I’ve had a private therapy practice in downtown Lancaster for 13 years and live within walking distance of my office. I arrived in Lancaster with my young family 27 years ago as I finished my doctorate. I came to begin a new phase of my career by becoming the Clinical Director of the Samaritan Counseling Center. In fact, I was with Samaritan in one form or another for 25 years. I ended my position with the Samaritan’s TeenHope program in the Spring of 2021. TeenHope is a school-based mental health awareness program, that I co-founded. Most recently I served as the coordinator of research and development.
In my personal life, I know of peace and progress, as well as periods of anxiety and lethargy. I know the joys and disappointments of love in family life, and the blessings and curses of extended family. I believe in community engagement, with its camaraderie and frustrations. I believe in a healthy lifestyle but know what it’s like to eat junk food and to have trouble getting off the couch. I have a hopelessly wandering mind, yet I benefit from meditating daily. Being a therapist is good for me, despite its challenges, because every hour with a client is an hour where I am in the present moment and focused. I can listen to a fellow human and get out of my own head. Feeling empathy for another is healing to me, even as it is very difficult, at times, to feel the raw pain of another. It is a constant reminder to me that we are not alone in the world.
Here is some other stuff about me:
- My resume on my LinkedIn profile: Perry Hazeltine, PhD
- Website for TeenHope, the program I cofounded: TeenHope
- Lancaster Newspaper articles in which I was interviewed:
- August 8, 2019- How to talk to children about violence, safety after mass shootings; Lancaster County experts weigh in
- June 11, 2019- Pennsylvania task force to develop statewide plan to reduce suicide
- July 2, 2018- Teenage girl’s suicide in 2014 shows social media has transformed the way kids are bullied