Gaithersburg Counseling and Therapy

Talking about intimacy can be difficult, even if it may be an important part of your romantic relationships. Many cultures put shame surrounding conversations about s*x. Trained mental health professionals are here to help you feel more comfortable expressing yourself. We can offer individual or couples counseling! Call, Text, or Email to learn more about how s*x therapy can help you.

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Mental Health Day just passed!

As you know, we are committed to improving our community's mental health every single day. Join us in this self-care challenge to get involved!

Therapy is one of the most studied, assured methods of self-care. It is a meaningful and powerful tool that has the power to change lives. Your mental health has so much influence on your life! Improving it will not only make your day-to-day easier, but it will set you up for a future with new tools for success!

Our wonderful counselors are thoughtful, knowledgeable, and passionate about guiding their clients through the therapeutic journey. You deserve someone to check in with you and help you find more peace. We are one call or click away!

We'll add a bonus to your self-care challenge: Call, Text, or Email us at (240) 274-5680 or [email protected] to find yourself that therapist today!

Welcome Atim!

Atim is one of the newer members of our practice and we are so lucky to have her! She is an experienced EMDR-trained and trauma-informed counselor who has supported individuals, couples, and families for many years.

Do you relate to any of these circumstances? Pre-marital conflict, trouble with connection, parents of anxious teens, cases of infidelity, co-parenting after a divorce... Have you been considering how to better navigate your challenges?

Call, Text, or Email to set up an appointment with Atim today! She would love to see you Tuesdays through Fridays virtually or in-person. You can check out www.HealingLLC.com, email [email protected], or call (240) 274-580. We will help you start on your journey to more joy, understanding, and peace.

Meet Jessie!

Jessie is an experienced, bilingual counselor (English and Spanish) who has openings this week! She helps individuals work through tough times, set boundaries, and achieve their goals. She would love to hear from you!

As of this month, Jessie has openings Mondays and Tuesdays virtually or in-person. Call, Text, or Email today to set up an appointment with her!

We are available most days between 12-1 PM at (240) 274-5680 to help you get started on your therapy journey. Or leave a voicemail, text, or email and we will get back to you within a day!

Hello! My name is Amy Hooper and I am the practice director of Gaithersburg Counseling Center. Welcome to Another Look at Healing!

When I was working with clients directly, my main goals were to provide a supportive, collaborative relationship that would facilitate deep healing and growth. Now as the director at my own practice, I am continuing to ensure that our team is all on the same page of prioritizing a kind, understanding, and productive environment in therapy. Our experienced, diverse counselors are here to help you find more peace of mind, work on your goals, and feel better every day.

Please reach out to us at [email protected] or (240) 274-5680 if you have questions, curiosities, or would like to speak to one of our recommended therapists! I am looking forward to connecting with you. And in the meantime, please take good care!

Boundary setting is not an easy thing to do, especially if it's a new relationship or someone you have not done this with in the past. Boundaries can look different, too! They can be physical boundaries, emotional and mental boundaries, material, and time-related boundaries.

Try these few tips to help you make the process of setting any boundary easier. A therapist can help you figure out what your needs are, what you would like to ask for, and how to stay consistent, communicative, and productive! Please Call, Text, or Email to [email protected] or (240) 274-5680.

The back-to-school transition can be hard on both children and guardians (and teachers!!). You may find there seems to be an overwhelming amount of new things to balance... Or maybe you finally have a break in your schedule if summer with the kids was just as busy! Either way, therapy can really help.

Don't keep pushing off self-care. It will only benefit your balance and peace of mind!

Please Call, Text, or Email at (240) 274-5680 or [email protected]. We also have a website you can check out at www.HealingLLC.com! In the meantime, take good care.

Stressed out with your kids going back to school?

We're here for to support you and your family.

Gaithersburg Counseling Center - Individual, Couples, and Family Therapy Gaithersburg Counseling Center, Maryland. Individual Psychotherapy, Couples Counseling, Family Therapy and Group Therapy. We always tailor the therapy to meet your specific, individual needs instead of using a cookie cutter approach. Our therapists use a practical approach and by collaborating with....

Ever heard of SMART goals? This technique is used by all sorts of successful individuals and organizations! From businesses making long-term strategies to you setting your personal goals, you can use these 5 steps to make sure that what you want to accomplish is being done in the most effective way possible. We all have general goals for our future... Now how do we accomplish those without overwhelming, overworking, or even wasting our time?

Maybe you are having trouble staying focused... Maybe you are setting unrealistic expectations for yourself... Or maybe you are cornered by the idea of where to even start? Both the SMART goals technique and our recommended counselors are here to help. Feel free to call, text, or email any time to (240)274-5680 or [email protected]. In the meantime, think about how you can start small. Take life one step at a time!

Have you been curious about your family dynamics? Want to work on strengthening your relationship bonds and communication? Have you discovered something in individual therapy that you would like to discuss with your loved ones in a safe, understanding space?

Feel free to reach out to the Gaithersburg Counseling Center to inquire about our recommended counselors. Our trauma-informed, EMDR trained family counselor has open availability and would love to meet you! Call, text, or email to (240)274-5680 and [email protected]! In the meantime, please take good care!

The cycle of change is a transformative journey where each step forward builds resilience and self-understanding. Change is not just about overcoming challenges but also about celebrating your progress along the way!

Therapy provides a supportive space where you can explore, understand, and navigate the cycle of change with confidence and clarity. Call, Text, or Email to [email protected] or (240)274-5680 to ask questions about therapy or set up an appointment with one of our recommended counselors!

Happy Pride! As you are celebrating this June, we wanted to remind you of a few things.

Consider giving yourself the gift of self-care by creating a space and time just for you, with the support of a therapy session.

Feel free to reach out to us by Call, Text, or Email at [email protected] or (240)274-5680. In the meantime, stay safe and take good care!

Wondering what your first time in therapy would be like? Usually, the first session consists of the more "businessy" parts of counseling. The counselor will probably give you a little orientation about the process or about themselves. This is your chance to ask questions and get comfortable with interacting with this new person!

You will get to talk about yourself, too, and be prepared that the conversation might be different than what you expected. Feel free to communicate with your counselor about what you think is important to talk about, because it will help guide them on how to personalize counseling for YOU.

Our administrative team is happy to get you started on your therapy journey whether it's your first time or your fifth time. We hope to find the perfect fit for you because you always deserve the best! Please call, text, or email to [email protected] and (240) 274-5680.

Feeling overwhelmed? There are so many areas of our life that could be impacting how we feel on a daily basis. It is challenging to adjust our routines, but our habits are not necessarily our optimal functioning. For example, many of us have forgotten how important our biological needs are because we are caught up in priorities of work, life, and relationships. We recommend assessing these different aspects to figure out what is important to keep, what can be let go of, and what can use a little more attention.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] or (240)274-5680 if you have any questions, comments, or are interested in a professional to help navigate you through understanding yourself better. You can also find our website at www.HealingLLC.com. In the meantime, please take good care!

Kids need to talk about their feelings, too! We are looking forward to helping your loved ones navigate through uncertainty, changes, and growth. Give us a call, a text, or send an email to inquire about which of our recommended counselors would be a good fit for your case.

No matter your gender, we all share the same hormones, and these little chemical messengers have a surprising amount of control over our feelings. Everyone is born with different levels of hormones, though, which ends up impacting how we react, feel, and express our emotions.

Hormonal imbalances can happen due to poor lifestyle and nutrition choices, taking medications (ex. female birth control), or environmental toxins in the products we use.

If you are feeling instability in your body or mind, try eating more whole foods and fiber, adding more physical activity into your routines, and make sure you are getting enough sleep. You can also look into the ingredients of the products you use on a daily basis to see if there may be harmful toxins that affect estrogen/testosterone levels.

In the meantime, feel free to Call, Text, or Email at [email protected] or (240) 274-5680. We are here for you, cheering you on to feel your best. Take good care of yourself!

Su***de is a mental health epidemic that has taken many important, beautiful lives. It is important to stay informed on the signs of suicidal ideation and recommended plans of action.

Read this post and share to spread the knowledge! The more people that are equipped to act, the more lives we can preserve. As always, feel free to reach out any time at (240) 274-5680 and [email protected]. In the meantime, please take good care!

Self-awareness means you are conscious of certain habits you possess. Self-acceptance, on the other hand, refers to how you can embrace both the positives and negatives of those tendencies and find a balance. Let's use an example:

😡Andrew notices that he feels emotional when his friends cancel on him, and that results in him acting very confrontational towards them. This tends to make his friend uncomfortable.

🗣In counseling, Andrew mentions this to his therapist, and they spend the session dissecting it together. Still, this situation repeats itself a few times over the course of a year (because we do not learn change overnight). He continues to mention these occurrences during counseling, and these conversations reveal that his behavior is quite persistent despite not being an effective communication tactic.

🤗Eventually, Andrew and his counselor come to the conclusion that his lashing out is due to a fear of not being appreciated. Now, he doesn't feel so overwhelmed when this situation comes up because his realization has cleared up some of the confusion and stress he was experiencing. He knows his fear is valid yet does not warrant aggression towards his loved ones.

AKA... he has ACCEPTED his thinking pattern as a protective habit that he can adjust to produce the most desired effect. Instead of just being aware of his behavior, he can now communicate his intentions, thoughts, and goals more clearly.

Do you have a habit that you want to understand better? Feel free to reach out at [email protected] and (240) 274-5680 to set up an appointment with one of our recommended counselors. In the meantime, give yourself grace and take care!

Black History Month is an important part of the year dedicated to honoring the people, movements, and history that continues to bring us closer to the world we are fighting for. As a counseling center, you know we have to bring up supporting this group of people on an individual and interpersonal level...

And this starts with mental health, especially given the fact that American violence, oppression, and persecution has left many African American people in the US with generational trauma. Generational trauma exists in most marginalized communities, and unless we put an end to the danger these communities face, this trauma will continue. (Psst, drop a like or comment for more posts on what generational trauma is!)

Nonetheless, improving mental health could only bring more power and peace into our lives. While we are bettering the world for future generations, let's better our lives while we're here, too. Community, sharing stories, and uplifting each other is a great way to start. In the spirit of community, here are some great resources of Black mental health professionals:

https://www.blackmentalwellness.com/
https://wellness.beam.community/
https://therapyforblackgirls.com/
https://therapyforblackmen.org/

As always, please reach out to Gaithersburg Counseling Center any time. Our counselors are dedicated to anti-oppression practices and providing culturally-informed therapy. Happy end of Black History Month, and please take good care!

If you are feeling like your counseling sessions are not going the way you want... Try this checklist to see what you could be missing!

1. Observe Your Own Reactions... For example, what questions are tougher for you to answer? Tell your counselor when you notice reactions to things they say, you may be opening up important conversational routes. Every bodily and mental reaction tells us something about ourselves!

2. Are all people in the room (whether it is individual, couples', or family counseling) contributing? Or does it feel like there is a dominant group of thought limiting diverse conversation?

3. Are you making sure to stay patient with yourself and with your counselor? Sometimes when we are talking about things that bother us, we feel irritable and stressed. Don't let that get in the way of listening, staying open-minded, and using every session to learn!

4. Believe that your counselor wants the best for you! And they are certainly believing in you :)

5. Stay honest. If your counselor is doing something that bothers you, don't be afraid to let them know. Therapy is THE place for practicing good communication, so practice, practice, practice!

6. Possibly the biggest factor in therapy is if you are willing to grow and work on habits that may not be helping you. Pay attention when your counselor points something out!

As always, our recommended counselors at the Gaithersburg Counseling Center are here to help you achieve positive, productive counseling. Call, Text, or Email at (240)274-5680 and [email protected]. And please take good care!

We will probably never stop reminding you to take care of yourself. Here are 3 ways that can make this new year easier on your mental health, which means making your work week seem a little lighter, your relationships feel a little stronger, and your tasks seem a little less overwhelming.

Drop some new year's resolutions in the comment section that you've made about your mental health. And if you haven't thought about those kinds of resolutions, take some time now to find one (or more)!

We hope you had a Happy New Year and that the rest of 2024 will continue in good spirits! In the meantime, please reach out to us at any time. This year is about taking care of YOU.

Self-care is often marketed as something that you need to set aside time for, but with busy routines, it can often seem like another responsibility to take on. Self-care works best when you incorporate taking care of yourself into the normal things you do!

Asking for extra time at work when you feel overwhelmed, asking for your partner to take care of one extra home chore during a long week, or treating yourself to a yummy lunch in front of a pretty view - these are all great examples of ways to lighten your week and your mental load without much effort. Your body tells you when you need a break so that you can perform stronger, better, and more productively. Listen to what it tells you! The little part of your brain asking you to go against your own human needs is not always right. You deserve to take care of yourself because then your body can take care of your mental health right back.

Feel free to reach out for support, questions, and help. You can reach us any time at (240)274-5680 and [email protected]. Please take good care! Take this post as an excuse to do so today!!

Art therapy can help us take internalized experiences and bring them into the external. We can can pick up on emotions, felt sensations, or tension from imagery. Using your intuition to create something tangible - that you can see, interpret, and feel ownership of - can make labeling subconscious feelings easier.

How can drawing be therapeutic? How can we learn from it? Well think about it this way… if you are asked to draw your felt sense when you’re feeling stressed, angry, or upset, that artwork would probably be pretty different from when you’re feeling calm. It would probably even be distinct from a drawing while you’re hurt or feeling gray. So, even though we don’t realize it, the way we create art is heavily influenced by our internal perception. A picture’s worth a thousand words…!

Interested in learning more? Give us a Call, Text, or Email at [email protected] or (240)274-5680. Feel free to inquire about our counselors with art therapy training!

Jill’s care and approach to her clients makes her a fantastic counselor. She is a genuine therapist who takes the time to get to know each client for who they are.

Jill has openings for new clients! For an appointment with Jill, call 240-274-5680 or email [email protected].

It’s hard to find words given the recent Supreme Court decision…

We want to provide support in the best way we can. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you are feeling overwhelmed.

To all women, trans men, women of color, people under the poverty line, and the LGBTQ+ community, we are in this together. We can still work towards a safer future. ❤️