Who I'd send you to: Black mental health providers in Pittsburgh

Being Black in Pittsburgh can be hard. Finding a Black mental health provider here can be even harder.

And this isn't to say there's anything wrong with seeing a non-Black mental health provider as a person of color in Pittsburgh, but there's something about finding a therapist or counselor who gets a piece of your lived experience without you having to explain it first that just hits differently.

When I first started designing websites, I didn't plan to become the go-to web designer for wellness providers in Pittsburgh...it just kind of happened. And before I knew it, I designed websites for five of the practices on this list. (That was way before I ever thought about putting together this post.)

Somewhere around therapist client number three, I started noticing a pattern: I kept getting inquiries from Black-owned mental health professionals who found me because another Black-owned mental health professional vouched for me first. Word of mouth in Pittsburgh runs deep, and I want to return the favor in the best way I know how.

So here it is. A running list of Black therapists in and around Pittsburgh. Some, I've had the honor of building a website for. Others, I just know, respect, and would send someone I love to in a heartbeat. I'm making sure to mark which are which, because you deserve to know with full transparency, and because every provider earned their spot on this list either way.

If you find yourself looking for a reputable Black counselor in Pittsburgh, I hope this roundup makes your search a little easier.

For Individual Therapy and Everyday Life Stuff

Atlas Counseling Services (past client) - Dr. Timbo runs a practice out of a physical office in the East End, covering grief and loss, depression and anxiety, life transitions, and diversity and inclusion work. She also helps train up the next generation of clinicians through consulting and LPC supervision, so this is a name you'll likely keep seeing in Pittsburgh's mental health space.

Holding Space and Grace - Terri Pattillo, LPC, NCC, leads a small team of Black therapists (Jasmine Smith, Tiara Wilson, and Kristen Glass) out of North Oakland. Their name says it all: a holding space for healing, trauma-informed and person-centered, for anyone working through anxiety, depression, or PTSD. Has in-person and virtual options.

Counseling for the Culture (past client) - Autumn Goodson, LPC, NCC, works with what she calls "dreamers, high achievers, and culturally curious folks." Her whole approach is that therapy can be relational and even fun, not just clinical and heavy. She's helped over 200 clients work through limiting beliefs and life transitions, and she offers a free 15-minute consult if you'd like to meet her before scheduling a session. Has in-person and virtual options.

Hope Deals Counseling & Consulting - Khavah Murray, LCSW, runs this virtual, Black woman-led practice out of Monroeville. She works with individuals, couples, and families using culturally informed CBT, with a focus on trauma, grief, depression, and anxiety. Free 15-minute consult available if you want to meet her virtually first.

Hand in Hand Counseling Services - Co-owned by Tess Kenney, LPC, and Sharise Nance, LCSW, who met as college students and have worked together in mental health and behavioral health services ever since. Their team covers depression, anxiety, trauma, maternal health, life transitions, and more, with options for individual, family, and group counseling.

For Chronic Illness, Medical Trauma, and EMDR

Littlejohn Counseling & Consulting (past client) - Brittany Maxshure, LCSW, MPH, brings over 14 years of experience in medical social work into her practice on the South Side. If you're navigating a chronic illness diagnosis alongside anxiety, depression, or grief, she specializes in exactly that intersection. She's also an EMDR therapist, so if trauma is part of your story, she's trained for that too.

For Moms, Families, and Caregivers

Vision Towards Peace (past client) - Led by Erica, VTP is the biggest team on this list, offering individual, couples, and EMDR therapy at their Wilkinsburg location. They also offer several other services including psychiatry, blended case management, restorative parenting classes, and more.

Pivotal Years - Nicolette Covington, LCSW, built her Penn Hills practice around a specific mission: supporting caregivers of children ages 0 to 21 through generational trauma. If you're a parent trying to break a cycle instead of repeat it, this is worth a look.

Motherhood Redefined (past client) - A virtual practice and community built specifically for moms navigating burnout, identity shifts, and postpartum mental health. LaToya runs a 12-week program for new moms and community-based programming aimed at closing the accessibility gap for underserved mothers. If motherhood has you feeling like you lost yourself somewhere along the way, this is a soft place to land.

For Culturally-rooted, Spirituality-informed Care

GSM Therapeutics - Genafie McKnight, LCSW, founded GSM with a clear mission: dismantling mental health stigmas in the Black community and making culturally sensitive care the norm, not the exception. Her approach weaves in spirituality alongside strengths-based and cognitive methods, and she works with adults, kids, families, and elderly clients alike.

Know Someone Else Who Should Be on This List?

This isn't a one-and-done post. I'll keep adding to it as I find (and can vouch for) more Black-owned mental health practices in Pittsburgh. If that's you and you want to be included, or you know someone who does, just shoot me an email and let me know. Representation in care, especially in Pittsburgh, is hard to come by and is too important to keep to myself.