Adult Psychiatry & Therapy in Pittsburgh

You do not need to know exactly what kind of mental health care you need before you contact us. The Via Center offers psychiatry and psychotherapy for adults, with treatment shaped around what is actually getting in the way of your life—not simply a diagnosis on a chart.

Start as a New Patient Meet Our Team

Psychiatry + Therapy Physician-led practice McMurray Cranberry Township Telehealth across PA Insurance accepted

What brings people to us

Sometimes you know the diagnosis. Sometimes you just know something is not working.

“I’m anxious or overwhelmed.”

Worry, panic, overthinking, irritability, physical anxiety, or feeling constantly on edge can start taking up far too much space in everyday life.

“I can’t focus or keep up.”

Attention, organization, procrastination, forgetfulness, and executive functioning problems can become especially obvious when work, school, parenting, or life demands increase.

“My mood isn’t right.”

Depression, irritability, low motivation, emotional shifts, loss of interest, or periods of unusually elevated energy or mood may need a closer look.

“I’m tired all the time and don’t have energy for the things I want to do.”

Feeling drained can make everything harder—work, relationships, responsibilities, and even things you normally enjoy. Sometimes the hardest part is feeling like you want to do more, but just don’t have it in you.

“I’ve tried treatment and I’m still struggling.”

Sometimes the question is not where to start, but why previous therapy, medication, or diagnoses have not led to the improvement you expected.

“Relationships are hard right now.”

Conflict, loneliness, boundaries, family stress, caregiving, parenting, or recurring relationship patterns can have a major effect on mental health.

“Something changed, and I’m not myself.”

Loss, trauma, illness, career changes, divorce, transitions, burnout, or simply reaching a point where old ways of coping no longer work can bring people to treatment.

“Pregnancy, postpartum, or menopause has changed the picture.”

Mental health can look different during pregnancy, after having a baby, and through perimenopause and menopause. We approach treatment with an understanding of the ways these stages can shape both symptoms and treatment decisions.

You don’t have to know whether you need psychiatry or therapy

The right starting point depends on what you are experiencing and what you want help with

Therapy

Therapy can help you understand patterns, manage difficult emotions, change behaviors, improve relationships, work through trauma, build practical skills, and respond differently to the parts of life that feel stuck.

Psychiatry

A psychiatrist can help clarify diagnosis, consider medical and psychiatric factors, evaluate whether medication may be useful, manage psychiatric medications, or take a fresh look when treatment has become complicated.

You may need one, the other, or both. Our screening process helps us understand what you are looking for and which type of clinician may be the best place to start.

Therapy for real life

Not just symptom management—space to change how life actually feels and works

Adults often come to therapy because something in life has become too difficult, too repetitive, or too exhausting. Our therapists use evidence-based approaches while tailoring treatment to the individual rather than forcing every person into the same model.

Symptoms & Coping

Work on anxiety, OCD, depression, emotional regulation, trauma responses, stress, avoidance, and patterns that interfere with daily life.

Relationships

Explore communication, boundaries, attachment, conflict, family dynamics, intimacy, caregiving, and patterns that keep showing up in relationships.

Work, Identity & Transitions

Navigate burnout, career stress, parenting, changing roles, identity, loss, major decisions, and transitions that can unsettle even people who are usually functioning well.

CBT DBT-informed ERP ACT Trauma-focused approaches Relationship & family work

Psychiatry when the picture is more complicated

Physician-provided evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management

At The Via Center, psychiatric medication management is provided by psychiatrists—physicians (MD or DO) who specialize in mental health. Their medical and psychiatric training can be particularly valuable when symptoms overlap, diagnoses are uncertain, medication decisions are complex, or previous treatment has not worked.

Diagnostic Clarity

Anxiety, ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, trauma, autism, sleep problems, and medical conditions can sometimes look like one another or occur together.

Thoughtful Medication Management

When medication is appropriate, we consider effectiveness, side effects, previous trials, medical history, functioning, preferences, and the rest of the treatment plan.

Second Opinions

A fresh review can be useful when the diagnosis does not seem to fit, several medications have failed, side effects are limiting treatment, or you simply want another perspective.

What care can look like

There is no single “Via Center treatment plan”

Therapy Only

Work regularly with a therapist when psychotherapy is the main treatment you need.

Psychiatry Only

See a psychiatrist for evaluation and medication management while using other supports or an outside therapist.

Psychiatry + Therapy

Receive both services at The Via Center when having a psychiatrist and therapist involved makes sense.

Collaborative Care

With your permission, we can coordinate with outside therapists, primary care clinicians, psychologists, or other professionals involved in your care.

Why choose The Via Center?

Mental health care can feel fragmented. We built Via differently.

Psychiatrists, not just prescribers

Our psychiatrists are physicians with extensive training in medicine, psychiatric diagnosis, medication management, and psychotherapy. We look beyond which medication to prescribe to understand the larger clinical picture.

Psychiatry and therapy in one practice

You can receive psychiatry, psychotherapy, or both at Via, as available. When more than one clinician is involved, your care can be coordinated rather than happening in separate silos.

Time to understand what’s actually going on

We are interested in more than a symptom checklist. Diagnosis, treatment history, relationships, work, sleep, medical issues, stress, and what matters to you can all be relevant to deciding what will actually help.

Personalized care without giving up insurance

We designed Via to offer the feel of a smaller, relationship-based practice while participating with many major commercial insurance plans.

Concerns we commonly treat

Mental health care for a wide range of adult concerns

ADHD Anxiety Depression OCD Bipolar & Mood Disorders Autism-related Concerns Emotional Dysregulation Trauma Sleep Problems Relationship Difficulties Work & Academic Stress Life Transitions Pregnancy & Postpartum Perimenopause & Menopause Burnout & Overwhelm

Care in the South Hills, North Hills, and across Pennsylvania

In-person appointments plus telehealth when appropriate

McMurray — South Hills

3055 Washington Road, Suite 101
McMurray, PA 15317

Cranberry Township — North

2009 Mackenzie Way, Suite 100
Cranberry Township, PA 16066

Telehealth available across Pennsylvania Adult psychiatry + psychotherapy

Insurance accepted

Boutique-style care while still using insurance

We accept most UPMC, Highmark/BCBS, United/Optum, and Aetna commercial plans. Participation can vary by clinician and individual plan, so patients should confirm benefits and clinician participation with their insurance company before scheduling.

UPMC Highmark / BCBS United / Optum Aetna

Common questions

Adult psychiatry and psychotherapy at The Via Center

How do I know if I need a psychiatrist or therapist?

You do not need to figure that out before contacting us. Therapy is often helpful when you want to work on emotions, behaviors, relationships, coping, trauma, or recurring patterns. Psychiatry may be especially useful when symptoms are more severe or complicated, diagnosis is uncertain, medication may be needed, or previous treatment has not worked as expected. Some people benefit from both. Our screening process can help determine which type of clinician may be the best place to start.

What is the difference between a therapist and a psychiatrist?

Both treat mental health concerns, but their training and roles are different. Therapists provide psychotherapy and help people work on emotions, behaviors, coping skills, relationships, trauma, and other challenges. Psychiatrists are physicians (MD or DO) who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. They can prescribe medication and evaluate how medical and psychiatric factors may be contributing to symptoms. Psychiatrists also receive training in psychotherapy as part of their medical training.

What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP)?

Both psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication, but their psychiatry training is very different.

Psychiatrists are physicians (MD or DO) who complete medical school followed by at least 4 years of full-time psychiatry residency. Using a conservative estimate of a 50-hour work week, this represents more than 9,000 hours of structured, supervised psychiatry training.

Psychiatry residency involves much more than learning to prescribe medication. Psychiatrists train in psychiatric diagnosis, psychopharmacology, inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, medical and neurologic conditions that can cause or complicate psychiatric symptoms, and multiple forms of psychotherapy. This broad training helps us understand not only how to use medication, but when medication is—and is not—the appropriate treatment.

PMHNPs are advanced-practice nurses who complete graduate training in psychiatric nursing. National certification requires a minimum of 500 clinical hours in a PMHNP program. Programs vary considerably in the amount, setting, supervision, and type of clinical experience provided.

At The Via Center, medication management is provided by psychiatrists. We believe comprehensive training in medicine, psychiatry, and psychotherapy is especially valuable when psychiatric diagnosis or treatment is complex.

Can I see a psychiatrist at The Via Center if my therapist is somewhere else?

Yes. You do not need to receive all of your mental health care at The Via Center. With your permission, our psychiatrists can collaborate with an outside therapist or other clinicians involved in your care.

Do I have to take medication if I see a psychiatrist?

No. Seeing a psychiatrist does not automatically mean starting medication. A psychiatric evaluation can help clarify diagnosis and treatment options. Medication may be one option, but psychotherapy, behavioral strategies, lifestyle changes, additional evaluation, or other approaches may also be appropriate.

What concerns do you treat?

Our clinicians work with many adult mental health concerns, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar and other mood disorders, autism-related concerns, emotional dysregulation, trauma, sleep problems, relationship difficulties, work or academic stress, burnout, pregnancy and postpartum concerns, perimenopause and menopause-related mental health concerns, and major life transitions.

Do you offer second opinions?

Yes. A second opinion can be helpful when a diagnosis is unclear, treatment has become complicated, several medications have not worked, side effects are limiting options, or you would simply like another psychiatrist to take a fresh look at the situation.

Do you offer telehealth?

Telehealth is available for many psychiatric and therapy services when clinically appropriate. For psychiatric telehealth visits, the patient must be physically located in Pennsylvania at the time of the appointment.

Do you accept insurance?

We participate with most UPMC, Highmark/BCBS, United/Optum, and Aetna commercial plans. Participation varies by clinician and plan, so patients should confirm their individual benefits and clinician participation before scheduling.

Not sure where to start?

Tell us what has been going on and what kind of help you are looking for. Our team will review your screening questionnaire and determine whether we have a psychiatrist or therapist who may be a good fit.

Start Screening Questionnaire Meet Our Team