Therapists in Severna Park, MD

**ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS*** Specializing in anxiety, depression, mood disorders, grief, and trauma, Ms. Brake has over 30 years of experience with extensive training in women’s issues, family issues, and overall stress management. She listens to your needs and helps you meet your goals using a wide array of techniques including Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT) and Supportive Psychotherapy. Ms. Brake is ready to develop a personal treatment plan with you so that you feel empowered and ready for positive change! At Shine Behavioral Health, we care about you!

Making the decision to seek help can be challenging and is a big first step on your journey to wellness. Wellness is not an absence of problems, but it is a process that helps us become more aware and make choices for a healthy and fulfilling life. If you feel overwhelmed and want help developing proper coping skills and self-care, you are not alone. Support is available and change is possible! Although I believe the client is the expert in their life, therapy is a collaborative effort between you and I. Together, we will work on identifying and meeting your wants, needs, and goals.

Hi there. I'm a Johns Hopkins trained, board certified therapist and I would be honored to work with you. Therapy is a collaborative endeavor. I bring to the table my years of clinical experience, as well as my caring and commitment to you, I ask only that you bring an openness to begin looking at your challenges. Together we will identify your goals and come up with a plan to achieve them. In a safe and compassionate environment, I'll provide you with a personalized therapeutic approach tailored to your unique circumstances.

Sometimes in life, you come to a place where you feel like you can no longer manage stress and challenges. Maybe you’re experiencing a transition, relationship difficulties, a new role, or you just feel stuck. You have been doing your best to get through each day, but it’s just not enough. You are tired of going through life depressed, lonely, anxious, or insecure, but you don’t know what change to make or where to start. Please know that you do not have to continue feeling this way or go through this alone! It is possible to feel like yourself again, and therapy is a great place to start.

Whatever it is that has you feeling lost or overwhelmed, you have within you the power to make lasting changes and create the life you want and need. Whether it's anxiety or depression, trauma, grief, or major life transitions, you have already taken the first step in seeking help. By identifying the obstacles that are holding you back, you're ready to develop the skills necessary to tackle life's challenges.

Have you been devastated by miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a baby? Are you struggling with perinatal or postpartum depression? Are you having a hard time with a subsequent pregnancy after a loss? Have you received a pregnancy diagnosis of a life-threatening illness. I assist parents with difficult decision making and counseling through a difficult journey. With any type of grief there are challenges, different grieving styles, and communication. I am honored to come alongside families at their most difficult times and help them find hope, establish goals, and help advocate for their wants, needs, and wishes.

Accepting new clients! Life often presents us with difficulties, struggles and challenges. Having someone who is willing to listen to you without judging what you are going through can help you with sorting out your problems and difficulties. Telling your story enables you to come to terms with your current experiences. You may be dealing with difficult or stressful life events, feeling sad, anxious or depressed. Therapy can help you to learn coping skills and techniques to solve problems and manage challenges. I encourage you to reach out today to see how I can be of help to you.

"Are you feeling depressed, anxious or overwhelmed?" "Are you feeling unhappy in your relationship or concerned about your kids"? "Is your alcohol or drug use causing problems at home, work, school or in other areas? If so I can be of help. I can teach you the appropriate skills to feel good about yourself, to have more satisfying relationships and to reach your true potential.

Taking a step towards healing can be daunting! I aim to provide an authentic therapeutic space throughout the client’s journey. I am passionate about helping clients heal from past experiences, as well as current stressors and other obstacles. I support clients in discovering their true self to best validate their needs, goals, and values. I also encourage clients to engage in mindfulness exercises, yoga, journaling, and other practices to increase grounding, resilience, and enhance the client’s overall well-being.

I am a licensed, board-certified, clinical counselor, certified in Expressive Arts through the Person- Centered Expressive Arts Institute founded by Natalie Rogers. Using an integrative approach, I combine traditional talk therapy with mindfulness, creative expression, CBT, and DBT skills to support you in your treatment. I use EMDR protocol to teach trauma-informed strategies to self-regulate and address trauma. I will meet you where you are through empathy, compassion, and congruence to help generate insight that can lead to increased healthy coping and desired change. I consider it an honor to be part of my client's journeys.

With more than a decade of experience in the field of social work and mental health services, my focus is an emphasis on the combination of individual and family therapy. By providing a framework for navigating complicated family dynamics, I offer a holistic approach to help my clients work together to resolve complex issues such as trauma, depression, grief and loss, difficult family transitions and much more.

I believe a warm and accepting environment to process your experiences and a collaborative therapeutic relationship are essential for effective therapy. I strive to combine these elements with therapeutic tools and techniques to help you address challenges in your life.

Making the decision to prioritize yourself is a brave one! Enduring life's stressors is often not an easy task and many people feel they have to navigate this alone. Through my work, I aim to help clients on their path towards awareness, healing, and growth. From managing symptoms, increasing self confidence, navigating a change, learning to prioritize self care, or needing a listening ear, I am here to support you.

Life can be complex and challenging, while often making sense of experiences and searching for answers can be difficult. Finding the right path is not as easy when dealing with complicated situations in life. You’re looking for the right answers, searching to find your way, trying to help someone or feel stuck. You are not alone. Recognizing your strengths through additional support can help you achieve balance and wellness.

You have already made a courageous step toward taking care of you! I hope you can absorb and appreciate this moment. Whether you are seeking to heal from past or present events, change behaviors, and/or cultivate personal growth - you are to be commended! On your quest, please know that I am a therapist whose sensitivity toward others derives from my perspective on life - that each person's journey is unique yet, feelings are universal. This mindset can be a powerful tool for self-awareness, understanding others, and navigating relational dynamics. We are all connected and not meant to go it alone.

Taking the first step to improving your mental health is commendable. As your therapist, I am here to support you through life changes, everyday stressors, and past experiences. I believe each person is the author of their own life story. I aim to create a safe, nonjudgmental space that allows you to share your life story and foster meaningful change. Together, we can open a new chapter of healing.

Limited slots for weekly/biweekly sessions. Many of us struggle to manage many of life's challenges on top of feeling fear, frustration, or deep sadness. That being said, you've already taken an important first step in connecting with help! I've seen clients who experience anxiety, depression, bipolar, personality disorders, trauma, grief, life changes, anger, and interpersonal issues. My goal is to help you feel comfortable managing whatever symptoms you may be experiencing while embracing wellness and change. I am a culturally sensitive, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist.