Therapists in Upper Marlboro, MD

The Miles Institute of Integral Living provides integrated physical, mental and spiritual health treatment in an authentic and culturally competent way.

My client focus are children and adolescents. I started working with children and adolescents over 10 years ago, caring for their physical health in hospitals. After a few years, I decided to transition from physical health to mental health and have been working with children and adolescents for over 2 years in individual and group counseling and in the public school system. I've worked with children dealing with behavioral concerns in the school, home, and community. Social emotional learning, career exploration, experiential learning, and small groups have been my areas of specialty.

I see patients in the office and virtually. I work with my patients in a collaborative effort to achieve their goals. Therapy is a joint effort between the patient and the therapist to help resolve their problems. The answer is withing. We work together to help bring it out and help apply it to help problem solve.

No matter your past or present, your haves or have nots, life can be difficult. I believe that people want and need to be understood – to feel validated and acknowledged in the midst of their troubles. Without these moments of understanding, life can feel mundane, lonely, or deeply confusing. At the most troubling times when stress, depression, or relationships overwhelm, change can seem impossible. Yet change is made possible through a trusting therapeutic relationship and a careful understanding of oneself and others.

I help individuals, couples and families reconnect with and draw strength from the goodness in themselves as they cultivate positive behaviors and new perspectives on life. I specialize in untangling the patterns that cause us harm, including avoidance, addiction, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic suffering, self harm, suicidal ideation, and low self esteem. I help couples and families find more wholesome and supportive ways to connect and care for each other.

I believe much of our pain, healing and growth revolve around relationships; relationships with self, family, friends, and community, as well as a broader connection to a "Greater Whole." My approach is integrative using research-based, solution-focused tools centered on the interaction between thoughts, emotions, and behavior; inner flexibility and acceptance; mindful awareness; and values-based action. YOU are the expert navigator in your own life. I strive to assume the role of companion guide and act as a source for fresh perspectives in a safe and supportive environment.

Are you grappling with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, PTSD, C-PTSD, addictions, or borderline personality disorder? My aim is to assist clients in reconnecting with their authentic selves and regaining a sense of empowerment over their lives. Together, we will navigate past wounds, tackle present challenges, & cultivate the resilience necessary to embrace a more fulfilling future. I seek to connect with individuals open to a compassionate and collaborative therapeutic relationship where they can work together to create a safe space for exploring the depths of emotions, thoughts, & experiences without judgment.

We all carry stories in our heads that inhibit us from being our best selves. My intention, through creative, therapeutic collaboration, is to gently challenge those stories and clear away the obstacles to happiness. My clients face a variety of issues, ranging from depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders to problematic attachment patterns, unresolved trauma and fractured body image. The common thread between these obstacles is the bedrock of my practice: taking a mindful look at all parts of our being, past, present and future, quieting shame, and empowering you to see a brighter future for yourself.

NEW Men's Group starting, see below! - The goal of therapy isn’t to ‘feel better’, although that should be one of the outcomes. The suffering we experience is rarely a defective malfunctioning of the brain- it is usually in response to real challenges and is an important way to prepare ourselves for a developmental leap. When we are suffering our brains release hormones that promote ‘neuroplasticity’, our minds begin to reexamine outdated narratives, and our relationships are challenged with the need for deeper vulnerability and more skillful communication.

Clients in therapy with me commonly describe a plaguing feeling that there must be a better way to get through life than burdened by so much stress. My approach to wellness can be captured by the quote: "Stress in life is a given; suffering doesn't have to be." My goal in our work together is to examine the unique stressors in your life and help you develop mindful, healthy ways to live with the challenges that inevitably come up in life so that they no longer get in the way of how you want to be living.

Life can be really hard, and sometimes we could use some help, someone who will listen without judging or telling us how we should feel or what we should do. We may or may not know what exactly we are dealing with, we just know that we want to feel better. Anxiety, depression and other mental health issues are very common, so if you are experiencing any of these you are not alone. It can be very difficult to reach out for help, so if you’re reading this you’ve already taken that first big step. I’m ready to join and support you as you start your path to feeling better.

My experiences include working with individuals who are trauma survivors and individuals struggling with mood disorders, depression; anxiety; self-harm; LGBTQ+ and gender orientation; grief/loss; disordered eating behaviors; self esteem/body image difficulties; dysfunctional family dynamics; peer relationships and social skills challenges.

Clinician draws from his teaching and Christian ministry people skills and collaborate with clients to assess and equip them to combat issues. Teens are empowered to overcome hurting behavior, reconciled with others and restored to their potential. Troubled marriages and families are equipped to settle conflicts, tackle baggage and communicate better through enhanced couple dialogue. A philosophical model based on the recognition that all individuals have potential to thrive is employed. It is hoped that through collaboration your life will be brightened as you utilize tools to work your goals to recapture potential endowment.

Voted best in Howard County! Andrew's experience includes 25 years of specialization with children, adolescents, and families. Through working in a variety of settings he has developed exceptional skills working with trauma, emotional, and behavioral issues. He has had tremendous success working with some of the most at risk clients. He works with individuals, families and couples to help produce positive changes. He practices EMDR to help clients overcome traumas.

It’s okay to not be okay but don’t settle for a lifetime of not being okay! Do you struggle with intense emotions? Do your emotions interfere with school, work, or interpersonal relationships? Do you have a history of trauma that have caused you to feel abandoned, hopeless, or empty? Do you struggle with Behavioral issues that cause harm to yourself or others? Do you have current or past life challenges that have been difficult to overcome? If the answer is yes to any of those questions, you are in the right place!

Because I view each client as unique, I approach each case differently. I work from an integrative theoretical orientation and employ strategies from Cognitive Behavioral, Psychodynamics, Family Systems, and other theories according to the varying needs of each client.

Congratulations on deciding to seek therapy! It isn’t easy work, but therapy can help you navigate your challenges and develop your strengths to build the life you want. I work with adolescents and adults individually, as well as people in romantic relationships (I am affirming of all genders, sexualities, and relationship structures). My experience is with helping folks to address mental health challenges like depression and anxiety, to communicate more effectively and develop healthier relationships, to navigate stressful life transitions and existential concerns, and to heal from trauma (particularly religious trauma).