You have arrived at this place wanting to explore deeper meanings of life, perhaps gain control over things that seem in disarray, or wish to make an internal shift to a place of peace, well-being, strength, and inner harmony. Pursuing therapy is a courageous decision. Whatever the challenges may be, I am happy to journey with you on this path of healing, overcoming, and anchoring. The counseling space that I offer will enable you to lean into your inner wisdom, strengths, skills, and capabilities.

I am a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor with over two decades of work experience in the mental health field. My work experience in the US and India has included weaving the intersectionality of equity, health, justice, and healing as an individual, a community, and a world.

A curious fact about me, which perhaps is rare, is that I worked in the corporate sector for ten years in leading technology companies before my immersion into the development and mental health field! The diverse background allows me to relate to a wide variety of people from all professions, backgrounds, and milieu.

I also speak several South Asian languages, including Hindi, Kannada, and Tulu.

In my work thus far, I have advocated for survivors of domestic violence and other forms of victimization alongside mental health counseling with trauma-informed approaches and mindfulness practices. Furthermore, I also worked as a counselor in a college setting, working closely with students and their families.

I weave person-centered therapy with holistic mindfulness approaches to healing and trauma-informed therapeutic interventions. As a clinician, I aim to support my clients in uncovering their own answers and their own truth, which offers access to their innate capacity for not merely healing but thriving!

I believe it is an honor to work with you. The work you do with me will be aimed at revealing a more authentic, happier, and healthier you! I look forward to meeting with you on your journey of overcoming.

Melissa Murphy, LCSW-C, LICSW, LCSW, C-DBT, is a seasoned therapist and clinical director at Bethesda Therapy, licensed in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and OCD, she employs ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) and Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), recognized as leading treatments for OCD. Melissa's expertise extends to managing mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic pain disorders. Her approach is collaborative and strengths-based, focusing on developing personalized strategies for each client.

As a Gottman-trained couples therapist, Melissa is adept at addressing the complexities of relationships affected by ADHD and OCD. She also treats Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) and finds profound fulfillment in supporting therapists and those in helping professions. Her work is underpinned by advanced training in both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Salima received her Bachelors degree from Georgia State University in Early Childhood Education. While teaching, she recognized the importance of mental health for both the child and the family. She wanted to transition to a career where she would have the opportunity to focus on the mental health of others. She obtained her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University. During her program, Salima spent time at Manna Treatment, where she gained experience working with eating disorders in the PHP and IOP programs. She also had the opportunity to work with children, teens, and adults for various issues such as divorce, depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental health concerns.

In addition to her internship experience, Salima also worked for Kate’s Club, where she lead grief groups for school-aged children who recently lost a family member or loved one. Salima enjoys seeing her clients progress and meet their personal goals and works with them to help foster mentally and emotionally healthy lives.

I am passionate about my work and love what I do. I have seen the effects that therapy can have in peoples’ lives and I am always honored to be a part of that process.

I received my M.A. in Psychology from Seattle University, and I completed my internship at Seattle Counseling Service. I am a veteran of the United State Navy.

In most cases the collaborative meaning-making process undertaken by client and therapist is the change factor that leads to clarity, relief, freedom and flourishing.

At any stage of development, we are bound to encounter obstacles to our ability to thrive. I help clients to become proactive agents in their own process. I have worked extensively with clients across all ages to reduce symptoms, promote growth, and instill acceptance, and lasting change.

My goal is to help every client be the truest, healthiest version of themselves. Career challenges, stage of life transitions, relational conflict, and social circumstances can all be sources of stress and produce feelings of inadequacy and isolation. Addressing these challenges not only increases self-awareness; it bolsters self-esteem, fuels empathy and increases our capacity for healthy interpersonal connection. Ultimately, these are the elements that allow us to weather the challenges life sends our way and to thrive in both personal and professional settings.

I am deeply passionate about holistic and systemic health that encourages mental, physical, and relational well-being. My experience in school-based counseling and private practice informs my approach to therapy which combines relational healing with practical tools. It is my goal that every client I work with leaves feeling more connected to themselves, the world, and others. I currently work with teens, adults, and couples navigating the impact of trauma, anxiety and depression, relationship challenges, and life stage transitions.

Danielle received her M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Richmont Graduate University.
Danielle offers EMDR for trauma treatment and has received Gottman Level I and Prepare/Enrich training. She is currently under the supervision of Devon Mills, Phd, LPC, LAMFT.

My mode for counseling stems from the desire to find the place of compassion within everyone’s story. We are all broken people in need of healing, but often our own judgements of ourselves prevents us from seeing the places we need love and insight. Therapy offers a safe space to process emotions and thoughts. Here, we are all able to uncover the root cause for the issues in our lives.
I work from a trauma-informed perspective, working through current issues and the deeper beliefs, thoughts and emotions that influence our choices. I specialize in boundary work, anxiety, depression, relationships, life transition, death and grief, spirituality issues, substance use, adjustment to change and changing cultures. I enjoy working with clients of all ages and approach counseling from a multicultural perspective. I also provide counseling with christian values and provide counseling without based on client’s preference and value system. I look forward to meeting you!

Starting therapy can be scary, overwhelming, frustrating, and/or exhausting. There are so much options.. and if you're not a therapist yourself, many of the terms and specialties are new for you and probably don't mean anything yet. If you're not sure what exactly you're looking for, but know you want help and support, you're in the right place. I'll explain the process, walk through what next steps are and work with you along the way to answer questions and make sure what we are doing continues to feel supportive of your needs.

I offer my clients a safe space to explore questions and thoughts that they may not feel comfortable sharing with others. We will look at the feelings that come up for you in difficult situations and also share the wins together. We can keep things in the moment and focus on what's currently happening, or explore how past experiences have shaped you.

Everyone's needs are different, and there is not a one size fits all to therapy. I believe the relationship is the most important part of this process, and with a strong connection to your therapist (hopefully me!) real change and understanding can happen. If you're ready to start, please reach out and we can walk through this together.

Are you struggling to find balance and create momentum in your daily life? I am offering virtual healthcare when you need it most. Through video calls we can meet, identify what change you want to occur and create a plan that propels you to a brighter future.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), I have over 15 years of experience in the behavioral health field. Using a variety of behaviorally-focused approaches I work with my clients to help them achieve their individual goals.

I utilize a behavior analytic approach to assist my clients. This includes creating SMART goals, taking baseline data, implementing interventions, and tracking progress throughout the duration of therapy. Give me a call and let's get started!