Evidence-Based Therapy for Anxiety Disorders, OCD, and Depression

Hi there, and welcome! If you’ve landed here, chances are something has been feeling a little heavier than it should. Maybe anxiety is acting like an annoying backseat driver. Maybe OCD keeps sending you down exhausting loops of “what ifs,” doubts, or routines that feel impossible to break. Maybe you’re tired of feeling stuck and wondering how to get back to yourself. Or maybe you’re a parent looking for support for your teen - trying to understand their anxiety, big emotions, worries, or changes in how they’re handling life. Whatever brought you here, you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

I’m Maria, a psychologist who helps teens and young adults (ages 13–40) struggling with anxiety, OCD, depression, and many other challenges this life gives us. My goal is to help you better understand what’s keeping you stuck and help you move toward a life that feels bigger than anxiety and more connected to what matters most to you.

Using evidence-based approaches like CBT, ERP, DBT, and ACT, we’ll focus on real-life strategies - not just talking about the problems, but learning how to respond to them differently. The fact that you’re here means you’ve already taken a huge first step, I’d love to help you take the next one.

let's chat! Schedule a free 15-minute phone call.

Do these sound familiar?

The overthinker:

  • "Did I say something weird?"

  • “I need to plan for every possible outcome, just in case something goes wrong.”

  • “Should I send another text?”

The people pleaser:

  • "I don't want anyone to be upset with me."

  • "It's easier to say yes."

  • “I’ll hide how I really feel so everyone stays happy.”

The avoider:

  • "I'll deal with it tomorrow."

  • "Maybe it'll just go away."

  • "I'm not ready yet."

The ritualist:

  • “I have to do it this exact way, or it won’t feel right.”

  • “I know it seems silly, but I can’t stop until it’s perfect.”

  • “I’ll just do it one more time… to be safe.”

Therapy doesn’t have to feel intimidating. I help people uncover what’s driving these patterns, and then we change them by focusing on strategies that help you face your fears and situations you have been avoiding. The goal is to give you tools you can use in everyday life, not just in therapy, so that anxiety, OCD, or depression don’t dictate your choices.

“The best investment you can make is in yourself”

-Warren Buffet

Learn more about our services below.

  • Therapist or Psychologist in Maryland or Bethesda, Maryland

    Individual Therapy

    Providing virtual therapy services to adolescents and young adults. To learn more about the benefits of virtual therapy and/or if your child may be appropriate, click here.

  • Therapy in Bel Air, MD

    Family Consultations

    Sometimes individual therapy can be enhanced through adding family involvement and participation. I work collaboratively with family members, with the consent of the client, to offer tools to foster healthier, more effective interactions. Learn more here.

  • Mental Health Speaker in Maryland

    Presentations

    I offer a limited amount of pro bono presentations to local Maryland schools and organizations to discuss mental health research, interventions, and advocacy efforts. Click here to view a list of presentations I’ve completed.