Rachel Hirsch (Intern Therapist)

About Me

Rachel Hirsch (She/Her) is an intern therapist at The Center For Growth. Rachel is working towards her masters in clinical social work at Temple University. She is available from August 26th 2024 to August 26th 2025 at the Art Museum/Fairmount PA office, Society Hill office, and virtually in PA. Rachel specializes in working with people who are neurodivergent, or have body image concerns, anxiety, depression, substance use, life transitions, youth & adolescents, LGBTQIA identities. Providing a safe, affirming, non judgemental space is of the utmost importance.

Values and Approach

Person centered therapy means that you are the expert of your own experience. Rachel will present you with all the puzzle pieces clearly laid out in front of you, as you get to build your own beautiful project puzzle individualized to you. All the pieces are there, you can do it! Person centered therapy also acknowledges that the client is living in an environment with external challenges that can often impact what is going on internally. This can be family environments, work/school environments, community environments, and even political/cultural environments. Within this is harm reduction, all or nothing thinking of behaviors are not always the Rachel’s role is to facilitate your exploration and growth, providing support and guidance along the way. This approach is rooted in respect, empathy, and a deep commitment to fostering a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Working with Youth and Adolescents

Rachel is sensitive to the fact that it is not always the youths idea to come to see a therapist- and that's ok! Rachel will collaborate closely with both the young person and their caregivers, creating a safe space where the youth can gradually feel comfortable and build trust with a new person. To foster this connection, Rachel incorporates playful and creative activities like games, art, singing, and dancing. It's often during or after these engaging moments that meaningful conversations naturally emerge, as the trust between them grows.

Strengths Based Approach

Just as the sun remains present behind even the darkest clouds, our inner strengths persist through life’s most challenging storms. When the sky is overcast and it feels like the light has vanished, having someone with a different perspective who can see the sunshine that we can’, can make all the difference. This isn't about sugarcoating reality, but rather about reminding you that your best qualities are still there, waiting to shine through.

Dialectical Behavioral Approach

Dialectical refers to the ability to hold and accept multiple truths simultaneously. DBT combines the cognitive-behavioral strategies of CBT with mindfulness practices, creating a balanced approach to therapy. The true strength of DBT lies in its ability to reconcile these multiple truths, teaching individuals to navigate complex emotions and situations. To achieve this, DBT emphasizes the development of key skills, including distress tolerance, emotion regulation, harm reduction, and interpersonal effectiveness. These practices empower individuals to manage their emotions, reduce harmful behaviors, and build healthier relationships.

Internal Family System (IFS)

The principles of the Internal Family System (IFS) recognize that we, as humans, are inherently multifaceted. We all have different "parts" within us—some may be sensitive, angry, fearful, sexual, sad, and even comical. Each of these parts serves a unique purpose depending on the situation or environment. Rachel will guide you in exploring the origins of these parts, helping you understand their roles and how they can be integrated into a cohesive and authentic self that reflects who you are today.

Harm Reduction

Harm reduction is often seen in the context of substance use. Harm reduction is also used when looking at themes around food, sex, and more. Life is often one step at a time with one foot in front of the other. We do not have to go from “all to nothing”, because for some people that can lead back to “all.” Let's peel back the driving forces that lead you to your behavior, and then see where you are able to make the changes that you want to make, with self empowerment and safety at the forefront of every choice.

Rachel’s Education & Background

Rachel is a graduate student at Temple University’s school of Public Health studying clinical social work. Before pursuing her masters degree, Rachel was a behavioral health technicial in various homes and schools in the Philadelphia area. Rachel worked one on one with neurodivergent clients of all ages, with school staff, family units as well as full clinical teams within large agencies. And before that, Rachel received her Bachelors of Arts at Arcadia University in Graphic design while working as an youth art instructor, and at a community yoga studio.

Rachel has always been drawn to the arts whether that be nature or man made. She enjoys swimming, practicing yoga, experimenting with new recipes, taking photos, and going to live concerts.