I am a psychologist licensed in the state of Pennsylvania with over 30 years of training and experience in helping people working through many of life's struggles.
My doctoral studies were in clinical psychology, and my first masters degree was in marriage and family systems. Across the years I've worked in with many different concerns ranging from: depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, fears, and emptiness ... to ...struggles adapting to change of roles and growth through life ... to ... thought disorders ... to ... PTSD from war related experiences, molestations, and rape.
I too have been in therapy several times across the years, and so offer my services as someone who has been greatly helped by this process as well as having extensive training and practical experience. I appreciate how difficult it is to seek help, and how frightening it may be to need help.
My approach is centered around helping you become more of who you are at the deepest levels rather than what anyone else believes you need to be. I offer my services as a guide to help you through your own world of thoughts, feelings, and experiences in an attempt to find meaning. Across the years I've worked in community clinic settings, private practice, Federal prisons, nursing homes, and in-home/community children's services.
My therapeutic style is a casual and caring person centered, including skills sets and models derived from Existential, Jungian, Object Relations, Family Systems, and Cognitive Behavioral approaches. I approach this work with a keen awareness of spirituality and use this to inform our discussions without pushing any specific religious model.
Personally, I was raised in Japan for 10 years as a young child during the Vietnam war. I experienced racial hatred and fears as students rioted in front of my house. My father would take me with him to visit wounded soldiers from a very young age. I know personally about the pain of trying to live, sometimes living up to our dreams and at other times failing.
Through the years I've been honored by numerous people who have shared their hopes, dreams, fears and wounds. I look forward to the opportunity to explore healing with you.
Additional areas of focus: Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Avoidant Personality, BDSM, Kink, Alternative Sex Culture, Blended Family Issues, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Dependent Personality, Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Expats, Family of Origin Issues, Fatherhood Issues, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Narcissism, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Personality Disorders, Post-traumatic stress, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Sexual Assault and Abuse, Sexual Dysfunction, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Traumatic Brain Injury
Clinical approaches: Existential Therapy, Jungian Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Internal Family Systems
PA Psychologist PS008122L
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Dr. John Bixler. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
He is very approachable and understanding which is important to me since I have been in the past reluctant to go to therapy.
Written on May 12, 2024 after therapy with John for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and self esteem
Simply, Dr. Bixler is one of the best psychologist's I've ever worked with. He has helped me more in the last year than other therapist I've seen helped me in 3 years. His therapeutic style is a bit different which makes it more interesting working with him. I look forward to our meetings, and highly recommend him to anyone who is interested in therapy.
Written on May 10, 2024 after therapy with John for 11 months on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Dr. Bixler listens to me and clearly understands what I am setting out to accomplish in therapy. He is responds to my viseo and text messages to him in a timely fashion. He is alo really good at explaining his approach and telling incredible stories to illustrate his point.
I appreciate that he provides information in the form of video links and other information that is helping me through the process.
Dr. Bixler is a great coach/therapist and I am certain that I can grow beyond where I am and into my purpose.
Written on May 07, 2024 after therapy with John for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, parenting issues, and coping with life changes
Dr. John is great. His demeanor and appearance is welcoming. His knowledge and insight is top tier. For me, talking to Dr John is easy like talking to an Uncle or Grandpa or some other male role model.
Written on Mar 12, 2024 after therapy with John for 2 months on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and anger management
I would highly recommend Dr. Bixler as he not only listens with patience and compassion he also challenges how you think about things with wisdom that rivals most men
Written on Mar 12, 2024 after therapy with John for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, self esteem, and compassion fatigue
My therapy sessions have been very helpful
Written on Mar 11, 2024 after therapy with John for 5 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd