Find a Therapist in Ellicott City, MD

In our work together, I prioritize building a trusting therapeutic relationship. My communication style is warm, non-judgmental, and collaborative. I aim to create a space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to make positive changes.

I am supportive, motivating, non-judgmental, and encourage you to fully express your voice knowing that you are being heard. I am open, warm, considerate, and respectful concerning the thoughts and feelings of others. I look forward to working with you on your journey towards empowerment!

Every conversation makes a difference. The differences may be subtle or they can be life-changing. I work in a direct and warm manner, creating an environment that is dynamic and safe. The therapeutic relationship is a very important one and can provide the basis for navigating through difficult life transitions, improving communication skills, healing from a loss, or exploring possibilities for enhancing one's life.

I am a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with 8 years of experience in behavioral health. I work with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, bipolar, posttraumatic stress (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive challenges (OCD), schizophrenia, eating-related challenges, dementia, and life transitions. I strive to create a compassionate, stigma-free environment where clients feel heard, respected, and supported as they work toward symptom relief, clarity, and emotional balance.

Do you have the same fights? Does anything ever get resolved? Do you long for a simpler time when things were better between you and your partner? Do you talk only about logistics and the kids? Are you roommates and want to be lovers? Do you feel alone even though you are surrounded? Are you stuck in your relationship? I understand. I've helped numerous couples learn new skills, develop a better process for resolving differences and navigating life so that .... at minimum, you like each other at the end of the day. In my work, I include individual and couples therapy and add group therapy when the time is right. With this 360-degree view of each individual in the couple, the patient is able to see their self-defeating patterns and practice new skills in couples and groups to become a better partner. I also work with individuals in their work roles in a similar fashion.

Leanna Hassler is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 6 years of experience in the mental health field. She is passionate about helping adolescents, young adults, and adults explore their unique challenges, adapt to life changes, and thrive as their true selves. Leanna’s counseling specialties include supporting people with depression, anxiety, life transitions, self-esteem concerns, women’s issues, LGBTQ+ issues, and relationship and family issues.

I strongly believe in your inherent ability to grow and change-- to survive neglect, hardship, and trauma and become stronger and more resilient. I help people find their strengths and learn to accept and even love their vulnerabilities. I teach coping skills and I listen intently.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the complexities of life and wonder where to turn for guidance? I offer a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental space where you can safely explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. My approach is rooted in the belief that every individual is unique, and healing is a collaborative journey tailored to your specific needs. I work with clients of all ages, helping them navigate challenges and build the life they envision. In our sessions, we uncover the patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. You’ll learn how your past influences the present and how to embrace change. Whether you are dealing with mental health issues, cultural differences, challenges with motherhood, or conflicts within your family, I provide practical tools and empathetic support to strengthen connections and foster mutual understanding. Overall, my holistic and integrative approach transforms challenges into opportunities for personal growth. With each session, we cultivate a comprehensive understanding of your personal narrative, enabling you to unlock your potential and live a more authentic life. I am committed to provide guidance as you transform challenges into growth and fulfillment. We will work together to gain insight, overcome obstacles, and move forward with confidence and empowerment.

You are noticing that some of the things that you experienced as a child affected you in many ways. Now that you are a parent, you are seeking support to parent your young children differently. My specialty is working with new and prospective parents to help them explore their parenting beliefs, learn the essentials of infant and early childhood development, and gain practical, real-life parenting skills that are designed to foster a loving and secure parent-child bond with children who feel loved, supported and respected.

I believe that my mission in life is to help others by providing the space in which they can share their struggles and concerns without judgment. Life is difficult, and more than anything else, I think we all crave to be listened to. I enjoy listening, and I like to help others to listen, too. By listening carefully we can create deep connection with others. Strong connection helps make life a bit easier and more enjoyable. Being a therapist has been a dream of mine ever since I was in middle school and my brother brought his introduction to psychology textbook home from college! I love to understand why we all do the things we do, and I enjoy helping others to understand themselves and those around them better, too.

The longer I've worked in the mental health field, the more I've come to appreciate that many of the struggles that leave us feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or anxious are rooted in our very human desire for certainty, safety, and control. Our brains are wired to seek predictability. When life feels uncertain, painful, or outside of our control, it's natural to search for ways to regain a sense of security. Sometimes this shows up through perfectionism, overthinking, people-pleasing, rigidity, self-criticism, or trying to anticipate every possible outcome. While these strategies often develop for understandable reasons, and may have even helped us survive at one point, they can eventually become exhausting, isolating, and keep us from living fully in the present. At the foundation of my work is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), not simply as a set of coping skills, but as a way of approaching life with greater mindfulness, flexibility, self-awareness, and acceptance. I am deeply passionate about teaching practical life skills that help people build emotional resilience while creating lives that feel meaningful and aligned with their values. At the same time, my work extends beyond skills alone. I view each person through a humanistic, trauma-informed, and existential lens, recognizing that our relationships, identities, lived experiences, and search for meaning all shape the ways we understand ourselves and navigate the world. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and grounded in the belief that you are more than a diagnosis or a collection of symptoms. Together, we'll explore the patterns that no longer serve you, develop greater self-understanding, and build the confidence to respond to life's challenges with intention rather than fear. Whether we're practicing mindfulness, exploring the impact of past experiences, strengthening relationships, or learning to tolerate uncertainty, my goal is to help you loosen the grip of overcontrol, cultivate self-compassion, and create a life that feels authentic, connected, and fulfilling. Healing isn't about becoming a different person. It's about reconnecting with the person you've always been beneath the fear, self-doubt, and protective strategies that once kept you safe. If you're ready to begin that journey, I'd be honored to walk alongside you.

Many of my clients are people who appear successful on the outside but privately struggle with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or a persistent sense that something in life isn't working. Others come to therapy after experiencing trauma, loss, infidelity, major life transitions, or feeling stuck despite their best efforts to move forward. Whatever brings you here, therapy offers the opportunity to navigate and address your distinct challenges. Therapy engages a process of insight, reflection, and an emotional process that leads to profound change and growth. Through careful listening, curiosity, interactive conversation, thoughtful feedback and gentle challenge, I help clients uncover unrecognized and unacknowledged aspects of themselves, break longstanding patterns that are no longer useful, and build more authentic, connected, and fulfilling lives. I work with adults throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, and California, offering a confidential space where you can feel heard, understood, supported, and gently challenged when needed. Together, we explore the patterns, relationships, and emotional experiences that shape your life, helping you develop greater self-awareness, resilience, and more satisfying ways of relating to yourself and others for deep and lasting change. I offer a complimentary 20-minute phone consultation. It's an opportunity to discuss what brings you to therapy, answer your questions, and to begin to determine whether working together feels right. To schedule, please email nrmeyer@depthpsychotherapydc.com with your name, phone number, and general availability. For your privacy, please don't include personal details in your initial email. You are also welcome to call me at 202-527-4848.