Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Naval Academy, MD

If you are feeling stuck in a cycle of unhealthy thought patterns, plagued by the stress of strained relationships, or feeling overwhelmed by a change in your life, I would love to help you begin to increase your ability to cope and adapt to all that life has thrown at you. I genuinely enjoy building a trusting and friendly relationship with my clients. Our work together may look like taking time to process feelings, confronting difficult issues, and learning new, productive ways of handling life's many curveballs. The power of taking time for yourself and feeling heard by another person is often underestimated.

I establish a therapeutic relationship where clients learn to communicate and advocate for themselves in relationships with others. I teach clients skills to increase self-awareness and expand ways of responding to chronic stressors. These skills fall under the following themes: emotional regulation, distress management, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. In my work with clients, I reinforce choices that are connected to clients' value systems in order to stay motivated and working toward their personal goals.

Life is full of feelings whether we like it or not. If you are struggling to identify your emotions and what they mean, you are not alone. Trauma, transitions, and a history of a lack of emotional guidance can make it feel as though you are grasping at straws. If you have children of your own you want to teach, this can be even more overwhelming. No matter the reason for this sense of overwhelm, you do not have to go through this journey of self compassion alone. I am a firm believer that we all have a “toolbox” of coping skills. Some may be empty, some filled with rusty tools, and others are just out of reach.

If you’ve made it to this website you probably already have a sense that something in your life is keeping you stuck or just isn’t working for you. Perhaps you’ve tried therapy before, or maybe this is your first time reaching out for help. Either way, you’ve come to the right place! I have 8 years of training and experience working with clients to address a broad range of psychological symptoms, with expertise in treating ADHD, anxiety, and addiction. I take an integrative approach to treatment, using strategies grounded in science and tailored to your individual strengths and interests.

Are you a parent, caregiver, or guardian, looking for a therapist for your teen? Maybe even a therapist for yourself? Whether death of a loved one, relationship issues, severe anxiety, the loss of a job, or life transitions; navigating these stressors can be difficult. You remember being a teenager and experiencing the same social expectations; maybe this is something you're still untangling. If you're struggling to heal, now might be the time to work with a therapist who can support your emotional wellbeing.

Let's face it: Sometimes life is unbearable. Unfortunately, painful feelings like depression, anxiety, guilt, shame, helplessness, hopelessness, and inadequacy can be a difficult part of the human experience. You’ve taken a bold first step by searching for a therapist. I'm here to tell you that we don’t have to surrender to our suffering. Sometimes we just need a little help. I am a psychotherapist with a proven history of helping my patients overcome even the most daunting problems.

Many individuals think of therapy as a one-sided session where there is no chance for engagement or getting to know one another as actual persons. This is why I value a client-centered approach that emphasizes a holistic viewpoint and is personalized to your unique needs and objectives. I believe therapy is a collaborative effort to promote growth, transformation, and healing. Together, we may work through your anxiety, stress, fears, loss, and other overwhelming feelings.

I work with individuals to develop tools to manage times of transition. Usually, it is from these uncomfortable times in life that tremendous growth occurs. Together we will discover strategies to manage and move beyond your discomfort with increased self-awareness. The bottom line is that this is your journey, and I am humbled to walk with you during this time of self-discovery. Ideal clients for me include adults in life transitions, relationships challenges, trauma, anxiety, and depression.

Niche: LGBTQIA, adolescents/young adults, teachers, athletes and children. I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where clients can feel safe to share their story and know they are being seen and heard. Using a holistic, client-centered approach I help folks find self-love, acceptance, and healthy ways to move through life transitions. I use a variety of clinical skills with children. I encourage parents of young children to attend sessions as I model behavioral techniques they can implement at home.

Welcome to counseling! I’m glad you're here. My goal is to meet you where you are and serve as an ally in your therapy journey. A typical session with me is collaborative, psychoeducational, and constructive, with a healthy dose of humor. I help clients develop insight into old patterns that may have helped them in the past but are no longer serving them in the present. I support clients as they accept what is, identify alternative pathways, and commit to change. Informed by the trauma response, I teach my clients skills to regulate their nervous system and catalyze their brain’s natural neuroplasticity.

Are you trying to navigate systems of oppression with grace for yourself? Are you looking to be kept company in the hard parts of being a person? Are you motivated to remain curious and step out of your comfort zone? Are you looking for support in finding a sweet spot between codependency and individualism in your relationships? If so, I look forward to connecting and beginning our journey together.

Have you ever thought…“There has to be more to life than this? What am I here for? No one understands me!” Do you sometimes feel as though you are not noticed or appreciated for what you bring to the table? Does anxiety, fear, worry, thoughts of traumatic events or depression seem to hang around longer these days? Ever think…“I can’t handle this! I don’t know what I’m going to do! Does anyone even care about what I’m going through?” I care and I am here to help you!

If you abandon the present moment, you cannot live the moments of your daily life deeply -Thich Nhat Hahn. It can be important to understand ourselves to be able to navigate this world. We often struggle with our own experiences and internal worlds. I can offer you space and understanding to work through those difficult questions and experiences you are having with a non-judgmental voice. I understand that our lives don't fit that traditional model and they don't have to which includes helping people through sex therapy. I have experience helping people work through their issues to find their authentic self and voice.

Have you faced experiences that have made it painful for you to trust and accept the care you deserve? Have trauma, fear, and doubt prevented you from being the person you know you can truly be? The pain of feeling deeply misunderstood can be haunting. You are finally ready to feel some relief, because deep down you know that you have so much more to offer the world. I want you to know that you are allowed to feel important and valuable– to have your authentic self welcomed and cherished. It's time to take a chance on yourself, test the waters, and become the person you want to be.