Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter , PA Psychologist PS019215

Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter, PsyD, is a Pennsylvania-licensed clinical psychologist with a decade of professional experience and license number PA Psychologist PS019215. She has extensive experience working with people facing substance use disorders - including opioids, stimulants, and alcohol - often alongside co-occurring concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship conflict.

She has also supported individuals with learning differences, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and bipolar disorder, drawing on a broad clinical background to address complex presentations and overlapping concerns. Her practice emphasizes respect and compassionate care, and she has worked respectfully with the LGBTQ+ community.

Dr. Utter’s therapeutic style is approachable, non-judgmental, and empathetic. She integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques, client-centered principles, psychodynamic ideas, and motivational interviewing to tailor conversations and treatment plans to each person’s unique needs and goals. She focuses on collaboration - helping people identify priorities, build skills, and move toward meaningful change with support and encouragement.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Dr. Utter draws from several evidence-informed methods to support clients in online sessions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - ACT - helps people accept difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and committing to actions that create a meaningful life; it is often useful for anxiety, mood difficulties, and stress-related concerns. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathetic listening and a collaborative, non-directive stance so that clients can explore their thoughts and feelings at their own pace; this approach is helpful for building self-esteem, processing grief, and addressing relationship issues. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT - focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and teaching concrete skills for managing symptoms, making it effective for anxiety, depression, and sleep challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Dr. Utter works collaboratively with each person to tailor methods to individual needs, goals, and preferences. Together they evaluate what feels most helpful and adapt techniques over time.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility and easier access to care. These options allow clients to engage in therapy from their own environments, balance appointments with other responsibilities, and maintain continuity of care across locations.