Administrative

Annalisa Smithson, LPC, NCC (she/her)

Annalisa is the founder and director of Unleashed Counseling. She is a board-certified counselor licensed in the state of Pennsylvania, specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy and animal-assisted therapy. She has presented research at mental health conferences around the country, including the American Psychological Association, the Association for Women in Psychology, and the Pennsylvania Counseling Association.

Annalisa is the author of two books, Emotional Support Animals (2021) and the Unconditional: Learning to Love Your Authentic Self (2022), and has published research in several peer-reviewed journals including Psychology in the Schools and the Journal of the PCA. Prior to becoming a counselor she worked as a fundraising professional for Lehigh University. She holds a Master of Education in Counseling & Human Services and a Master of Arts in the Anthropology of Development and Social Transformation.

Cleopatre Paulvin, LPC (she/her)

Cleo is a licensed professional counselor and a a social justice-oriented therapist at Unleashed Counseling. She is currently trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and works toward helping them process their traumatic experiences by telling their stories. Additionally, she is trained in Prolonged Exposure for PTSD.

Cleo focuses on ensuring that she uses an approach that will be the most helpful to you. She has worked with pre-teens, teenagers, and adults going through anxiety and depression, as well as individuals who have experienced traumatic events. She received her Masters of Education in Counseling and Human Services from Lehigh University in May of 2018.

Meg Handley

Meg is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Penn West. She has always been passionate about service and sees her role at Unleashed as a way to support others even before she launches her career as a therapist. She sees mental health counseling as one of the most meaningful ways to make a difference in people’s lives. As the intake coordinator at Unleashed Counseling, Meg is often the first person you’ll speak to when you reach out, and she takes pride in offering a warm and welcoming introduction.