About Orchard Counseling and Education

Orchard Counseling and Education was formed in 2007 to help individuals and couples address concerns about sexuality, intimacy, and relationships through affirming, empowering, strengths-based counseling and psychotherapy. We also strengthen our community through educational programs around these issues for both professional and lay audiences.

About Counseling

For some people, the prospect of entering into counseling or psychotherapy can be anxiety provoking. While psychotherapy is increasingly common, some people are still stuck with the notion that you have to be mentally ill, or have a weak character to "need" therapy. But millions of healthy people who have benefitted from counseling would disagree.

In reality, everybody can use some assistance, insight, or guidance sometimes. Just as we all have strengths, we also have "blind spots"—unhelpful and unproductive patterns of thinking, behaving, and relating to others that we don't even notice. At Orchard Counseling, psychotherapy is an affirming, collaborative process that seeks to understand how we got stuck in these patterns, and then use that knowledge to develop new strategies, new options, and constructive solutions to your concerns.

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Our Clinical Philosophy

Every individual and relationship is unique. Each of us comes to therapy with our own set of values, beliefs, experiences, challenges, and strengths. As a result, an approach that may be transformational for one person may not work for another. That's why we take time to get to know you and carefully assess your concerns. The best psychotherapy is approached as a partnership. But there are some beliefs about counseling that we hold to be true for everyone:

  • We believe that life presents challenges to everyone, and nobody's perfect. Even problems that feel truly overwhelming don't make you "defective." Everyone needs help sometimes.
  • Second, we believe in a strengths-based approach. That means that there's nothing wrong-with-you that what's right-with-you can't fix. A strengths-based approach helps you use the skills and strengths you already have to create change in the areas where you feel stuck.
  • Third, we believe in empowerment, not criticism. Feeling miserable and ashamed about bad choices rarely helps you make better ones. Instead, it's important to understand your struggle as a sincere effort to get to something positive—even when the results haven't been so positive in the past. We are committed to finding interventions that are empowering, non-shaming, and that leverage your strongest attributes to create the change you want in your life.
  • Finally, we recognize that some situations require an interdisciplinary approach. In cases where medical, physical therapy, or other intervention is also needed, we will work closely with your physician or other healthcare providers, creating a care team that is collaboratively focused on your progress.

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About Education

Our approach to education is a lot like our approach to counseling. We believe that everyone brings important experience and knowledge to the table, but that everyone can also enhance their lives and relationships by learning more. We focus on sexuality, intimacy, and relationships, and in these areas, knowledge really is power. Our educational programs offer tools to help you to grow, to develop your potential, and to build a life that is vital and fulfilling.

We provide presentations and interactive educational experiences that not only inform, but also challenge participants to examine their values and beliefs in a safe, supportive environment.

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About Confidentiality

The issues discussed in therapy are often of the most deeply personal nature. Therefore, everything you share with us will remain strictly confidential, except where we are obligated by law to disclose it. Those situations are exceedingly rare, and include:

  • If we believe you are at imminent risk to commit homicide against an identified person, we have a legal duty to warn the victim, and notify the police.
  • If we believe you are at imminent risk to commit suicide, we are legally obligated to help you obtain crisis services.
  • If we believe you are at imminent risk to abuse a child, a vulnerable dependent or elder, we have a legal obligation to inform protective services.
  • If we are compelled by subpoena to testify in court.

Beyond these very specific situations, anything you disclose in therapy will remain private, unless you give us informed, written consent to disclose it to others.

You and your information will be treated with respect.

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Our Staff

David Dean Schwartz, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., M.S.W., M.Ed.

David Dean Schwartz, founder of Orchard Counseling and Education, holds masters degrees in both Social Work and Human Sexuality Education, and is currently completing a Doctorate in Human Sexuality. He holds a license to practice social work in Pennsylvania, and is a member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), and the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work (PSCSW).

Terry Sullivan, M.Ed.

Terry Sullivan holds a masters degree in Human Sexuality Education, and has worked as a community health educator for Planned Parenthood of Hudson Peconic. She is a behavioral consultant and mobile therapist for Child Guidance Resource Center in Havertown, PA, and is currently completing a masters degree in Social Work.

Justine Marie Shuey, D.H.S, M.Ed., A.C.S., C.S.E.

Dr. Justine Marie Shuey holds a Doctorate in Human Sexuality from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality and a Masters in Human Sexuality Education from Widener University. For years Dr. Shuey has been helping individuals of all ages expand their knowledge around sexuality and gain confidence in their sexual expression. Dr. Shuey presents on hundreds of college campuses, medical schools, hospitals, organizations and conferences all over the United States. Dr. Shuey provides training to health care professionals and teaches medical students how to incorporate reproductive health exams and sexuality discussions into their practices in a respectful way that eases anxieties. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network of Central New Jersey. For more information check out: http://drshuey.com.

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Our Location

We are eager to hear from you, whether to set up a consultation, answer questions about counseling or classes, or just to hear your feedback about our programs and website.

Orchard Counseling and Education
401 South 2nd Street
Suite 401
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Voice 215.392.4636
email contactus@orchardcounseling.com



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Fees

As of January 1, 2013, our counseling fee for new clients is $225 per session. Most individual and couples sessions are 50 minutes in length. Although we do not bill insurance directly, you may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. We will be happy to provide you with a statement of professional services, but you should check with your insurance provider for details of your coverage. In some cases, we may be able to offer a sliding scale fee for clients who demonstrate financial need.

Educational programs, groups, and presentations are priced individually, please contact us by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.



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