Dialectical Behavior (DBT) Therapists in Gaithersburg, MD

Dr. Stano provides individual, family, & group therapy services to children & teens as well as psychological assessment services to patients of all ages. Her specialties include working with children & teens experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, challenging relationships, identity issues, & health conditions. She works with families to navigate parenting concerns, stressful relationships, and significant life changes. She is an identity-affirming clinician who works with people of diverse backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, religion, culture, ability, sexual orientation, & gender.

Empathy, warmth, and compassion are personal attributes that I bring to my role as a clinical psychologist. My extensive training in psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, dialectical -behavioral, couples, and family therapies allows me to draw upon an integrative psychotherapeutic framework in helping clients navigate life stressors. I guide clients in fostering a better understanding of self, relationships, and the context in which they live.

I work with teens and adults experiencing stress or distress related to being expats; guilt and shame; difficult family, peer and professional relationships; LGBTQIA+ and/or BIPOC stressors; little to no interest or pleasure in doing thing; worry and avoidance; low self esteem; professional or cultural identity stress; ongoing effects of trauma; and those who just want to talk to someone. I create a therapeutic environment for my clients to meet and reconnect parts of themselves they may have disavowed due to shame, criticism, illness, fear and painful experiences and experiment with styles of relating to themselves and others.

Motherhood, transitions, grief, young adulthood, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ identity stressors, career stress, irrational thoughts, sadness, worry, relationships, trauma, self esteem and concentration issues are my areas of clinical expertise. I use Trauma Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy to decrease and manage the frequency, duration and intensity of their symptoms.  I'll incorporate your values, identities, faith and cultural practices and belief systems. We will identify symptoms and implement long-term coping strategies that are practical for your personality and lifestyle.