In literature, a transitional character is someone who bravely disrupts harmful patterns to rewrite the story for future generations. In Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood, the group therapy practice Transitional Characters brings that concept to life, offering mental health care rooted in liberation, justice, and community.
Despite hundreds of local therapy options — ranging from large systems like UPMC, AHN, and Pittsburgh Mercy to virtual platforms like Talkspace and BetterHelp —Transitional Characters (TC) stands out for its deeply intentional, culturally responsive, and community-grounded approach to care.
“We help folks understand how race, gender, culture, and family histories shape their internal narratives,” TC founder and clinical director Liana Maneese tells Pittsburgh City Paper. “Most Western therapy/therapists skip that or opt for a one-size-fits-all [approach] for those ‘othered’ from normative society. Differences may be acknowledged but not understood through experience or education. We dive in.”
The group practice offers a variety of services, including in-person individual, couples, and family therapy in Pittsburgh, virtual therapy for Pennsylvania residents, and integration work such as reiki, sound baths, yoga, and meditation. Therapists are trained in a range of evidence-based and ancestral therapeutic interventions such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), somatic healing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), liberation psychology, and more.
TC believes this culturally expansive and anti-oppressive practice goes beyond the norm in mental healthcare. The TC website touts this approach as being trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and unapologetically inclusive — especially for BIPOC, LGBTQ individuals, artists, activists, and others who’ve felt unseen in traditional therapy spaces.
In addition to these services, TC offers Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in partnership with Journey Clinical. The treatment combines the safe use of ketamine — a legal, fast-acting medication known for its psychedelic effects — with guided psychotherapy. KAP is designed to help individuals process trauma and facilitates powerful breakthroughs in depression, anxiety, and other conditions. According to TC’s website, ketamine creates an altered state of consciousness and enhances neuroplasticity, helping the brain form new, healthier connections. This approach, per TC, supports deeper emotional breakthroughs.
Transitional Characters strives to expand access to psychedelic therapies for BIPOC communities, in particular.
“Historically, Black and brown communities have been excluded from the research and benefits of psychedelic medicine, while being heavily policed by the war on drugs. For us, it’s not just about novelty — it’s about giving people of color, the global majority, a felt sense of what it’s like to be free, even momentarily,” says Maneese.
While research on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is still emerging and debated, early studies suggest it may support rapid relief from depression, trauma, and suicidal ideation — particularly when paired with intentional, therapeutic integration.
“Psychedelics can open doors in the psyche that talk therapy alone sometimes can’t. They can help people reconnect to their bodies, their ancestors, and possibilities beyond survival. To feel free, even if for a moment,” says Maneese. “We’re committed to guiding this work in a way that’s culturally rooted and trauma-informed, so it’s not just another extraction or trend, but a profound tool for liberation that was ours to begin with.”
Maneese says TC is a proudly Black-owned, queer-led safe and sacred space for BIPOC and other marginalized communities. As the owner of TC, Maneese is a transracial adoptee identifying as an Afro-Brazilian, cis-queer Black American. Raised in Pittsburgh, she became a community activist at an early age. She earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health and applied psychology from Antioch University New England and is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. Maneese is also an artist, antiracist educator, and expert on interracial relationships.
Going beyond traditional therapies, TC recognizes how oppressive systems impact an individual’s sense of self. These clinicians work to meet clients not only emotionally, but spiritually, culturally, and politically.
“One thing people notice the second they walk into our offices is how beautiful they are. We’ve intentionally created a space that feels warm, artful, layered with meaning — not cold and clinical. The walls carry vibrant colors, books and textiles that reflect many cultures, artwork that speaks to liberation and identity,” Maneese says.
Transitional Characters holds two separate offices on Ellsworth Avenue — the main office and TC Annex, a dedicated community space for Reiki, music therapy, massage, group therapy, and more.
“We want people to walk in and feel like they’ve entered somewhere sacred, somewhere that honors their full humanity. Because therapy isn’t just about conversations — it’s about what your nervous system feels in a space,” Maneese says.
Beauty, intention, and art can be healing in themselves. We’ve made sure TC feels like a living piece of art, where people can breathe deeper the moment they arrive.”
“Oh, and don’t forget to take your shoes off,” she adds.
This article appears in Jul 16-22, 2025.
