Silver Spring Therapists specializing in Relationship / Marriage Issues

Junko Araki

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in DC, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland, and Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist. My goal is to help you acknowledge and trust your own strengths to overcome any struggles. I see the therapeutic process as a collaboration between client and therapist. The therapeutic space is like an experimental lab where we can try and try until we find what we seek. The process may not be as fast and smooth as we wish, yet we can learn and grow from each step we take. We work together toward the goals. With my belief that our physiology and psychology are inseparable, I utilize mindfulness-based, body-oriented interventions, and creative experiential activities as therapeutic tools, along with verbal interventions, to support you in making choices for the integration, understanding, and change you seek.

ANASTAZYIA VARESCHI

I create a safe, supportive space for people to be heard and use a humanistic, sometimes humorous, approach to therapy. I support people in gathering their own sources of strength and resilience to live more connected and fulfilled lives. I have worked with people in a variety of circumstances and enjoy counseling young adults and adults experiencing depression, anxiety, career and relationship stress, or life changes. I am a person-centered, trauma-informed therapist. My eclectic, evidence-based counseling approach draws from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and narrative therapy. Understanding that the body stores stress and trauma, my work with people also incorporates somatic (body-based), mindfulness, and yogic principles. I work with clients online to provide the greatest access and flexibility.

Laurel Fay

Samuel Wilson

I have worked as a therapist and counselor for over 14 years in diverse roles ranging from career coach to crisis treatment in homeless and domestic violence shelters to clinical mental health settings where I worked closely with psychiatrists. Over the last five years I have operated a private practice because it allows a wonderful degree of autonomy, collaboration, and discretion between client and therapist. My approach to therapy is always client-centered and solution-focused. I employ narrative, cognitive, behavioral, and strengths-based approaches to helping you identify paths to achieving emotional wellness and satisfying relationships. I strive to create a space that is collaborative and non-judgmental for every client. I favor self-reflective interventions because I believe that most of the positive change that occurs through counseling comes from self-learning. However I am happy to provide plenty of feedback and guidance upon request.

Robin Brannan

You may think a Marriage and Family Therapist only does Couples Therapy. Surprise! That's not true. Therapists with licenses in Marriage and Family Therapy are trained to examine every issue with relationship health in mind. This means that whether we're treating your child's ADHD, your anxiety, or your partner's autism, there's a high priority on ensuring that your relationships get better as a result of our work. I obtained my masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Maryland College Park in 2001 and my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology Summa Cum Laude from Wake Forest University. I provided therapy in public school settings (elementary and middle schools) for 14 years prior to launching my private practice in 2015, so my primary focus is on treating school aged children and their families. However, I do provide couples therapy for couples whose relationship has been impacted by family stress.

Carol Barnaby, MSW, LCSW-C

I have worked in a variety of mental health centers from emergency rooms, psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse facilities, clinics, and private practice. I bring solid experience and research-based strategies to my work. I believe in working with each person in a way that is individualized for them and honors the way they feel and think. I strive to make everyone feel comfortable, safe and supported in our sessions. I am a cognitive behavioral therapist, but implement many other techniques during sessions.

Heather Haledjian

While I've been in the field of social work for over 20 years, my recent years of in depth experience and training has been in the area of eating disorders. As a woman who's grown up in a society that over-emphasizes food and body control and as a parent of teens myself, I am able to connect with both girls and women who struggle with these issues as well as their parents who are often desperately seeking help for their child who has developed an eating disorder. I work from a Health At Every Size perspective and utilize emotion focused interventions. For tweens and teens, I typically utilize Family Based Treatment (FBT) and for older teens and adults I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, however the approach may vary based on individual circumstances. Additionally, I believe in collaboration with other professionals working with my clients for best outcomes.

Caroline Gomes

Imagine feeling calmer. Gaining clarity and confidence in yourself and life. My approach is holistic, integrating Body, Mind, Heart, and Spirit. I guide you in a comfortable space centered around mindfulness, breathwork, somatics, and parts work, for trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, academic & career issues, and existential crisis. I received my B.S in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Maryland, College Park, 2014 and my M.S.W in Clinical Behavioral Health from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, 2017. I have been a practicing Integrative Psychotherapist for the past 8 years (five years at community agencies, and the last three years in private practice). I love to see my clients transform their lives from one of worry and tension, to one of such joy and ease!

Katelyn Alcamo

All of the therapists at Family Therapy Center of Bethesda are Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. As such, we take a holistic approach to helping our clients. We also know that traditional talk therapy is not a good fit for everyone, especially children, so our therapists also offer play, art, and sand tray therapy. As therapists, we know that having a strong therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in helping you to create the lasting change and growth you are looking for. While all of the therapists at FTCB are passionate, experienced, and caring, they each bring their own individual strengths, styles, and techniques to the therapy room.

Michael Shifter

I am looking to walk with you into your life experiences to develop self-understanding, self-validation, and non-judgement through a path of psychoeducation and acceptance. As we move through the challenges that you have faced, we will identify strengths and values that make up who you are and lead up to a path of healing and purpose that may have seemed so far off before. I hold each of my clients in the reality that they are Good, regardless of circumstance or decisions that have been made. I deeply believe that there is a path of healing for each person I encounter and that we will come upon it if we are able to work on things long enough to uncover it. Though, in the end, it's your choice if you wish to walk that path.

Jaclyn Halpern

We are a unique practice providing comprehensive, collaborative mental health care through out team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists. Our patient population is diverse, and we are neurodiversity affirmative and inclusive and welcoming to all. We are dedicated to creating the most helpful treatment path for each and every person and family. We offer individual and group therapy, parenting, art therapy, psychiatry/psychopharmacology, comprehensive testing, and TMS, Neurofeedback, eTNS, and VR Therapy. We welcome patients of every age. We offer individual, group, and family therapy, as well as parenting support. We offer in-person comprehensive testing, and both virtual and in-person therapy. We are strengths based, and use self-compassion and positive parenting as baselines for our therapy. Our clinicians are trained in a range of modalities, including ACT, CBT, DBT, Trauma, Mindfulness, and Art Therapy. We seek to match each individual to their ideal clinician.

Naomi LeVine

I use a blend of a few different therapy modalities, including acceptance and commitment therapy, experiential therapy, and emotionally focused therapy, to tailor our work together to fit your needs. However, my goal is to always use your strengths and values as our foundation. My background in couple & family therapy means I both work with multiple people in the room and, in individual therapy, acknowledge and explore the ways in which we are influenced by the people in our lives and places from where we come. I am also a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator and love working with couples for premarital therapy. I value authenticity, empathy, and humor, and try to make sure all are present in our work together. I hope that you’ll leave our time together feeling resilient, accomplished, and more compassionate towards yourself and the people in your life.

Jennifer Kogan

Struggles, conflict, and differences in relationships and marriages are inevitable. I offer solution-focused couple counseling and strategies to boost communication skills, and increase feelings of trust, good will, and connection. I am trained in Gottman Method (Gottman.com) and have completed up to level 3 of this research based couples therapy approach.

Nina Anagnostopoulos

Using primarily a psychodynamic approach, I work with clients to reflect upon the influence of early life experiences on various aspects of their lives, particularly current life experiences. I also incorporate some elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Informed therapy, and other approaches as needed.

Sean Penny

Our past experiences lay the groundwork for how we relate to the world outside and within us. Through careful exploration of your experience, we will actively co-create a therapy space that supports emotional growth and understanding, healing from trauma, a greater sense of choice in your relationships, and a more cohesively developed sense of self. You’ll find a gentle, affirming, and nonjudgmental space where we can better understand what brought you here and how you might move forward. I work with adults in private practice and community-based mental health. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor, and hold an MA in Counseling from the University of the District of Columbia and a BA from St. John’s College. My advanced training includes Fellowship Programs at major psychotherapy institutes in Washington, DC; and the Clinical Program on Psychotherapy Practice at the Washington School of Psychiatry.

Sean Penny

Our past experiences lay the groundwork for how we relate to the world outside and within us. Through careful exploration of your experience, we will actively co-create a therapy space that supports emotional growth and understanding, healing from trauma, a greater sense of choice in your relationships, and a more cohesively developed sense of self. You’ll find a gentle, affirming, and nonjudgmental space where we can better understand what brought you here and how you might move forward. I work with adults in private practice and community-based mental health. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor, and hold an MA in Counseling from the University of the District of Columbia and a BA from St. John’s College. My advanced training includes Fellowship Programs at major psychotherapy institutes in Washington, DC; and the Clinical Program on Psychotherapy Practice at the Washington School of Psychiatry.

Norma Ortiz

As your therapist, I provide unconditional, nonjudgemental support as you embark on the journey to unstick your identity and sense of self from your mental health struggles. I find using a variety of approaches when working with clients is best. I enjoy using a holistic lens to address any physical symptoms that you might be experiencing and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy techniques to address your mental thought patterns which will aid us in seeing the connection between your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Additionally, I enjoy taking a strengths-based approach with clients by using empowerment and positive reinforcement to dismantle the shame you might have internalized from your past life experiences.

David Sternberg

I have nearly 20 years of experience in private practice. Prior to that I worked in community mental health centers and hospitals (inpatient and outpatient). I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that has been proven to be effective with clients with anxiety and depression. Many of our therapists also have a background in CBT. Others incorporate elements of EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), mindfulness and ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy).

Sara Kerai

I’ve completed training in grief and loss counseling, psychodynamic therapy, Imago Relationship Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the neurobiology of trauma, palliative care advocacy, spiritual care, mindfulness techniques, and holistic end-of-life care. Prior to starting my practice, I worked in teaching hospitals, a comprehensive cancer center, a large non-profit hospice and palliative care organization, and in community mental health. I fully understand the health care system and how bewildering and frustrating these environments can be. Clients tell me that it's tremendously helpful for them to have a safe, peaceful, nonjudgmental space, focused on YOU, where you don't have to take care of anyone else. I want you to tell the truth about your feelings, and I'll help you gain new insights or a new perspective, and help you create a plan for taking care of yourself.

Robin Brannan

You may think a Marriage and Family Therapist only does Couples Therapy. Surprise! That's not true. Therapists with licenses in Marriage and Family Therapy are trained to examine every issue with relationship health in mind. This means that whether we're treating your child's ADHD, your anxiety, or your partner's autism, there's a high priority on ensuring that your relationships get better as a result of our work. I obtained my masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Maryland College Park in 2001 and my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology Summa Cum Laude from Wake Forest University. I provided therapy in public school settings (elementary and middle schools) for 14 years prior to launching my private practice in 2015, so my primary focus is on treating school aged children and their families. However, I do provide couples therapy for couples whose relationship has been impacted by family stress.