Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Bethesda, MD

Are you leading the life you want? So many people aren't. Dissatisfaction, anxiety, depression, and stress become fixtures in our daily lives. If yours is not the life you want, therapy can be a powerful means by which to let go of suffering, to find fulfillment and joy in you life. In my work, I help people develop the skills they need to let go of pain, to pursue their goals, to strengthen relationships, and to live fully. My clients range from people who are having acutely painful problems to people who simply feel stuck or unhappy.

I am a clinical social worker and therapist at the Washington Center for Women’s and Children’s Wellness in Bethesda, Maryland, caring for women and birthing people throughout Montgomery County and the Greater Washington area. I provide both tele-health and in-person appointments to clients. I am specialized in perinatal and women's mental health working with individuals who are struggling in their transition to parenthood, during pregnancy, fertility treatment, and in the postpartum period as well as with those who have experienced a pregnancy loss.

Many people have difficulty navigating various life stressors, and need support in learning how to cope. I specialize in working with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, coping with traumatic experiences, and stress management related to family, relationships, school, and work. Working collaboratively with each client to help them learn healthy coping skills and healthy decision-making skills is an important part of treatment.

Do you feel frustrated when interacting with your teen? Does she hide in her room, or is he addicted to his phone? Is there frequent tension between you and your partner? Family relationships can be HARD, but with empathetic guidance and practical tools, you can heal even the most difficult relationships. You can learn to communicate in a way that your loved ones can hear. Adolescents can learn skills to engage with parents and peers. Couples can rebuild intimacy and mutual support. Teens and adults can get unstuck from anxiety, depression, and conflict. Contact me via phone, text, or email. I am looking forward to helping!

Britt Rathbone is an expert in the treatment of adolescents. He graduated from Columbia University and has worked exclusively with adolescents and their families since 1985. He has a special interest in challenging, difficult to treat, and treatment-reluctant adolescents as well as those who have multiple and complicated mental health diagnoses. He trains therapists, speaks to professional and lay groups, and has taught advanced level social work graduate students at the Catholic University of America. Washingtonian Magazine has consistently named Mr. Rathbone one of Washington's best therapists for adolescents, and one of Washington's best therapists for group therapy.

We are CBT experts. Since it was founded in 2003 by Dr. Stephen Holland, Capital Institute for Cognitive Therapy has been providing research-proven treatments and compassionate care in Washington, DC. We have now expanded our services to Bethesda. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective for a number of problems, including: depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding, panic, phobias, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, insomnia, chronic pain, personality disorders, and relationship problems.

We humans live with difficult paradoxes. We cherish freedom, but in that freedom, we are often so confused as to hurt ourselves and those we love. And most of us, at some point, have connected with the divine, either deep within us, or that gives shine to the universe around us. Yet, many of us constantly struggle under the dark weight of fear, loneliness, or meaninglessness. I am in this human predicament with you. The process of therapy has helped me, and can help you, to embrace both the pain and the wonder of our existence, and from that place of acceptance and awe, grow into the infinite potential of our precious human life.

I believe everyone has the ability to achieve an internal base state of calm happiness. We want to be thriving, not just getting through the day. But sometimes, we need a little extra help to achieve that. I strive to create a warm, non-judgmental, and compassionate energy in the therapy room. Together, we will create a supportive environment that helps explore what brought you to where you are today and what needs to happen to get where you want to be. Together, we can achieve thriving, not just surviving.

We are a specialty practice that provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for children (ages 8+) adolescents & adults. We treat a range of Anxiety Disorders (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Specific Phobias, Health Anxiety, PTSD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder & related concerns (e.g., Skin Picking, Trichotillomania).

Sometimes we come across challenges that can be tough to manage on our own. If you are new to therapy, reaching out for help is a huge act of determination that takes SO much courage! My name is Umniya and I am a counselor specializing in children, adolescents, and families. I am committed to bringing a compassionate, supportive, holistic, and culturally sensitive approach to help clients process life experiences and maximize their potential. I prioritize a collaborative and eclectic approach to ensure clients achieve personal growth and self-awareness and gain insight into their problems.

I am a licensed psychologist specializing in treating anxiety, stress, depression, emotion regulation, interpersonal difficulties, life changes, school-related issues, and parenting challenges. I am warm, empathic and results-oriented. I work to develop a strong and supportive therapeutic relationship that is safe and nurturing, while also providing direct guidance and collaborative problem solving to help you reach desired goals and make positive changes. For children, I set up sessions in a developmentally appropriate way to maximize therapeutic gains. I offer both parenting and school-based support.

Are you tired of feeling stuck? It's easy to put off getting help; life keeps moving whether you're feeling good or not. But when you're in a bad place-- with behavior or emotional patterns (anxiety, depression, unhealthy habits, stress) or with relationships (loneliness, conflict, toxic interactions)-- then it costs you time, keeping you from engaging with life the way you want to. We'll work together to help you understand what's gotten you to where you are and, most important, how to create and enact a plan to change the problematic patterns and enhance the positive aspects of your life.

My greatest passion as a therapist is to help my clients lead a meaningful life aligned with their values and goals. I approach therapy collaboratively and support my clients as they work to develop new solutions to old problems. I help my clients build self-reliance through identifying what makes their life meaningful and taking committed actions towards achieving their goals. Therapy with me will look like a space with consistent, meaningful support while incorporating warmth, sensitivity, a sense of humor (at times) and a strong therapeutic alliance.

All of us experience pain and suffering at one time or another in our lives. As therapists, we know that our clients aren’t broken during such periods—they’re stuck. Our aim in working with you isn’t to fix you; it’s to help you meet life’s challenges and craft a life of meaning and purpose. We take an active role in guiding you through an exploration of your values, as well as broadening your skill set associated with mindfulness.

Being a human is hard. Anxiety keeps us up at night. Depression weighs us down. And that critical voice never fails to let us know exactly how we screwed up. We feel numb, unsettled -- disconnected from those we love and disengaged from what matters most. Looking at our lives, we realize that this is not what we had planned on, and the life we yearn for seems out of reach.