Family Therapy in Columbia, MD

Do you have questions about discipline strategies, supporting your child's social and emotional development, feel concerned about your child's behavior or mood, or just want to be sure you're doing the best you can for your family ? Do you ever feel triggered by parenting, overwhelmed, constantly worried or depressed? I work with parents, children, and families to help families thrive. Whether you're looking for mental health counseling for yourself, you and your partner, or your whole family , parenting support and education, or counseling for your child, we can work together to create a customized plan to reach your goals.

Sometimes life can knock us down and leave us feeling emotionally drained, anxious, frustrated, or hopeless. Ready to be empowered? I believe empowerment has real meaning when clients take the first step in defining it through a collaborative counseling process. Throughout this process I help clients to restore balance in their lives. I'm a licensed professional counselor in MD with a Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology. With more than 10 years in the counseling field, I use a nonjudgmental approach with a style tailored to each individual's needs.

Now Accepting New Clients! Safe Space for Family Healing offers individuals and families a Safe Space to HEAL and THRIVE, and a space to grow from pain and trauma, by offering evidence based treatments, and integrative treatments that incorporate the mind and body. We specialize in mental health treatment for children and adults, to teach you the skills needed to improve your relationships, increase self-esteem, and improve your ability to cope with stress.

I believe that people are naturally resilient. Therapy offers an opportunity to boost resilience by nurturing awareness and finding greater strength and fulfillment. Most of us have found ways to manage stress, but the things that worked in the past might not work today. We often feel stuck. I seek to provide a space for observation, reflection, and exploration so that new narratives and choice can emerge. Understanding linkages between early, implicit learning experiences, including attachment patterns, and present modes of thinking and behaving is key to sustainable growth and change. Together we'll address your personal goals.

My client focus are adults in clinical, family and individual psychotherapy sessions. I work with those with mental illness, chemically dependency and legally involved individuals. I conduct counseling and evaluations for families, individuals and veterans with PTSD. I can assist military personnel and their families during periods of adjustment.

Our lives are complicated and often stressful, necessitating juggling multiple roles, responsibilities and internal as well as external conflicts. Clients may be dealing with so many challenges, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating), relationship problems, career uncertainty, family conflicts. Whatever the issue, the important factor is the willingness to face it and bring energy to working on it. The work we do in psychotherapy is both nurturing and stretching and opens the door to the possibility of growth and change .

Be encouraged! In the span of everyone's life there are "Kairos Moments," moments of decision, moments of action, moments of change - destiny changing opportunities. Life presents challenges. Are you stuck in a cycle of emotional turmoil; grappling with grief; weighed down by worry; racking your brain, trying to handle a relationship problem, with a family member, friend or co-worker? In a comfortable and supportive atmosphere, I offer professional service, proven methods and personalized approaches to address your individual need. Together we'll work to take hold of "Life-Changing Moments," and position you to attain your goals and live life to the fullest.

Sometimes in life, we struggle with our mental health. We can get off course striving to understand our thoughts and emotions. Trying to figure out how to live life on life’s terms can sometimes lead us into emotional uncertainties, which affect our occupation, finances, families, relationships, social connections, and substance use. At times in our lives, others can’t relate or understand us, so they label us or try to put us in a box which restricts our freedom to be ourselves. Are you in a season of your life when you find it difficult to connect with your family , friends, co-workers, or your social network? Want some help?

Talking about your concerns, and feelings, can help reduce stress. You will appreciate having someone to listen to you and realize that you are not alone. Whether you are struggling with a difficult situation, adjusting to a major change in your life, grieving the loss of someone you loved, or just needing to make some personal changes. As a mental health counselor, I have assisted others as they work through and move on from their problems. It takes time but aren't you worth it? We can schedule your appointments based on your availability.

Are you or someone you love questioning gender? Are you or someone you love needing support with your transition processes? Are you transgender or non-binary and have had challenges finding an affirming, trans-competent provider? I am a queer trans-man with years of experience working with children, teens, and adults who are transgender, gender diverse, or questioning their gender, and their family members. Whether you are seeking therapy related to your gender or not, and whatever challenges have brought you to therapy, I am here to listen and to help you reach your full potential.

Over my forty-five year career I have worked with many different people of every race, age, and problem type. I listen with a supportive, trained ear, and help my clients find the best coping strategies that will enable them to be happier. Even if only one person is in my office, I see that person as part of their family system, and help them make positive changes that will increase good feelings and reduce conflict. Nearly everyone goes through a rough period in their life when psychotherapy could be helpful for getting back on track.

The bad news is that anxiety and depression can show up in different ways and at different times because we’re all different people. Difficulty communicating feelings? Struggling with low self-esteem? Physical, professional, spiritual, social, or mental self-care non-existent or going down the drain? Sometimes anxiety or depression can seem like it hits you or your child out of the blue. Many people struggle during life transitions. They find themselves experiencing fear of the unknown or difficulty making sense of the past. The good news is that you don't have to face these challenges alone.

Therapy is an opportunity to explore and challenge yourself to experience your life in a fulfilling way. I will work with you in a collaborative, non-judgmental manner to understand existing beliefs, thoughts and behaviors and then strive to help you reach your goals in terms of changing any of these areas. I respect your personal hopes regarding what you would like therapy to be. I have worked in a variety of settings with adults, children and adolescents who are struggling with relationships, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. I focus on providing support in a warm and accepting atmosphere.

I emphasize a collaborative approach to therapy--I bring 30 years of clinical experience, as well as enthusiasm, hope, and a dose of humor, and ask only that you bring an openness to change. Together, we identify specific life goals and generate plans to achieve them. Ultimately, you will come to understand that you make perfect sense; you may just not have been able to use this self-awareness to make the most productive decisions. My strong suit is quickly identifying underlying problems and patterns, as well as personal strengths and resources, and from there we chart your personal path.

I believe one of the most healing things we can do is begin to understand our stories and how it affects our everyday life and relationships. Many of us carry our past traumas into our present-day lives. These traumas can manifest in many different ways such as anxiety, emotional numbness or relationship challenges. The clients I work with have oftentimes experienced complex relational traumas in childhood and dysfunctional family dynamics. Through these difficult experiences, we oftentimes develop coping strategies and protective behaviors. These strategies were often helpful and necessary but may no longer be serving you now.

The past two years have been difficult, and children, adolescents, and young adults have especially been struggling to cope. Now more than ever, it is important that we support their mental and emotional health and assist them with building the necessary skills to cope with stressors. If you have noticed a change in your child, whether that be emotionally or behaviorally, and are looking for a therapist to work with you and your child, look no further! I am currently accepting clients ages 6 and up to assist with navigating emotional and behavioral issues that may be occurring.

I believe in empowering my clients to discover their inner strengths. Therapy is a journey in self exploration, self awareness and change. I use a multicultural perspective to inform my clinical practice. I offer tele-health services to my clients accessibility to care .Self pay clients can expect an appointment within 24 hours. My sessions use mindfulness, practicing self regulation, cognitive restructuring, imago skills, play therapy and many other techniques that are relevant to a client's treatment plan. I am available to my clients between sessions via text and secure video chatting. I offer financial therapy.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't suffer alone! Everyone can use support sometimes, and I love finding ways to help clients feel comforted, supported, and encouraged. I work primarily with women, although that work can extend into couples and families. I work on many different issues, but have special interest in anxiety, life transitions, grief, and parenting work. I offer an integrated model for counseling and wellness including a holistic approach, practical ideas for change, a beautiful setting, and yoga and retreat offerings. Good counseling can create a connection where change, and growth are possible and even likely.