Specialties

• Pregnancy & Postpartum Support
• Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
• Perinatal Loss/Grief/Infertility
• Life Transitions
• Relationship Issues
• Women’s Issues
• Self Esteem

EMDR Therapy

I am excited to announce that I am now offering Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

If you are struggling with distressing memories, anxiety, or the lingering effects of trauma related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum, or parenting, EMDR may be a helpful tool for healing.

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR is a structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help individuals process and heal from past trauma. Instead of talking through distressing experiences repeatedly, EMDR allows your brain to reprocess traumatic memories so they feel less overwhelming. It helps the brain ‘unstick’ from the trauma and move toward resolution.

How Does EMDR Address Trauma?

Trauma—whether from a difficult birth, pregnancy loss, medical complications, or other life events—can get stored in the brain in a way that keeps it feeling present, as if it is still happening. EMDR helps reprocess these memories so they become less distressing and no longer interfere with daily life.

What is Bilateral Stimulation?

A key component of EMDR is bilateral stimulation, which means engaging both sides of the brain through guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds. This helps the brain naturally process memories and reduce the emotional charge they carry. Over time, the distress linked to these memories decreases, making space for more adaptive thoughts and feelings.

What Does an EMDR Session Look Like?

EMDR follows an eight-phase approach:

History & Preparation – We discuss your experiences, identify areas of distress, and ensure you have tools to manage emotions between sessions.

Assessment – We pinpoint specific memories or themes to work on.

Desensitization – Using bilateral stimulation, we guide the brain in processing these memories.

Reprocessing & Installation – We reinforce positive, adaptive beliefs to replace distressing thoughts.

Body Scan – We check for and resolve any lingering physical distress.

Closure – We ensure you leave each session feeling grounded and safe.

Re-evaluation – In later sessions, we assess progress and continue as needed.

If you are curious about how EMDR may support your healing journey, I would love to connect and discuss whether it’s a good fit for you. Reach out to schedule a consultation!

Talk Therapy

Talk Therapy involves meeting with a trained professional to care for your mental and emotional health.

Think of it as a safe space to discuss challenges you are facing, improve your relationship with yourself and others, and develop healthy coping strategies to respond to situations you face in your day to day life. A supportive space to heal and grow.

The thought of embarking on a new journey can feel scary and uncertain. Here’s an idea of what our time together will look like:

Intake – During our first session, we will talk about the therapeutic process, policies and procedures. We will also explore your experiences surrounding the concerns you would like to address.
Assessment– The initial evaluation may last 2-4 sessions. During the assessment phase, I will be getting to know you. I will ask questions to gain an understanding of your worldview, strengths, concerns, needs, relationship dynamics, etc. During this relationship building process, I will be gathering a lot of information to aid in the therapeutic approach best suited for your needs and goals. If it is determined that I am not the best fit for your therapeutic needs, I will provide referrals for more appropriate treatment.
Goal Development/Treatment Planning – After gathering background information, we will collaborate to identify your goals.
Intervention – This phase occurs anywhere from session two until graduation/discharge. This is your opportunity to actively implement the skills obtained in session and utilize solutions discussed.
Graduation/Discharge– As you progress and get closer to completing goals, we will collaboratively discuss a transition plan for graduation/discharge.

Therapy sessions are typically weekly or biweekly for 50 minutes depending upon the nature of the presenting challenges. It is difficult to initially predict how many sessions will be needed. We will collaboratively discuss from session to session what the next steps are and how often therapy sessions will occur.

At this time, therapeutic services are delivered via a secure online platform. Office sessions available up request in Catonsville. Home sessions can be considered upon request.

Additional Services

Birth Plans

It is not uncommon to have an idea of how you envision your birth. Maybe you are hoping for an ALL NAT-UR-AL experience with no pain medication, or maybe you’re scheduled for a cesarean and have your fingers crossed that baby will be placed on your chest immediately after the procedure. Birth plans are tools that communicate your hopes and birthing goals to your provider. The very act of creating a birth plan can be empowering and helpful in guiding your questions to your care team during the prenatal period and during delivery. Do our plans always come off without a hitch? Not always, but during this process I can help you prepare your mind to cope with all possibilities and practice an attitude of flexibility and acceptance.

Perinatal Loss Plans

(Delivery Plan, Memory Making)

Some families journeys take unexpected turns. They do not always have the opportunity to parent beyond the womb. Their hearts are understandably broken and their journey is not what they imagined. I'll proactively partner with you in a supportive and compassionate way to honor your baby’s life and memory.

Presentations

Interested in providing psycho-education to your colleagues or community? Please consider allowing me to join you in sharing information about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

Postpartum Care Plans

Who's preparing meals once you get home? Who's picking up your kiddos from daycare? Who is available to sit with baby while you nap? It is common to engage in extensive planning like what color to paint the nursery, where to place the crib, or who is allowed to visit in the hospital. It is not uncommon, however, for the longer term postpartum details to escape you. Brainstorming how to ask for specific help and from whom we want to ask for help from is imperative in navigating the postpartum period. When people visit, should they bring a meal? Should they hold the baby while you shower or take a nap? Let's assess your team and make a plan for support.

Hospital Preparation & Postpartum Care

What goes in a hospital bag anyway? Why do all of these people keep knocking on my door, don't they know I just had baby and I'm tired? Let's prepare your mind for what's to come. Managing an unfamiliar environment with strangers and a new baby can be overwhelming, but can be better managed if you know what to expect.

Consultations

Providing support to a family and uncertain of what additional services or supports are available to connect them with next? Please contact me for individualized consultation or recommendations.

Therapy Fees

Fees

Gracefully Balanced Perinatal Counseling accepts the following insurances:

Maryland: Aetna, Cigna, Carefirst BCBS, United Healthcare, Oscar, Oxford, Humana.

Virginia: Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare, United Health/Optum-Medicaid

Payment or Co-Payment is due at the time services are provided. Accepted forms of payment are: Major Credit/Debit, unless other payment methods are discussed and agreed upon by both parties.

Interested in services, but don't have one of the listed insurance carriers? No worries! We can bill as an out of network service provider. A superbill can be provided to you upon request to provide to your insurer directly to explore if you can be reimbursed for services. It is important to consider, however, submission of a superbill does not guarantee reimbursement for services rendered.

Interested in services, but not interested in using your insurance? No worries, we can accommodate. We understand there are various reasons someone may choose not to use insurance such as:

Desiring to consult with a professional on non-psychiatric issues that are important to you that aren’t billable by insurance, such as learning how to cope with life changes, gaining more effective communication techniques for your relationships, increasing personal insight, and developing healthy new skills.
Being in control of your care, including choosing your therapist and length of treatment.
Increased privacy and confidentiality (except for limits of confidentiality).

Initial Evaluation: $160
60 Minute Session: $135
45 Minute Session: 125

If you are interested in paying for services out of pocket. I will prepare an estimate of costs. Please read below regarding "Good Faith Estimates".

Good Faith Estimate

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.