Introduction
The Clinical Psychology Center is not available for 24 hour/day emergency services, and is closed during all University of Pittsburgh breaks. As such, our clinic is not able to provide services for clients whose serious emotional difficulties would require a higher level of care and/or 24-hour emergency services (including individuals who have recently been discharged from inpatient or residential treatment). In addition, while the CPC can provide a range of services, our clinic is not equipped to care for individuals with a primary diagnosis of autism spectrum, bipolar I, psychosis spectrum, eating or substance use disorders.
The following sections explain the services that we offer.
Adult Therapy
Psychotherapy (or talk therapy) treatments provided within the CPC have been shown to be effective for a variety of mood, anxiety and pain related symptoms, and include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). These treatments are provided as weekly 50-minute sessions over a time-limited period (typically, 12-16 weeks) to reduce symptoms of emotional distress and dysfunction and to enhance quality of life.
Assessment Services
We provide the following types of child and adult assessments:
- ADHD testing
- Intellectual disability testing
- Learning disability testing
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Memory concerns
Child and Family Therapy
Child and Family Therapy is offered for children ages 5-17. We offer individual and/or family therapy with an advanced graduate student in the clinical psychology PhD program, closely supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in child and family therapy. Additionally, we offer in-house medication management if you and your treatment team feel this could be helpful for your child. Family come to us to work on various concerns including the following:
- Problems at school
- Difficulties with attention
- Struggling with bullying
- Fighting at home
- Have a child who is a “worrier”
- Concerned about your child’s sadness
- Life transitions
- Could you just use some support
Pain Management Program
The University of Pittsburgh Clinical Psychology Center has a program to treat adults who suffer from chronic pain or other physical symptoms that impact quality of life. We have designed an outpatient psychotherapy program to complement the medical treatment you are receiving. The program goal is to increase the ability to live with physical symptoms, including pain and other discomforts, so they interfere less with daily activities and exert less control over living a meaningful life.
We offer two different types of psychotherapy that have been shown to help individuals to manage physical symptoms and chronic stress and live a more satisfying life. The first is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which focuses on accepting distressing symptoms or sensations and learning to live a full and meaningful life. This is a skills-based treatment that helps individuals learn to cope with physical symptoms and life challenges, so they interfere less with living a satisfying life. The second type of psychotherapy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This is a practical goal-oriented therapy that aims to change patterns of behavioral and negative thinking that can maintain pain and discomfort.. A main component of both programs involves learning to self-calm and be present in each moment. To help clients learn to decrease tension and learn what it feels like to relax, we often supplement treatment with biofeedback.
