Online Career Counseling in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Arizona

What career counseling is, and what it is not

Work takes up a large part of life, so it makes sense that it shapes how you feel. Career counseling gives you a calm, private place to talk about the pressure, the doubts and the decisions that come with working life, with a licensed therapist who is trained to listen and help you think clearly.

It helps to be clear about what this is. Our therapists are licensed professional counselors and licensed clinical social workers. They provide counseling. They do not place people in jobs, write resumes, run interview drills or act as recruiters. If that is what you need, a career services office or a job coach is a better fit, and many people use both.

What counseling can offer is different: a clearer sense of what matters to you and steadier ways to handle stress.

Work stress and burnout are real, and they can change

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health describes job stress as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of a job do not match the capabilities, resources or needs of the worker. It also notes that job stress can lead to poor health.

Burnout has its own description. The World Health Organization calls burn-out an occupational phenomenon, not a medical condition, that results from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It names three parts: feeling drained or exhausted, feeling more distant or cynical about your job, and feeling less effective at work.

According to MedlinePlus, long-term stress may contribute to problems such as trouble sleeping, headaches, anxiety and depression. Noticing these signs is not a weakness. It is useful information, and it is a good reason to talk with someone. If worry or low mood has started to spread beyond work, our pages on anxiety therapy and depression therapy explain how we help with those.

How counseling for career concerns works

Your therapist starts by getting to know your situation: what your work days are like, what has changed, and what you hope will be different. From there you set goals together. Depending on the therapist and what suits you, the work may draw on approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, person-centered therapy or mindfulness-based approaches.

The National Institute of Mental Health describes CBT as a way to become aware of automatic thoughts that are inaccurate or harmful, question them, and change patterns of behavior that work against you.

What online sessions look like

Every session is a secure video visit. There is no office to travel to, which helps when your schedule is already full. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that virtual visits do not require travel and can offer more flexible hours, and that they do require an internet connection and a device such as a smartphone or computer.

Choose a spot where you can speak freely. Many people use a room at home with the door closed, or a parked car. A work computer or an open office is usually not the right place to talk about work. Evening and weekend appointments are available, and exact times depend on the therapist.

You need to be physically located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona during each session. Sessions are confidential, with legal exceptions that your therapist will explain. Your employer is not told that you are in counseling.

Getting started

Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911. Our crisis resources page lists more options.

Many people find that once they have room to think out loud, the next step at work looks clearer than it did before. Reaching out is an ordinary, sensible thing to do, and things can get better.

1. 1Book a free consultationStart with a free 15-minute consultation. You can book online and tell us a little about what is going on at work.
2. 2Get matched with a therapistWe match you with a therapist who is licensed in the state where you live and whose experience fits your goals. You can read about our therapists on the team page.
3. 3Check your coverageHealth plans generally pay for treatment of a diagnosed condition, so coverage for career-focused counseling depends on your plan. Ask us to verify your benefits, or see insurance and fees. Self-pay is available.
4. 4Meet by video and set goalsIn your first sessions you and your therapist agree on what you want to change and how you will know it is working.