Understand the roots
Psychodynamic therapy
Explore how early life experiences shape your relationships and behaviors today.
أهلاً وسهلاً Welcome
Therapy in Philadelphia & online
Get to the root, so you can move forward with clarity.
No matter what unexpected events life is throwing your way, you don't have to process them alone. I help teens, adults, and families work through anxiety, trauma, and life's hardest moments.
- Accepting new clients
- In-person & telehealth
- English & العربية
Maybe it feels like life keeps happening to you.
The worry that won't switch off. A past that keeps showing up in the present. A loss, a family conflict, a new chapter you didn't plan for. Patterns you can see clearly but can't seem to change.
We can't always foresee the distressing events we'll go through, and we don't choose our biological foundations or the environments we grow up in.
What we can rely on is one another.
Together, we can get to the root of the underlying issues and patterns, so you can meet these moments with more confidence and clarity.
Hoda Ammar
LPC, MSEd
Meet your therapist
Hi, I'm Hoda.
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania with over a decade of experience working with clients of different ages and backgrounds, and I hold additional certification in trauma-informed therapy.
My work centers on helping you build a more meaningful relationship with yourself. Through self-compassion and mindfulness, we'll work on making you feel steadier inside and more intentional in how you move through the world around you.
I work with teens, adults, and elders, as individuals and as families. I'm an affirming ally to LGBTQ+ clients, and I offer culturally sensitive care, including for Arab and Middle Eastern clients, in English or Arabic.
أتحدث العربية I speak Arabic
Education & Training
- Master of Science in Education, Duquesne University (2017)
- Additional certification in trauma-informed therapy
- Trained in EMDR for trauma processing
License & Credentials
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), State of Pennsylvania, #PC013569
- 9 years in practice; 10+ years in the field
My approach
Understand the roots. Grow something new.
I draw on a few evidence-based approaches and shape them around you, not a diagnosis.
Reshape the patterns
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Notice unhelpful thought patterns and practice new ways of responding to them.
Stay grounded
Mindfulness
Help your mind and body stay present and steady, especially when things feel overwhelming.
Heal what hurt
EMDR
A structured, research-supported way to process traumatic memories so they carry less weight.
I also draw on ACT, family systems, humanistic, person-centered, strength-based, and trauma-focused approaches.
How we'll begin
-
A free 15-minute consultation
A no-pressure conversation to share what's bringing you in, ask questions, and see if we feel like a good fit.
-
Understanding where you are
In our first sessions, we'll take time to understand your background and the underlying dynamics that may be contributing to what you're feeling now.
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A plan we build together
From there, we'll develop a collaborative plan and navigate these challenges together, over time, at a pace that feels right for you.
A calm place to begin
Come as you are. We'll take it one step at a time.
In person in Philadelphia, or online from wherever you feel most at ease.
What I help with
You are more than what you're going through.
I specialize in anxiety and trauma & PTSD, and I also support clients through:
- Depression
- Grief & loss
- Identity & self-esteem
- Family conflict
- Relationship issues
- Life transitions
- Stress & burnout
- Emotional regulation
- Body image
- Domestic abuse
- Racial identity
- Women's issues
- LGBTQ+ concerns
Fees & insurance
Therapy should feel accessible.
I take a variety of insurance plans and I'm working on accepting more. Please reach out with any questions. I'm happy to work with you to keep therapy affordable.
$150
per individual session
Sliding scale available. Ask if you may be eligible.
Insurance accepted
- Aetna & Aetna EAP
- BlueCross BlueShield
- Carelon Behavioral Health
- Cigna, Evernorth & Cigna EAP
- Highmark
- Humana & Humana Medicare
- Independence Administrators
- Magellan
- Medicare
- Meritain Health
- Nippon Life Benefits
- Out-of-network
Payment methods
HSA, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.
Questions
What happens in the free consultation?
It's a 15-minute call where you can share a little about what's bringing you to therapy, ask me anything about how I work, and get a feel for whether we're a good fit. There's no cost and no commitment.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes. I'm in network with Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Highmark, Humana, Magellan, Medicare and several others (see the full list above).
What if I can't afford the full fee?
I offer a sliding scale for those who qualify. Ask about it during your consultation. I'm happy to work with you to keep therapy affordable and accessible.
Do you offer online sessions?
Yes. I see clients in person at my Philadelphia offices and via secure telehealth for clients located in Pennsylvania.
Can we have sessions in Arabic?
Yes. I offer therapy in both English and Arabic, and I bring a culturally sensitive lens to my work with Arab and Middle Eastern clients and families.
Do you work with teens and families?
Yes. I work with teens, adults, and elders (65+), both individually and in family sessions.
اتّزان وارتقاء
Balance & Bloom
Free 15-minute consultation
I would be honored to help you get started.
Taking the first step is often the hardest part. Book a free, no-pressure consultation and we'll talk about what you're looking for.
Currently accepting new clients · In-person & telehealth