
You know it shouldn't be this hard. But suddenly you're questioning every option, worrying about making the wrong choice, replaying conversations from yesterday, or thinking through every possible “what if.”
Maybe you're constantly overthinking. Maybe your brain won't shut off. Maybe you're checking, researching, reassurance-seeking, avoiding, or second-guessing yourself because you're terrified of getting something wrong.
Or maybe you're dealing with something completely different—grief, a major life change, a difficult relationship, or a version of yourself that just doesn't feel like you anymore.
You don't have to figure all of that out before reaching out for therapy. That's what we're here for.
I'm Aerin, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), and I believe therapy should feel like talking to a real person—not like sitting across from someone who is waiting to tell you what you're doing wrong. My approach is warm, down-to-earth, collaborative, and personalized.
I work primarily with adolescents and young adults experiencing anxiety, OCD, depression, grief and loss, low self-esteem, trauma, life transitions, relationship concerns, and substance use. I especially enjoy working with people who feel stuck in their heads, put a lot of pressure on themselves, struggle with perfectionism, or feel like everyone else seems to have life figured out while they’re just trying to keep up.
I use an integrative, trauma-informed approach and draw from evidence-based therapies based on your individual needs. This may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and anxiety, Person-Centered Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Gestalt approaches, Motivational Interviewing, Behavioral Activation, and trauma-focused approaches.
I hold a graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling from Saint John Fisher University, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame. I have experience providing counseling for anxiety, OCD, grief, substance use, prevention, self-esteem, relationships, and other life challenges.
But honestly? My credentials are only one part of what I bring into the room.
I want you to feel like you can actually be yourself in therapy.
You don't need to have the perfect explanation for why you're struggling. You don't need to know whether what you're experiencing is “bad enough.” You don't need to walk in with a list of goals.
You can come in and say, “I don't even know what's wrong. I just know I'm tired.”
We can start there.
Maybe you're functioning. You're going to school. You're working. You're keeping up with your responsibilities. You're showing up for your friends and family.
But internally, you're exhausted.
Maybe anxiety is taking up way too much space. Maybe OCD has you caught in cycles you can't seem to break. Maybe you're grieving someone or something and don't know how to move forward. Maybe you're constantly questioning yourself or feeling like you're never doing enough.
You don't have to wait until you're in crisis to ask for help.
Therapy can be a place to understand what's happening, learn practical tools, process the things you've been carrying, and feel more confident navigating your life.
And you don't have to have everything figured out before you reach out.
You just have to be willing to start.
Copyright © 2026 Lighthouse Counseling of Upstate NY - All Rights Reserved.
(585)601-2169
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.