Dealing with Family Stress? Find a Maryland Therapist to Help.
Montgomery County, Maryland is a great place to live. We have so many options. For activities, for camps, and for schools. All these options make family life pretty busy. And stressful.
Our family often gets the worst of us. The version of us that’s racing to get out the door in the morning. And the one that’s out of energy at night.
You’re reading this post because you want to help your family function better. You know it can be better. And you’re determined to make that happen.
You’d like some help. But maybe not everyone in the family is comfortable coming to therapy. Or available. You CAN come to therapy on your own to fix a family problem. Read more about that here.
How to find the best family therapist in Maryland (for yourself)
If you want to make a change in how your family functions, you need a family therapist. Here’s why. Family therapists understand how family systems work. They know what creates change in a family. And how to get positive changes to continue in the long term.
Luckily, you live in a great location for family therapy. The University of Maryland has excellent masters and doctoral programs in Couple and Family Therapy. These programs require students to provide 500 hours of therapy to clients before earning their degree. And at least half of those hours must be with couples and families.
That means that the Maryland suburbs of DC have a lot of therapists who are well trained to treat families. So how do you find them? Look for a therapist with LGMFT or LCMFT after their name.
LGMFT means the therapist has completed their graduate degree and is in their first few years of practicing family therapy. LGMFT therapists have “clinical supervisors” who review all of their work on a weekly basis, and make recommendations regarding each family they serve.
After 2-3 years of full time clinical work, LGMFT therapists earn their LCMFT license. They may still have clinical supervisors after that, but it’s a choice not a requirement.
Having trouble finding an LGMFT or LCMFT with openings? Look for a therapy practice that is led by one of these clinicians. If a LCMFT is in charge, it’s likely that they’ve chosen therapists with family therapy experience or are actively teaching their team to do family work.
(In fact, that’s exactly what’s happening at Better Together Family Therapy. Robin Brannan LCMFT is the clinical supervisor for all of our therapists.)
Click here to visit our services page and request an appointment with us. The next step will be a free consultation.
We want to help you find the best Maryland therapist for you. Whether you’re looking in Bethesda, Kensington, Rockville, or Silver Spring. Making the most of your free consultation is the first step.
Remember, those free consultations are free! Good therapists want you to find the right fit. It is ok and expected for you to call around before you commit.
Here are a few questions to ask in the first conversation:
What types of therapy do you provide?
What days and times do you currently have available?
How long are your therapy sessions?
Do sessions occur weekly?
Are they online, in person, or both?
What does therapy cost?
How will we know when therapy is finished?
Do call around. But if you find someone you really like, get back to them quickly. Schedules fill up fast.
And trust your instincts. If you don’t like the therapist or don’t feel respected in the first conversation, move on. This person may be “the best” but isn’t the best fit for you.
