Business Details
Comprehensive Psychological Evaluations and Therapy Services
Psychological Perspectives is a dedicated center for psychological care, offering comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and tailored treatment plans for individuals across all age groups. Our team of licensed professionals specializes in evidence-based therapies, including EMDR, TF-CBT, and PCIT, addressing complex trauma, anxiety, depression, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Located in Pleasant Hills, we prioritize client-centered care that integrates clinical expertise with personalized therapeutic approaches. Our services extend to neuropsychological assessments, autism evaluations, and specialized support for LGBTQ+ individuals navigating social and medical transitions.With decades of combined experience, our clinicians utilize advanced training in CBT, DBT, and integrative modalities to address diverse mental health needs. We maintain affiliations with leading academic institutions and professional organizations to ensure our practices remain at the forefront of psychological science. Our commitment to accessibility includes telemedicine options and collaboration with insurance providers to facilitate care. Through continuous professional development, we uphold rigorous standards of clinical excellence and ethical practice.
Services
Psychological Evaluations
Neuropsychological Assessments
Trauma Therapy
Autism Diagnoses
ADHD Assessments
Cognitive Rehabilitation
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
Telemedicine Consultations
School Neuropsychological Testing
Geriatric Mental Health Services
Highlights and features
- Our clinicians have specialized EMDR training since 2012 for trauma treatment
- We offer ADOS-2 certified autism evaluations with expert differential diagnosis
- LGBTQ+ affirming care with specialized support for gender transition processes
- Board-certified neuropsychologists provide advanced cognitive assessments for adults
- PCIT trained therapists deliver evidence-based parent-child interaction programs
Services
Psychological Evaluations
Our comprehensive psychological evaluations use standardized tools to clarify diagnoses and inform treatment plans. These assessments address mood disorders, behavioral concerns, and neurodevelopmental conditions through clinical interviews, observational data, and validated testing instruments. The process includes feedback sessions with personalized recommendations for treatment, accommodations, or further medical evaluation.
Neuropsychological Assessments
Specialized neuropsychological evaluations examine cognitive functioning across multiple domains including memory, attention, and executive functioning. These assessments help identify neurological conditions, track cognitive changes, and develop intervention strategies for individuals with traumatic brain injuries, dementia concerns, or learning disabilities.
Trauma Therapy
Our trauma-informed therapy services employ EMDR, TF-CBT, and somatic reprocessing techniques to address PTSD and complex trauma. Treatment focuses on processing traumatic memories, developing coping strategies, and restoring emotional regulation through evidence-based interventions adapted to each client's needs.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
PCIT programs for children aged 2-7 combine play therapy with caregiver training to improve parent-child relationships and manage behavioral issues. This evidence-based approach teaches positive discipline techniques while strengthening family communication and emotional connections.
Telemedicine Services
Telehealth options provide remote access to psychological evaluations, therapy sessions, and follow-up care using secure video platforms. These virtual services maintain clinical quality while offering flexibility for clients across Pennsylvania who require distance-based mental health care.
People
Dr. Vanessa Talkington Michael
Founder/Owner
Licensed psychologist with 20+ years experience in mental health, specializing in trauma treatment, neuropsychological assessments, and evidence-based therapies. Board-certified school neuropsychologist and PCIT trainer.
Brittany Ashcraft
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Specializes in complex trauma and PTSD treatment with EMDR certification since 2012. Provides LGBTQ+ affirming care and integrative therapy combining CBT, DBT, and somatic approaches.
Dr. Mary Comis
School Psychologist
Doctorate in School Psychology from Duquesne University with expertise in autism diagnosis using ADOS-2. Specializes in assessments for neurodevelopmental disorders and behavioral health concerns.
Dr. Jennifer Keller
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Board-certified neuropsychologist with 15+ years experience assessing neurological disorders including dementia, traumatic brain injury, and movement disorders. Provides pre/post-surgical evaluations for DBS and epilepsy.
Jason Dodson
Licensed Professional Counselor
Specializes in trauma treatment with EMDR certification and PCIT training. Utilizes ACT, CBT, and DBT approaches for clients across the lifespan with behavioral and emotional challenges.
Questions
What mental health services do you offer?
We provide psychological evaluations, neuropsychological testing, individual therapy, family therapy, and specialized treatments for trauma, autism, ADHD, anxiety, and neurocognitive disorders across all age groups.
Do you accept insurance?
We accept Aetna, Cigna, Highmark, Medicare, United Behavioral Health, Optum, and UPMC insurance plans. Not all providers accept all insurances, so please verify with our office.
Are telehealth appointments available?
Yes, we offer telemedicine services with multiple providers for psychological evaluations, therapy sessions, and follow-up appointments across Pennsylvania.
What ages do you treat?
Our services cover all age groups from early childhood through geriatric care, with specialized assessment tools and therapeutic approaches tailored to each developmental stage.
Do you provide autism diagnostic evaluations?
Yes, we conduct comprehensive autism assessments using ADOS-2 with differential diagnosis capabilities for children, adolescents, and adults.
What therapeutic approaches are used?
Our clinicians utilize evidence-based methods including CBT, DBT, EMDR, TF-CBT, PCIT, ERP, and neurocognitive biofeedback tailored to individual treatment needs.
