Katelynne Hankins, MS, NCC, LPC, BC-TMH Katelynne Hankins, MS, NCC, LPC, BC-TMH, offers individual, couples, and family therapy, in our Wexford Counseling Center. After earning her Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Memphis, she began working with children and families on trauma and abuse issues as well as issues in family systems. She has worked in a variety of mental health settings, including residential, outpatient, and school-based programs. She has also helped to develop and implement new mental health programs while working with staff teams at these settings.
In addition to being a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor, Katelynne is also Board Certified in offering Telemental Health services for those who find online counseling more accessible. Whether online or in-person, Katelynne strives to offer a warm, welcoming, and safe space when working with her clients.
She has worked with clients on many issues including anxiety, depression , trauma, narcissistic abuse, panic attacks, life transitions, and relationship and partner conflict. Specializing in trauma-focused therapy for over 5 years, Katelynne has utilized Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) techniques with many clients dealing with symptoms of PTSD. She has found these techniques to be effective with helping clients not only work on their healing process from traumatic events but also in setting healthy boundaries for the purposes of self-advocating moving forward.
We all have stories or perspectives that impact our behaviors and decisions. While Katelynne individualizes her therapeutic approach based on her clients’ concerns, she has found the practice of Narrative Therapy techniques to be highly effective at helping clients understand their patterns and experiences. One such technique, externalizing our issues, can help lift unhealthy pressure we can put on ourselves and promote self-compassion. Another aspect of Narrative Therapy involves examining what meaning we have attached to our personal experiences. As the narrator of your life, these meanings, or conclusions, can impact our personal identity as human beings. What do your stories look like, and how would you like for them to look differently?
Increasing self-awareness can help shift thinking and behavioral habits in order to live life in alignment with our personal values and identity. Including Narrative Therapy techniques, Katelynne also utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Family Systems Theory techniques. She has also valued multicultural competency in working with clients from many backgrounds and prioritizes a validating, strengths-based approach to help her clients feel genuinely heard and seen. Clients can expect to be treated with respect and dignity when working with Katelynne.
The author John Green once said, “There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” Helping clients find hope is at the core of Katelynne’s approach to the counseling process. Mental health issues can be overwhelming to deal with alone and having a qualified professional help you find another perspective can be incredibly empowering.
Having recently relocated to the Pittsburgh area, Katelynne enjoys exploring the city, reading a good book, tending to her vegetable and herb garden, and spending time with her husband and two cats. She also enjoys kickboxing, photography, and cooking new recipes.