Therapists in Silver Spring, MD

As a licensed professional psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience, my focus has always been to establish trust and to assist my clients in establishing and living a full and meaningful life. Sometimes it may be anxiety, depression, self-esteem, caregiving, chronic illness, trauma, grief and loss, divorce, life transitions, unhealthy coping mechanisms or family/relationship difficulties. Powerful events in our lives, which we may or may not realize, affect us all. I work well with adults of all ages, backgrounds and races so able to provide therapy across a broad spectrum of clients.

If you struggle with reactions to people and situations you aren’t feeling proud of; let’s explore the process for change. Understanding why you react to situations is a key part of self awareness. Let’s get you to the place of understanding how your history impacts your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

I work with children, adolescents, and adults who are struggling with learning challenges, ADHD, stressful family dynamics, depression, and anxiety. For many children and adolescents, there are struggles with behavioral and emotional regulation that are making life difficult for them and their families. Through dialogue and/or play, we develop innovative and creative strategies to help with self-regulation. For adult clients, through developing understanding of ADHD, depression and/or anxiety, I help clients make changes in their thoughts, feelings, and actions that lead to alleviation and reduction of symptoms.

*NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS* Have you been feeling trapped in the cycle of depression, anxiety, trauma, and or addiction? Do you ever feel like you are running on auto pilot and want to achieve and maintain positive changes in your life? Are you having trouble falling asleep or are you lying awake in the middle of the night? Do you constantly find yourself replaying painful memories in your head, or feel overwhelmed with fears and worries about the future? Has the cycle of addiction made it difficult to live a life worth living? It would be my pleasure to join you on your journey to healing.

It's great that you are reaching out for support - I'll be glad to meet you. You might be struggling to manage anxiety/depression that worsened during COVID, feeling burnt out by the demands of work or family life, or coping with a neuro-divergent brain (ADHD or autism) in a neuro-typical world. You may yearn to feel seen and understood in your struggles, and to feel release from the self-judgment that weighs heavily in your mind and heart. You may be hoping for greater emotional stability, more resilient ways to cope with stress, a better ability to set boundaries, or help with strengthening your motivation for positive change.

Are you tired of starting each day stressed, depressed or lonely? Taking the seemingly simple (but often difficult) step of asking for help is likely to decrease those negative feelings. I work with adults who are coping with a variety of issues such as depression, anxiety, anger, difficulties in their personal relationships, and challenges in their professional careers.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I treat all of my clients with absolute respect, compassion, and appreciation for their interests. I employ several therapeutic approaches, most of which are based on contemplative psychotherapy, CBT, and a solution-focused approach. It is most important to me that clients feel safe and comfortable so that clients can internalize skills, compassion, knowledge, and wisdom to live a fulfilling, meaningful, and happy life free of regrets.

I seek to help individuals, couples and families build stronger and healthier relationships. The family system is complex and dynamic. There are many configurations and possibilities. I will work as hard as you to help you identify and break out of destructive patterns. If you are ready to live your life fully authentically, with meaning and purpose, I would love to work with you to get there. I provide therapy in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

My clients are smart, successful people who want to create change in their lives. Does your life look good on paper, but you don't feel happy or fulfilled? Experiencing mild to moderate anxiety or depression? Maybe, like many, you suffered trauma, now interfering with your quality of life. You want insight and action, process and results, to feel and perform better. Maybe you are the concerned parent of a child, seeking help for emotional or behavior problems. You want a trusted therapist for your child who will include you in their treatment, and who will provide you with information and realistic strategies you can use at home.

Are you plagued by loneliness? As a therapist who has treated trauma, attachment, religious trauma, recovery from emotionally immature parents, and much more, I have found that what is missing for most people in their healing journey is connection and community. We can come to therapy, take the right cocktail of medications, and still go home lonely and isolated. What if you were able to gather with a handful of people regularly with the intention of deeper connection and community formation? How might that change how you feel about your life and your future? I would bet that even thinking about this stirs in you an aspect of hope.

We all have moments where we need support. Together we can expand your resiliency & strengthen your skill set. My approach is to create a collaborative and supportive space in which we explore your experience and discover the wisdom you hold within to heal and change.

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.

My specialty as a trauma-informed therapist is with underserved populations, including people of color, the LGBTQ community, and other disadvantaged groups. I can help you cope with the overwhelming feelings of depression, anxiety, and other traumatic experiences. In our meetings together, you'll find a welcoming, judgment-free zone where we can focus on you, your needs, and your goals. I'm here to provide the kind of positive, unconditional support that will be beneficial toward physical and mental health.

Please email me to schedule a tele-therapy session. Does something stand in the way of your work, love, or play? Do you simply feel "stuck"? For several years, I've had the privilege of helping others navigate challenges and achieve their goals. Together, we can work to understand your unique experiences and develop tools to better resolve struggles and mitigate setbacks.

You’re feeling overwhelmed with life’s struggles and want to feel heard, seen, and understood. Your identities and history of marginalization impact how you move through the world and can make living an authentic, fulfilling life seemingly impossible. Your unique lived experiences can leave you feeling misunderstood, alone, and plagued with worry. You might have trouble sleeping or concentrating, and you feel guilty, shameful, and irritable. Becoming your most empowered and confident self comes with challenges, and may come with isolation and other relationship changes.