Finding the Right Therapist

You’re scrolling through profiles trying to find the right therapist - something that feels impossible when you’re “different.” Something about your identity leads others to treat you like an outsider, so finally picking up the phone or sending off an email can be panic inducing at best. What are they going to say? Will they really get you? When you finally push through your anxiety and send a message only to have a therapist be confused, concerned, or downright demeaning when you start talking about your identity, history, or beliefs, it can spook you from ever wanting to try therapy again. Heck, it can be re-traumatizing.

You’ve heard therapists, doctors, co-workers, friends or family say things like: 

• “There’s no such thing as being bisexual, only ‘try”sexual, because you’ll just try anything.”

• “Polyamory isn’t normal. Did your parents have a lot of affairs or something?”

• “What does demi-girl even mean? Non binary? There are only two genders?”

• “You need to stop smoking pot if you’re going to work with me.” (I’ve personally gotten this one too!!!)

• “Being interested in BDSM and kink is a disorder… Maybe you need to get some help.”

• “Of course Black lives matter… All lives matter. You’re not getting brainwashed, are you?”

• Or, God(s), Goddess(es), and Universe forbid, someone has actually tried to convert you to a specific religion because they saw non-Christian faiths as wrong or damaging.

Obviously, there are lots of great therapists, supportive friends, and open-minded family members out there! But, if you’ve experienced anything like the above, no wonder you’re struggling trying to figure out who to trust with your story. Honestly, I’ve lived through these sorts of scenarios myself and had dozens of clients tell me these same stories over and over again. 

Once, I felt like an "outsider" with no place to belong.

Then, I found the right therapist! Everything changed. Through having a non-judgmental person to help me help myself, I learned to accept it was okay to not be like "everyone else." It was like finding the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. At last, I felt like I could let my “freak flag” fly and it was alright. It was okay to be me. RADICAL SELF LOVE! Hell yeah!

Now, I hope to be that therapist for you! 

If you’re a bit of an introvert like me, you’ll be happy to know I love using email to communicate. Feel free to reach out to me at Therapy@Safrianna.com. If calling is more your style, leave me a voice message at 762-441-0444. I see clients online for therapy anywhere in the state of Maryland. Schedule a FREE 15 minute consultation with me right here or send me that email!

In our work together, I will offer you the tools to expand your view of yourself and your world. By exploring parts of Self (Internal Family Systems therapy), mindfully bringing awareness to your experience (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy), expressing yourself through activities tailored to your interests such as art, writing, movement, and more (Integrative Medicine & Expressive Modalities), you will gain a new perspective on life and your purpose. We’ll tackle the boundaries you’ve always wanted to have, but been too afraid to assert.

If you are willing to take the risk and get to know yourself, you can radically change your life. I am trained in Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness, EMDR, & Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, but I like to throw in a variety of expressive modalities to create a more holistic approach. In our work together, you'll have weekly practices to help you integrate what you're working on in sessions - many opportunities to grow! While I recognize the work is challenging, we will game plan around each difficulty so that we can tackle them together. 

I am:

• Trauma informed and specialized

• A polyamory and kink friendly therapist

• Versed in the world of BDSM and its various dynamics

• An LGBTQIA+ identifying and affirming therapist

• Spiritually progressive and a pagan friendly therapist

• Located in Frederick, MD but serve clients from Baltimore, Annapolis, Olney, New Market, Hagerstown, and more!

• Provide online therapy to the entire state of Maryland

• A Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LC10745, with a degree in Counseling: Community Mental Health from McDaniel College

I work best with clients who are:

• Not afraid to get messy

• Committed to taking steps based on what we go over in session & applying it to their daily lives and habits

• Open to trying new things

• Seeking to confront the reality of their situation & their contributions to the situation(s)

• Done blaming or feeling blamed for their circumstances & strongly desire to live a more centered life

• Ready to see some radical changes in their lives

• Motivated to go deep into their inner "junk" & do some real self-reflection

If you feel like you need additional information, check out my FAQ! If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, email me at Therapy@Safrianna.com. If calling is more your style, leave me a voice message at (762) 441-0444. Or, better yet, schedule a FREE 15 minute consultation with me right here.