Justin Cipkala-Gaffin
Compassionate counselor for families and stress
- Credentials
- LPC
- Experience
- 7 years
- Licensed in
- Pennsylvania
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Justin
Justin Cipkala-Gaffin is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania with seven years of clinical experience. He focuses on family and parenting concerns alongside stress, anxiety, grief, and depression. He aims to make the first step into therapy feel manageable and respectful.
His style is straightforward and supportive for people who are nervous about starting therapy. He uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Client-Centered methods to guide sessions.
Background and approach
That means he helps clients notice unhelpful patterns, clarify values, and practice small changes that matter day to day. Sessions emphasize clear goals and practical steps rather than vague theory. Justin creates a calm space where feelings and thoughts can be shared without judgment.
He listens closely and works collaboratively to set priorities for what to address first. Parents and families can expect an organized approach that targets communication and coping skills. His background includes work with trauma, ADHD, mood disorders, and caregiver stress.
He also supports people facing life transitions, job stress, relationship strain, and issues around self-esteem and anger. That range informs a flexible practice that adapts to each person’s situation. Therapy sessions mix skill-building and talk-based reflection.
Over time clients practice new ways of responding to stress and work toward clearer priorities. Justin encourages steady progress and uses straightforward tools to help people move forward.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and choose actions that match their values. Online sessions can teach simple exercises to reduce avoidance and build more meaningful routines. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns using practical tools like thought tracking and behavioral experiments. That hands-on work moves easily to video or chat formats because exercises and homework translate well to home life. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a nonjudgmental space where the therapist listens and supports the client’s own problem-solving process, which can feel especially helpful when connecting remotely.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to figure out which methods fit a person’s needs, goals, and preferences. Together they may use one primary method or combine techniques from different approaches to address family concerns, stress, or mood issues.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions around parenting schedules, work, and caregiving responsibilities. Remote formats also let people practice skills at home and check in between sessions when needed.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.
Client-Centered Therapy
The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Grief
Also works with
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coaching
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
- Experience
- 7 years
- Licensed
- Pennsylvania
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Justin
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point