Derek Petersen
I’m a dedicated mental health professional with over 10 years of experience in the helping professions, driven by a deep passion for supporting people in creating meaningful, lasting change. I specialize in treating anxiety and related disorders, grief and loss, depression, as well as relationship and attachment issues. I also have extensive experience working in addiction and behavioral health, supporting individuals through recovery with compassion, structure, and practical tools for sustainable progress. I also work with anxiety disorders and phobias, helping clients better understand their patterns and gradually overcome avoidance so they can live more freely. A core part of my work focuses on self-confidence and self-image. I help clients challenge negative self-beliefs, strengthen their sense of identity, and develop a more balanced and compassionate relationship with themselves.
In addition to OCD, I have extensive experience working in addiction and behavioral health, supporting individuals through recovery with compassion, structure, and practical tools for sustainable progress.
My approach is collaborative, nonjudgmental, and tailored to each individual’s goals. I believe therapy should feel both supportive and empowering—giving you the skills, insight, and confidence to navigate life’s challenges long after our work together ends.
First session
In our first session, you can expect a supportive, nonjudgmental space where we begin getting to know you and what brings you to therapy. We’ll talk about your current concerns, any relevant history, and what you’re hoping to get out of our work together. It's important to note that there’s absolutely no pressure to share everything at once—this is your space, and we’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you! Together, we’ll start identifying goals and what meaningful progress would look like for you. You can also expect to leave with a clearer understanding of how I work, and space to ask any questions about the therapy process. Above all, the first session is about building connection and creating a foundation of trust, so you feel supported, understood, and empowered moving forward.
Strengths
I have wide-ranging and extensive experience in the mental health field, and and that experience has given me a unique and singular lens on how to help people in a therapeutic setting. I pride myself on being able to build a strong therapeutic alliance, making clients feel safe, heard, and understood, and providing effective and efficient use of evidence-based practices and treatments to help my clients reach their goals and bring relief to their mental health issues.
Ideal clients
Individuals struggling with anxiety and related disorders as well as those navigating addiction, recovery, and challenges with self‑esteem or self‑confidence. My ideal clients may also be coping with major life transitions, grief, or significant loss. They are typically people who feel stuck yet genuinely want to understand themselves better and are at least somewhat motivated to make meaningful changes, develop healthier relationships and actively participate in their own growth.
Treatment methods
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
I have been helping patients overcome debilitating conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as panic disorder and certain phobias throughout my career using exposure response prevention (ERP)
Psychodynamic
The first treatment method I was trained in, I often use a psychodynamic approach when I feel it's necessary to explore unconscious thoughts, past experiences, and emotional patterns in order to improve self-awareness and interpersonal relationships
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I will often use ACT principles or concepts in conjunction with ERP, but it is a framework that I find very useful in working with patients struggling with substance use, self-confidence/self-esteem, and trauma.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
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Licensed in
- PennsylvaniaLicense PC020018