Find a Therapist in Fulton, MD

I work to create in comfortable environment in which the client feels they are able to speak freely without judgement about any topic.

I am Alimatu Mustapha- Palmer (nee Alima Palmer),PhD., NCC, LPC, MAC, CSAC, BCC. I have been in the world of behavioral health and services for the past 25 years. I am experienced and well-credentialed including several board certifications, awards, and recognitions. My experience includes conducting trainings, workshops, and assessments and working with individuals, families, groups, non-profits, local and international government agencies including DSS- CPS, law enforcement, minority populations, specific women and children issues, spirituality, cultural dynamics, marriage, divorce, life transitions, coaching and more. I advance the growth and mindfulness perspectives as I believe life is an ongoing process. You can expect to get practical skills and tools to resolve your concerns as we engage in a collaborative therapeutic partnership to address your specific needs, challenges, and goals. In that effort, I employ an individualized holistic approach to therapy by utilizing a variety of treatment modalities including, but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Family Systems Theory, Person-Centered Therapy, Narrative/Talk therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and more

I believe that the innate nature of human beings is to survive and be well, and that varying degrees of life experience and trauma create psychic structures that inhibit that natural process from occurring. My job is to help client's develop compassionate awareness for these structures that are no longer functional in their lives and help them to build tolerance for the underlying feelings being protected by these structures. And ultimately to help client's choose and develop healthier more functional thoughts, feelings and behaviors to expand their well being, life satisfaction and treat themselves with loving kindness.

It is my highest responsibility to provide a safe environment that induces my client's trust and alliance. I am on my client's journey without being judgmental. Each client is unique and each client well-being is of the uttermost importance. My client's needs and desires are highly considered. The therapy I provide allows my clients to address their concerns, fears, and issues. I assist my clients in finding ways to better communicate and to resolve issues without engaging in conflict. My client's who seek relationship counseling engage in a process that requires their active participation so that they are able to utilize coping skills, techniques, and mechanisms they can use outside of counseling. My office enables my clients to experience an environment that is safe, tranquil and serene. Clients are able to learn more about themselves, their partners, and their families.

We all have challenges that hold us back and keep us from living our best life. Maybe you have been disappointed, experienced loss, trauma, or rejection. Perhaps you have struggled with divorce, anxiety, isolation, or low self-esteem. You may be going through a difficult transition. I offer a blend of tools to help you begin to feel better. I bring solid experience and research-based strategies to my work. I believe in working with each person in a way that is individualized for them and honors the way they think and feel. I strive to make everyone feel comfortable, safe and supported during our sessions. I am a cognitive behavioral therapist, but also draw from many other techniques.

I work collaboratively with individuals, couples, families and groups towards real change. My approach pulls from a variety of techniques based on the need of the client. My primary modalities include Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to provide specific tools; Gottman method for couples; as well as other techniques based upon the need of the client.

If you are feeling stuck, anxious, sad, weird, depressed, triggered, or just... at loose ends, get in touch. Talking helps you figure out where you are, how you got there, and where you want to go. In a collaborative process, I will help you understand your thoughts and feelings, and I will help you clarify your direction and purpose.

WE CAN HELP HEAL YOUR RELATIONSHIP. "Why does my partner overreact?" "Why do I get so triggered?" "How come the punishment doesn't fit the crime?" “Why can’t he be more supportive?” “Is anything I do ever enough for her?” While you are feeling hurt, you have an added layer of confusion. You simultaneously love your partner and even hope to stay in this relationship to keep your love, family, and dreams intact. You are torn in a tug-of-war of emotions and desire to feel understood, accepted, and embraced by your partner. HEAL YOUR RELATIONSHIP AT ITS ROOT! Your dynamic is being driven by vulnerable and deep emotions. Those deep emotions are sensitive ‘raw spots' that are easily provoked and can cause you intolerable emotional discomfort- and leads to a “fight-or-flight” (anxious, angry, avoidant) response. This starts a negative cycle that creates more distance between you. CHANGE IS POSSIBLE! In therapy with us, you will learn strategies to respond differently and avoid slipping into old negative cycles of criticism, questioning, defensiveness, shutting down, and avoidance. We’ve helped HUNDREDS of people experience EMOTIONAL INTIMACY by learning how to effectively share and receive each other’s deeper emotions.

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.

Maybe you're a new parent wondering why this doesn't feel the way you expected. Maybe anxiety has been running the show for so long you've forgotten what calm feels like. Or maybe you're in the middle of a life transition — a move, a career shift, a relationship change — and you just need someone in your corner. I'm Shelby, and I get it. I specialize in working with women, couples, and individuals who are navigating the messy, overwhelming parts of life — especially the transition to parenthood, relationship struggles, and those seasons when everything feels uncertain. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in your strengths. I'm not here to fix you — you're not broken. I'm here to help you reconnect with yourself, build skills that actually work, and find your footing again. We'll use mindfulness, practical tools, and honest conversation to help you move from surviving to thriving. I offer telehealth sessions across DC, MD, VA, NY, and FL. If you're ready to feel like yourself again, I'd love to hear from you.

Feeling overwhelmed by life? Stress feels unmanageable, relationships are strained, and moving forward seems impossible. The constant weight of overwhelm can leave you physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. You long to make peace with a painful past but feel stuck. Unmanaged stress affects every aspect of your life—work, health, and relationships. You recognize the need for change, and starting therapy is a courageous, proactive step toward well-being. I'm here to provide a compassionate, validating space where your thoughts and feelings are heard. Together, we'll work toward healing and a more balanced, fulfilling life. I help individuals and couples navigate emotional regulation, stress, and relationship challenges through evidence-based methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and somatic therapy. Specializing in mood conditions, trauma, and attachment, I focus on fostering resilience and balance. Using biofeedback, I strengthen the mind-body connection to support lasting healing. Life’s challenges can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face them alone. Whether you’re seeking emotional balance, healing from past wounds, or strengthening your relationships, I’m here to support you. Together, we’ll create a compassionate, non-judgmental space to explore your goals and build the life you deserve. Reach out—I’m ready to help.

Typically I work with clients who have unresolved trauma and is still stuck in problematic behavioral patterns. They have often done some "talk therapy" in the past but didn’t really find it that helpful. I use more experiential methods to help you make lasting changes that improve your quality of life, not just provide stabilization. I’ve found that talk therapy can be one of the slowest ways to do therapy, and that if you ignore sensory input from the body, then you’re only doing therapy from the neck up. Whether you’re facing new challenges or struggling with ongoing circumstances, you may be feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, helpless, or anxious. You may also have slipped back into unhealthy patterns of behavior that you worked hard to change. I take a collaborative approach to therapy, and I’ll tell you up front that I don’t have a crystal ball or magic wand! I believe that we each have a unique journey, and while I do have education and training as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Maryland, I haven’t lived your life, and I’m not an expert on YOU.