Emotionally Focused Therapists in Bethesda, MD

If you are sitting on my couch, SOME kind of trauma or pain has touched you. Whether you are straight or gay, a teen, adult or or older adult, first responder, couple in crisis, or struggling with illness or grief, I will help you learn to better process and manage your emotions, including worry, fear, anxiety, sadness or anger to develop better coping strategies TODAY. My therapy is non-judgmental and client-focused where therapeutic goals are driven by the client's needs.

Perhaps you feel sad, incapable, overwhelmed or responsible for the hardships you've suffered either personally or between other people? Is your self-understanding based on how other people think or treat you? Whatever your struggle, the first step is finding support. I know asking for help can be hard and may seem to make things worse, like your fears are real. But let me pause and remind you that your life does not have to be dictated by others or negative feelings. Finding true freedom in relationships and with yourself is really possible! You just have to take that first step, in fact you're already doing it.

I believe in clients' innate ability to heal and grow, and in helping them to tap into their inner wisdom and resources. I have worked creatively, effectively and empathically with couples and individuals struggling with relationship difficulties, painful childhood and life experiences, personal and work stress, anxiety and depression, and social isolation. I have helped clients with complex needs in a variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatry, LGBT-friendly mental health services, university student counseling, and family services. I feel passionate about my work and view therapy as a collaborative, interactive process.

I have been helping individuals and couples transform their lives for over 25 years. My work is holistic. We target the root causes of your distress rather than skimming the surface level of symptoms. Only when root causes are addressed can symptoms dissolve. We dive deeply into the core issues that are keeping you stuck, disconnected and dissatisfied in your life and relationships. The process is efficient, effective, respectful, safe and profound. My ideal clients are people who are passionate about healing and releasing patterns that no longer serve them.

We overcome difficulties, adjust to changes, and manage difficult emotions best when we do not have to go at it alone. I offer a supportive partnership to help you identify your goals and build capacity to experience joy, compassionate self regard, and healthy rewarding relationships. I have over 35 years of experience helping children, couples, adults, and parents who may be feeling stuck, alone, sad, anxious, or unable to find the forward motion to reach goals for well being. Together we can create a safe space to address difficult emotions, and identify resources and habits that support resiliency and wellness.

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!

Emilie is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family therapist (LCMFT) and an AASECT (American Association for Sex Therapy) certified Sex Therapist. Emilie’s expertise is in working with couples and families to improve their relationships and build more meaningful and more resilient bonds with each other. She has experience working with families with a wide range of challenges. Emilie specializes in working with couples on relationship and sexual issues, including general communication issues, conflicts around parenting, sexual desire differences or the impact of an affair.

Invalidating experiences can teach us not to trust ourselves, which may result in feeling small, hopeless, and less than. I’m here to facilitate opportunities for you to access your inner wisdom and tap into your potential to grow and thrive. I use an interactive and engaging therapeutic process that moves beyond conventional talk therapy. Our work together is practical and collaborative: We build a safe and trusting environment so you can connect to your emotions from a place of confidence and clarity resulting in more fulfillment, ease of living, and healthy connection with yourself and others.

Seeking counseling services for yourself or your loved ones can be a difficult process. With so many choices, it can be hard to choose who will be best suited for you or a member of your family. As you review my website, I hope you find I am a good fit for any of your needs. I truly believe the potential for overall well-being starts and ends with trust, compassion and effective communication that facilitates growth.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, who cares deeply about helping people heal, become their best selves, achieve their goals and improve their relationships. I provide a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space, where you will feel heard, seen and accepted. As your therapist, I will collaborate with you in the work that we do together.

I work with all couples and relationships and has special interests helping couples recover from infidelity and helping couples caught in high conflict or communication breakdowns.

TELETHERAPY available. Are you struggling to improve feelings about yourself and your relationships? Sometimes the stresses of daily living are hard to manage. You may be struggling with anxiety, sadness, depression, addiction or grief. I can help you navigate through tough times. I offer individual and couples therapy to help you get "unstuck", find new ways to cope, & improve communication and intimacy in your relationships. In therapy you learn to overcome obstacles that interfere with happiness. We identify strengths and patterns of behavior that interfere with achieving happiness to help you enjoy life and relationships

Are you a smart, feelingful, sometimes intense man or woman who knows you can make more of your life than you have? Are you going through a turbulent time, frustrated in your life and yourself, struggling in a relationship, knowing you're not using your talents and intelligence the way you could? Possibly adult ADHD is tripping you up in ways you don't realize. Or it could be other emotional, relational or family issues. You want someone who listens closely to what you feel and what's going on in your life and your relationships, not to "validate" you but to understand, see the whole picture and help you move forward on all levels.

Looking for relationship help? To relieve the pain or find better ways to manage? The "secrets" of dealing skillfully with difficulties, differences and hurts, are not really secrets: you CAN learn these and many more relationship skills if you are curious, motivated and persistent. I'd like to help you: a) address and relieve your most pressing problems, b) set clear, realistic goals, and c) learn to avoid a tremendous amount of headache and heartache in the future. Our collaboration may yield a lifetime of benefits.

Life is full of challenges, and some of them feel overwhelming and even impossible. This may be one of the hardest periods of your life or in the life of a child you love. PRHP supports individuals, parents, adolescents, and children in finding healing and greater functioning through mind and body therapies. Together we can work to find healing, deeper understanding and greater functionality for you and those you love. You do not have to go through this time alone. Reach out and find the support you need to heal.

Often we wait until we have exhausted every measure before we seek professional help. You can start on your journey to healing, reconciliation, peace, and joy today. I believe that in times of adversity and struggle, we have the greatest potential for growth. It is often hard to see clearly how the difficulties we face will lead to positive changes, so instead we lose our way and get stuck in places of frustration, despair, and resentment. The change process is a journey-sometimes long and at times short. It is a process that gives us the opportunity to discover new ways of approaching our circumstances.

Are you as fulfilled by your relationships as you deserve to be? The quality of your relationships influences your mental health and your mental health affects your relationships. By examining your life and relationships with a counselor you can increase your capacity for happiness and success. I work with hetero and LGBTQ individuals, couples, and alternative relationships. I see clients online via encrypted video calls. Online counseling means I'm accessible whenever and wherever it's convenient for you, and you can continue to see me wherever your life takes you.