About Us
Our Mission
Our goal is, by the grace of God, to bring peace to those who seek it.
What does "Pax" mean?
“Pax” has Latin roots (particularly in religious tradition), meaning “peace,” which we believe is a pivotal indicator of human flourishing. We view the concept as a state of being rather than simply a transient emotional experience.
Our Philosophy
The Catholic-Christian Meta-Model of the Person (CCMMP)
Since psychotherapy is such an intrinsically personal process, we find it beneficial to disclose our own philosophy prior to initiating therapy. After all, we all have one! Our therapists have been trained in, and embrace, the “Catholic-Christian Meta-Model of the Person” as a means of making sense of our nature as human beings. In short, the meta-model informs the conceptualization of our clients and everyone else in this world. The meta-model is (very!) briefly summarized in the numbered bullet points that follow. Please refer to The Catholic-Christian Meta-Model of the Person if you’d like to learn more about this framework.
We make a few assumptions about each person who walks through our doors:
You are a person who has been made in the image and likeness of God.
You were made by and for divine and human love.
You were created to flourish.
You are unified in nature. That is, you are body and soul.
You have intrinsic goodness, dignity, and worth.
Our Team
Steven Hryniewicz
MS, LPC, LPCC, NCC
One of our founders, Steven works with adolescents and young adults (typically aged 18-40). Often, his clients come in struggling with anxiety, depression, or trauma that gets in the way of living the life they desire. He has over 7 years of clinical experience, working mainly in community mental health and college/university settings.
Click here to request with Steven!
Steven values humor, flexibility, and compassion in the therapy room.
Julie Hryniewicz
MSW, LISW-CP
A founder of the practice, Julie primarily provides counseling for married and pre-marital couples. She draws on her extensive experience with family systems to help couples navigate conflict, strengthen connection, and work through difficult life events together.
In therapy, Julie commits to fostering humility, wisdom, and support.
Lucy Sammons
MA, LPC, NCC
Lucy joined the team in 2023 and works primarily with children, adolescents, and young adults, typically ages 8-25. A 2022 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, she has experience in community mental health with young children and families, and helps young people build healthier patterns in mindset, behavior, and daily life so they can better navigate challenges and thrive.
Lucy values authenticity, curiosity, and compassion in working with her clients.
Andrea Witt
MS, LPC
Andrea joined the team in 2023 and enjoys working with clients across the lifespan. Trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), she takes an integrative, person-centered approach to help clients build on their strengths, deepen connection with their values, and foster healing and resilience. She is also a Certified SYMBIS facilitator and enjoys working with couples.
Andrea values authenticity, faith, and the dignity of every person, striving to create a compassionate space where healing and growth can take root.
Our Safe & Comfortable Offices
It is of top importance to us that you feel safe, comfortable, and respected while you are visiting our offices. We have done our best to create a relaxing and warm atmosphere in our appointment spaces so you can focus on happiness and healing. We hope you'll let us know during your visit if there is anything we can do to make our spaces more inviting and comfortable for you.
