I strive to provide a safe and calm environment where my clients feel heard and supported as we navigate the complexities of life and work together to achieve their goals.

My communication style as a therapist is direct yet empathetic, helping clients feel heard while guiding them toward actionable steps. I balance being supportive with a solution-focused approach, emphasizing progress and accountability. I am also able to adapt to meet each client's unique needs, creating a safe and respectful therapeutic environment.

You are worthy of healing, even when your inner-critic says otherwise. If you are experiencing anxiety, you know that it is much more complex than excessive worrying. Often negative self-talk, guilt, self-doubt, and fear also run rampant, making it difficult to get through your day. On the outside, your loved ones or colleagues may think you have it together, but internally you are struggling. Trying to control everything around you - while at the same time feeling out of control leaves you exhausted and on edge. I help clients heal by reducing anxiety and restoring self-worth. When you work with me, we will uncover your strengths, process past wounds, and enhance your coping skills. I empower all clients’ growth by using a culturally-affirming, strengths-based approach. Modalities include CBT, DBT, and Psychodynamic Therapy. With me, you will get an inclusive space to grow, heal, and practice self-compassion. You don’t have to deal with anxiety on your own. I’m here to help.

No matter how much you do, that inner voice insists, “You could be doing more.” You convince yourself you just need to work harder, sleep a little less, and spread yourself more thin. Then you’ll finally feel that sense of accomplishment. But the more you do, the louder the voice gets. The weight of the constant stress is exhausting. The tension headache at the base of your skull won’t go away. You can’t control your emotions– the other day you blew up at your best friend. Your mother keeps calling; she’s worried about you. You’ve sacrificed so much, but don’t know what it’s all for. This can’t go on. It’s time to try something different. Using talk therapy with Internal Family Systems, we’ll explore the root causes of your issues and identify the patterns that no longer serve you. Utilizing Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and EMDR, you’ll learn to listen to your body’s wisdom and use it as a guide for healing. Together, let’s access your inner power and strength to create lasting change. Don’t waste another minute feeling lost and alone. Find your footing again. Take back control and start living as your true self. Untangle these big emotions so you can have more clarity and confidence. A life of peace and calm is possible, and you deserve it. Click the links to call me now for your free 20-minute consultation, and let’s take the next step together.

Have you hit a wall with therapy? Are you struggling to find hope? My name is Mikayla, and I've lived in and around DC for over 22 years. I provide holistic therapy for individuals with and without ketamine. My clients struggle with PTSD, suicidality, depression, anxiety, substance use, and co-occurring conditions. I also work with couples struggling to resolve and repair conflict. All are welcome here! I have experience working with people who struggle to fit in, people who use drugs, and people in non-monogamous relationships. My perspective is relational and systems-based. No part of us is separate from the rest; we are inseparable from our environments and each other. If you decide to work with me, we'll start by exploring the dynamics of your relationships and the relationship you have with yourself. We can identify and build on your strengths, manage and release the manifestations of toxic stress through the body, improve your emotional capacities, and build stronger authentic relationships. My approach weaves embodied mindfulness, liberation psychology, somatics, trauma-informed care, polyvagal theory, education, sound, and, for those who choose this route, ketamine. There is no "typical" session with me. Each person is approached as a unique being with a unique story. I have real-world experience and extensive training in multiple compatible approaches, which allows me to pull out the right tool for the right person at the right time. I maintain a laser focus on your obstacles and protective barriers while holding a lighthearted space where we are free to laugh about the absurdity of life. I reject hierarchy in therapeutic spaces and hold us as equals sharing the beauty and pain of healing in the human experience. How we work together is guided by your understanding of what you need. I believe you have the capacity to heal yourself. My role is to approach you with a delicate balance of compassion and honesty, maintain a safe and comfortable environment, witness your process, and ask the right questions.

I believe in the strength and resiliency of the human spirit and consider it an honor to work with people on a daily basis. My job is to create a safe and nurturing environment so that each individual feels comfortable and supported as they work on their personal goals. Everyone's goals are as different as the individuals themselves, and in order to honor that individuality, my approach is eclectic and personalized to each person. I always encourage and welcome feedback in order to continually ensure that the techniques being used are effective and keep progress moving in a positive direction.

Are stress, anxiety, or depression making it hard to enjoy life? I help individuals who feel overwhelmed by workschool, family dynamics, or marriage struggles find clarity and relief. My approach is compassionate, practical, and tailored to your unique needs. Together, we'll identify patterns that keep you stuck and develop strategies to help you move forward. Whether you're navigating career stress, relationship challenges, or simply feeling burnt out, I'm here to support you in building a more balanced and fulfilling life. You don't have to navigate this alone- let's work together to help you feel more in control and at peace. I provide a supportive environment to explore your emotions and develop practical coping strategies. My goal is to empower you with tools to manage difficult emotions, improve communication, and build resilience. Whether you need guidance through a tough time or long-term support, I am here to help. Helping people live a fulfilled life by working through problems is why I got into this field. My hope is to help you feel better so you can live the life you want and achieve high levels of happiness, fulfillment, and purpose. Contact me today for a free consultation so we can begin this important work together.

I love doing therapy, because I believe it works, even when people have experienced long and difficult struggles. I love solving the new "puzzle" that each new person brings, and believe that solving that puzzle together makes us both feel hopeful and energized. People from all generations, personal situations, and walks of life are welcome in my office. I listen a lot, and I'm non-directive, but far from silent. I will provide as much structure as you need to feel comfortable, but try to stay out of your way as you develop your own insights and action plans. Building trust and rapport is important, and I will work hard to understand what you need to do that. We'll work together to stabilize distressing emotions and solve immediate real problems that are creating a crisis, then collaborate on longer-term goals to understand causes and old patterns so that new strengths and strategies can grow.

These are 6 areas of therapy that I'm passionate about and in which I specialize. I'd love to work with you if: 1) you struggle with anxiety or depression 2) need help with relationships or a betrayal, 3) have experienced something traumatic or suspect you have unresolved trauma 4) are grieving the loss someone or something 5) need help recovering from an addiction, or 6) are going through a crisis of faith or want to grow spiritually. My counseling style is active, engaging and collaborative, using an approach that integrates proven therapeutic concepts and techniques. My graduate degree in Counseling is from Johns Hopkins University. I am a licensed professional counselor in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania, a Nationally-Certified Counselor and a Board Approved Supervisor in Maryland. I am also a member of the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors of Maryland. My continuing education includes certifications in couples work, trauma and supervision. To make sure we're a good fit for each other, please email me or visit my website to schedule a free phone consultation. From there, we'll meet online on Zoom, which my clients have found to be very convenient and effective. I look forward to speaking with you!

Whatever challenge you, your family, or your team face, you can overcome it. This is the guiding principle of my work as a therapist and corporate consultant. My job is to put my skills, experience, and resources at your disposal to help you reach the next stage of your growth. Briefly, my approach to therapy leans towards solution-focused, cognitive behavioral approaches, borrowing techniques and tools liberally from other disciplines as appropriate. In our first sessions, we work together to build a plan focused on meeting your specific goals. I've worked effectively with children as young as six and adults well into retirement, focusing primarily on issues of anxiety & depressive mood regulation, navigating adolescence, adjusting to life changes, grief, trauma, the unique challenges of military families, and relationship issues. As a corporate consulting clinician, I bring a unique blend of extensive national and international level corporate experience with clinical training and experience to help teams identify roadblocks to and solutions for growth. Our work will likely touch on corporate culture, team structure, resource identification, analysis of and routes to break unhelpful patterns, and both short and long term goal building. Rates vary based on scope of work, with both hourly and project based pricing available. If you have any questions, or are unsure, please contact me directly today so we can figure out together if we might be a good fit. Initial consultations, up to 20 minutes, are always free of charge.

Our own minds can multiply, confuse, and perpetuate the inevitable pain in life, or heal us to greater joy, love, and creativity. I will work with you to master your imaginative creation and to steer toward the life you choose with effective strategies. Building on your strengths and the best parts of your life, we will work together to resolve your problems and fulfill your highest dreams. Tools: I have an exciting new tool in my tool box: Accelerated Resolution Therapy. It is so new that it is not among the modalities on this website but it's been around long enough for research to validate it as "evidence based." Most soldiers with PTSD have gotten good results and have completed therapy by the 3rd session. I am so thrilled with the helpfulness of A.R.T. that I have worked to become a trainer in this method. Find out more about it online. Please see my own website (above) for a link. MindBody Health: I am fascinated by how our minds relate to our bodies and vice versa. Two areas of research demonstrate how strong the connection is. 1. Adverse Childhood Events are correlated with major health problems later in life. And 2, excessive negative stress is often followed by illness. The first can be transformed using Accelerated Resolution therapy. You have resources now that can be brought to the child who experienced trauma. The second, stress, can be relieved, in many ways to protect and care for your body. Together, perhaps we will create self-hypnotic recordings to align the power of your mind with the health of your body. Some health problems, such as allergies to pets and airborne substances, seem to respond especially well to this approach. We are only beginning to know the extent to which our minds can affect our physical health. For me, there is enough evidence to direct the powers of my mind toward healing from any illness - in addition to taking advantage of the wisdom of my doctors.

Teletherapy available. I specialize in anxiety, depression, relationship issues, infertility, stress and coping, life transitions, and health issues. All of us have moments in our lives when we feel like we're struggling. Having someone to talk to and a place where you can go to feel supported can make all the difference. Maybe you're feeling exhausted, nervous, hopeless, confused, or frustrated. Or maybe you don't know what you're feeling, just that you're not feeling like yourself. We will work together to help you get to a better place. Our therapy relationship will be built on genuineness, warmth, acceptance, trust, and openness. No feeling or situation lasts forever and you can feel better.