Family Therapy in Baltimore County, MD

Do you feel sad, hopeless, confused, overwhelmed, or angry? Have you tried to work through issues on your own but feel like you are not making progress? Have others expressed their concern for you and your well-being? Do you have difficulty concentrating, excessive worry, or have used ineffective coping strategies in the past? I believe I can help you.

In 2006, Dr. Akintunde Morakinyo was inspired to achieve a lifelong dream to develop a private practice with a focus on children and adolescents. GIFTS has evolved into a robust mental health clinic that serves the needs of children, adults and families. We pursue the values of compassion, respect and excellence in our services. We empower our clients to unwrap and maximize their potential.

All of us want to have as much pleasure in life as possible, but due to a number of reasons this often isn' t happening. You may have experienced an abusive or neglectful childhood which has left numerous emotional scars. One often feels not quite right when things seem to be going fine. I am a clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience. My goal is to help you gain insight into the triggers that create problems in your life such as negative thoughts and obsessive worrying. Together lets figure this out!

No matter what his/her mental health issues are, my ideal client is one who is ready and determined to change for the better as he/she uses his/her potentials to attain his/her personal and professional goals in his/her family and community.

I am using both Teletherapy and in-person sessions to help those who are feeling exhausted from the demands of their current life circumstances, concerned over their capacity to move through these circumstances with what they now believe about themselves, conflicted over their personal or professional relationship(s), troubled by family members who are struggling, suffering from a psychological or physical dependence on an addictive substance or behavior, living with chronic or situational depression, anger, anxiety, Adult ADHD, PTSD, and those whose personality traits make life more complicated than it needs to be.

Welcome. It can be difficult to take the first steps and reach out for help. As an empathetic, experienced and understanding therapist, I provide a safe and judgement free space for clients to open up. I am a licensed clinical social worker and the Clinical Director of Ellie Mental Health. I work with preteens, teens and adults providing individual, couples and family therapy.

Individuals of all ages can benefit from therapy; my goal as a therapist is to create a supportive environment in which my client, regardless of age, feels comfortable and able to grow emotionally. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C). I began my career as a school based clinician, transitioning to private practice in 2014. I love what I do as a therapist, and am fortunate to be able to blend my 30 years of experience and knowledge to support my clients.

From the first time we meet and throughout our journey, I will invest my full attention into listening to your unique story. This is so important because you are the expert on you. We all have the power to heal ourselves from within. Sometimes all that's needed is a little redirection and a different perspective. Other times it is necessary to learn new coping skills and approaches to difficult situations.

Trauma can leave you feeling defeated and disconnected from yourself and others. You want to keep everything from falling apart but it's getting harder and harder. Family and friends tell you to "be strong", but you're not sure if that's possible. Emotions are more intense than they've ever been and you're feeling overwhelmed, unsafe, scared, anxious and frustrated. You desperately want to share your feelings but fear no one will understand; you're feeling isolated and alone. Does this sound familiar?

Welcome! My doors are open to individuals, couples, & families in various stages of life. I work with a wide range of issues, but specialize in Anxiety/OCD & Relationship Struggles. I particularly love working with couples navigating life adjustments (infidelity, fizzled spark, empty nest, etc) and adult individuals grappling to overcome life-hurdles (divorce, parenting, employment distress). Though I love working with children, my schedule often interferes with school hours, and I will likely refer you to another therapist who offers evenings or weekends. Maybe another clinician on our team will be a better match!

I am a licensed clinician with over 20 years experience in the field of behavioral health. I provide thorough assessments of children starting at the age of 12, adolescents and young adults who are struggling. By offering prompt evaluation, assessment and therapeutic services, The Behavior Savior LLC provides crucial support for pre-teens, adolescents and young adults who don’t know where to turn.

Does everyone depend on you to make decisions and solve their problems? Even when you are going through a rough time do your friends and family still ask you to do things for them because they are so used to you always being available? Is it easier to make what you want secondary? Does keeping the peace come at the expense of you not having a happy and fulfilling life? Do you lose your identity and not know who you are when you are in a relationship?

Are you trying to cope with a difficult situation or relationship, but the emotions sometimes feel overwhelming and you’re not sure what to do? Are you stressed about family issues, work, or your quality of life? Are you striving to do your best, but nothing is working? Are you being hard on yourself and believing that’s the only way to get motivated? Maybe there has been a transition or change in your life recently and it’s thrown you off course. Old feelings of unworthiness and doubt are bubbling up again. You feel confused and have lost direction. Life doesn’t feel as good as it once did and you know it could be better.

Congratulations on a first step towards getting help for yourself or your family. I specialize in Relationships, Complex Trauma, and ADHD across the lifespan. You may be experiencing slipping work/academic performance or relationship conflict related to anxiety, depressed mood and low motivation, cycles of stress and depletion, distractibility, or anger from unresolved trauma. My approach begins with listening. You have feelings to share, a story to tell, or persistent challenge you can’t seem to overcome. I’m here to provide a safe, validating place to process your experience, and some unique ways of exploring your emotional world.

As a Director of MindWell Consulting, LLC, I provide therapy and coaching to individuals, couples, and families. The goal of my work is to meet clients where they’re at and help them develop wellness strategies based on self-awareness, resilience, communication, mindfulness, and acceptance of themselves and the world around them. Our work together will provide you with a tool kit that best prepares you for the challenges of today’s world. Together, we will identify strengths and areas where those strengths can best be applied to help improve your overall well-being.

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.

Led by one of the top Stress and Anxiety experts in the area Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan, Chesapeake Mental Health Collaborative (CMHC) has a team of highly rated psychotherapists with the complementary skill set and approaches. Whether you are experiencing work burnout or have a severe anxiety disorder, CMHC has the right therapist for you. In addition to the clinically sound traditional approach, CMHC also offers innovative technics like Nature Informed Therapy, guided mindfulness meditation, yoga for anxiety, art therapy, online telehealth counseling.

For over 35 years I've been privileged doing what I love: being a therapist to couples & individuals with the courage & determination to make formidable personal changes. I use sensible theories & effective skills to be the right therapist for YOU also - the one you experience as attuned, respectful & responsive to your needs & knowledgeable in how to attend to them. Together we'll work towards YOUR personal goals. Progressing ahead, you'll find relief from initially difficult emotions & life situations, you'll experience transformative resilience in new ways of dealing with yourself & others; & new ways of operating in the world.

If you or someone you care about is struggling to get past fears or worries, or you are lacking motivation and zest for life, please give me a call. I use proven methods and unique engagement approaches to support you to make meaningful changes. Family dynamics and brain science have been a strong focus of my learning and work for the past 30 years and has shed light on the simple truth that most of us can learn and grow throughout our lives. This is true even if you are significantly challenged by depression, anxiety or trauma or are seemingly stuck in general. I work with individuals as well as families in conflict.