Rachel Diaz MA, LPC, ATR-BC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered, Board-Certified Art Therapist at our Canonsburg Counseling Center. Rachel utilizes an integrative, creative, and holistic, mind-body approach to helping others. Rachel has ongoing experience effectively providing traditional cognitive behavioral therapy with adults, children, families, groups, and couples in office, home, school, and community settings. Rachel’s priority is to provide a safe and trusting environment for you to feel fully heard and validated. Rachel’s person-centered approach is used to promote autonomy and increase confidence in your ability to heal and change. With this, Rachel will meet you where you are at in your process of healing while striving to help you move forward at your own pace. Rachel is equipped to provide you with a variety of individualized skills and techniques to assist you in your process.
Rachel graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mercyhurst University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Therapy and a minor in Psychology. Rachel went on to obtain her Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy.
Rachel primarily practices within the framework of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and the Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) model, and she has ongoing training and experience utilizing Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and Emotional Freedom techniques & Tapping (EFT). As a board-certified art therapist, Rachel is well versed in utilizing art therapy with both children and adults. Rachel practices art therapy within the framework of Humanistic Art Therapy and the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC). Rachel can guide you in using art making as a tool to minimize stress, promote mind-body connection, and increase self-expression, self-awareness, and self-worth. Rachel guarantees no experience with art making is necessary to engage in this type of therapy.
Rachel began her career working with children on the Autism Spectrum and children struggling with ADHD and other behavioral disorders. Rachel further gained experience working with homeless and disadvantaged youth as an independent contractor with the non-profit organization, Art Expressions, Inc. Rachel progressed in her career by providing specialized, recovery-based treatment to those suffering from addiction, complex addictions, and dual diagnosis. Throughout her journey, Rachel has treated co-morbid disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), adult ADHD, major depression, bi-polar disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), personality disorders, and grief and bereavement.
Rachel copes with her own life stressors through art making, meditation, reading, spending time outdoors, spending time with her family, and attending community events and outings. Rachel has found mindfulness techniques to be at the center of her own healing processes. Rachel personally strives to create meaning out of loss and hardships, using negative experiences as an opportunity to learn and grow. Rachel’s goal would be to help you see your hardships as nothing more than an important and meaningful chapter in your life’s journey. Rachel strongly stands by the quote “as you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” This quote reminds her that it is not necessary to see the whole picture or to know the destination, but to remain open, curious, and willing to take the next step.
To book an appointment with Rachel Diaz, MA, LPC, ATR-BC at our South Hills Counseling Office, please call us at 724-908-0531. We are conveniently located at 2000 Waterdam Plaza Drive Suite 240 Mcmurray. PA 15317.