tori lester, ncc, ms, ma

As far back as I can remember, I've had a passion for people. I recall gravitating toward those who had somehow lost their voice or those who needed someone to stand up for them. I was the person who always partnered with the kids on the playground who didn't have anyone to play with. That was easy for me and very natural. Fast forward, I was curious about human behavior and why people did the things they did.

I am a wife, a mom to two daughters and a plant mom to over 50 house plants. Growing up on both the west side of Philadelphia and the surrounding B suburbs, I was no stranger to the very diverse cultural mix of people for which the city was known. My parents (both natives of Philadelphia) ensured that I knew and had an appreciation and passion for our city and its people. I worked for years in corporate America but always knew there was something more I should be doing to help people. I grew desperate to make a more meaningful difference in the life of individuals. I longed to not only understand human behavior but also to encourage, challenge, guide and celebrate others in their victories. I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Christian Counseling, a Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling, Addiction and Recovery and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Additionally, I am Board Certified with the State of Pennsylvania as a Certified Counselor (National Board For Certified Counselors, Inc). I use my skills, education and natural ability to work with those who want to make changes and who are ready to take action.

Life is challenging and everyone is trying to do the best they can. Life also requires doing hard stuff and I don't believe you've read this far if you weren't ready to do the hard work. So, even if your goals are unclear or got buried somewhere along the way, simply having a dream can be where we start.