Helping you rise above.
The licensed professional counselors of Steel Valley Wellness Group are experienced with adults, adolescents, children and couples. We address causes of anger, irritability, anxiety, fear, sadness, depression and hopelessness, and help to identify the factors that perpetuate these problems. As clients come to understand what triggers their feelings, those patterns of thought lose their hold. Then, our counselors help clients set goals and practice new behaviors that enable them to move beyond the limits of past thinking and old mindsets.
Our Professional Counselors
The Steel Valley Wellness Group counselors are licensed in their fields of expertise and also bring additional resources to the counseling setting. They have an active style in-session and provide focused attention and tailored feedback. The licensed professional counselors utilize evidence-based practices that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Melinda Fedoris, M.S.Ed, N.C.C., L.P.C.
Co-founder
Melinda Fedoris is a Board Certified Counselor, a certified clinical trauma professional, and licensed by the state of Pennsylvania as a Professional Counselor. She has successfully completed training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Trauma Informed Care and is credentialed by most major insurance providers. Melinda holds an International Trauma Professional Certification. Melinda has specialized training in treating mood disorders, personality disorders and trauma. She has over 20 years experience working with mood disorders, trauma and abuse. Melinda has acquired her EMDR credentialing and is excited to bring this technique into her practice. Melinda infuses DBT and REBT in her EMDR practice.
Melinda presents an active therapy style with individualized attention and constructive specialized feedback at each session. Melinda is skilled in the treatment of individuals who are unable to resolve symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma and stress that is negatively impacting their lives. Melinda also treats children and adolescents who are facing difficulties with peer pressure, depressive or anxiety symptoms, or self-image problems. Her active-therapy technique provides an environment for expressing feelings and developing effective coping skills. Melinda is dedicated to her patients and brings years of experience to each session. She is driven by each new opportunity to help find the right solution for the patient.
Melinda is an LGBTQA affirming clinician and works with adolescents and adults. Melinda also specializes in treating educators and other therapists. She also provides consultation and supervision to other therapists in the field and those pursuing licensure.
Katie Whitney, M.S., N.C.C., L.P.C.
Co-founder
Katie Whitney (she/her) is a National Board Certified Counselor, a certified clinical trauma professional, a Licensed Professional Counselor by the state of Pennsylvania and a certified Level-II K-12 School Counselor. She has successfully completed training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and is credentialed by most major insurance providers.
Katie specializes in work with children, adolescents, adults and families holistically, specifically addressing trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and grief issues. She has extensive experience in working with school environment stressors that are unique to children, parents and school staff alike, and can provide support to women experiencing challenges across their life stages.
Katie tailors each session based on client needs, and is an LGBTQA affirming clinician. She often utilizes traditional therapeutic discussions while infusing art and play therapy to bridge any gaps in uncovering more about parents or their children. She is an active member in the therapeutic relationship, listening closely while offering non-judgmental and supportive feedback.
When Katie is not working, she is a lover of coffee, game nights, 90s R&B and Hip Hop, and running to all 5 of her children’s activities with her husband.
Courtney Hindmarch, M.S., L.P.C.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Courtney is a Licensed Professional Pounselor with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Since 2011, she has worked with a special interest in child, adolescent and young adult populations. Courtney specializes in assisting with managing a variety of mental health needs such as depression, anxiety, stress management, ADHD, self-esteem, family conflict and behavioral concerns.
Courtney utilizes a person-centered approach in all therapeutic interactions to ensure clients have a space safe to process through the challenges they are facing. Her therapeutic style gravitates towards cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness techniques and client-centered approaches. Courtney helps encourage clients to be able to identify emotions and triggers and build the skills to manage and navigate present and future challenges. She is an active member in the therapeutic relationship and offers a non-judgmental space. Courtney wants to empower her clients to build skills during sessions that they can use on their own and for years to come.
Nikki Kwolek, B.S.
Master’s Level Intern, Carlow University
(Clinical Supervisor: Katie Whitney)
Nikki earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Slippery Rock University in 2015. She is currently a master’s student at Carlow University in the Professional Counseling – Clinical Mental Health program. She is interested in working with children, adolescents, and young adults who are experiencing challenges with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, body image, and college or career-related issues. She is passionate about empowering individuals to feel confident and to navigate these challenges through collaboration, offering a warm, trusting, and non-judgmental environment, and using cognitive behavioral and solution-focused skills. She recognizes the power in simply being there for the individual and allowing them to feel valued and heard. When Nikki is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and golden retriever, learning new TikTok recipes, and cheering on our Pittsburgh sports teams.
Joseph Marsh, M.A., L.P.C.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Joseph is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania and has worked in the mental health field for over six years. He has worked with a variety of populations in a multitude of settings, including transitional age youth with severe depression, incarcerated folk struggling with addiction, those living with HIV, daily work stress and life unsatisfaction, and the exploration of sexual and gender identities as well as cultural identities.
Joseph views everyone as a living book with the main character sitting across from him in the therapy room. In each story, every person is presented with a good page for every bad page and a bad page for every good page. It can be difficult navigating these stories on our own. Joseph hopes to assist in exploring these stories, whether an individual encounters depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, or self-esteem issues. He is especially sensitive to those impacted by LGBTQ issues, religious minorities, activists, uniformed public servants, and those suffering from depression.
Joseph utilizes a multiculturally-sensitive approach, borrowing from ACT, DBT, CBT, MBCT, mindfulness, narrative, and solution-focused therapies to develop a collaborative and eclectic style to treatment.
Cultures all over the world have a common truth: life is suffering. Through therapy, Joseph hopes to create a safe and empowering environment to help his clients withstand and overcome that suffering.
Kachina Mooney, M.A., ATR-BC
Registered Art Therapist, Board-Certified
Kachina Mooney, MA, ATR-BC (she/her/ella) is a Board-Certified Art Therapist and soon-to-be Licensed Professional Counselor, who practices in the Pittsburgh region with those from all walks of life. Kachina is TF-CBT trained and she has most recently worked with immigrant children from Central/South America, Afghanistan, and across the globe who have been displaced or are migrating to the United States for safety. Kachina has also worked with women and children who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, and are homicide survivors. Being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Kachina also focuses her therapeutic work with those from this community who are maneuvering identity, relationship changes, and past trauma.
Within the therapeutic environment, Kachina utilizes a trauma-informed approach alongside existential and relational-cultural theory to help process and make meaning of the past as well as to learn how to create more meaningful relationships throughout life. Kachina utilizes Art Therapy interventions to help build rapport, process experiences, and to discuss imagery and metaphor which will enhance the healing process. While Kachina has worked with a large variety of people with varying needs, her work focuses on those who are experiencing transitional periods (immigration, relationship, or other life transitions); mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and other needs; as well as grief and loss.
Rustin Paradise, M.S., L.P.C., N.C.C.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Rustin (she/her) is a National Certified Counselor with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania. Rustin has been in the field of counseling since 2014 and has been a Master’s level therapist since 2019. Rustin’s passion is working with adults that struggle with trauma, identity, gender-related concerns, anxiety, grief, and depression. Rustin enjoys working with the LGBTQIA+ population.
Rustin believes that everyone has their own story and will heal in their own way. Therapy is different for each individual and this is why Rustin tailors each session to the individual. Some heal with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, some with Narrative Therapy, and others with many different types of treatment. Rustin starts by learning what the individual wants out of their therapy and works from that while communicating the process every step of the way.
“It is an honor to accompany a fellow human along their journey, especially when the road is rocky.”
Alyssa Sullinger, M.S. Ed, L.P.C., N.C.C.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Alyssa is a Nationally Certified Counselor with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Alyssa has been serving in the mental health field since 2015 with a special concentration in child, adolescent and young adult populations in relation to, but not limited to, addiction, anxiety, depression, trauma, self-image, and overall holistic health and healing. Alyssa believes that facilitating change begins with (1) a positive support system as well as (2) aligning the body, mind, and spirit. Alyssa’s therapeutic approaches gravitate towards Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), person-centered approaches, and mindfulness-focused activities. Alyssa utilizes interventions that challenge the internalizing of circumstances, as well as the meaning one assigns to said circumstances in order to create empowering outcomes.
Brandee Tenney, CRNP, NP-C
Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner
Brandee is a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), with 15 years of clinical experience across multiple settings. She has a passion for helping members of her community reach their mental health goals, and also serves as an adjunct faculty instructor for the nurse practitioner program at Carlow University.
Brandee is taking clients for medication management via in-person and telehealth on Wednesdays.
Gary Weiss, M.C., N.C.C., L.P.C.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Gary Weiss is a board certified counselor who is licensed by the state of Pennsylvania as a professional counselor. He has three decades experience working in the Behavioral Health field, and 20+ years working as a Master’s level therapist.
Gary works with adults young and old to help them see how the internal narrative of their life affects how they live today. He is interested in getting to know each client as an individual, not a “problem” to be fixed. He understands that people make sense of their world in different ways, and is sensitive to finding ways to help them rediscover the healthy parts of themselves that they may have forgotten.
Gary is comfortable sitting with clients who are dealing with depression, anxiety, day-to-day and acute stress, grief and loss issues, and individuals dealing with LGBTQIA issues. Through his gentle guidance, he helps clients become healthier and ready to face challenges in the world.
Ali Yalch, M.S., L.P.C.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Ali is a licensed professional counselor who is also a certified school counselor for grades K-12. Ali specializes in working with children and teens who are having a hard time dealing with and managing their emotions. Is your child or teen just not feeling like themselves? Are they acting out or withdrawing? Are they exhibiting anxiety and worry? Irritable mood or sadness? Ali can help them put their thoughts and feelings into words and build the skills necessary to navigate emotional health. She also works with the adult population to assist with managing a variety of mental health needs such as depression, anxiety and stress.
Ali incorporates a non-judgmental approach in all therapeutic interactions and ensures that all clients feel comfortable and safe in every therapy session. She encourages all clients to be in control of their treatment while instilling a sense of empowerment so that each patient feels confident to learn and utilize skills on their own.
Our Support Staff
Darlene Besterci
Administrative Manager
Kelly Chalfa
Administrative Manager
Let’s start with a conversation.
Don’t wait any longer. This is the place to start on the road to feeling better. Call 412.368.3535 or email today.