Anita Knaack is a licensed counselor providing therapy to children, adults, couples, and families in our South Hills Counseling Center. We all have experienced challenge, despair, and hardship throughout different times in our lives. Many of us were raised to value our own strengths, and to tackle our problems on our own. However, there are times in our lives, when fighting for our well-being and the well-being of our loved ones, must be shared. We are were not meant to face these burdens alone, sometimes we just need a little help, another companion to walk with us through the pain and suffering. However seeking help, guidance and support can be scary, in these times, counseling may be the best answer. A trained and dedicated psychotherapist can open doorways and reveal paths that are invisible to our friends, family and even to ourselves.
Anita is honored to join you on your journey of self-discovery and rejuvenation. Her therapeutic approach focuses on you as a whole, by developing an individualized plan that utilizes your inner strengths with the goal of helping you find clarity and contentment, which you can carry into all parts of your life.
Anita has experience treating children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD), anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders and an array of addictions and issues surrounding recovery. She also works with parents to provide emotional support, and advice on adaptations that empower the child and family as a whole, to navigate daily challenges.
Adult life transitions including, divorce, family counseling, co-parenting, marriage counseling and a wide range of addictions and recovery issues, are another focus of her practice. There are times when we may find ourselves questioning the choices we’ve made thus far and need guidance to make healthy changes for the future. Anita’s addiction and recovery approach is all-inclusive, utilizing spirituality, 12 step philosophy and life insight exploration. She believes we all have the ability to discover and learn new ways to enrich our lives through reflection, contemplation and self-action.
Anita has a Master of Arts in Counseling with a focus in Clinical Mental Health and is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She has extensive experience working with children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD, IDD and other DSM 5 mental health diagnoses in a long term, all-inclusive residential treatment facility with the goal of helping children and their parents reintegrate into a healthy family environment. In addition, she has experience with acute child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and adult and adolescent outpatient addiction treatment.
Anita is an advocate for work life balance, self-care, and positive personal transformation. In her own life, she continues to strive to maintain this equilibrium for herself, her children and family and friends with her hobbies, physical fitness activities and personal spiritual practice. She knows and appreciates the challenges we all face trying to make every day count for ourselves and our loved ones.
To schedule an appointment with Anita in our Canonsburg Counseling Center serving the South Hills of Pittsburgh at 2000 Waterdam Plaza Drive McMurray PA 15137 off of Washington Rd and Canonsburg Lake also near UPMC Children’s Hospital South, please call us at 724-908-0531 for an appointment.