With over two decades of dedicated service in the mental health field, Lori A. Wetzel has built her career on a foundation of compassionate care and evidence-based practice. As a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2016, National Certified Counselor since 2013, and Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor since 2022, Lori brings both extensive experience and cutting-edge expertise to her work. Licensed to practice in multiple states, she has established herself as a trusted professional across various jurisdictions.
Since establishing her private practice in 2015, Lori has dedicated her career to serving underserved populations—those who are often overlooked by traditional mental health services. Her primary focus is on providing compassionate, accessible care to individuals and families facing economic hardship, including those receiving state assistance and navigating systemic barriers to mental health care.
In addition to her primary practice, Lori also works with veterans and their families, understanding the unique challenges faced by those who have served our country. This diverse client base has deepened her appreciation for the complexities of trauma, resilience, and the healing process across different communities and circumstances.
"You have to do what works for the client, to bring out the best in them and help them reach their goals."
While grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Lori embraces an eclectic therapeutic approach that puts the client's individual needs first. This philosophy drives her integration of multiple evidence-based modalities including:
At the heart of her practice is a humanistic approach that emphasizes authenticity, congruence, and unconditional positive regard—creating a therapeutic relationship built on trust and genuine connection.
A lifelong resident of the area, Lori has witnessed firsthand the critical need for accessible mental health and substance abuse services in her community. She takes great pride in providing these essential services while ensuring every client feels comfortable, respected, and heard.
Lori earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and her Master's degree (MS) from Capella University. When she's not in session with clients, you'll find her pursuing her passion for wildlife photography—particularly capturing the majesty of bald eagles—hiking local trails, fostering kittens and cats, and enjoying time with her beloved dog.
The inspiration for myKokoro's suite of counseling tools came from Lori's own journey as a mental health professional. Throughout her counseling career, she recognized a universal challenge: maintaining appropriate self-care while providing the highest quality care to clients.
"At times, I struggled to be as present as I would have liked to be for my clients. I realized that proper preparation and decompression weren't just nice-to-haves—they were essential for effective therapy."
This realization led to the development of myKokoro's comprehensive digital platform—tools designed to support both mental health professionals and their clients. The suite addresses real-world challenges faced in therapeutic practice while promoting sustainable self-care, professional excellence, and positive outcomes for all involved in the healing process.
The development of myKokoro's tools isn't done in isolation. Lori works closely with a diverse network of mental health professionals—including therapists with varying experience levels and therapeutic modalities—who serve as beta testers and provide ongoing feedback. This collaborative approach ensures that the tools meet real-world needs across different practice settings and client populations.
"I believe the best tools come from the collective wisdom of our profession. By incorporating insights from colleagues with different backgrounds and specialties, we create resources that truly serve the diverse needs of mental health professionals and their clients."
The platform continues to evolve based on user feedback and professional input, with new features and improvements regularly implemented based on real-world testing and community suggestions.