Dr. Bannister is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in adolescent and young adult therapy, with a particular focus on eating disorders, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and transitional life phases. She has experience working in a variety of settings, including academic institutions, outpatient clinics, community mental health clinics, private practice, and psychiatric and general hospitals. Dr. Bannister graduated magna cum laude from La Salle University with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in English and received both her Masters and Psy.D. degrees from Chestnut Hill College, where she concentrated on family systems and object relations psychotherapies. She completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowships at Pennsylvania Hospital and at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia, and she was also an instructor in the graduate psychology program at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition, as a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Adult Social Learning Disorders Program, Dr. Bannister conducted evaluations and individual therapy for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome and taught the Social Learning Disorders Seminar. Most recently, she worked as a primary therapist at the Renfrew Center of Radnor, where she treated women with issues spanning the entire spectrum of eating disorders, including obesity and post bariatric surgery.

Dr. Bannister provides individual therapy from a psychodynamic perspective, and her approach to therapy is one of mutual respect and collaboration. Using the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for change, her goal is to increase self-awareness and insight in order to make life more manageable. Dr. Bannister uses a strength-based approach to help clients build confidence and learn how to use their own inner resources to solve problems effectively.