Local woman to open counseling center in Waterdam Plaza
The last 18 months have been a whirlwind for Lindsay Carter and the business she founded, owns and serves as clinical director, Rooted in Healing Counseling Center.
What started in June 2023 as a virtual service with 14 clients has grown with multiple psychotherapists serving as mental health providers for more than 100 clients. The counseling center will move into a physical location at Waterdam Plaza in McMurray in April.
Carter, 36, has worked in the mental health field for 13 years.
“I’ve worked in a variety of different environments and positions, doing in-home therapy,” Carter said. “I’ve worked with the drug and alcohol population here in Washington. After I got my license in the state of Pennsylvania, I transitioned to a private practice. I was there for quite a few years and had a wonderful experience. But I just felt this nudge to take a leap of faith and start my own thing.”
The board-certified christian counselor provides faith-based health support and counseling services.
“It’s really bridging the gap through a lens of biblical principles,” said Carter, a 2006 graduate of Upper St. Clair High School. “I grew up in the church and was in and out of church for a variety of reasons, but I was on my own healing journey as well. I ultimately realized that combining my belief system with psychology was a formula to get me to some deeper transformation and I just wanted to be able to do that for people that were seeking out the next level. We have so many different types of therapeutic treatment modalities, but a lot of people do want to incorporate their own belief system.”
As the Eighty Four resident put her business plan in place, her research revealed an “overwhelming” lack of faith-based practices.
“We are a counseling center that’s willing to meet you where you’re at in your specific belief system and be able to partner those two things,” Carter said. “That was kind of the beginning of Rooted in Healing, just my own journey.”
The first six months were plentiful for Carter and the business. The original 14 clients followed her from another private practice in Cranberry where she was working. By December 2023, that number ballooned to 60. She needed to add people.
“When I decided to make the move to launch our practice, my entire caseload followed me from the previous practice,” Carter said. “I just saw the ongoing need and the referrals were continuing. The 60 clients I sat with in December (2023) is what really prompted me to accelerate the business plan to add in the team.”
Last May, three therapists were added, and she recently interviewed another candidate for a position. The client tally surpassed 100. There’s also a family and marriage therapy intern on staff. Carter’s husband, Eddie, serves as managing partner and chief financial officer.
In conjunction with the launch of the new facility, a five-week workshop series called “Rooted and Renewed” will be offered, focusing on overcoming anxiety, strengthening relationships, or faith-based emotional healing.
“We felt very strongly that this would be more beneficial in person,” Carter said. “We went back and forth, thinking maybe we could rent a place for the workshop or should we look for our own space. We looked at a couple of places and felt that the location at Waterdam Plaza was a good bridge between Washington County and Allegheny County.”
Virtual options will remain available for clients throughout Pennsylvania, as one of the psychotherapists is based in State College, but many who have had virtual sessions are looking forward to coming in person. There will be at least two therapists in the facility at all times. The building will feature three dedicated private offices, a waiting room and a space for workshops.
“We don’t really want to have a very typical conference room feeling,” Carter said. “We want it to be an inviting space with comfortable seating – a very cozy, safe atmosphere.
“It’s been such a blessing,” Carter said. “We’ve only been up and operating for 18 months. We haven’t really done a ton of formal marketing. It’s truly been word of mouth. It’s such a hometown feel. Whenever somebody hears about something that is good, it spreads like wildfire. At the end of the day, we just want people to get help.”
More information about Rooted in Healing Counseling Center is available at www.rootedinhealingcounseling.com.