TELEHEALTH PROVIDER for Maryland and PA residents
IN PERSON provider for Maryland clients and PA clients willing to drive to my office.
Hi there! My specialty is coming alongside clients who experience overwhelming anxiety in everyday life situations and helping them learn new ways to approach and defuse the anxiety they experience. These days the majority of my clients struggle with OCD, and I enjoy helping them learn to ignore the intrusive thoughts/images/feelings that show up with OCD so that they no longer need to engage in time-consuming rituals.
Our work is a collaborative experiential process in which you and I agree to work together on concrete treatment goals by exploring what it is that you value.
I make a point of using evidence-informed approaches to treatment, although I like to consider my treatment paradigm as eclectic in nature. This means that in general I lean more toward utilizing CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) approaches, particularly when working with clients with anxiety disorders or OCD.
I see clients 11 years and older. When working with children and adolescents, I generally use a systems-oriented approach, as I believe you cannot separate a child from the family and environment in which they function.
When addressing OCD symptoms, it is important to me that we collaboratively decide on which evidence-based treatments are used. In particular, I offer clients the choice of ERP or ICBT, and have had extensive training in both treatment modalities.
I also emphasize self-compassion in my work with clients — learning to be kind to oneself is a huge part of moving toward mental health for many clients. As a pastorally-trained counselor I believe it is important to respect the spiritual/religious beliefs of clients, and will incorporate the client’s belief system into treatment when appropriate (and with the permission of the client). Also. as a naturalized American citizen who has travelled extensively, I am able to offer a mulitcultural perspective to those who come from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and enjoy working with clients who have a multifaceted cultural perspective.
On this website you will find links to information on how you can begin to change the way you think about anxiety-provoking situations, such as flying.
Offices:
Wednesday I can be found at ASDI in Towson, Maryland
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday I work in a private practice in Westminster, MD.
410-236-1470 (Cell for both offices)
Stephniet@stephthomas.com
