Howard August

Licensed Professional Counselor

Individual counseling and psychotherapy

1518 Walnut St, Suite 800
Philadelphia PA  19102
267-441-4386

Services

• Individual Counseling
• Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Trauma
• 15-Minute Free Consultation

Telehealth counseling provided by secure online video conferencing throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  A limited number of in-person sessions are available at my office near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia to clients who are fully vaccinated.

My Approach

The foundation of my counseling practice is non-judgmental listening and saying what is needed to help you see yourself—your strengths,  your values, your challenges, your past, and your path forward.  Based on the feedback I get from my clients, you will feel heard and accepted for who you are right now.

You are the expert on you, but even experts need to consider change.  If something isn’t working for you, I’ll help you understand that and explore alternatives with you.

My practice integrates principles and techniques from therapies including person-centered therapy,  cognitive-behavioral therapies, and existential therapy.  I put these tools to work to help you with your concerns, including depression and anxiety.

In addition, I have special training and certification from the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA) in the use of Prolonged Exposure therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can result from traumas such as surviving or witnessing serious accidents, violence, combat, and physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in childhood or adulthood.  If you are struggling to recover from trauma, this therapy can help.

I also have special training from the CTSA in using Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).  This is the best research-proven psychological therapy for reducing and coping with OCD symptoms.

Another special tool I can offer my clients is clinical hypnosis.  Hypnosis uses a natural state of focus and relaxation to harness the therapeutic power of your mind.

About Howard

I came to the profession of counseling after a career as a research attorney, finding that psychotherapy is my calling. It is a privilege and an honor to sit with my clients (now virtually), listen to them, and help them to understand themselves, their thoughts, and their feelings in a way that lets them move forward as they choose.

As counseling is my second career, I am familiar with the challenge of transition. I work with clients making transitions of many kinds, whether graduating college, changing careers, relocating, beginning or leaving a relationship, losing a loved one, retiring, becoming ill, being severely injured, or going through other times of adjustment.

Expertise

My clinical experience is in community mental health and college counseling, so I am attuned to working with adults of all ages to address a wide variety of concerns, including depression and anxiety. I have also developed a specialty in helping people who remain stuck in distress after trauma. As a certified prolonged exposure therapist, I have helped many clients overcome post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, I have undertaken training in clinical hypnosis, which can help you harness the power of your own subconscious to reduce anxiety, increase comfort, change habits, or gain insight.

I look forward to talking with you.

Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania and New Jersey

La Salle University: MA Professional Clinical Counseling

New York University School of Law: JD

New York University: BA Philosophy and History

Rates

Standard counseling session (45 to 50 minutes): $150

Extended counseling session (90 minutes): $225

Payment is collected at the time of service by cash, check, Zelle, Venmo, Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or major credit cards.

Schedule a Free Consultation

It’s important that you find a counselor who is a good fit for your needs.  That’s why the first step is a free phone consultation.  During your consultation, I’ll answer your questions and we can decide if I’m the right counselor for you.

To schedule your 15-minute consultation, please call me at 267-441-4386, or fill out the form below and I will be in touch.

Before we begin working together I will provide a written estimate of fees.

Insurance

I am in-network with Aetna Insurance (but not for EAP or Medicare Advantage.) 

I am not an in-network provider with any other insurance plans, but your insurer may reimburse you part of my fee as an out-of-network provider, depending on your plan.  I will provide a detailed invoice (superbill) that you can submit to your insurer for reimbursement.

Please contact your other insurer first to verify coverage for out-of-network psychotherapy, asking them these questions:

  • What percentage do they cover for each session?
  • What is your deductible?  Have you fulfilled it for the current year?
  • What is the insurance company’s usual and customary rate per session (CPT codes 90834 and 90837) for zip code 19147?

Once you have this information from your insurance company, please feel free to contact me with any follow-up questions.

Contact Me

A good fit with your counselor is important, so we begin with a free 15-minute phone consultation.  You’ll be able to ask questions and we’ll each get a feel for our potential therapeutic relationship.  Afterwards, the timing is up to you—we can schedule an initial session, or you can get back to me later after you’ve decided.

Please call me at 267-441-4386 or use the encrypted form below to ask me questions or request a phone consultation.  I will not share your personal information with third parties.

Thanks!  I’ll get back to you soon.