CareFirst Therapists in Gaithersburg, MD

I will ALWAYS remain open for in person appointments throughout the pandemic! For the latest in appointment availability and wait list times, take a moment and visit my website at www.guidingprinciplesllc.com! Guiding Principles Counseling Services was founded on the belief that people can change, and must tap into their inner strength and moral compass to guide them toward change. Here at Guiding Principles I foster a warm, comfortable, compassionate and nonjudgmental environment, where a client can begin to emotionally unpack their concerns, and leave with specific cognitive behavioral tools to utilize in their everyday lives.

Welcome. Seeking help for yourself is never easy. You've taken a big step, so, let's keep your momentum going. Do you ever feel guilty or shameful about things that have happened to you? Do you feel shameful about who you are or fear that you are not lovable or worthwhile? Do you struggle with intimacy in relationships or can your relationships be chaotic? Do painful memories or feelings invade your thoughts or dreams? It can seem as if this will never change. Begin to believe that it is possible to heal what has happened to you and to change how you feel, especially about yourself.

Teletherapy available. Are you struggling to improve feelings about yourself and your relationships? Need help with stresses of daily living? . 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 get you "unstuck", find new ways to cope, & improve communication and intimacy in relationships. In therapy you learn to overcome obstacles that interfere with happiness. We identify strengths and patterns of behavior that interfere with achieving happiness and success in life.

Accepting New Clients! Are you struggling in your relationship? Do you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or just stuck? It is easy to become annoyed with your partner or yourself, during these difficult times. Maybe you are concerned about communication, parenting, infidelity, or intimacy. Perhaps you want to learn from the previous relationships to improve current or future ones. If you are struggling with any of these types of issues, therapy and counseling can help. My approach, in working with couples and individuals, is empathic, non-judgmental, insightful, collaborative, engaging, and supportive.

My clients learn evidence-based and culturally sensitive skills to manage anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, depression, and PTSD. We'll also explore and address stressors related to work, transitions, shame, guilt, self-esteem, disappointment, isolation, communication, relationships (any configuration), identity, culture, trauma, grief, and loss. I work closely with each person to develop personalized treatment plans that target specific symptoms, needs, and goals. As a Middle Eastern & Kurdish immigrant, I also understand how the intersection of cultures, religions, and customs can affect people.

Women looking to gain insight and manage distress related career; family and relationships; career transitions; caregiver stress; motherhood; cultural and immigrant experiences work with me to process and mange overwhelm, sadness, guilt, rumination, little interest or pleasure, shame, self-doubt, isolation and more. I facilitate processing of experiences, thoughts, behaviors and emotions and developing short and long-term interventions and strategies to manage these factors as well as mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, postpartum/peripartum and perinatal mood disorders and more.

Are you a child, adolescent, college student, or adult struggling with Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, OCD, or PANDAS/PANS? If so, you have found the right therapist. I work with children, teens, and adults on issues that impact their everyday life. With a focus on problem-solving, coping skills, and social skills, clients discover how to work through their symptoms and best manage their challenges. My treatment uses a "foundation approach" which involves finding the core issues behind a problem.

The way we experience ourselves and others around us, is vastly shaped by our past learned experiences, especially as children and teenagers. Ideally, a child should learn how to navigate the world with confidence, feels secure and safe, skillfully assured of his/her own ability to problem solve.

Are you a people pleaser? Do you have a difficult time setting boundaries? As a survivor of trauma, you may be highly self-critical, or feel unlovable. You may have developed anxiety, depression, or relationship issues. In order to move forward, sometimes we have to work through difficult things. I want you to feel emotionally safe as you begin to connect the dots - working through your past and identifying who you want to become.

I work with adults experiencing mental health challenges, and trouble navigating life in general. Utilizing a strengths based solutions focused approach, I help those seeking clinical guidance see their problem from a different lens and take action for change.

I am currently offering teletherapy sessions and I welcome new clients. Are you interested in revitalizing your life? Do you feel stuck and desire to feel more productive? Are you attempting to balance the challenges of life? I have had success working with clients who experience anxiety, depression, ADHD and who seek to improve their relationships, elevate their self esteem and encounter uncertainty during a life transition.

Sam has over a decade worth of experience in the mental health field. Prior to licensure, he worked on a residential unit for adolescents who suffered from behavioral and mental health illnesses. There, he worked closely with the students to learn, manage, and navigate effective life skills. In 2016, Sam attended Loyola University’s clinical mental health counseling program to further his skills and obtain licensure to practice as a clinical mental health counselor. Sam utilized an eclectic model of psychotherapy to provide a customized and adaptable approach for his clients.

Finding a therapist is challenging and stressful, but my job is to make it much easier for you. I work with a variety of clients all with different needs. My goal is to help you overcome and work through issues, empowering you to take back control over your life. My objective with my clients (children through adults) is to inspire self-discovery, inner peace, and help them find strength and understanding to make them feel complete, whole, and safe. I work with each client at their level and at their pace. Together we can broach difficult topics in a caring and empathetic way to begin the healing process.

Do these statements resonate with you? You feel like you're treading water or drowning. The weight of the world feels so heavy that you can't leave your bed. You feel overwhelmed by difficult relationships. I have helped clients navigate these issues in the context of their anxiety and depression. I’ve also developed a passion for LGBTQ counseling and sex health. Perhaps you are on a gender or sexuality journey or you are curious in pursuing a certain lifestyle with your partner. Regardless of what brings you here, we will work together to draw the roadmap for your personal fulfillment, peace, and growth.

You'll develop insight and gain coping skills to decrease or eliminate mental health disorders that make school, relationships, socializing, work and everyday life difficult. We'll explore mood, early life experiences, relationship challenges, life transitions, identity, family of origin. We'll replace or reframe thoughts and interpretations, learn positive behavioral skills, develop healthy relationships and learn mood regulation. We'll identify triggers, understand how the past affects and informs the present, improve ability to regulate, and uncover patterns/trauma that impact you and implement new behavior patterns.

Do you find yourself trying to be everything for everyone, only to feel isolated when you need support? Are you finding it difficult to refuse requests and end up resenting your own agreement? Prioritizing others above yourself leaves little time for your own aspirations and needs. Giving so much can leave you feeling trapped and unfulfilled, realizing that you're not progressing in life. Often, we lose ourselves in the process of managing various responsibilities like parenthood, relationships, careers, and life situations. As a result, we become overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, or unsure of our next steps.

My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe, supportive and nonjudgmental environment, to build a healthy and strong therapeutic relationship in order to start the healing process. By working together you will explore and process feelings, beliefs, or behaviors, and identify personal goals to improve problem areas in your life. I work with adolescents, adults and families. I specialize in treating numerous presenting problems including, depression, anxiety, ADHD, behavior management, life transitions and bipolar disorder.

Welcome. Therapy is a place to reflect on your life, relationships, and behaviors. It is a place, free of judgement and biases where you and I will work together to understand what motivates your choices and behaviors. We will discover your unique goals and individual path to a more peaceful and fulfilled life. Together, will work towards change by managing unwanted thoughts and behaviors and identifying coping strategies to help you navigate a variety of life's challenges.