Therapists in Montgomery County, MD

Our mission at Serenity Psychological Services is to provide superior quality care through warm and compassionate experiences. Seeking help can be difficult and overwhelming. Our goal is to help you feel safe and understood while on your journey to finding peace and resolution. You will feel supported and connected while working with our highly trained and empathetic therapists. The relationship between you and your therapist is unique and essential to experiencing benefit from the treatment process. Working together through a strong alliance allows for greater insight, understanding, and ultimately improved overall well-being.

For me, there is no ideal client. To some extent, everyone is on a spectrum of depression and anxiety, and I seek to work with clients who need assistance becoming oriented toward improvement. I have personal and professional experience and understand how difficult it is to find someone patient enough to grow alongside a client through the therapeutic process. I want to work alongside you to help you live a happy, meaningful life with these conditions.

Therapy can benefit you wherever you are in life, whether it's in the midst of a crisis, if you're feeling distant from a partner or your parents, or if you simply want to know yourself better. Providing therapy is a sacred calling for me, and I am honored to empower either individuals, couples, families, or groups to reach goals or explore the unknown. I use a systemic approach to help clients in the context of environments and identities. Together, we can grow and become the authors of our own stories. By accepting who we are and our imperfections, we increase our ability to love ourselves and connect more deeply with others.

Life's challenges can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to face them alone. With an open heart and attentive ear, I strive to create a safe space where your thoughts and feelings are truly heard. Every tool at my disposal is available to you and no issue will be “too big” or “too small.” During your journey, I will strive to help you develop effective strategies that enable you to overcome obstacles and lead a more fulfilling life.

Welcome, I truly believe that therapy is a brave and courageous choice. I strive to create a warm, empathetic, and safe environment for each client that chooses to work with me. I have a special expertise working with both adolescents and adults with mood disorders. Our relationship will be used as an element of change. Often, I will utilize aspects of our relationship to highlight barriers to change and provide a warm and directive approach to push you towards growth. My approach within our therapeutic relationship tends to be more collaborative and I commonly use interventions including mindfulness, CBT, DBT and attachment theory.

For me, there is no ideal client. To some extent, everyone is on a spectrum of depression and anxiety, and I seek to work with clients who need assistance becoming oriented toward improvement. I have personal and professional experience and understand how difficult it is to find someone patient enough to grow alongside a client through the therapeutic process. I want to work alongside you to help you live a happy, meaningful life with these conditions.

My name is Dr. Jay Rhodes, and I am a board-certified, Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist in Maryland, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in other states as well. I have worked with clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures in various settings such as military bases, combat zones, hospitals, schools, embassies, consulates, to nonprofit homeless ministries. I have helped individuals, couples, families, children, adolescents, and groups deal with a wide range of issues such as anxiety, depression, traumatic stress, and relationships. I have helped others worldwide, I can help you.

Authenticity, genuineness, and deep empathy form the foundation for the way I find connection with my clients. I come from a client-centered approach where unconditional positive regard drives the work we will do. I’ve always believed that people are as different on the inside as they look on the outside and it is my job to connect with that special uniqueness to best support your growth. I approach therapy with compassion, warmth, a sense of humor, and without judgement. My goal is to provide a safe and comforting space for you to process any struggles, big and small, while learning to increase happiness and decrease pain.

For me, there is no ideal client. To some extent, everyone is on a spectrum of depression and anxiety, and I seek to work with clients who need assistance becoming oriented toward improvement. I have personal and professional experience and understand how difficult it is to find someone patient enough to grow alongside a client through the therapeutic process. I want to work alongside you to help you live a happy, meaningful life with these conditions.

I help people in the midst or aftermath of life’s upheavals, when the ways they coped with stress are no longer sufficient. People I help are seeking support with: difficult feelings and situations such as relationship strain, divorce, retirement, empty nest, illness, death and loss. Learning or practicing new skills or strategies to get through a challenging time. Conflict and self-criticism. Anxiety, depression and trauma. Inner conflict related to sexual orientation or gender identity, or that of a loved one. A roller coaster of emotions, such as anger, rage, and blame. Developing healthier ways of coping.

Are you feeling stuck in old patterns and confusion? I can help you break old cycles that no longer serve you and develop more productive and healthier ways of being - whether that's individually or as a family. I provide therapy for improving relationships, healing from trauma, and exploring identity. I draw from my background working in research on child development and family resilience, evidence-based practices, my clinical expertise, and own lived experiences.

Our mission at Maryland Therapy Collective is to provide trauma-informed, evidence-based, inclusive, and client-centered treatment to help our clients live healthier and more fulfilling lives. We incorporate this approach by tailoring treatment to each client’s individual needs. We believe that our clients have the power to make the changes they want in their lives, and we are here to help guide and support them through that process.

I believe that it is essential for clients to find the right fit for their therapist. I want the client to know that my office is a safe space and I will do everything I can to help them navigate through the tough times in their life. Coming from a Greek background influences my desire to maintain cultural competence and tailor therapy to best support one’s beliefs and values. I will work as my client's advocate, ensuring that they feel valued and heard. I strive to create a relationship built on trust, communication, growth, and respect.

Because no two patients are alike, therapy should be tailored to each patient, rather than trying to treat everyone with the same theoretical approach. I believe that a therapist’s job is to guide the patient as they learn to change the behaviors and thinking styles that may have once been helpful, but are now getting in their way. Most importantly, I believe it is a therapist's job to teach their patients the skills necessary to eventually function independent of their therapist, allowing them to eventually leave therapy instead of being stuck with having weekly sessions for the rest of their lives!

We sometimes feel overwhelmed, lost and alone. We can struggle with depression, anxiety, addiction, relationship issues, sexual assault, imposter syndrome, trauma and grief or loss. At times we use negative/hurtful coping strategies and develop unhealthy behavior patterns. Fortunately, sometimes we realize we are stuck and need help. My office is a shame-free zone. I provide a warm, engaged, compassionate and safe space for you to address your concerns comfortably and openly. I practice culturally informed psychotherapy using a holistic approach and am committed to normalizing the need for and benefits of therapy.

Making lasting changes can be hard! Are you continuing to repeat the same cycles over and over again wondering "how did I get here?" Let's figure it out! When you share your experiences in a space filled with acceptance, genuineness, and warmth, it is easier to find your voice and discover your patterns. As your therapist, I work with you to help you find your path to creating lasting positive changes through healthy decision-making and self-awareness. I believe when you are introduced to effective skills and techniques you will become empowered to be the best version of yourself.

I find that many people have dealt with so much trauma and disappointment in life that they begin to feel powerless. The way out isn’t necessarily to fix all the problems in your life, but to learn how to respond differently to them, as your capable self. You might wonder what your life purpose really is, or feel as if you’re stuck in the same cycle. Many of my clients have described feeling overwhelmed by the never-ending pressures of life. Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to see a new path. I help people get out of unhelpful patterns, so they can pursue their true purpose, no matter what’s happening around them.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I strive to use a positive psychology to bring insights and empowerment to my clients. Over the past 20 years, I have used Cognitive Behavioral techniques, a Person Centered approach and a warm style of coaching, to support individuals who struggle with mental and emotional difficulties. As a seasoned therapist and trained in EMDR for Trauma, I work with those who have Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Stress & Anger Management issues and a host of other life struggles. The focus in therapy is to move towards a more stable, healthy and progressive way of living.

CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. Dawn is a Licensed Professional Counselor & Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with over 30 years of helping experience. Dawn is a compassionate, caring, & empathic therapist with extensive experience working within inpatient & outpatient mental health settings. She utilizes an integrative & strength-based approach to therapy, incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, & Solution-Focused Therapy. Dawn specializes in many areas including, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, PTSD, women’s issues, & stage of life concerns.