https://www.carolynkuhfusstherapy.com/home daily 1.0 2025-02-12 https://www.carolynkuhfusstherapy.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-02-10 https://www.carolynkuhfusstherapy.com/aboutcarolyn daily 0.75 2025-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61fd5380f7d52a45746f917a/5ab051b5-3f86-4e43-8177-fe64f39c47a4/ProfilePic2025.jpg About Carolyn Carolyn Kuhfuss, LCSW (she/her/hers) Hi there, I’m Carolyn! I am a cisgender, able-bodied, queer woman. While I was born and raised in Minnesota, I have called Pittsburgh home for the last 15 years. I live with my husband, two children, and my black cat, Luna. I have a Master’s in Social work from the University of Pittsburgh (2011) and am licensed in the state of Pennsylvania (#CW019741). After getting my degree, I practiced therapy in homes, schools, and mental health clinics before opening my private practice about 7 years ago. Before deciding to be a therapist, I considered teaching, practicing art, or engaging in systemic social work. I continue to be fascinated with these fields, and often bring themes of social justice, systemic change, and creative expression into the therapy work. One of my first mentors taught me that the core of therapy is holding “sacred presence” with other humans; a truth that continues to guide me to this day. I believe my clients are taking a wonderful, vulnerable risk by coming to therapy, and I do my best to be fully present with whatever they bring into the room. I am a trauma-informed, somatically-oriented therapist. If you want to know more about what that means, check out my explanation of treatment modalities. I am not currently accepting new clients. If you’d like to be put on my wait list, please shoot me a message. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61fd5380f7d52a45746f917a/1643998159978-7WQCV0L70I64AQ7QO6JB/unsplash-image-lUaaKCUANVI.jpg About Carolyn - Training & Certifications Safe & Sound Protocol (Music therapy) | MyUnyte | 2022 Certified Clinical Trauma Professional | PESI | 2022 Fundamentals of Clinical Hypnosis | ISSTD | 2021 Seeking Safety | 2015 Influential Texts Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors | Janina Fisher The Body Keeps the Score | Bessel Van Der Kolk Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection | Deb Dana Easy Ego-State Interventions | Robin Shapiro The Gift of Therapy | Dr. Irvin D. Yalom https://www.carolynkuhfusstherapy.com/treatment-modalities daily 0.75 2025-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61fd5380f7d52a45746f917a/ef2f7db8-cf62-4d26-84c2-b48c6935664a/IMG-0608.jpg Treatment Modalities Treatment Modalities Therapist / Client Relationship Carolyn uses what’s “in the room” from the first day of treatment and throughout. Through building a healthy therapist/client relationship, past wounds are healed and current relational challenges are revealed. For this reason, feeling comfortable and connected to your therapist is the most important treatment “modality”. Studies have shown that the therapeutic relationship is the most consistent way to predict if therapy will achieve the desired results. Parts work Carolyn draws from the principles of Internal Family Systems (IFS), Ego State Therapy, and general systems theory to explore the various parts that make up the whole of us. Parts work allows us to see what’s happening inside from a more compassionate position: When we can find distance from a particular feeling or behavior, we usually see how that part of us is trying to “help” in some way. Parts work assumes that all of us have a competent, compassionate, and curious adult self (or core self) inside, and works to empower that part. Somatic Noticing & Mindfulness Carolyn uses influences of somatic experiencing and mindfulness to repeatedly draw your attention to what’s happening in this very moment, instead of getting caught up in the “stories” in your head. Through a trauma-informed lens, this is done carefully and slowly, as body awareness is a tricky, and sometimes triggering, experience. Good Old-Fashioned Talk Therapy Often, what you will experience with Carolyn looks a lot like what most people imagine therapy to be: Meandering conversations about work, arguments, love, childhood memories, and funny memes you saw this week. Carolyn will point out themes, patterns, and reflect back to you what she hears. She will provide support and hold space for whatever feelings come up. She will make suggestions and give you resources. https://www.carolynkuhfusstherapy.com/populationsserved daily 0.75 2025-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61fd5380f7d52a45746f917a/569bc76f-f204-4f70-99ae-79f0707d5070/IMG-9933.jpg