In-person & online | Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia & across PA & NJ

Helping you bring connection, clarity, and self-compassion front and center.

Meet Julia McGrath, LMFT, PMH-C, Women’s therapist in Pennsylvania & New Jersey

What if, If only, I can’t, I should…

Other’s expectations, your own worries, impossibly high standards, and unexpected challenges… are more than enough to leave you feeling off-kilter. 

This is a place to find your center.

I work with women - the dare-I-say “sensitive” ones, the introverts, and people pleasers - who are ready to shift out of anxiety, disconnection, and dissatisfaction and into their dream of more love, more connection & more inner peace.

Therapy with me starts with diving into your family background and identity. We’ll develop a deep awareness of what contributed to your current struggles, ranging from specific memories to broad societal influences like politics, gender, religion, and race. From that place of clear vision, the path forward can look like:

Having a safe space to grieve losses and unmet needs.

  • Identifying stuck patterns (beliefs, thoughts and actions) and how to move forward.

  • Developing self-trust and self-acceptance.

  • Embracing all emotions and sensitivity as gifts.

  • Learning about how anxiety really works, and what to do about it.

  • Cultivate connection and care in your relationships.

I want you to find relief in knowing you are not alone and guidance along your path to a sustainable, self-compassionate life. Throughout this process, you’ll Strengthen your values and find meaningful direction.


My approach to therapy

Therapy with me is rooted in compassion.


You may feel torn between wanting to dig in deep and your desire to start feeling better now. You shouldn’t have to choose. I take a two-pronged approach: The inner work of deep reflection, feeling your emotions, developing self-compassion is essential to creating lasting change, and like most things worth doing, takes time. My goal is to facilitate this process, while helping you get started with small meaningful actions that improve your day to day. Insight along with mindful actions will build over time and develop into a life you love. 

Having immersed myself in the study of compassion, personally in my own life, and as a therapist, I know that lasting change happens when we listen deeply, understand, and take action. In therapy, you’ll have my full support to help you feel through the painful, uncomfortable parts of life. I’ll also share the knowledge I have gained from living mindfully, and hand select evidence-based strategies to strengthen your connection to yourself and others.

You’ve likely looked for answers and tried strategies that seem promising at first but eventually fall flat. It’s not that you are a failure or that the tools are inherently bad. Only when you feel heard, are given the space to feel, and know you deserve kindness will you able to consistently show up for yourself. 

A little more about mE

I grew up as an anxious,  shy kid. I developed a harsh inner critic that was hard to shake. I know what it is like to feel without support, unsatisfied and worried about the past and future. I’ve had many moments of asking myself “why?” I have sat with difficult questions in my personal life and throughout my training as a therapist.

“Loving, connected presence” has been my mantra since I started my practice. I don’t shy away from showing how moved I am by what you share. Clients describe me as a model for a compassionate way of being, sometimes stating, “then I asked myself what Julia would have said”. I embrace my own, and your, “imperfections”, messiness and struggles on the path and see whatever you bring to session as understandable, human and deserving of care.


I believe that you have innate wisdom within you. You can create a meaningful and well-balanced life.  You are more than capable of feeling connected to yourself and others.

Specializing in…

  • Anxiety Therapy

    Identify and overcome anxious patterns that keep you stuck.

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  • TTC, Pregnancy & Postpartum

    Get support to navigate the unique challenges of this huge transition.

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  • Relationship Therapy

    Uncover the patterns that lead to dissatisfaction in relationships.

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  • Online Therapy

    Receive care from the comfort of your home, less hassle, and equal results.

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  • Self-Compassion Therapy

    Learn to turn the compassion you show others on to yourself.

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Experience and Training

Education

  • Drexel University: Masters in Couple and Family Therapy

Licenses

  • LMFT PA License: MF001318

  • LMFT NJ License: 37FI000233300

Training

  • PMH-C, (Perinatal Mental Health Certified) through Postpartum Support International

  • Certified Self-Compassion Informed Psychotherapist through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion

  • Trauma-Focused ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

  • Introduction to ERP for OCD - Cognitive Behavior Institute

  • Compassion Focused Therapy - Dennis Tirch and Lauren Silberstein-Tirch

Additional Experience and Clinical Interests

  • Mindful Self-Compassion Training

  • Break Free from Anxiety - Sheryl Paul

  • Internal Family Systems

  • Trauma-Informed Care

  • I-CBT for OCD

  • Buddhist Psychology and Spirituality

Professional Memberships

  • AAMFT member and supervisor candidate

  • Postpartum Support International

  • Perinatal Partners

  • Therapy for Therapists Collective

Cognitive & Behavioral

How you think, feel and act are connected. I use CBT, ERP and I-CBT principles as needed. I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy extensively, which focuses on taking valued actions and unhooking from unhelpful thoughts and beliefs.

Methods and Modalities

Relational & Systemic

Early life experiences in your family shape how you relate to others and how you view yourself. I use systems theory and attachment theory as guideposts to understand relationship patterns and how to create healthier relationships.

Mindfulness & Self-Compassion

I have extensive training in self-compassion and mindfulness based approaches. Both are used throughout treatment to tune in to emotions, sensations, needs and values. Self-compassion facilitates relief from shame and guilt and offers a more flexible and responsive way of being.

My wish for you: to live a life aligned with what truly matters.

〰️

My wish for you: to live a life aligned with what truly matters. 〰️

There are a million ways to do life, and a million more people trying to tell you that their way is best. My goal is to help you cut through the junk and start trusting yourself. By aligning your actions with your most deeply held values, you start experiencing all aspects of life with greater connection, strength, and confidence.