Therapists in Potomac, MD

I provide support and guidance to children, adolescents, and families in order to help them learn healthier ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. We live in a complex and stressful world and are not always equipped with practical strategies to handle the challenges of everyday life or its more unusual challenges. My goal is to help individuals and families develop more satisfying lives. I treat clients with a broad range of psychological concerns. I use a practical and comprehensive approach, addressing each individual's issues within the context of the family, school, and community.

I provide psychotherapy/counseling to children/teens experiencing anxiety (separation, social, excessive worry, panic, and phobias), depression and/or ADHD. In addition, I specialize in anxiety, stress & depression that is specifically tied to (1) health concerns (e.g., type 1 diabetes, picky eating/ARFID, food allergy, chronic pain, GI, sleep, etc) and/or (2) identity concerns (race/ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, religion). Lastly, I have a specialization in preschool mental health through providing Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for anxiety and temper tantrums/moodiness in young children.

As a therapist, I work with children, adults, couples, and families as they navigate various life transitions. This can include reorganization within the family system, through either a new marriage, a separation or divorce, birth of a new family member, the exploration of alternative family building options, or various other life events. Our lives are constantly in flux, and we all sometimes need support to navigate these decision points and learn to better manage the anxiety they create.

TELETHERAPY AVAILABLE. As both a Clinical Social Worker and Registered Nurse, I have a broad perspective on mental health issues and treatment options. I have over 25 years of experience helping adolescents, adults, couples, and families.

I'm a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, certified PCIT therapist, and certified within agency trainer for PCIT, with experience in both short and longer-term therapeutic models of psychotherapy. This includes working to treat anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, trauma, relational difficulties, parent-child attachment challenges, challenges with self-esteem, and supporting individual identity exploration. I believe therapy is a collaborative process to work on each individuals unique needs and goals. I am here to provide guidance and a space to explore your strengths and navigate your therapeutic needs.

Hi there, I'm Laurie! Do you wish providers would look at you through a whole person lens instead of discussing health and mental health separately? Do you want a provider for your child who is playful and skilled at engaging children? Are you an adult who likes a more personal, connected approach to therapy? Do you have a teen who has had difficulty connecting to other providers? Well look no further! I enjoy using storytelling, videos, and conversation to help clients of all ages improve self-esteem, self-worth and gain a better understanding of sense of self.

Welcome. Congratulations on taking this step to make change in your life. It takes a tremendous amount of bravery and belief that things can change just to land here. As a patient, your goals and treatment will be based on what you know best about yourself and what you want in your life. My role is to offer supportive guidance to get you to that place, without judgement or force. We will also develop an understanding of how your learned behaviors and emotional reactions to issues that may be causing discomfort for you are at the crux of your automatic thoughts and behaviors.

We all have anxieties. We have defenses against hurt that we build up over time, that become solidified into unproductive patterns of behavior and prevent us from living our best lives. We all, from time to time, lose connection with ourselves and those around us, as we try and do the million things that daily life demands of us. It’s okay. You’re not alone.

If you're here, you're dealing with something. It takes a lot of courage to seek support, and you're taking the first step! Maybe you are adjusting to a life transition, managing anxiousness, or dealing with trauma or loss. You want to see something change, to heal, or to find purpose or meaning...My hope is to help you with that.

TELETHERAPY AND IN-OFFICE APPOINTMENTS with experienced psychotherapists who are licensed at the highest level of their profession. We accept mayor insurance plans and work with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, Our clinicians reflect the full diversity of our community. We provide a safe and nonjudgmental environment that enables our clients to work towards solutions, develop coping skills and have a better understanding of the issues that interfere with self-esteem and a sense of well being.

Does life have a way of throwing curveballs at you? I believe that we all need a little help sometimes. I assist my clients explore feelings that accompany setback, failure, rejection, and disappointment. Feelings are critical to identify and manage as they motivate behavior. Thoughts and beliefs are also critical to examine with the support of a seasoned professional that offers unconditional positive regard. I specialize in connections with significant others, children, family friends, colleagues, employees, and supervisors. Most importantly, I work to bolster connections with self to support authentic connections with others.

Is your life a source of difficulty, are you wondering if you can manage alone? Are you struggling to make sense of your relationships in the face of ever changing responsibilities? These are some of the reasons people come to me to seek help and support. I offer therapy that addresses thoughts and feelings, coping strategies, mindfulness, and past patterns. I adjust my approach to each person individually to provide the best support possible. My goal is to create the opportunity for healing and growth for you. I work with men and women, individually and in couples therapy.

When it comes to putting my work into practice, I seek to focus on respecting individual autonomy and developing agency by providing an environment free of shame and stigma that promotes connection. I like to pay special attention to people who experience anxiety, depression, insomnia, low self-esteem, and stressors in personal and professional relationships in order to promote well-being.

Feeling lost, stuck, hopeless, and stressed out? Are you finding yourself feeling overwhelmed with fear and self-judgement? Are you having relationship issues? My main goal in therapy is to help you to heal as quickly as possible so you can resume your healthy & fulfilling life. I am warm, compassionate, caring, genuine, and understanding... yet direct and helpful. I will guide you through the process of healing, working closely with you during every step of your treatment. As long as you are willing to change, we can work together to achieve the best possible results.

We provide teletherapy sessions through your smart device throughout MD, WV, and OH. (Donte & Charity can see OH clients only)A busy mother, a millennial, or an entrepreneur juggling life and work will find tele-therapy sessions perfect for their schedule! Visit my website for more information. With over 10 yrs experience, I recognize how navigating life is complicated. Still, working together, we can help you overcome obstacles to find security, peace, and a feeling that you are understood. My goal is to help you identify your unique issues and find resolve and relief through inner work. You can do this!

Reaching out for support can be extremely difficult...trust me, I have been there myself! It really is the first step towards unlocking all of life's possibilities and potential to heal and grow. Therapy is a gift and allowing me the ability to experience this transformative journey with you is a gift to me. My goal is to provide a collaborative, safe, and comfortable space where you feel seen, supported, and connected. I believe therapy is nourishment for social, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. I use my dietetic background for a holistic approach. Together, we will find a path that works best for you!

In my work I pull from a wide array of modalities including Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Strategic Family Therapy, Solution Focused, and Intergenerational Family therapy. I have worked with children as young as four years old, teens, young adults, couples, and all kinds of families.  My experience includes providing therapy in a multitude of settings including Intensive In-Home, outpatient clinics, and private practice. In my over five years of clinical practice, I have worked with families where addiction is present.

Opening up around the vulnerable and intimate details of our lives can be very uncomfortable. There is so much pressure to be “happy”, “better”, or “perfect”, while receiving messaging that being anything else is unacceptable. We are very adaptive yet often struggle to effectively get our needs met, so may engage in avoidance behaviors and withhold or internalize our feelings to try to prevent things from getting worse. You want to feel more like your true self and get more satisfaction out of your relationships. You need an unconditionally supportive, non-judgmental, creative, and humorous therapist who accepts you however you are.

Whether this is your first time in therapy or you are looking for a new clinician or different approach, I welcome you to explore my practice. As a Clinical Social Worker, I believe people’s lives are influenced by a multitude of factors, including their environment, childhood, culture, identities, values, and more. I am passionate about helping people live authentic, intentional, and fulfilling lives. My approach to treatment is collaborative. I strive to provide a space for my patients that is warm, open, genuine, and playful when appropriate. My specialities include gender, sexuality, intimacy, anxiety, and sense of self.