Family Therapy in Bethesda, MD

I work with individuals, families, adults, teens, and children to navigate issues surrounding anxiety, school, work, depression, self-esteem, trauma, family conflict, divorce, parenting, and co-parenting. My multidimensional approach combines aspects of several interventions, modalities, and frameworks including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness work. I identify as Latina (Puerto Rican), as well as Jewish.

Selecting the right therapist is an important, personal decision. You deserve to work with someone who is compassionate and highly skilled in helping to bring about desired changes in your life. In nearly thirty years of clinical experience, I have helped people attain more satisfying personal and family relationships, cope with symptoms of anxiety or depression, and learn to better manage the stress of daily life.

I specialize working with children, adolescents, young adults and adults with concerns related to trauma, complex trauma and generational trauma, parent-child relational problems, family conflict, grief, ADHD, depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder, parent coaching and self-esteem. I have experience working with clients from a diverse array of identities and backgrounds. My approach is nonjudgmental, fun, collaborative, empathetic, and honest. I view the therapeutic relationship as a central component, building a trusting and safe connection with my clients that is adaptable, flexible, and collaborative.

Breathe . . . . Life is so stressful. So many meetings, demands, interruptions, and lack of motivation make you irritable, edgy and exhausted. Your patience is long gone. You worry about your health and everyone's mental health. Spinning thoughts about finances, family, loss of connection, and even the price of gas, immobilize you. Mask or no mask? So many changes and new challenges every day. Do you want to feel confident, in control, and secure again. You don’t have to feel alone, lost, stressed, or overwhelmed. We can meet by Video as soon as next week. I have openings right now!

Hello and welcome. I'm Alison, a compassionate and dedicated therapist specializing in guiding teenagers and young adults through their journey of healing and growth. With a deep understanding of the challenges that anxiety, depression, and trauma can bring into one's life, I am committed to providing a supportive and nurturing environment where you can find your way back to a place of strength and well-being

Certified trauma-informed therapist with training in EMDR, IFS, DBT, and CPT. I specialize in work with adult/adolescent clients with a history of trauma, whether single incident or complex and/or autism. These clients may present with PTSD, cPTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, personality disorders, and more. My goal is to assist my clients with not only recovering after trauma, but enabling growth toward the person they want to be. I see survival as a strength, and the adaptations that allowed for that survival should be recognized as such to increase self-compassion and facilitate the next step.

I work with young children, adolescents, and families who are struggling with behavioral challenges, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, executive functioning, trauma, ADHD, social skills, and family transitions. I believe that forming a strong judgement-free partnership is the basis for positive change and that therapy, although challenging at times, should be engaging and fun. I also recognize that treatment is not a “cookie-cutter” solution and prioritize working together to determine what is best for each individual client.

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.

I believe in the innate goodness of people. Problems arise when we lack the ability to communicate what's really going on within or can't get past defenses to understand another person's feelings or experiences. Most people haven't been taught the skills to be safe listeners and so we grow up believing that others don't have capacity to understand us. I love bringing people closer by teaching them to cross the bridge into the world of others without losing themselves. I teach emotional safety by demonstrating emotional safety and believe breakdowns create opportunities for new breakthroughs.

As a therapist, my emphasis is on balance, growth, and change. I seek to guide clients towards better balance in various aspects of life (e.g., thoughts–feelings–actions, physical–mental, acceptance–change, and relationships with self–family) and, in turn, facilitate meaningful growth and change in their lives and relationships. Also, having lived in numerous cultural contexts, I bring a broad understanding of intercultural issues that arise within individuals, families, and couples.

Individuals seek treatment because they are in pain. Facing one's own weaknesses is difficult and opening up even more so-particularly for people whose cultural background and/or family upbringing discourges transparency /self-disclosure. My priority is to create a safe environment where my clients may confront, accept and change aspects of their lives they consider shameful and/or self-destructive. I have been invited as a guest speaker by a number of organizations and regularly offer seminars and work shops on such themes as self-esteem,communication skills, stress management and the challenges of being married/single and dating

As a counseling professional, I work with individuals and couples who are experiencing difficulties in their personal relationships. Most clients describe trouble communicating with their partner, effectively parenting their children, managing conflicts with extended family members and navigating the turbulence of separation and divorce. It is my goal to help clients identify what is causing distress in their relationships and learn new ways of managing their difficulties. Together we will come up with realistic strategies to empower you to handle all of your relationships and overcome obstacles that are interfering with your family life.

The therapeutic relationship is the foundation of the growth and healing process. My primary goal is to cultivate trust, comfort and connection with my clients. This relationship is essential to whatever challenge has caused you to seek help. I have a true passion for helping others and have spent my career learning from world class clinicians and mental health professionals of various disciplines. I offer a range of different therapies that effectively treat anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma, substance use issues and other compulsive behaviors.

MINDFULNESS-BASED SOMATIC PSYCHOTHERAPY & INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS: "What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." [Ralph Waldo Emerson]. All that you seek already lies within you. It is my great pleasure to assist you in opening up to your wholeness. Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship issues, chronic illness, pain, feeling stuck, existential/spiritual issues or simply seeking what you have been missing or what calls you, I am here to help you find the freedom, peace, love and joy you desire. I DO NOT PRESCRIBE NOR MANAGE MEDICATIONS.

Tired of the status quo? Stuck in a rut in your relationships, wellness, business, intimacy, or spirituality? I help align all parts of your life with your true authentic self. Together, we’ll secure genuine change through acceptance first. I'm Dr. Tom, and I'm licensed for independent practice as a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist in California (LMFT 111604), the District of Columbia (LMFT200001211), and Maryland (LCMFT, LCM754), and am a professional coach across the U.S. I have provided therapy to individuals and families since 2007. I'm also happily married for over 15 years, and we have 2 young boys.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist helping adults navigate major life changes and challenging family or interpersonal relationships. I also specialize in issues related to perinatal mental health, including fertility, pregnancy, and adjusting to parenthood. Often people’s plans for getting pregnant or ideas about how being a parent will feel do not match their lived experience. The differences between these expectations and reality can be painful. My goal in therapy is to help new moms and their partners cope with these challenges and feel better about their transition to parenthood.

Touched by Adoption? The Barker Foundation recognizes that adoption is a lifelong journey, with normal developmental challenges and tasks. We will walk with you through and support you through your journey. Whether you are an adoptive parent with a child that is struggling emotionally or academically; a birth parent who is seeking understanding, reflection, or search and reunion; or an adoptee looking for support- we are here for you.

I specialize in helping families, couples, and individuals address issues around communication, identity, grief, anger, anxiety, and depression. I particularly enjoy working with teens and their families. My style is warm and genuine, inviting you to explore new ways of being. I am honest about what I see and will share my insights into how problems are maintained within the dynamics of your family, couple, or environment. I strive to understand your world so I can assist you in uncovering new solutions that actually work!

Opening up can be challenging for some individuals, so I make it a priority to create a safe, warm, and respectful environment. I am a compassionate and creative therapist who strives to ensure that you will feel heard and understood as you confront life's challenges. Therapy is an opportunity to find personal fulfillment, increased self-understanding, and the ability to self-reflect. I will help you in this journey and along the way we will identify unhealthy patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, as well as strengthen meaningful relationships.