Hello!

Starting therapy takes courage.  And if you're here, that means you're starting to find yours.  Your next step will be to pick up the phone or send me an email so we can begin moving through this journey together.  In order to do that I'll be asking you to trust me and know that I am able to hold whatever it is that you're carrying with you right now.  Whether it's anxiety that's keeping you up at night, sadness that's isolating you from those around you, a traumatic event that won't go away or something else that is blocking you from being the person, parent, partner or friend that you want to be--together we can clear the path and begin to heal.
There will always be reasons to NOT go to therapy, so if you're waiting for a good time, settle in because it's going to be a while. Why not hand over some of that weight your carrying and finally allow yourself time to take care of you? You deserve to be the person you always imagined you'd be at this stage in your life. Still unsure? Then call for a  consultation and see if you think we'd be a good fit.

My Approach

With over 20 years of experience I treat clients with an array of concerns. I specialize in helping with traumatic events, maternal mental health (including postpartum depression and anxiety, infertility and adjustment to parenthood) and partner/family violence.
I feel it's important to remember that you should feel like you "click" with your therapist.  Our relationship is like any other--a therapist may seem perfect on paper, but you should also feel as though you can connect and share with them.  My style is relaxed and I work at whatever pace feels right for you. I tend to work in both the past and the present by helping you explore and process the past in order to better understand how it may be influencing the present while giving you tools to better help you deal with what's going on in the here and now.  I value the benefits of humor and sprinkle it in when appropriate.  
I am also a cis woman and I use she/her pronouns--please let me know yours!
“Healing takes courage and we all have courage even if we have to dig a little to find it.
-Tori Amos

The office

Located at 534 Lincoln Avenue, my practice is easily accessible.  Plentiful street parking and a public parking lot just around the corner. While you're in the neighborhood you have your pick of locally owned restaurants, coffee shops and retail shops.  Within 2 blocks are several banks, the post office and one of Pittsburgh's historic libraries. 

The virtual office

If you live in Pennsylvania I am able to provide telehealth sessions statewide!  Please check your insurance coverage as copays may differ from in person to virtual.

Find me in the press!

My Professional Experience

Clinical

Outpatient Therapist
I have been providing therapy to adults, teens and adolescents for the past two decades.  I specialize in trauma, perinatal mental health which includes post partum depression, infertility, miscarriage and abortion; intimate partner violence and parenting. 
Crisis Clinician
I have provided mobile crisis response services for Allegheny County for individuals and families experiencing a mental health crisis.  Additionally, I have provided crisis and prevention services for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness on a Community Treatment Team with the goal of keeping clients stable and safe in their communities.  I am currently contracted with FEMA as an Emergency Response Counselor for the International Relief and Development Department.

Leadership

I have provided leadership in social service and mental health settings including a domestic violence counseling center, child abuse prevention and treatment clinic and pregnancy counseling center. This includes providing clinical oversight of all treatment provided, clinical supervision to all therapists on staff, grant writing and program development.

Academic and Research

Conference Presentations
Swartz, C., North Cook, A & Erbeldinger, S. (October 2015). Parent Child Interaction Therapy and Intimate Partner Violence. Presented at the Parent Child Interaction Therapy International Convention. Pittsburgh, PA
Swartz, C. & Burke, M. (2006, March). Human Trafficking: A Model for Feminist Activism. Organization presented at the Association for Women in Psychology conference.  Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Swartz, C. & Pilecki, A.. (2006, March). Trafficking in Persons-Modern Slave Trade of Women and Children . Organization presented at the Carlow University-Graduate Colloquium.  Pittsburgh, PA.
Burke, M. & Swartz, C. (2005, November). Project to End Human Trafficking. Organization presented at the World Association of Non-Governmental Associations (WANGO), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Invited Presentations

Swartz, C. (October 2018). Trauma Informed Classrooms for Elementary Students. Presented at McIntyre Elementary. Pittsburgh, PA
Swartz, C. (October 2018). Trauma Informed Classrooms for Elementary Students. Presented at West View Elementary. Pittsburgh, PA
Swartz, C. (October 2018).  Trauma Informed Classrooms for Elementary Students.  Presented at Highcliff Elementary. Pittsburgh, PA
Swartz, C. (October 2018). Trauma Informed Classrooms for Middle and High School Students. Presented at North Hills Middle & High School. Pittsburgh, PA
Swartz, C. (June 2018). Trauma Informed Classrooms. Presented at North Hills School District Administration.  Pittsburgh, PA
Swartz, C. (2018 May). Trauma Informed Healthcare with HIV+ Populations. Presented at UPMC Pinnacle.  Harrisburg, PA.
Swartz, C. (2018, February).  Emotional Wellness at Work: For Teachers and Support Staff. Presented at Linton Middle School, Penn Hills School District.  Pittsburgh, PA
Swartz, C. (2017, November). Emotional Wellness at Work. Presented at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Family Care Connections.  Pittsburgh, PA
Swartz, C. (2017, July). Intimate Partner Violence--Screening & Intervention in a Patient Setting. Connections4Health at the Birmingham Free Clinic.  Pittsburgh, PA
Swartz, C. (2017, May). Trauma Informed Healthcare for Case Managers. AIDS Free Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh, PA.
Swartz, C. (2016, October). Intimate Partner Violence through a Transgenerational Lens. Presented at Magee Women's Hospital. Pittsburgh, PA.
Swartz, C. (2015, June). Trauma Informed Care in Healthcare Settings. Presented at the Presbyterian Hospital.
Sill, C. (2006, August). Modern-day Slavery. Organization presented at the First Unitarian Church.  Pittsburgh, PA.
Burke, M. & Sill, C. (2005, February).  Human Trafficking: Modern Exploits of Women & Children.  Organization presented at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania.  Pittsburgh, PA.

Guest Lecturer

Duquesne University, Developmental Psychology I, 2006
Carlow University, Human Growth & Sexuality, 2007

Research Interests

Program Director, Lutheran Settlement House, Bilingual Domestic Violence Program, Philadelphia, PA.
Provided management to the nation’s first on-site domestic violence program in a pediatric setting. Program goals are to make domestic violence screening a standard of care within pediatric settings, and to respond to those families with a positive screen.  The need for this program was determined by data on the pervasiveness of domestic violence, the interconnection between domestic violence and child abuse, and research by the American Academy of Pediatrics showing that one of the most effective ways to prevent child abuse and neglect is intervention in domestic violence.  Coordinated program proposal and implementation at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, training to pediatric staff on the overlap between domestic violence and child abuse and oversight to local and national program publications and conference presentations.
Associate Director, Project to End Human Trafficking, Pittsburgh, PA.
Co-founded local non-profit organization whose mission is to work against forced labor and the sexual exploitation of women and children, and to provide psychosocial support to survivors.  Educated the general public on the regional, national, and international scope of human trafficking and forced labor. Engaged in research pertaining to trafficking with specific attention to the identified country of focus. Advocated for the provision of mental health services and other psychosocial reintegration support for victims of human trafficking. Collaborated with organizations working to eradicate human trafficking, including non-governmental organizations, governmental agencies, and grassroots advocacy groups.  Researched and applied for grants aligned with the PEHT mission.