Stacey Hellman, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Ellicott City, Maryland
VerifiedFeaturedTelehealth Available
My Approach to Therapy
My typical client has 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.
My Practice & Services
Most of my clients come in person, but I am open to doing a hybrid if needed. Since I work mostly with trauma of different kinds, I find that virtual therapy is not only not as effective, but it can actually cause harm when the client is not in person in front of me.
With trauma work, there's often intense emotion that comes up. If we do virtual therapy, I'm unable to effectively help the client calm down because I need to be in their physical space. I also use a physical gadget called a TheraTapper sometimes for dealing with trauma memories and you can't do this with virtual therapy.
For clients who strictly want talk therapy, and aren't dealing with major trauma issues, then virtual therapy can suffice. But that's not usually the kind of work that I do. If you're looking for just talk therapy, then I might not be the right therapist for you. Many of my methods are experiential and require being in person.
What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist
Though I work hard, it doesn't really feel like work since I love what I do. My job is never boring! People are fascinating, we are all different, and we all have stories to share. I truly enjoy listening and being of service. Each client has taught me something and I try to use my clinical experience to continue to become a better therapist. I don't think we are ever really "done" growing; at least I don't want to be done!
Important Factors for Choosing a Therapist
If you are new to therapy and don't know where to start, I would recommend searching through some profiles and looking for things that either resonate with you in a pleasant way or bring up a feeling of aversion for you. This is a good exercise in and of itself in getting in touch with your own inner guidance and wisdom, and being able to recognize what "yes" feels like in your body versus what "no" feels like in your body. I'm a big believer in shopping around when it comes to finding the right therapist, because it's a little bit like dating. On paper, someone can have all the right boxes checked, but then when you meet in person, it just doesn't feel quite right.
It's totally fine to have a session or two with a therapist and then decide that that's just not a good fit. It doesn't mean anything about whether the therapist is a good therapist or not, it's more just about compatibility. Some red flags to look out for are if the therapist is talking about him or herself instead of asking about you, or if the therapist is dominating the conversation in general or cutting you off.
Expertise & Specialties
Age Groups I Work With
AdultsElders
Groups I Work With
I work with adults from all walks of life and am comfortable with the LGBTQIA+ community. I'm open minded and accepting of lifestyles that aren't "mainstream." I'm a credentialed provider with the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling which means that if you or a loved one has a gambling problem then you would qualify to receive free therapy.
Therapy Services & Specialties
Concerns & Challenges Addressed
Adjusting to Change / Life TransitionsAnxietyAttachment IssuesDepressionDissociationDivorce / Divorce AdjustmentDrug and Alcohol AddictionGambling Addiction
Therapeutic Approaches & Evidence-Based Methods
Brainspotting (BSP)Expressive Arts TherapyInternal Family Systems (IFS)Yoga TherapyOther - Not Listed Here
Industries & Communities
EducationFirst Responder/Medical ProfessionalsLGBTQ+Military/Law EnforcementSelf-Employed and Freelance Professionals