Therapy in Pittsburgh for Resilience, Balance, and Sustainable Growth

I’m Justin Knizek, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I offer a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can explore your inner experiences and move toward lasting emotional well-being.

If you’ve ever felt like therapy “isn’t for you” or struggled to find a space where you don’t have to filter your emotions, you’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.

About Me

My work is rooted in evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), and relational psychodynamic therapy. I also provide Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) for those seeking a deeper, research-supported approach to treatment-resistant concerns.

Alongside these approaches, I take a holistic perspective—seeing healing as more than just symptom relief. True growth involves building resilience, cultivating balance, and strengthening connection to what gives life meaning. As a Certified Mental Health & Nutrition Clinical Specialist, I also recognize the role that physical wellness and nourishment can play in emotional health, and I bring that awareness into therapy in a gentle, integrative way.

My Therapeutic Philosophy

I see therapy as a space to reexamine the stories we've inherited—stories about worth, love, and belonging that often shape our lives more than we realize. Together, we’ll explore these narratives and work to shift the patterns that no longer serve you.

My approach is relational, integrative, and client-centered, rooted in both scientific research and empathic connection. I believe in treating the whole person—not just the mind, but the body, values, relationships, and spirit of who you are.

Healing is not always easy, and it’s rarely a straight line. It involves both easing suffering and developing the resilience and capacity to live with greater clarity, strength, and connection.

I also bring training in religious trauma and recovery from adverse spiritual experiences, including work with clients healing from spiritual abuse and high-control groups.

Whether you're navigating grief, relationship difficulties, life transitions, or simply feeling stuck, our work together will be grounded in compassion, curiosity, and collaboration. I hold the belief that you already have the inner resources needed for growth—therapy simply helps you access them with clarity and confidence.

Areas of Specialty

• CBT/DBT/ACT for Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, and other mental health concerns
  Addressing negative thought patterns and behavior cycles to support healthier emotional, physical, and relational well-being.
  
  

• Mindfulness & Self-Compassion Therapy in Pittsburgh
  Cultivating present-moment awareness, emotional resilience, and mind–body balance.
  
  

• Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
  Exploring how your early relationships and attachment experiences influence current emotions and behaviors.
  
  

• Men Navigating Stress, Anger, or Emotional Shutdown
  Helping men develop emotional tools that align with who they are—without judgment or forced vulnerability.
  
  

• Holistic & Integrative Therapy
  Supporting growth by tending to the whole self—mind, body, and spirit—through approaches that build resilience, foster balance, and deepen connection to what truly matters.
  
  

• Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in Pittsburgh, PA
  A cutting-edge, research-supported modality for deep emotional processing and healing in those with complex or resistant conditions.
  
  

What to Expect

You don’t have to be “good at talking about feelings” to benefit from therapy. You don’t have to relive every painful memory or explain everything perfectly.

You bring yourself—however you’re feeling, wherever you’re at. I’ll bring presence, curiosity, and care. Together, we’ll make space to understand what matters and move toward what’s possible.

Therapy with me is not only about finding relief—it’s about strengthening resilience: your ability to adapt, recover, and move forward with greater confidence and stability.

Pittsburgh-based therapist offering both traditional and holistic approaches.

Justin Knizek, MS, LPC, NCC, CMNCS

If you’re ready to begin this work, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.