Find a Therapist in Ellicott City, MD

I employ a warm and open type of communication. I want to create a place where you feel safe to share what is on your mind as well as secure enough in our therapeutic relationship to receive feedback and be challenged in ways you may need to be.

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.

I work with clients experiencing a broad range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma related difficulties, and substance use issues. First and foremost, I believe that you are the most expert person about you. My role is to help you create a plan to reach your goals. I am integrative in my approach, drawing from several evidence-based modalities depending on individual needs and goals. I also believe that there can be therapeutic value in humor during the hard work of therapy. You can visit my website to learn more by clicking on the link.

From a space of non-judgment and sensitivity, I believe it is my job to provide a supportive environment for us to explore patterns that contribute to the pain and challenges of your everyday life. I aim to bring light to different ways of being, so you can experience less pain, more satisfaction, and a better quality of life. We all get stuck at some point in our lives. It is my job to be present in those "stuck" moments so that we may collaborate in discovering the origins of the pain while identifying a path to well-being that fits for you.

People don't have to be in crisis to come to therapy; oftentimes, those who contact me are managing feelings that have been building up over time. I have niche experience working with medical professionals such as physicians, nurses and medical trainees and directed a new program at UNMC aimed at understanding burnout. I enjoy working with college and graduate students, international students, and did this at counseling centers like MIT. I especially like working with adults in general, and new parents. I completed my APA internship and postdoc in the Penn System where I saw a variety of people living with a range of feelings. I believe that addressing feelings and understanding where they stem from, and how to manage them, can help people navigate life's challenges in relationships, work, school, and beyond. I strive to create a safe, non-judgmental, emotionally rich and confidential environment for individuals to explore what's on their mind. Collaborating on other areas of your life that you may want to examine, such as your relationships with others (romantic, friendship, personal, professional) is something I find joy in. I look forward to meeting you and potentially working together to uncover not just what might be holding you back or keeping you up at night, but your strengths as well.

Whether you and your partner are struggling due to a rupture in trust, a major life transition, or uncertainty about alignment in goals for the relationship, I help couples gain deeper clarity so they can make meaningful progress toward long-term, sustainable growth. My clients have done well for themselves in many aspects of their lives, but feel lost about how to address the frustration, disconnect, and overwhelm in their relationship that may have them repeating painful patterns. As a relationally focused therapist, I’ll help you develop better insight into those patterns, explore the underlying functions and needs driving these dynamics, and build new ways of relating that foster connection and shared meaning in your life together. You deserve expert-driven therapy that is relatable, effective, and affirming, and you’ll find it here. I offer a safe, supportive space for people of color and LGBTQ+ couples. I also offer a unique perspective and support for clients navigating long-distance relationships, decision-making around marriage andor parenthood, adoption, and protecting their own families from intergenerational patterns that have persisted in their family of origin. Finding the right therapist is so important to getting the most out of couples therapy. Reach out for a free 20-minute video consultation so we can determine whether I’m the right therapist for you. Let’s get started!

Working from a trauma-informed, non-pathologizing, strengths-based, systems model of care, I work to help you better understand the impact of trauma on mental health and relationships. I specialize in the treatment of trauma across a full spectrum of conditions, including the use of dissociation, addictions, self-harm, and eating disorder behaviors, as well as challenged family systems, mood disorders, and maternalparental mental health issues. I have many years of advanced trainings and experience to help clients in therapy make and maintain positive changes, find needed resources, and work from personal strengths. You can learn much more about my style of care by reading the articles on our website blog - I have been writing those for 5+ years.

Does your child struggle with stress and anxiety? Is it difficult for him or her to make positive choices, manage emotions or perform in school? Teenagers and young adults face unique challenges in life, and it can be very overwhelming for them and you, the parent. I work with adolescents and young adults, ages 12-25, to help them understand stress and anxiety. We work together to overcome their obstacles and self-doubts; helping them focus on building positive thinking and behaviors to achieve their life goals. Together, your child and I focus on his or her role in overcoming setbacks, embracing challenges, and utilizing skills like optimism, resilience and grit to achieve his or her ideal self. I employ positive psychology and solution-focused counseling to help your child set priorities, identify goals, and develop strategies for emotional and mental well-being. I understand the difficulties our young adults face everyday and I know each individual is capable of achieving their goals with proper supports! Contact me at MBS Performance Counseling today in order to help your son or daughter take the first step to setting priorities, creating positive thoughts and discovering the amazing things they can accomplish!

Ileana is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) who manages and treats a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, bipolar, insomnia, and other mental health issues that may be interfering with normal daily functioning. She is passionate about providing quality, compassionate, and comprehensive mental health services to adults. As a PMHNP, Ileana's view of mental health care is as a mutual partnership where she takes things at your pace. She prioritizes patient-focused care that is individually tailored to meet your needs.