to use the directory's start process to see if schedules align.

Approaches you might use in online sessions

Colleen blends approaches that focus on what the person brings and on practical change. Client-Centered Therapy means the therapist follows a person’s concerns and priorities, creating room to talk through what feels most important. It is useful when someone wants acceptance and a partner in thinking things through.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect and teaches concrete skills to test and change unhelpful patterns. This approach can help with anxiety, depression, and coping with stressful situations.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Colleen will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They can also let someone choose sessions that suit their comfort level, such as options that do not require video. Talk with the therapist during the matching process about what will work best for your schedule and needs.