Find a Therapist in Ellicott City, MD

My communication style is calm, direct, motivational, encouraging, personable, and non-judgmental. Clients feel comfortable, relaxed, and safe when talking with me about any challenges they have faced/are facing.

In a world of noise, I provide a place of quiet, offering room to focus and think.

It's time now to genuinely feel and function better. In order to do that, it's essential to pay close attention to your internal responses to the difficulties and patterns that have been cropping up in your closest relationships, your work, and with respect to your own self-concept, and to do so with someone who can help you see things differently and perhaps more accurately. Together, we will create an open, accepting, safe space, where you also will feel helpfully and persistently challenged to know yourself much better from the inside out, and as quickly as possible.

Are you hoping to deepen your relationships? Wondering where your “person” is? Feeling anxious or confused, or having a hard time imagining your future? Do you want to feel more authentic? Together, we can work toward understanding and growth. Through the relationship between us, we’ll explore how you communicate with others, consider the past experiences that informed who you are, and help you define who you want to become. Through collaborative, interactive sessions in an affirming, nurturing environment, you’ll learn more about yourself and how to implement strategies that enable you to live your life more fully and joyfully. My goal is to help you uncover your potential and establish positive lifestyle changes. With my support, you’ll examine your behavioral patterns, better understand and manage your feelings, and develop skills so that you can enhance your relationships and quality of life. I have over 15 years of experience as a psychotherapist who works with individuals and groups in the DC metro area. I’m psychodynamically trained, but my practice is far from Freudian psychoanalysis. My approach is eclectic - the most important thing to me is our working relationship, so I customize my work to serve you. Working with me, we’ll incorporate techniques from a variety of theories and methods including Relational Psychotherapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

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.

I believe a strong, trusting relationship with your therapist is the foundation for meaningful growth and change. In our work together, I meet you where you are, with empathy, compassion, and without judgment. My holistic approach focuses on your mind, body, and spirit, and I integrate both traditional and alternative therapies to support your overall well-being.

I am an internationally-known couples therapist, workshop presenter, and clinical trainer. In 2010, I founded the Tikkun Learning Center, an educational institution through which I train, supervise, and consult therapists in Encounter-centered Couples Therapy (EcCT). EcCT is an extremely effective method with proven success in teaching couples who to re-create the magic of connection. EcCT is an integrative approach inspired by the philosophy of Martin Buber, as well as a variety of relational methodologies including Imago Relationship Therapy, Appreciative Inquiry, Re-evaluation Counseling, and Relational Neuro-biology. I have developed a unique, customized, transformational two-day private session for one couple. You will receive my full attention, expertise and mastery, and I will introduce you to the groundbreaking and pragmatic principle of the three invisible connectors: "the Space, the Bridge, and the Encounter."

As a clinician, I am committed to creating a safe, supportive space where clients feel seen, heard, and understood. My approach is rooted in empathy and a person-centered philosophy, meaning I meet each individual exactly where they are in their journey. I believe healing begins with a strong therapeutic relationship built on trust, respect, and genuine connection. I specialize in helping clients process trauma using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), supporting individuals as they work through complex, life-impacting experiences. In addition to trauma work, I provide compassionate care for those navigating grief, depression, and anxiety. I work with adolescents, teens, and adults, tailoring each session to meet the unique needs and goals of the individual. Whether you are seeking support during a difficult time or looking to better understand yourself, I am here to walk alongside you with care, curiosity, and respect.

Jessica deOrnellas is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania. Jessica has been working in the helping field since 2014 and as an outpatient therapist since 2017. She has extensive experience providing evidence-based treatment to a wide variety of people, including adults, children, and adolescents. Jessica works with individuals who are seeking help with anxiety, depression, anger management, behavioral issues, underdeveloped coping skills, grief, transitional periods, low self-esteem, stress, and addictions.

If you’re feeling stuck—knowing what’s hard but unsure how to break through—you're not alone. Whether you're grappling with trauma, anxiety, or the lasting effects of sexual or domestic abuse, it’s normal to feel uncertain about the next step. Therapy can be a safe and powerful space to unpack these struggles, find clarity, and learn how to move forward in a way that feels right for you. Together, we will empower you, helping you take control of your life and build deeper, more meaningful connections—with yourself, others, and the world. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone; healing is possible. My therapeutic approach is client-centered, focusing on genuineness, warmth, and unconditional positive regard. With a trauma-focused lens, I integrate IFS, Gestalt, mindful self-compassion, and mindfulness techniques. This holistic approach helps clients heal, gain insight, and build resilience on their journey to growth and recovery. Life is already hard enough without trauma; allow yourself the opportunity to unburden, learn new strategies and perspectives, and start living authentically. If you are ready to begin this chapter in your healing journey, please reach out today. I look forward to our work together.

" Real transformation sometimes requires real honesty" - I would love to assist you with finding the path to your true self. Are you trying to find the right therapist? Not knowing what, who or what you need can make a situation worse when you want relief. Let me help you! I enjoy working with individuals who are trying to make meaning of their lives. Whether it involves issues concerning anxiety, depression, stress, anger, life transitions, academic/work performance, or other personal challenges, I will provide you with a supportive and safe space to assist you in gaining insight into your life. My aim is to help you optimize you.

If you are struggling in your relationships, navigating a major life transition, or feeling stuck in patterns related to substance or behavioral addictions, you are not alone. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable adults who find themselves repeating painful relational dynamics or feeling disconnected from the life they want to be living. Therapy can be a powerful place to understand why—and to begin doing something different. I specialize in working with adults from diverse cultural backgrounds who want more fulfilling relationships and a stronger sense of self. Together, we explore the patterns that may be contributing to your needs not being met. I help you to increase awareness of how these patterns developed and how they continue to show up in your life today. Insight is important—but real change happens through new experiences. When appropriate, I connect clients to therapy groups where they can practice new ways of relating and receive meaningful interpersonal feedback in a supportive environment.