Therapists in Chevy Chase, MD

I provide Psychotherapy, Life & Clinical Coaching, Divorce Coaching & Mediation, Financial psychology counseling & expatriate counseling for individuals, couples and families; treatment and intervention for those affected by mood disorders (depression and anxiety), trauma, grief, loss and professional & personal transition. I have lived abroad, experienced numerous cultural, personal, and professional transitions myself which I draw on in my work. My combined background in mental health & business gives me a unique perspective that allows me to work with individuals who are facing challenges in their personal and professional lives.

I have spent 42 years treating adults and couples suffering from depression, disabling anxiety, repeated relational problems, trauma, and grief.I also speciaize in child developmental and play therapies with a range of challenges for which I design treatment plans individually. I determine the course of child treatment according to my assessment of their level of development. I involve parents to varying extents in the therapy. Over the years, I have become most specialized working with separation/divorce, attachment, anxiety, depression, behavioral, and neuro-developmental, and adoption difficulties for children and their families.

Counseling is a healthy commitment and shows bravery. It is crucial to find the right fit for yourself, one who can best relate to your issues. Working for Peachford, Ridgeview, and Emory Hospitals, has allowed me to focus on trauma, persons on the spectrum, persistent anxiety, ADHD, grief, and resistent depression. My goal is to serve as an advocate for those desiring healing, proper medical care and learning to use their voice. Specializing in teens, college students, and adults who suffer from intrusive thoughts, self-harming behaviors, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, divorce, parental alienation, and narcissist abuse.

I have provided counseling & therapy to children, adolescents, and adults in various settings including schools, group homes, residential treatment facilities, in-office, in-home and virtually. My treatment specialties and interests include mental health for women & girls, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, parenting support, pre & postnatal support, grief, trauma, adjustment, stress management, divorce/separation, and support for military families.

Being a parent can be one of life’s greatest rewards. It also is one of life’s most challenging responsibilities. My goal is to assist parents and children through the transitions of divorce and beyond to achieve the best outcomes possible.

I am a licensed clinical professional counselor with more than a decade of experience in mental health and substance abuse field. I have experience with wide range of treatment modalities such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, EFT, MI, yoga for trauma, biofeedback, experiential therapy (art, music, movement). My clinical focus has been in the areas of trauma treatment, addiction, and relationships. I am passionate about applying holistic approach to mental health and wellness. I meet my clients where they are and help them to move to a better place in their lives using client-centered approach.

Taking that first step towards seeking support and selecting the right therapist can be daunting. If you're looking to work with a warm, compassionate and effective therapist I welcome you to learn more about me, my therapeutic approaches and practice. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive therapeutic space in which you can share your feelings, gain insight, and learn strategies to cope with loss, life transitions, relationship difficulties, addiction, depression, anxiety, ADHD, failure to launch, family or work challenges. I provide individual, couples, family and group therapy.

I specialize in working with children, adolescents and young adults who are experiencing anxiety (social anxiety, panic attacks, separation anxiety), depression (suicidal ideations and self-injurious behaviors) low self-esteem, cyberbullying, and difficult peer and family relationships. I also have extensive experience working with trauma, including sexual assault and abuse.

There are times in life when we feel "stuck" and unable to move forward to live the life that we desire and deserve. While it takes strength and courage to reach out for help, the rewards of therapy are life-changing. I assist clients in identifying what may be holding them back. I empower clients to gain insight into underlying issues, heal deep wounds, and master the tools to create a satisfying life. I am passionate about the therapeutic work I do and enjoy forming strong alliances with my clients, partnering with them throughout their personal journey of growth and discovery.

Wendy has 20 years of experience in her profession. Throughout this time, Wendy has utilized an eclectic approach when providing therapeutic services with various populations, tailoring services to meet the needs of each individual. She is passionate about treating everyone as special and unique as they are, helping them find the best version of themselves, through providing support, care and empathy each and every day.

Therapy can benefit you wherever you are in life, whether it's in the midst of a crisis, if you're feeling distant from a partner or your parents, or if you simply want to know yourself better. Providing therapy is a sacred calling for me, and I am honored to empower either individuals, couples, families, or groups to reach goals or explore the unknown. I use a systemic approach to help clients in the context of environments and identities. Together, we can grow and become the authors of our own stories. By accepting who we are and our imperfections, we increase our ability to love ourselves and connect more deeply with others.

Is your behavior driven by fear or anxiety? Are past traumas or a profound sadness or anger controlling your life instead of your highest self? If it seems like your life is going down a path that feels out of sync with who you truly are, then I can help you understand how you got here and how to get back on track.

Years of research indicate the biggest predictor of therapeutic success is the relationship developed between the therapist and client. As the Director of the Smith Counseling Group, I have assembled a practice of therapists who don't "sit back and nod" but provide warm, direct and evidence-based mental health care. Our philosophy is that you should leave every session with the feeling that you are making progress with your personal goals.

Welcome, I truly believe that therapy is a brave and courageous choice. I strive to create a warm, empathetic, and safe environment for each client that chooses to work with me. I have a special expertise working with both adolescents and adults with mood disorders. Our relationship will be used as an element of change. Often, I will utilize aspects of our relationship to highlight barriers to change and provide a warm and directive approach to push you towards growth. My approach within our therapeutic relationship tends to be more collaborative and I commonly use interventions including mindfulness, CBT, DBT and attachment theory.

I work with children, adolescents, and adults. I specialize in attachment, conflictive relationships, life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD and executive functioning deficits. I have experience working with children that struggle with behavior and emotional dysregulation. I provide family therapy to support parents in managing behavioral challenges at home and can also provide coaching to their teachers. As a Play Therapist Supervisor and board approved supervisor in Maryland, I offer clinical consultation and trainings to other mental health professionals.

I specialize in working with children and adolescents struggling with problem behaviors and mental health disorders. I have found that through play therapy, motivational interviewing, and working closely on coping skills and emotional regulation, children are better able to combat the daily challenges faced at school and at home. Every individual is unique and finding the methods that allows each clients to benefit from therapy and lead a successful life is essential to my practice. I am also a native Spanish speaker.

Accepting new clients in DC & Maryland - Our resilience is as unique as our journey, as individuals and couples. We empower our clients to break out of the distressing cycles they feel stuck in and help them overcome anxiety, depression, relationships difficulties, past trauma, life transitions, pregnancy issues & postpartum issues. We specialize in holistic psychotherapy with a focus on mindfulness, cultural sensitivity, EMDR and somatic body interventions to help clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships to live a more enriched life. We also integrate Psychodynamic and CBT interventions.

Your feelings and experiences are valid and welcome here! I look to help clients in understanding their emotions and the role emotions play in everyday life. If you are experiencing feelings of anxiety, depression, or being overwhelmed, I am here to help. If you are struggling with self-esteem and self-confidence, I am here to help. I have experience working with couples navigating difficulties in their relationship, including non-monogamous relationships. If you are experiencing difficulties relating to sexuality, sexual dysfunction, or sexual identity, you have come to the right place.

I help individuals work on life issues tied to anxiety and depression, relationship difficulties, stress symptoms tied to childhood trauma, and families struggling with behavioral challenges. I teach communication skills that help with difficult relationships. These skills include helping my clients improve their power, voice, and contact with significant others. I employ many approaches in psychotherapy, including psychodynamic, gestalt, somatic experiencing (SE), accelerated experiential dynamic (AEDP), cognitive behavioral (CBT) and emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT).