What kind of future do you want for yourself?
THERAPY IS A PATH TO THAT FUTUREMake a Vision Statement of Wellness for Depression and/or Anxiety
We all have our struggles.
Relief and a new future is possible.
We all run in into problems from time to time
I can help you if you’re:
- Feeling depressed or anxious
- Wanting to be more of who you are
- Having difficulty in your relationships
- Feeling stuck
- Having trouble at work
- Struggling with self-esteem issues
- Wanting to live life more authentically
- Grieving
- Caught in the perfectionism trap
- Having anger issues
- Feeling like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster
I work with individuals and couples.
In Individual Counseling, we will work together so you can be happier with yourself, about your life and in your relationships. I’ll help you be an ally to yourself. When we care about ourselves, we make choices that are good for our well-being.
In Couple Counseling, we will collaboratively work on strengthening your connection. Frequent issues addressed in couple counseling include communication, stress and tension, anger management, substance abuse, parenting, infidelity, and trust.
For more information about Individual Therapy or Couple Counseling, please click on the Therapy Services Tab above.
Life doesn’t have to be so hard. Please contact me so we can discuss your concerns and how I can be of help to you. I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation. Call me at 301-279-7779, email me at BethLCounseling@aol.com or use the contact form below.
I look forward to talking with you, getting to know you, and helping to bring out the best in you.
Why choose me as your therapist?
I am an experienced and skilled clinician, invested in continual learning and growth to help my clients.
I am sensitive to feelings and interested in other people.
I am committed to helping my clients unblock their strength and wisdom.
I am driven to helping make the world a better place for all.
I am creative, kind, warm, and open.
I am interested in understanding how you are uniquely you.
I am invested in helping you achieve your goals.
I am not perfect. I know I make mistakes and when I do, I want to understand my impact on you, understand your reaction and talk things through.
I am a believer in therapy. Through my own work in therapy, I feel happier and more confident, calmer and more grounded than ever before.
What you stand to lose
if you don’t consider going to therapy
You'll Miss Out on the Long-term Benefits of Therapy
Therapy is not like a hair-cut (as important as hair cuts are) that lasts for six weeks. Not going to therapy could mean that you don’t take control over your life and learn healthy coping strategies that deal with your life’s challenges. Do you want to give up on that opportunity?
Physical Symptoms May Not Go Away or Be Alleviated
The mind-body connection is a strong one. Not going to therapy could mean that you miss out on the opportunity to alleviate some of your physical symptoms. One example is the reduction of arthritic pain using the IFS (Internal Family Systems) model. Google “Psychotherapy Physical Symptoms Reduction” and you’ll see a lot more evidence of how psychotherapy helps reduce physical symptoms. Why miss out on that?
You Might Not Get a New Perspective on Other People
Not going to therapy could mean that you lose out on the opportunity to have better relationships with other people. As we get to know ourselves better, we can get to know other people better, too. And as we get manage our lives better, we can engage with others in a healthier way. Do you really want to lose that chance?
You Could Miss Out on Rewiring Your Brain
Patterns of thinking and behaving can lay a well-worn track in our brain, but luckily, our brains have plasticity, the ability to change and lay new, healthier patterns down. Without therapy, our patterns of ruminating, getting depressed, and/or experiencing anxiety can make deeper and deeper grooves in our brains. Not going to therapy means that you might miss out on the possibility of changing these patterns. Is that something you want?
You Won’t Be Part of the Cool Crowd
Going to therapy means you’re confronting your problems, asking for help, and trying to change. Cool people do that. Do you want to miss out on being part of the Cool Tribe?

How do you find the right therapist?
Sometimes, because of work, family, death, relationships, or uncomfortable feelings like depression or anxiety, you want to seek out a mental health professional for help. But finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming. How do you find a therapist and how do you know the person is a good fit for you?
Below I provide some suggestions on how to search for therapists and then, although not a full-proof checklist, I provide some things to consider when choosing one person to work with.
Finding a therapist:
- Going to therapist isn’t the stigma it used to be. There wouldn’t be so many therapists to choose from if people weren’t going! Ask someone you know for a referral: your friends and family, primary care physician, or another professional like your massage therapist, for examples.
- Do a Google search and check out some of the therapists’ websites that come up in your results. Here are some ideas of what search terms to use. If you’re needing help with your relationship, google Marriage Counseling and Your Location. Or google Couples Counseling and Your Location. If you’re struggling with depression and want some help, maybe Google “Therapy and Your Location” or “Depression Counseling Near Me” or “Help with Depression and Your Location”.
Here are some ideas on how to narrow your search to be able to select a therapist to work with:
- See if the person you are considering has the training that you feel would be important for you to get the help you’re looking for.
- Call a few therapists on the phone. Get a sense of who you click with. Tell them what is happening in your life, that you’re interested in therapy and ask if they have experience working with people going through similar situations. Ask some questions that are important to you. Maybe you want to know if they have evening hours or weekend hours. Maybe you want to know if they take your insurance or if they offer on-line therapy? Perhaps you would like to ask about their approach. Often therapists have a free ‘initial consultation” for 20 minutes or more. That is something that can help you see if you and your potential therapist are a match.
- Though a little time consuming and costly, you can always have an initial session with a few therapists to see who is the best fit for you.
I don’t believe there is a best therapist. No therapist is perfect, just like no one is perfect. You want to choose someone who you feel is a good fit for you. Someone with whom you feel comfortable and someone you feel “gets” you. You want their feedback and interventions to be helpful.
Sometimes, finding a therapist can take some work. But it’s worth it.
Next Steps
I know how difficult choosing the right therapist can be. Whatever challenges you are facing, whether depression, anxiety, relationship issues, or other difficulties, it takes courage to be proactive and begin your search. My hope is that the information on my website will give you the comfort and knowledge you need to reach out by phone, email, or contact form.
Phone Call
After I receive your call or email, I will reach out to you to schedule a time to talk with you over the phone. I offer a free 20-minute phone call. This helps us decide whether I might be the right individual therapist for you.
Before Our Session
If we decide to begin to work together, we’ll schedule an appointment. Before the appointment, I will send you two emails: 1) a link to the platform I use for Telehealth (Sessions), and 2) four (4) forms. I ask that you complete the forms and send them back to me either password protected, or regular mail. I will give you the address to mail the forms when I send you the forms.
Session meets the requirements for HIPAA compliance. It is the same link for all our sessions.
At the time of our session (or a few minutes before hand), you’ll click on the link and be let into a virtual waiting room. I will then start the session and we will have a virtual session.
Payment
I collect payment after every session. I accept checks mailed to me or a platform called IVY Pay, which is HIPAA compliant and specifically designed for therapists. If you decide to mail a check, after I receive the check, I will mail you an invoice that you can submit with insurance. If you decide to use IVY Pay, I will send you a text through IVY Pay, you input your credit card information (IVY Pay keeps this information, not me, and you can rescind that information at any time), and then I can charge your credit card to bill for services. Through IVY Pay, you will receive a text notification and information on how to print out the receipt to submit with insurance.
What people are saying
Now offering teletherapy for convenience and safety to help you deal with your depression, anxiety, and relationship issues.
Get in touch.
I'm always happy to hear from people.
If you have any questions, need more information, or would like to make an appointment, you can call me at 301-279-7779, email me at BethLCounseling@aol.com, or use the form below.
If you are searching for a “therapist near me,” that could be me. I see people via teletherapy, so I am a therapist near you! 🙂 I provide services to people in Maryland, Virginia, and DC.
About Beth
Licensed Clinical Social Worker • Over 15 years of experience • Certified Emotionally Focused Couple Therapist and Supervisor • Member of The Greater Washington Society of Clinical Social Work • Member of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy • Member of Clinical Social Work Association • Member of National Association of Social Workers
On Being: Lessons I Learn From Animals
Serving Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia through teletherapy, including Georgetown, Tenleytown, AU Park, Downtown, Rockville, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Potomac, Silver Spring, Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria, Leesburg, Clarendon, Springfield, Great Falls, Annandale, McLean, Burke, Vienna, Tysons, Reston, Ashburn.
Phone: 301-279-7779
Email: BethLCounseling@aol.com
Hours by appointment only
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