Founder and Director
Approach to Therapy
At our core, we’re all longing for safe and secure connections. And yet our relationships to ourselves and our internal experiences can often be characterized by irritation, distrust, inner turmoil, and doubt. I’ll guide you to compassionately reconnect to the clarity and balance that’s available when the incessant chatter in your head and in your body can be taught to cease.
You don’t need to do this alone!
My approach validates that we all get stuck in painful patterns, and that it’s possible to change our relationships to those patterns to make room for the development of new experiences of insight, self-acceptance, stability, and personal growth. I’ll accompany you on a journey to heal emotional wounds, to access more inner calm, and to embody the best version of yourself so you can get into the action of living an engaged life.
My philosophy is based on my belief that you are not broken. There is nothing inherently wrong with you. And you have all the resources necessary to thrive. I prefer to promote a positive, encouraging, and hopeful stance toward change. I believe you can make the changes that will result in a more engaged and satisfying life. And I believe I can help you to do that.
Areas of Expertise
My training has prepared me to work with common diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, substance misuse, trauma, and chronic health conditions, as well as many others. But I’ve learned from my work with many clients that diagnoses often miss the real stories of suffering common to all of us including challenges like poor self-esteem, insecurity, frustration, being overwhelmed, loneliness, lack of confidence, imposter syndrome, interpersonal conflicts, guilt, fear, and shame. These causes of emotional suffering can arise in the context of relationships, work, school, grief and loss, as well as politics, economics, and public health
Experience and Training
I received my Masters in Social Service (MSS) from the Bryn Mawr College School of Social Work, and have spent my career helping people with substance use problems, life transitions, relationship struggles, as well as chronic and terminal illnesses. Recognized for my expertise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, I have taught in the Masters in Counseling Program with Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and co-founded the Delaware Valley ACT Learners. Additionally, I served as president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) and the ACBS Social Work special interest group.
I was originally trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and I now draw from a variety of evidence-based approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Compassion Focused Therapy. More recently I’ve explored trauma informed therapies including EMDR and Internal Family Systems. All of these approaches have common pathways and shared philosophies grounded in the belief that you are not broken, you don’t need to be fixed, and that the right processes at the right time can help to liberate you from your pain and struggles.
I’m very proud of who we are and what we stand for at Eclipse Therapy Group. Each of us has come to this work as a second career, and we’re all personally familiar with the experience of struggle, trauma, and feeling stuck. Like all therapists, our training has taught us how to offer therapeutic principles to our clients, but at Eclipse Therapy Group, we intimately know what this process feels like. Everyone on our team has received that guidance and support from others, and more importantly, we’ve done the hard work of applying these principles in our own lives. We are grateful for the chance to walk along side you as you apply them in yours.
Professional Testimonials
John enters the room devoid of ego, free of personal agenda besides the well being of his client. John has spent years as both a therapist and instructing therapists in training; as a result he has a broad view of the range of challenges clients bring to therapy and the many paths that bring a client there and what are the most effective paths towards a life that embraces the client's core values while simultaneously reducing their depression and anxiety.
Sutton Hamilton, MD (Family Physician)
John Armando is one of the most thoughtful, dedicated, and compassionate social workers I know. I have worked or volunteered with him in multiple professional settings, and he's the sort of therapist I would refer a family member to if given the opportunity. His depth of experience and his skill with evidence-based practices makes him an ideal person to seek help from.
Matthew Boone, LCSW (Therapist)
I have known John for over ten years and can not say enough good things about him as a friend and fellow colleague. He is a remarkable person who touches everyone he meets. Empathetic, wise, and astute he shows great insight in his dealings with his peers and clients and is an expert in his knowledge and application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as well as other mindfulness-based therapies. I highly recommend John to you if you are seeking a great person and therapist!
Andrew D’Amico, PhD (Clinical Psychologist)
*Please note that therapists are not allowed to request testimonials from patients, based on our licensing requirements.