Alexa Stern
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
What and how do you want to change? Do you want to:
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Feel less anxious?
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Improve your mood?
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Reduce your stress?
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Develop healthier, more satisfying relationships?
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Communicate more effectively?
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Develop greater awareness of what, how and why you do what you do?
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Reduce your unhealthy behaviors?
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Improve your overall quality of life?
I utilize a creative, thoughtful, and individualized approach in my work with clients. Together, we can identify the problems you are facing and develop solutions by utilizing the strengths you already have and supporting the development of new and healthy tools, skills and choices for how you live in the world. I see the therapeutic process as a dialogue between two partners in exploration and developing resources. You will be treated as an individual with unique experiences and feelings, and our work will be tailored to address your needs and concerns. You define the problems and issues to be addressed, while I use specialized knowledge to help you gain the skills and make the changes you desire.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Pennsylvania and a Pittsburgh native. I earned my Masters of Social Work (M .S.W.) from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010. I have over ten years of clinical experience doing individual, group and family therapy in various settings, including inpatient and partial hospitalization psychiatric facilities, outpatient, university counseling, and community-based settings and private practice. In addition to my work in private practice, I am a Faculty member at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland where I have done extensive post graduate training and currently develop and facilitate workshops and training programs. In my spare time, I enjoy dancing, yoga, cooking, designing, art/film/culture, traveling, and being with my friends and family.
About
Alexa Stern
Qualifications
Education
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M.S.W., University of Pennsylvania, 2010
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B.S., Psychology/Cellular Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland
Licensure
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Pennsylvania
Publications
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Marenco, S., Savostyanova, A., Van der Veen, J.W., Geramita, M., Stern, A., Barnett, A., Kolachana, B., Radulescu, E., Zhang, F., Callicott, J., Straub, R., Shen, J., and Weinberger, D.R. (2010). Genetic modulation of GABA levels in the anterior cingulate cortex by GAD1 and COMT.Neuropsychopharmacology 35 (8), 1708-1717.
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Savostyanova A., Van der Veen, J.W., Stern, A., Barnett, A., Shen, J., Apud, J., Weinberger, D.R., Marenco, S. (2007). GABA levels in medial prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) study. Biological Psychiatry, 64(8), 77S-77S.
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Stahl, J.V., Hill, C.E., Jacobs, T., Kleinman, S., Isenberg, D., Stern, A. (2009). When the shoe is on the other foot: A qualitative investigation of intern-level trainees’ perceived learning from clients. Psychotherapy Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 46(3), 376-389.
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Stern, A., Savostyanova A., Goldman, A., Barnett, A. S., Van der Veen, J.W., Callicott, J.H., Mattay, V.S., Weinberger, D.R., Marenco, S. (2008). Impact of the brain derived neurotrophic factor val66met polymorphism on levels of hippocampal N-acetyl aspartate assessed by magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging at 3 tesla. Biological Psychiatry, 64(10), 856-862.