Child Therapists in Silver Spring, MD

In my practice, I work with a diverse clientele: children, adolescents and adults from all backgrounds. My approach is practical and conversational as we explore together the stressors of daily living, relationship concerns, parenting issues, and in some instances, severe psychiatric disorders. Often, clients seek short-term interventions, though for some difficulties therapy continues for an extended period. I allow my clients to set the agenda for our work together and decide what sort of help is needed.

I believe our most troubling attitudes and behavior are meant to protect us from real emotional threats or to help us achieve certain experiences that are vital to our growth. I help clients understand their experiences in the world in terms of these important functions. In dialogue with me clients come to recognize how their most important relationships have shaped the way they think, feel, and act in both desirable and undesirable ways. I strive to help clients discern their authentic needs, desires, and values so they can assert them with conviction in their daily lives.

In our current, local and National climate, we know that people are experiencing stress, anxiety, and trauma now more than ever. My greatest passion is bringing understanding and healing to children and families who have been through a traumatic/stressful experience or struggle with mental health challenges. Consultation is also an instrument that I use to help parents and educators uncover strategies to shift behavior and improve family and classroom dynamics. I am also trained in psychological and psychoeducational assessment to evaluate areas of strengths and challenges for diagnostic consultation and educational planning.

Offering daytime and evening virtual therapy to people living in Maryland, Delaware and North Carolina, out of network only. Evergreen Child and Family Therapy, LLC is a practice based in Maryland. We are Jessica Brenneman Hardaway, LCMFT and Dr. Lauren Messina, LCMFT. We believe in the the incredible resilience of children and families and are here to help your family rediscover the joy of growing little humans. We offer virtual therapy for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families as well as health coaching.

I believe in the inseparable aspects of mental wellness and healthy lifestyle changes as each complements the other. We offer a blend of therapeutic services aimed at integrating mental health techniques with lifestyle changes. I work with parents with children with behavioral problems and attend EIP meetings to support parents. The program offers medication management.

I am a clinical psychologist with The Kingsbury Wellness & Learning Group, a nonprofit organization providing exceptional psychological services to children and adults. I specialize in the treatment of children, adolescents and young adults struggling with behavioral, emotional regulation, and social challenges. I provide psychotherapy and consultation to help individuals and families navigate anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, mood disorders, ADHD, school and learning problems, and behavioral issues.

Parenting children and teens can be overwhelming. Allow me to help support, encourage, and empower you along your parenting journey. I provide developmentally sound individual psychotherapy to children and teens, using evidence-based treatment approaches rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy. Treatment approaches are tailored to fit your child’s unique needs. I give parents tools to build and strengthen healthy, loving relationships with their children. I am licensed to practice in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Trauma shatters your world and the world around you, including your personal and professional relationships. Finding your wellness requires having a therapist who understands your needs. We specialize in working with trauma and its related disorders. We bring creativity and above all else sincere caring for our clients. With children, we use play therapy and emotional regulation tools to facilitate and increase the child's wellness. For adolescents and adults, we create a warm self-honoring environment that increases in their ability to develop positive tools to navigate through their traumas, relationships, anxieties, and fears.

I work with children and teens and their families. I address issues including problematical attachment with parents and/or caregivers, negative self-image, trauma, depression, anxiety, anger, oppositionality, poor communication and social skills, acting out behaviors, sibling problems, and difficulties in school. As a therapist, I establish a safe "container" in which to work with children and parents together in order to strengthen a child's positive sense of self, reinforce the family system and bonds of attachment, and promote behavioral and emotional regulation. I work with teachers and school administrators to help children learn and thrive in school

IF YOU HAVE BEEN FEELING: Worried about future; Stressed about work; Discouraged and not motivated for life; Feeling I am not good enough; Feeling lost, loneliness, hopeless, and confused...WE WILL HELP YOU FEEL: Fulfilled life with purpose and joy; Ready for whatever life obstacles are ahead of you; Connected with the people who you are close to! You have been struggling for some time with negative thoughts and feelings that just won't seem to go away. You are in the right place. We can help! Mindology is a professional and licensed private counseling practice that is specialized in treatment for Trauma, Substance Abuse and other mental/behavioral disorders, in order to empower and help our clients to overcome day-to-day life challenges; achieve personal goals and improve the qualities of life.

No matter how hard we try, sometimes we feel stuck dwelling on thoughts and feelings that we know hinder us from being able to move forward in our lives. I believe that therapy is a space for those that feel stuck to not only develop health coping skills, but also assess the impact that their life experiences might've had on their worldview and behaviors. I want to hold space for you to explore, unlearn and grow at a pace that is right for you.

I work with children, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with learning challenges, ADHD, stressful family dynamics, depression, and anxiety. For many children and adolescents, there are struggles with behavioral and emotional regulation that are making life difficult for them and their families. Through dialogue and/or play, we develop innovative and creative strategies to help with self-regulation. For adult clients, through developing understanding of ADHD, depression and/or anxiety, I help clients make changes in their thoughts, feelings, and actions that lead to alleviation and reduction of symptoms.

I am passionate about working with young children and their families who are experiencing challenges with academics, parenting, separation and divorce, as well as regulatory and behavioral issues. I provide psychological, developmental, and admissions testing. I also conduct play therapy, family therapy, parent guidance, divorce mediation, as well as school consultations. Early intervention and prevention as well as parental involvement is essential and paramount for optimal and favorable treatment outcomes.

I work with individuals, children, families and couples. My areas of specialization include trauma, depression, anxiety, family conflict, social skills, and self-esteem building. My work is driven by the belief that all people deserve a safe, supportive, and empathetic environment to address life's challenges. It is my goal to build a collaborative working relationship with clients where the foundation of our time together is built on the inherent strengths of individuals and families.

My passion is working with people who are confronted with challenges at home, school, or the workplace; or are having difficulty maintaining or creating meaningful relationships.  I will offer you a safe, judgment free, and accepting environment.  No two people experience hardship the same way.  Together, we can find the solution that works best for you. I have many years of experience working with individuals in schools, parents and children with child welfare involvement, and families dealing with separation and divorce.

My therapeutic approach emphasizes the importance of meeting the client and family where they are at and building a connection through trust and understanding. I have experience working with children as young as 5 years old, adolescents, adults and families. I specialize in supporting clients with depression, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem challenges, socialization and attention deficit disorder. When working with adolescents or adults, I utilize a variety of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness.

I work with young children, adolescents, and families who are struggling with behavioral challenges, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, executive functioning, trauma, ADHD, social skills, and family transitions. I believe that forming a strong judgement-free partnership is the basis for positive change and that therapy, although challenging at times, should be engaging and fun. I also recognize that treatment is not a “cookie-cutter” solution and prioritize working together to determine what is best for each individual client.

In my work I pull from a wide array of modalities including Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Strategic Family Therapy, Solution Focused, and Intergenerational Family therapy. I have worked with children as young as four years old, teens, young adults, couples, and all kinds of families.  My experience includes providing therapy in a multitude of settings including Intensive In-Home, outpatient clinics, and private practice. In my over five years of clinical practice, I have worked with families where addiction is present.

Have you just about given up all hope because your life "has always been this way?" Perhaps you are having difficulty adjusting to a loved one with a developmental disability. Or maybe your child is facing difficulties of their own. Whatever the challenge is, I believe that you have the autonomy to edit and make meaning of your story.