My communication style may be described as lax, as I feel this allows for the client to be comfortable. I pride myself in being allied with LGBTQIA2 and identify as a Black woman.

It is always my goal to create a warm, safe, and judgment-free therapeutic space for my clients to feel comfortable sharing.

I support individuals who feel anxious, stuck in self-doubt, or caught in patterns that no longer serve them. I especially enjoy working with young adults, people new to therapy, and individuals in recovery. My style is warm, collaborative, and rooted in helping you explore your emotions, clarify your needs, and build self-trust. Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, especially if you're used to handling everything on your own. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just a willingness to start. Whether you're navigating relationships, overthinking everything, or feeling pulled in too many directions, I’ll meet you where you are. Together, we’ll explore what’s been holding you back and begin practicing new ways of relating to yourself and others—with boundaries, confidence, and clarity.

Welcome! I’m so glad you are reaching out! Finding a therapist who is able to listen and understand your particular needs is key. When I meet with you for the first time, I want to learn who you are as a person. In addition to diagnosis and issues of concern, I want to know your life story. Are there patterns that recur in your life? What are your strengths? What matters to you? Once I have a good understanding, we can decide jointly what approach is likely to help you most. When you come for counseling, you want to start to feel better right away. By incorporating evidence-based coping skills from the first session, I help folks get some immediate stress relief. At the same time, we will also address any underlying issues to achieve more long-term gains.

My passion is working with young people and their families concerned about the impact of substance use in their lives. I understand that many people have been harmed by one-size-fit-all treatment approaches, so self-empowerment is my focus and my approach is person- and family-centric. There are many paths to wellness. This means that you are in charge of your treatment goals. I understand that any change is difficult so I'll meet you where you're at in the change process to empower you to take the next steps. People use substances for reasons. I'll work with you to help you understand your relationship with substances and collaborate with you to develop tools and strategies to reduce any harms associated with your use. Goals may include safer use, reduced use or abstinence.

Do you have ruminations that are self-critical? Do you avoid going out or joining social activities? Or maybe you become overwhelmed by anger, fear, shame, dread? Life doesn't have to be that hard. I believe that our behavior patterns are old ways of surviving difficult situations. I bring years of personal and professional experiences and training to foster a safe and collaborative relationship to be curious about your responses, update your system, so to speak, and learn and practice new skills.

I help people change through developing a greater awareness for all of themselves, which allows them greater resources to deal with the struggles that they are experiencing. As clients develop greater awareness of themselves, including their wants, needs, emotions, and ways of relating to others, they tend to develop a wider range of choices in their lives. They learn to recognize what they do that keeps them from being their best selves. They also learn to tap into and use their own internal wisdom to help guide their choices, developing a greater authenticity in their lives. In relationships, couples and families develop greater intimacy and ability to use conflict to further their relationship through their greater awareness of themselves and their other family members. People I work with also learn with guidance and coaching to experiment with new ways of being with themselves and others in the world, which furthers their growth and development into more happy, fulfilled human beings. As an experienced psychotherapist and former graduate psychology professor, I have developed a wide range of expertise in helping others. I am honored and humbled by the courage and spirit of the people I work with and the struggles they face. I feel privileged to help people come to terms with pain, face challenges, and change their lives.

Being part of your personal journey is such a privilege. There is nothing more satisfying than watching clients reclaim their lives and truly transform. Therapy and peak performance psychology is about empowerment and accessing your inner potential. It’s about realizing your strengths and applying those inner resources to overcome what has been holding you back. It’s about challenging self-limiting beliefs and gaining insight into the obstacles that are getting in your way, learning how to remove them and applying that insight to make the changes necessary to achieve your goals. I work differently with every client offering a tailored approach to your unique needs and goals. I don’t do “one size fits all” or overly generalized approaches. My goal is not to merely band-aid a symptom or maintain the status quo because we can accomplish so much more than that. Our focus will be on resolving your concerns at the core so that you can truly THRIVE with a sense of freedom and power. I have a passion for the mind body connection, enhancing peak performance and psychophysiological approaches to treatment. I apply a whole person (360 degree) perspective that promotes healing for both the mind and body as well as increased performance and optimal functioning. I would describe my style as an insight-oriented approach that is warm, genuine, laid back and thought-provoking. I value authenticity, keeping it real, and a good sense of humor. My clients tell me I’m very personable, compassionate and accepting, which puts them immediately at ease. Sessions with me are casual, comfortable and feel conversational in nature. I work best with clients who are insightful, motivated to make a change, and want to work hard to achieve their goals.

I believe therapy should empower individuals to help them take control and enhance their lives into happy, healthy and successful ones. However, each person has individual struggles and challenges so what this looks like varies from person to person. Providing a collaborative, holistic approach to the treatment for me includes an examination of many different life factors that contribute to emotional well-being. I have a strong cognitive behavioral background. Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the idea that making changes in ones thoughts and behaviors can positively affect how you feel. This treatment modality has been shown to be very effective in treating trauma, anxiety, and depression among other emotional difficulties. Within this framework I may also include work in mindfulness, exposure, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, play therapy, and other possible techniques. If you would like to positively change your life I love to help.

When you feel stressed out, overwhelmed or anxious, it can stop you from being spontaneous, from trying new things, or enjoying life. Maybe you've been managing your stress for years but recently it's become too much. Therapy can help you manage your anxiety and gain a better sense of self. I'm licensed in Maryland and Delaware and I want you to live your life with more intention and feel greater fulfillment in everything you do. Telehealth only. Find my soul support for Highly Sensitive Women here- https:www.elizabethcushcoaching.com

I believe in creating a safe and supportive environment that allows each person the freedom to experience and work through problems, develop solutions, and get constructive feedback at the same time. As a clinical psychologist and counselor with over 30 years of experience, my work with individuals and couples allows personal and relational strengths to become resources and tools for positive life changes.

Stressed? Overwhelmed? Struggling with making life decisions? Congratulations! You've taken the first step towards seeking change. Listening to intuition and addressing what distresses you is a sign of strength. Respect, empathy, support, active listening, collaboration and confidentiality are a top priority and values that guide my practice. I welcome the opportunity to work with you to uncover your inner strengths and live your life reaching towards your fullest potential. Self-discovery and awareness occur in the context of a working therapeutic relationship; reasons why I feel the fit between therapist and patient is so important. I encourage you to follow your inner voice about what feels right when searching for a therapist. Each patient and couple is unique and therefore I use an individually tailored eclectic and flexible approach integrating techniques from various modalities depending on patients' needs. I encourage individuals and couples to be active participants in their treatment enabling them to explore previously undiscovered aspects of themselves. Within the context of the therapeutic relationship, patients can explore patterns of behavior related to beliefs, attitudes and past experiences. I would be happy to speak with you during a complimentary phone consultation. I warmly welcome your call or email.