Claire Crossman (Associate Therapist)

Welcome! My name is Claire Crossman, MFT (she/her) and I am an associate therapist working towards licensure in Pennsylvania and Virginia. I recently graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with my Master of Family Therapy. Everyone has a unique story, and all of your experiences have led you to be where you are. I look forward to working with you to create a tailored approach to fit your lifestyle and your goals! I am a therapist who will gently challenge you and encourage you to think deeply about certain aspects of your life, as I am someone who believes that progress forward cannot be made without understanding who we are now.

I have a clinical interest working in the following areas:

• Family Therapy

• Adolescent Therapy (10-19 years old)

• Parenting

• School Stress/Burnout

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Self-Harm

• Eating Disorders

• Self-Esteem

• Life Transitions

• Neurodivergence

My Approach

I strive to create a warm, welcoming environment where everybody can feel safe and understood. We will embark on the therapeutic journey together as I work with you to determine your goals. You are the expert of your life, and I want you to collaborate with me from the first step of treatment. My goal is to empower my clients to take charge of their present and move into the future having a deeper understanding of who they are. As a systemic thinker, I believe that the individual does not exist alone. We are the products of our systems (example: the people, environment, and sociocultural contexts) that we were born into. I want to help you gain insight into all of your experiences - the good and the bad - and understand what they taught you.

I use various therapeutic approaches in my practice. I pull aspects from approaches like Structural Family Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and more in order to help you get to where you want to be. I use a person-centered approach, wherein I aim to transform my therapeutic style to meet your needs. You are in control of this process, from the moment you meet with me and every step along the way. I incorporate a Trauma-Informed Care lens, in which I allow for client freedom and choice in every aspect of their treatment. With children and adolescents, I will sometimes incorporate tangible items (art, games, movement, etc) into my work if it fits with the individual.

About Me

I moved to Philadelphia two years ago for Thomas Jefferson’s Couple and Family Therapy program. As a result, I have a deep love for exploring all things Philadelphia. You will often find me on walks or in the gym, as I am passionate about celebrating my body’s movement in all forms. I like to use movement as a way to care for myself, as I do believe in honoring the mind-body connection. You could also find me learning new recipes to cook in the kitchen, setting up outside with a good book, or being the best cat mom around! I seek to find connection - with nature, with a book, with myself, and with other people in my life. I find such joy in appreciating the little things in life. We tend to live life at such a fast pace, and I’m seeking to retrain myself to slow down to appreciate it all.

At Thomas Jefferson University, I developed a deep respect for the sanctity of therapy. I learned how to connect with people on multiple levels, and how to bear witness to all parts of oneself. My clinical internship was at an adolescent PHP and IOP, so I have experience in a higher level of care setting for adolescents and families. I learned how to remain the calm in the storm, and how to help guide individuals and families through the tough times. Through this internship, I also became comfortable running DBT, CBT, and mindfulness groups on topics such as emotional regulation, mindfulness, interpersonal relationships, and peer support.

Prior to life in Philadelphia, I was at the University of Delaware where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with minors in human development and family sciences, disability studies, and medical social services. I spent two years as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), where I provided early intervention Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to neurodivergent 3-5 year olds. I’ve taken every life experience of mine and use it to shape how I show up in the room.