Therapists in Frederick, MD

In 2006, Dr. Akintunde Morakinyo was inspired to achieve a lifelong dream to develop a private practice with a focus on children and adolescents. GIFTS has evolved into a robust mental health clinic that serves the needs of children, adults and families. We pursue the values of compassion, respect and excellence in our services. We empower our clients to unwrap and maximize their potential.

Art therapy is not just about being able to express yourself but also being able to process and explore what is made. My role as an art therapist is to help with the processing and exploration through meeting you where you are, actively listening to what you bring into the space, and providing you with the art materials and directives that best suit your needs and where you are at. As an art therapist, it is important for me to provide a safe space, active listening, empathy, cultural humility, and open-mindedness to clients, as well as being trauma-informed.

Are you struggling with stress from work, family relationships, addictions, or life transitions? Have you suffered loss of a child, parent, friend or significant other? You don't need to bare your burden alone. Life is filled with ups and downs, and therapy can be a valuable tool in building upon your own strengths to cope with challenges. With a diverse background in social work with families, post-incarceration, addictions, job searching and job coaching, I am experienced working with clients dealing with loss, trauma, anxiety, depression, and addiction.

Understanding who you are or what you are feeling is difficult when you are not even sure what words to use to describe your experience or what questions to ask yourself. Naming that is a big step. You may put on a mask to navigate the world in order to reduce the pressures you feel from society. High expectations when you were younger may make mistakes seem unacceptable. The journey to explore who you are may seem lonely. You may notice similarities in the relationships you form now with the relationship you have with your family. The early traumas in your life may be triggering you now in ways that are frustrating and upsetting.

Hey there! I feel so fortunate to have a specialty working with diverse sexualities, gender identities, and relationship structures over the past 18 years. Whether I am supporting individuals and their families with the coming-out process, assisting clients with social and/or medical transition, helping folx design relationships that actually work or creating a space where you can simply fall apart.. my hope for all of my clients is to learn how to love themselves and each other better and resolve differences more directly and fairly. I am extremely interpersonal in my work and if you'd like more clarity around that - just ask :)

I provide a nonjudgmental, empathetic, and safe space for clients. I work collaboratively in areas such as anxiety, depression, and relationship issues through a focus on self-awareness, self-acceptance, and communication skills. I utilize creative interventions personalized to each individual or family. As a licensed school counselor and professional therapist, I work closely with children, families, and adults around topics of gender identity, non-traditional family structures, and neurodiversity. I often work with autism, ADHD, school or workplace accommodations, relationship issues, life skills, and major transitions.

Peace, I’m Shayne. I am a passionate and empathetic therapist dedicated to providing inclusive and affirming mental health support for individuals within the QTBIPOC community. As a Black TransMasc person, I understand the unique challenges and experiences that QTBIPOC individuals may face, and I strive to create a safe and accepting space for all clients. I have extensive experience working with clients across various identities within the 2SLGBTQ+ folx in addition to couples.

My goal is to help clients feel heard, supported and understood. Whether you are coming to therapy to navigate difficult life changes, in order to set healthy boundaries, for support in reframing your anxious thoughts, thinking through how your past family dynamics affect you or navigating your identity, I am here to offer encouraging guidance, direct engagement and nurturing support. Therapy is a collaborative process and I take a relational approach to support you in expressing yourself authentically, navigating change, reframing negative self talk, setting healthy boundaries and supporting you in enhancing the way you cope.

Are you experiencing depression/anxiety symptoms? Experiencing difficulties with healthy communication in your relationships? Gender dysphoria or learning to accept a new identity? Desiring to progress but feeling stagnant in several areas in your life? Therapy is a relationship, and it is important to me that you feel seen, heard, and understood. I am empathetically direct, and I encourage my clients to express themselves in a way that feels authentic to them. We can create goals and explore past childhood trauma or issues that may impact who you are today. Therapy works best when we work together.

Do you, your child, your teenager, or your young adult feel like you are alone even when you are surrounded by others? Do you feel like everyone is better than you, and there is no way you could ever measure up? Are you struggling to understand who you are and your place in the world? Do you feel your family doesn't understand what you are going through? All of these thoughts and feelings are normal. You do not need to process this alone! Therapy is a safe space to ponder these questions and their implications. In therapy, you can learn coping skills to feel more secure and confident in yourself, and your relationships.

Have you reached a point where your past experiences and beliefs about yourself are impacting your life now? Are you wanting to live as your most authentic self, but having a hard time doing so? Do you want to improve your relationship with your partner(s), but think a guide would be helpful? Then I'm glad you're here! Through exploration and skills-building, I can help you develop greater resilience, and a deeper connection with yourself and your community. I (they/them) am a trans and queer therapist who enjoys working with LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, & polyamorous folks.

After years of working in crisis response, I often reflect on the question “what makes our lives worth living?” Our time here is temporary and my desire is to help you cultivate whatever brings you joy and peace. Therapy helps us become our favorite version of ourselves, whatever that may be.