Hi, I’m Elissa (you can call me Liss).

I’m a counselor, educator, and advocate with a focus on sexuality, identity, and relational wellness. I hold an M.S.Ed. in School and Mental Health Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania and a background in psychology from Penn State. I work at the intersection of intimacy, emotional development, and personal growth—helping individuals explore who they are in relationships, in careers, and in connection with themselves.

I specialize in supporting people who are navigating dating, identity formation, breakups, career transitions, or a return to self after losing touch with their boundaries and desires. My work centers the idea that the self as a sexual and relational being is not a side note to our development—it’s foundational to living fully and authentically. Through a warm, affirming, and identity-informed lens, I support people in deepening self-awareness, rewriting patterns, and cultivating joy, pleasure, and meaningful connection.

In addition to my clinical training, I lead workshops and talks on sexual health, intimacy, shame resilience, and relational readiness. I’ve developed original educational frameworks and presented for schools, community spaces, and national conferences. I also host a blog and podcast under the name Learning Curves with Liss, where I share insights, tools, and real-life reflections about love, identity, desire, and becoming.

My own story informs the work I do. Like many, I once believed that if I waited long enough, the perfect partner would appear. But after years of losing myself in relationships, I realized the relationship I most needed to cultivate was the one with myself. Through therapy, sexual self-exploration, and values-based reflection, I reclaimed my voice, my boundaries, and my pleasure. That experience fuels my deep belief in the transformative power of intimacy, not just with others, but within.

​

Licensure Note:
I have completed my Master’s in School and Mental Health Counseling and am currently preparing to begin practicing under supervision as a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) in Pennsylvania. I am not yet offering therapy services but am building toward private practice with a focus on relational, sex-positive, and identity-affirming care. This site will be updated when those services become available.