Nitasha Strait, Ph.D., M.Ed., MA, LMFT, CST

A perfect blend of warmth, empathy, and supportive learning is the quintessential therapeutic path to gaining the skills and insights into your issues and how you can solve them. At times, I will be the validating support you need to build you up and see the positives in your life. Other times, I will be the accountability and extra push you may need to make changes.

I have heard from numerous current and past clients that I am “real” in the sessions. I think carrying a genuineness to myself helps you grow. Laughter and connection are at the center of healing. Our therapeutic relationship will nurture and empower you to create positive, healthy connections in your life that lead you to feel a higher state of well-being.

My work is informed by interactions that I’ve had with past and current clients, professional training, and my collegiate teaching experiences at Temple University, Penn State University, and Rutgers University. My passion has always been to treat individuals, couples, and families through solace oriented teaching.

My work is process-oriented in nature. There are two levels of change: first and second. First order change is when you make behavioral changes to your life that feel good. Typically these are changes to things that you are already doing. Either you do more of them (move your body more, for example) or less of them (drink alcohol). You are intellectualizing the problem in first order change. You know, intellectually, that moving your body more will help you feel better. These behavioral changes may result in you then feeling better about your life. Second order change is a fundamental change in how you see yourself and how you interact with the world. You change your process. Second order change is more emotional than first order change and hits you in your core. While changing some behaviors is easy. Other behavior changes are much harder. You may not feel emotionally connected to the change, despite knowing it’s good for you. In the example from above, process-oriented therapy will help you gain an understanding of what the barriers are to moving your body more and how they got in place. Maybe you feel undeserving of good things based on messages you received growing up. You will then start to embody both in your mind and heart the change you want to see. Second order change is a visceral, ‘hit you in your most vulnerable parts’ kind of change. I believe that second order change is a deeper, more meaningful change that has a higher impact on how you feel overall and is longer lasting.

I use a variety of different tools in our work together. In the session, I aim to bring you that visceral experience of change. Outside our sessions, I might send you a worksheets, podcasts, books, and anything else I come across that I think would help you get to where you want to go. It’s not unusual for me to reach out between sessions with the latest article I read, or to send you a podcast as I’m halfway through it if I think it would benefit you. I’ve found that layering information (i.e. you experience it with me, you hear it from a podcast, you read it in a book, etc.) helps you to begin to connect to the change that you are seeking and makes it easier to have “aha” moments where things start to click for you.

As a Certified Sex Therapist and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over a decade of training and experience, I’m confident that my support and guidance will help you obtain the change you are looking for. I received my first Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from La Salle University and my second Masters in Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University. I’m currently working on finishing my Ph.D. in Human Sexuality at Widener University.

Schedule of Availability: 

Tuesday: 11a-7p; in-office

Wednesday: 3-7p; in-office

Thursday: 9:30-3p; in-office 

Friday: 8-3p; in-office

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