Psychodynamic Therapists in Silver Spring, MD

You've already begun. I believe change is possible. Congratulations on taking the first step towards change. Let's take the second step together. I love my work. I will listen with respect to your concerns and outline for you how I think I can be of help to you. I have been involved in helping people of all ages, gender, nationality and sexual orientation. Most people come to get help sorting out the "stuff" of their lives. You are unique, let's talk about you--strengthen your self-esteem.

I enjoy working with clients that need help navigating the demands of everyday life. Whether it is family, work, school or friends that pose challenges, I partner with my clients to stay grounded, and develop the skills and strategies to handle every situation. Everyone deserves to be heard. Listening is the foundation for looking inward and finding strength and resilience to meet challenges. I help my clients find their voice and get in touch with their authentic self. I want my clients to achieve all their goals and aspirations while living a happy and fulfilled life.

My clients are adults, usually midlife or older. They come to me for help with a variety of issues, including: life transitions, parenting, caregiving, or relationship difficulties, mental distress such as depression or anxiety, alcohol or drug problems, or a desire to resolve past traumas. I am comfortable and experienced with clients who want to strengthen their own spiritual resources in therapy and welcome diversity of all kinds.

My down to earth style, arising from over 25 years of experience working with adults, adolescents and children, creates a comfortable, safe environment where together we learn to understand you. I provide individual, couples and family therapy to enable you to better cope with life's continuing challenges. I have extensive experience with individuals who are having trouble coping with depression, anxiety and trauma history. I also enjoy working with couples who are struggling in their relationships. I have a certificate in Advanced Trauma Treatment and I use Gottman Method Couples Therapy in my work with couples.

Georgia O'Keeffe once said, "To create one's own world in any of the arts takes courage." As both an art therapist and counselor, I understand the courage it takes to create a better life for yourself using comprehensive mental health care. Whether your goals are managing depression/anxiety/stress, enhancing your relationships, or creating a greater sense of stability and control in your life, I am confident I can provide you with the guidance and support you need.

I believe every person has the ability to grow and transform. I believe that we can best do so when accompanied compassionately along our journeys. Through increasing self-awareness, cultivating our inner and external resources, and understanding the interconnected influences of mind and body in our daily lives, we can transform through painful times and arrive into greater and deeper capacity for relationships to ourselves and with others. I specialize in working with adults through trauma healing, grief and loss (including that of beloved animals), LGBTQIA+ identities and relationships, depression/anxiety, and life transitions.

I like to work with clients who are insight-oriented, motivated to understand themselves, interested in looking at patterns they get into in relationships, and eager to change and develop their potential. I like it when clients bring up dreams that they would like to understand, and I like clients to think about deeper issues such as meaning in life. I believe that therapy involves a therapeutic relationship, and that the therapist's goal is to collaborate with the client in exploring, gaining insight, and making changes.

I am trained in a psychodynamic and relational approach that includes the use of play therapy, art, music, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness. I have spent the last 20 years working clinically with children and adolescents in school settings in Baltimore City, Montgomery County and Prince Georges County. I currently combine my work as a school counselor in a special education facility with private practice.

How do you go from feeling overwhelmed and lost to clarity and a solid sense of self? Contemplating this journey informs my work as a psychotherapist. In my experience, the single most important factor that leads to significant change is the development of a trusting client-therapist relationship. This allows trust in new possibilities,and seeing yourself differently and considering this new sense of self. I liken therapy to reorganizing heavy furniture in a room and in some cases getting rid of pieces. The furniture represents the client's view of self. With acceptance and empathic curiosity, change can begin.

What do you value? What is important to you? Are you showing up for yourself in those areas? You have the right to live a satisfying and rewarding life that's free of suffering. Sometimes in our journey, we can feel stuck to the point of emotional stagnation. I am committed to working with you, collaborating & following your lead, to a place of greater satisfaction. Whatever the case may be, you deserve to thrive, and I would love to partner with you through your process to a place of increased wellness and acceptance. I consider myself to be an integrative therapist grounded in psychodynamic thinking and allied with nature.

Life is really hard sometimes. I can imagine that you are here because you are ready to get rid of the barriers standing in the way of you being your best self. Maybe you have found yourself in a funk that feels hard to get out of or have lost motivation to do things you once enjoyed. It may be that you feel you can't get out of your head or overwhelmed by everything going on in your life or in the world. Maybe you feel isolated or misunderstood. Perhaps you feel scattered or are having trouble focusing on what's important. I am glad you are here, and I believe I can help.

Your decision to evaluate therapists today is a strong sign change is underway. I work to help individual adults and teens, couples, and families navigate relationship difficulties, behavioral issues, and unresolved emotional needs. My office is a place where clients can speak openly about their hopes, needs, and fears - with warmth, care, and authentic feedback in return. Our work can treat symptoms of grief, depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. Emotionally focused repair, cognitive insight, and concrete skills development can each play a role. My training emphasizes clients' experience in family, work, and other systems.

*Currently accepting new clients at Darby Integrative Counseling, LLC, and we are offering in-person and/or video sessions to accommodate your needs during the COVID crisis.* We welcome you to the next courageous step on your journey walking through life's challenges. Are you struggling with fear, grief, sadness, anxiety, or stress? Have anger, shame or guilt been preventing you from the joys of life? Do your relationships at home or work feel strained? Let us awaken your best self and find solutions for the problems you face on your path to wellness.

Your struggles are unique and complex. As a psychologist my aim is to help you explore your personal narratives, to understand how your past is affecting your present and keeping you from fulfilling your values. Whether you are experiencing difficulty with relationships, life events, healing from trauma, or simply don't find yourself enjoying your life as you once did, I will help you feel grounded while we gain a non-judgmental perspective on your struggles and put our minds together to strategize ways forward. I specialize in treatments for trauma, depression, anxiety, job stress, and relationship issues.

Welcome to my page! I want to say that you are awesome! Beginning the process of looking for and seeing a therapist is such a challenging first step and you're here. I haves experience working with clients ages 5-adulthood. At this point in my career, I find a lot of value in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, going through transitional life stages, and caregivers who want to focus on challenges in parenting/taking care of others and their own mental health. I feel that each person is an individual and deserving of tailored and unique therapeutic care.

There is nothing like being listened to and understood on a deep level, with genuine interest, unconditional positive regard, congruence, empathy and acceptance. This is what I strive to offer in therapy, as we explore together your hopes and dreams, your losses and regrets, your longings and fears. Many people come to therapy to free themselves from self-defeating patterns, maladaptive behaviors and the legacy of past traumas, so they can be more truly themselves in relation to others and live with greater satisfaction and meaning.

Do you ever feel like no one really listens to you or understands you? Are you a person of color or a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and feel discriminated against or rejected? Life comes with many challenges and while you may try your hardest to beat those challenges but sometimes you need a little help. So how can I help? My goal is to assist you with self-discovery, self-healing, and empowerment to face life head-on. I specialize in working with adults and adolescents with of various racial identities and/or sexual identities.