Carolyn Kuhfuss, LCSW (she/her/hers)
Hi there, I’m Carolyn! I am a cisgender, able-bodied, queer woman. While I was born and raised in Minnesota, I have called Pittsburgh home for the last 15 years. I live with my husband, two children, and my black cat, Luna.
I have a Master’s in Social work from the University of Pittsburgh (2011) and am licensed in the state of Pennsylvania (#CW019741). After getting my degree, I practiced therapy in homes, schools, and mental health clinics before opening my private practice about 7 years ago.
Before deciding to be a therapist, I considered teaching, practicing art, or engaging in systemic social work. I continue to be fascinated with these fields, and often bring themes of social justice, systemic change, and creative expression into the therapy work.
One of my first mentors taught me that the core of therapy is holding “sacred presence” with other humans; a truth that continues to guide me to this day. I believe my clients are taking a wonderful, vulnerable risk by coming to therapy, and I do my best to be fully present with whatever they bring into the room.
I am a trauma-informed, somatically-oriented therapist. If you want to know more about what that means, check out my explanation of treatment modalities.
I am not currently accepting new clients. If you’d like to be put on my wait list, please shoot me a message.
Training & Certifications
Safe & Sound Protocol (Music therapy) | MyUnyte | 2022
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional | PESI | 2022
Fundamentals of Clinical Hypnosis | ISSTD | 2021
Seeking Safety | 2015
Influential Texts
Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors | Janina Fisher
The Body Keeps the Score | Bessel Van Der Kolk
Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection | Deb Dana
Easy Ego-State Interventions | Robin Shapiro
The Gift of Therapy | Dr. Irvin D. Yalom