Anthony Butto

Anthony Butto, DSW, LCSW, ACSW, Director of the center, is a clinical fellow, a past approved supervisor and Pennsylvania State Board Member for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He holds a Doctoral degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Butto is licensed in Pennsylvania and has practiced in the region for more than thirty-five years.

Dr. Butto treats individuals, couples and families experiencing a wide range of difficulties including family, marital, divorce, sexual problems, depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, parenting difficulties, numerous childhood disorders, problems stemming from early life trauma and various life adjustment problems. Dr. Butto also consults to families regarding child custody issues and he performs child custody evaluations for the Pennsylvania Court System for whom he is an expert witness.

In addition, from 1988 through 2008, Dr. Butto had been an adjunct professor of sociology at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA. He has been a frequent speaker, writer and has appeared on radio talk shows regarding psychotherapy issues and marriage and family related topics.

You can reach Dr. Butto either at the clinic or email at butto@ptd.net

Education & Training

  • Doctor of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania
  • Master of Social Work, Marywood University
  • Numerous Advanced Clinical Trainings in Marriage and Family Therapy

Professional Organizational Associations

  • Clinical member and Approved Supervisor, The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
  • The Academy of Clinical Social Workers
  • The National Association of Social Workers
  • Board Certified Qualified Clinical Social Worker

Practice Description

I have been a practicing psychotherapist since 1975. I have provided couple, individual and family therapy for a wide range of relationship problems. I see individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety disorders, relationship problems, social and employment problems and family of origin problems. I also perform child custody evaluations and mediation for prenuptial agreements, divorce and custody problems. I have also been teaching, writing and giving presentations on marriage and family therapy for over twenty-five years. In addition to my practice at the Courtyard Counseling Center I taught at Bucknell University from 1988 to 2008. I also taught post Masters and Doctoral students for five years at the Harrisburg campus of Temple University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Training Program.

While I see a fair number of individuals in therapy, my area of specialty is relationship issues and family therapy. I am a clinical member and a former approved supervisor for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. I see couples who have problems in areas of communication, commitment issues, extra-marital affairs/infidelities, emotional and sexual problems, substance dependence and abuse problems, issues related to recovery from addiction, parenting issues, premarital counseling, extended family conflicts, step or blended family issues, retirement issues, elder parent issues and sudden life changes that produce stress. I work with individuals and couples in all stages of their relationship including dating, living together, engaged, married, rearing children, separation and divorce.

My approach to therapy is quite active and supportive. I am not a passive therapist and I do not subscribe in style to the traditional psychoanalytic model where the client speaks on freely while the therapist remains mostly silent. I am direct in suggesting new ways of seeing and thinking about life problems so that they can be solved. I use many examples and therapeutic stories of how people may approach specific problems and help clients see their own situation in a less threatening way. I encourage individuals and couples to be more emotionally and intellectually responsive and also to understand the meanings behind events and situations that have affected them. I believe that therapy is about a relationship and a conversation that is geared to help people help themselves. Therapy need not be serious at all times. Humor is a very important part of our lives and can often help us place our problems into a perspective that is easier to solve. Many people, especially men, will comment on their surprise that therapy is more comfortable than they first imagined.

Therapy can be either long or short term depending on the severity of the problem presented and how long it has been present. Problems that have only recently developed can often be resolved in 6-12 sessions. Longstanding problems can require much longer ranging from 25 or more sessions. Often times individuals, couples or families who have been in therapy come back for what I call “thirty-thousand mile check-ups.” These refresher sessions usually require only a few meetings.

Although I do take some insurance plans (GHP, Cigna, UBH, etc), it is not many and you should inform me of your insurance type when you call for an appointment. Many of my clients pay privately, preferring to not create a record with their insurance company that might crop-up in the future. My private fees are $155 for the 50-60 minute session and $235 for the 90-minute session that most couples and families prefer. The 90-minute sessions are understandably more productive and most often require a fewer number of sessions to completion.

On a personal note, I am married and we have two grown children. Our oldest child Jessica, is an instructor and doctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh.  She lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, Anthony and their two beautiful children, Georgia and Anthony. Our son, Jarred is a senior associate with the American Council on Education, Center for International Initiatives in Washington, DC. My wife Pam, a college administrator, and I now share our 1840s home with our rambunctious but beloved dog, Ella.