Hi, I’m

Dr. Courtney

pensavalle.

Many of the people I work with have learned to cope by pushing themselves harder.

Perhaps you've learned to stay busy, strive for perfection, disconnect from your body, or measure your worth by what you accomplish. While these strategies may have once helped you survive, they may now leave you feeling exhausted, disconnected, or stuck. Together, we'll explore a different way of relating to yourself—one grounded in curiosity, self-compassion, and flexibility.

Our work together

Healing begins with understanding your patterns—and discovering new ways to relate, respond, and move forward.

I believe you are the expert in your own life. My role is not to tell you who to be or what choices to make, but to work alongside you to better understand the patterns, relationships, and experiences that have shaped how you think, feel, and respond today.

You may come to therapy or coaching feeling stuck in familiar patterns, overwhelmed by your emotions, disconnected from yourself or your body, or simply unsure of what needs to change. My goal is to create a space where you feel understood, respected, and supported as we make sense of what’s happening and identify what you need to move forward.

Together, we’ll build on your strengths, learn to recognize and respond to your nervous system with greater awareness and compassion, and develop practical ways to navigate difficult emotions, relationships, and challenges. When you feel stuck or pulled away from yourself, we’ll work toward reconnecting with what matters most and creating meaningful, sustainable change.

  • individual therapy

    "I came to Courtney for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for treatment of insomnia, and stayed with her when my wife left me. Eighteen months later, thanks to Courtney's wisdom and guidance, I am sleeping better and successfully managing the intense feelings of insecurity and anxiety that come from my marriage falling apart (along with the other issues we all have in life). Courtney is an engaged listener and empathetic guide; she is skilled at (gently) forcing me to say the things that I am afraid to say, access the feelings that I have long suppressed, and confront the hard truths I have resisted. Perhaps Courtney's greatest asset is her ability to help me find the answers I'm looking for within myself. However, she doesn't make me flounder; she shares techniques and insights that are productive and reassuring. Without Courtney's help, I don't think I could have gotten through this. I recommend her to anyone looking for a productive therapeutic relationship."

  • previous therapy client

    “Working with Courtney has completely changed my life. I am exponentially more at peace, and have a more fulfilling and productive life because of the tools they have helped me build. They are grounded and practical, while maintaining a generous empathy, intelligence, and humor at the heart of their practice. I couldn’t have hoped for a better guide and advocate to work in partnership with towards improving my mental health.”

  • professional mentorship

    “While working with Courtney as her mentee, I have had numerous opportunities to experience firsthand the breadth of knowledge and compassion she brings to her work. Throughout our conversations, Courtney provided a wealth of psychoeducation and shared supplemental resources to deepen my understanding. She also maintained transparency with me about her experiences working in the field as a gender-diverse clinician and the research she is currently engaged in. Because of this time with her, I feel much better prepared to attend graduate school and eventually become an attentive mental healthcare provider.

    Beyond this, I was deeply touched by the empathy Courtney consistently displayed. Even when our conversations focused on more theoretical topics, she always made sure to check in with me and create space for me to discuss any personal challenges I was facing. I am incredibly grateful for her patience and generosity with her time, and I truly cannot recommend her services enough.”

  • mental performance coaching

    “Because working in the entertainment industry is mentally, physically and emotionally draining, before I started working with Courtney, I was feeling really lost and unfocused. I approached my work from a place of fear and desperation rather than excitement and creativity - like I had at the beginning. Even after just one session with Courtney, I felt more like myself. Throughout our time working together, she has helped me reignite my passion, hone in on my purpose and strengthen my resilience. She has taught me how to manage my anxiety through preparation and visualization. I feel much more confident advocating for myself and my art. Plus, Courtney is incredibly easy to talk to and always engaged. She makes the work fun. Most importantly, I trust her completely. It’s not even remotely hyperbolic to say Courtney has changed my life.”