Parenting Therapists in Silver Spring, MD

Life can be hard at times, I am here to heIp! I am a bilingual Clinical Social Worker/therapist with bicultural experience. I attended the University of Maryland School of Social Work where I earned my Masters in Social Work with a focus in children and families. I am also a Board Approved Supervisor in the state of MD. I’m licensed in both MD and DC and provide in person and virtual therapy services in English and Spanish. I have more than 10 years of experience working with children and families and adults in different capacities that include home visiting, mental health consultation, mental health therapy and parent coaching.

I am passionate about working with young children and their families who are experiencing challenges with academics, parenting , separation and divorce, as well as regulatory and behavioral issues. I provide psychological, developmental, and admissions testing. I also conduct play therapy, family therapy, parent guidance, divorce mediation, as well as school consultations. Early intervention and prevention as well as parental involvement is essential and paramount for optimal and favorable treatment outcomes.

I specialize in working with families, couples, groups, and individuals. I treat children as young as three, have experience with school phobia, adoption, blended families, gender issues, gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals, and the challenges of elderly. I am experienced working with psychoses, severe post traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, and problems of every day life. I have special expertise working with the LGBTQ+ population, with adolescents, sexual development, severe mental illness, post traumatic stress disorder, and physical illnesses.

Many challenges in life can feel like they are uniquely yours to bear alone; however, this is rarely the case. People visit me concerned about how they feel and function in key life and professional relationships. I have worked with individuals, couples, and families on a variety of overlapping issues such as anxiety and depression, self-esteem, parenting children with special needs, setting limits with adult children, work/life balance issues, and sexual desire issues in committed relationships. Often these issues can be helped by addressing the common denominator of individual development within a family or relationship system.

My approach is particularly suited to those individuals who are struggling with emotional distress and anxiety, school difficulties and overwork. Students, caregivers, new parents, pregnant or postpartum women, infertile couples, parents of children with special needs, and those dealing with chronic illness have found my approach very helpful. Join with me to restore and renew your emotional health. Together we will explore your strengths and challenges and develop a plan just right for you, with strategies proven to ensure stress and anxiety reduction, mood regulation, improved sleep, fulfilling relationships and balanced living.

I am here to offer professional, supported, guided and solution-focused insight into life's many challenges. Through a variety of therapeutic approaches, I can help you with parenting , depression, anxiety, pre-marital and marital issues, as well as many other of life's obstacles. I am very empathetic, but I will also challenge you as appropriate. After all, I want you to be your best self.

I'm a bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with over 26 years of treating children, teens, adults and families in private and public settings. I work with individuals with complex trauma, and personal histories of neglect/abuse. Addressing family systems issues like, parent /child relational issues, family reunification and ineffective/ inadequate parenting skills, and insecure attachment. Implementing evidence based practices and mindfulness techniques to achieve individualized treatment goals. I provide treatment to Spanish speaking individuals/ families.

Every day is filled with parenting battles that leave you exhausted and guilt-ridden, having lost your temper too many times. You ache for a more peaceful home and a loving relationship with your child or teen, but you don’t know how to get there. General advice and tips sound good on paper but they are not working with your child, and you don’t know why. Your energy and resilience are taking a serious hit. Worst of all, you are afraid that your child will be emotionally harmed by all the turmoil that goes on from day to day.

I am a licensed psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping children, adults, and families to grow, connect, and experience more joy in their lives. My treatment and consultation services range from evaluation and short term support to comprehensive intervention. I am guided by the belief that individuals and families possess great strength that is fully expressed through nurturing relationships, empathic listening, and collaborative problem solving. Supporting insight and skill building, I aim to help others develop positive well-being, cultivate healthy relationships, and navigate life challenges.

My practice prioritizes helping families to get off to a strong start, with a special focus on new parents and their babies. In-home services include: couples counseling, individual support around perinatal mental health for moms AND dads (aiming to prevent Postpartum Depression & Anxiety when possible), hands-on parenting support including my direct observation & modeling.

Do you feel like you've lost control over your teenager? Want to regain your power as a parent ? Want to relate better to your teen? Want your teen to be more successful? I specialize in treating teens who are not performing up to their potential in school or at home. I work closely with parents to improve the parent -child relationship, discipline more effectively, and allow the student to become more independent, responsible and productive over time. Additionally, I help adults overcome depression and anxiety, deal with stress, and gain a sense of control over their lives.

Is there something holding you back from the experience of feeling fully alive, safe, and satisfied in your own life; in your own skin? Experiencing internal and external difficulties long enough and under enough stress, we become disconnected to what makes life worth living. I believe my job is to provide a safe space and be a supportive, caring, non-judgmental presence as a guide and collaborator. Together we can face what is hurting or not helping you. I have worked over the years in a variety of settings with adults, children, teens, families and couples from diverse backgrounds and identities.

My goal is to provide a safe therapeutic space for you to feel seen. I love to support my clients as they gain insight into their experiences and the confidence to cope with life's stressors. I aim to be an affirming and authentic presence as you navigate the challenges of your current season of life. If you are someone who has historically been labeled as "too sensitive," have struggled with anxiety or OCD, or tends to feel overstimulated and overwhelmed, I would love to hear more about your needs and goals for therapy. I have specific training and experience in pregnancy, parenting , and women's issues.

Facilitating optimal functioning in activities of daily living through remote, synchronous, affordable, private telehealth sessions. Client centered occupational therapy treatment plans, customized for pediatrics, adolescents, young adults, and geriatrics from a professional and parent perspective. Value-based therapeutic interventions to validate concerns and empowering individuals and underserved populations to achieve meaningful outcomes via teletherapy.

As a psychotherapist for the past 30+ years, I feel passionate about helping people experience more joy and contentment in their relationships and in their lives. I believe that every crisis or problem that arises also provides an opportunity for healing and growth. Whether you are depressed, anxious, having marital conflicts, parenting difficulties, recovering from a traumatic experience, or in the midst of a life transition, we can problem-solve together and discover new possibilities for you. My style can best be described as interactive and engaging. I am a supportive listener, yet give honest feedback and offer suggestions for positive actions.

As humans, we experience pain, loss, or difficulties in our lives as individuals and in our family relationships. We make our best efforts to cope, adapt or resolve these trying experiences on our own. But sometimes, we get stuck or they are too great to endure alone. I believe the therapeutic relationship is a safe place, free of judgement, invested in exploring, healing, and growing. Together, we can work on the interpersonal, emotional, psychological, and spiritual issues that hinder you and your relationships from reaching full potential.