Self Esteem Therapists in Kensington, MD

My core belief in therapeutic practice is that everyone has inherent value and strength, that with the right support, can be harnessed to create positive changes and meaningful growth. Offering a safe place where self-exploration, processing, and healing can be done, I will help you to build insight, resilience through healthy coping skills, and empowerment in reaching your therapeutic goals. Whether it is improving communication, changing behaviors, healing from trauma, or having a consistent and dependable ally in your mental health, I will support you each step of the way.

TELETHERAPY AVAILABLE, We might face life circumstances that seem impossible to cope with. Trusting that you can bounce back and move on can be quite a challenge during such times, but is for sure possible. I have had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients who have dared to hope, to seek help, and take charge of their life to create a better future. I have worked with individuals of different ages (adolescents, adults and seniors) with diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

My passion is working with people who are confronted with challenges at home, school, or the workplace; or are having difficulty maintaining or creating meaningful relationships.  I will offer you a safe, judgment free, and accepting environment.  No two people experience hardship the same way.  Together, we can find the solution that works best for you. I have many years of experience working with individuals in schools, parents and children with child welfare involvement, and families dealing with separation and divorce.

I'm only seeing clients located in Maryland and fully virtual! I believe by exploring our past experiences and relationships we can find answers to better understand our own behaviors and thought processes. Our best healing happens throughout the context of a safe relationship and that is what I offer in therapy; a safe place where my client can explore their pain, trauma, hurt, and confusion in order to heal and live the most meaningful life possible. My clients know what their goals are and are excited to get to work but may need more accountability or support. Sometimes they aren't so clear and I can help with that, too!

I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker providing psychotherapy services to individuals and families in the Washington metropolitan area. With an interactive style, I use a positive, solution-focused approach and provide a non-judgemental atmosphere that allows for opportunities to decompress, reflect and problem solve. My 20 years of experience as a high school counselor at local independent schools has given me necessary insights into the lives of emerging adults and those who parent them.

I’m glad that we’ve found each other. My name is Arianne and I've been partnering with individuals for 12 years, navigating the challenges, celebrating the victories, and working towards the life each person hopes for themselves. When life becomes too much to handle, you might know what you need to do logically to make things better, but actually starting can feel scary. When you're stuck in a loop of negative thoughts and bad habits, it's hard to shake off the guilt and move forward. You understand your struggles and story better than anyone else and I'm here to work alongside you to restore your calm.

Hi! I’m Arlene Paulson, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C) and I work with individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, loneliness, relationship difficulties and parenting challenges. I work collaboratively with you to address the life challenges you are facing. With a focus on TEAM-CBT techniques, mindfulness, and creating new habits, we will find what works for you. As an immigrant, the process of figuring out my values and finding my identity was especially challenging early on. I’m here to use my experience, education, tools and perspective to support you in your journey towards emotional well-being.

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.

Seeking help is the most challenging thing that most of us will ever do. Armed with life skills, information, and knowledge, we are expected to have all the right answers. Even if we have endured familial, racial, or socio-economic struggles and barriers, we hesitate to seek assistance because of our conditioning to perfection. This pressure makes it that much harder to speak with an absolute stranger and pour out all our life’s troubles. However, if that stranger is a genuine listener, makes us feel safe, and compassionately transitions us from pain to healing, it becomes easier to let that person in on our helplessness.

In our day-to-day lives, it can be difficult to notice changes in our mood, behavior, or relationships, and how that shift may be affecting our overall well-being. These changes can be caused by various stressors in our lives. As a therapist, I bring a genuine sense of compassion for the difficulties my clients face, placing great emphasis on building meaningful relationships, transparency, and authenticity. My integrated approach to care utilizes aspects of cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and mindfulness techniques to work toward a patient-centered conceptualization of health.

Are you regularly feeling overwhelmed? Experiencing intimacy or communication problems in your relationships? Feeling run down and uncertain how to get going again? Let's work together to re-discover your strengths and improve how you feel about yourself and others around you. Our approach to counseling combines Cognitive-Behavioral therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness practices. CBT is a widely used form of therapy with which you will learn (1) to tune into your self-talk, (2) recognize how your self-talk impacts your feelings and decisions, and (3) how to re-frame those unhelpful thoughts into more positive ones.

Cognitive behavioral therapy in its various forms is central to my practice, with a focus on thoughts and behaviors. Therapy is an active, collaborative process and I invite clients to participate as much as possible in their own treatment.