adult therapy
Silver Spring

When adults call our Silver Spring practice, they often describe the same feeling: being stuck. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by work demands while trying to be present for your family. Maybe you’re questioning whether the path you’ve chosen is actually yours. Or maybe you’re just tired of feeling anxious, depressed, or empty despite having what looks like a good life from the outside. Many adults find that psychodynamic therapy helps them understand these deeper questions about meaning and direction.

If you’re comparing therapy options in the DC area, you’ve probably noticed that most practices promise the same things: “evidence-based treatment” and “cognitive behavioral therapy.” What they don’t mention is that decades of research shows that psychodynamic therapy produces therapy produces outcome equivalent to other approaches – but with deeper, longer-lasting change. Do we provide CBT? Certainly, but it’s important to remember this most important fact: Ultimately, the relationship between you and your therapist matters more than the technique or method.

Life Transitions That Feel Impossible
Career changes, divorce, parenthood, aging parents – these aren’t just “adjustments.” They’re fundamental identity shifts that can leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about yourself. We help you navigate these changes without losing who you are in the process.

The Hidden Exhaustion of Modern Parenting
Parenting today isn’t just harder than it used to be – it’s a different job entirely. When you’re expected to be a provider, nurturer, breadwinner, educator, and entertainment coordinator while maintaining your own mental health, something has to give. We work with parents who are drowning in expectations and help them find a sustainable way forward.

Adult ADHD and Autism Discovery
Learning you’re neurodivergent as an adult can feel like finding a key to a door you didn’t know existed. It explains so much but also raises new questions about relationships, work, and identity. We specialize in helping adults integrate this new understanding without pathologizing their entire past.

Work-Life Balance (When Neither Feels Like Living)
The advice to “set boundaries” assumes you know where you end and your responsibilities begin. For many adults, work demands and family needs have merged into one exhausting blur. We help you rediscover what you actually want from life, not just what you think you should want.

The Loneliness Epidemic
In our hyper-connected world, genuine connection has become increasingly rare. Social media promises community but delivers comparison. Remote work promises flexibility but isolates. We help adults rebuild real relationships and find authentic belonging.

We Start With the Relationship, Not the Symptoms
Most practices will ask about your symptoms and match you to a treatment protocol. We believe that’s backwards. The relationship between you and your therapist is the foundation of all healing. Everything else – techniques, homework, insights – only works if that relationship is strong. We prioritize connection over compliance.

We Don’t Avoid Difficult Conversations
Many therapists are afraid to challenge their clients or afraid to discuss uncomfortable realities. We’re not. If you’re paying for therapy, you deserve honesty, not just validation. Sometimes that means pointing out patterns you might not want to see or asking questions you’ve been avoiding.

We Understand That Adults Are Busy (And Tired)
Our approach recognizes that you don’t have unlimited time or energy for therapy homework or lengthy processes. We focus on changes that actually fit into your real life, not an idealized version of it. We also collaborate with your other healthcare providers because we know you’re juggling multiple demands on your time.

We’re Not Afraid to Say When Therapy Isn’t Working
Unlike many practices that measure success by how long clients stay in treatment, our nonprofit model means we’re invested in your outcomes, not our revenue. If something isn’t helping after a reasonable time, we’ll tell you. We might suggest a different approach, refer you elsewhere, or recommend a break from therapy altogether.

Your Investment Creates Access for Others
When you choose Kingsbury, you’re doing more than investing in your own wellbeing. Our nonprofit model means that every family who can afford our services helps us provide the same high-quality care to families who cannot. By working with us, you’re directly contributing to a more equitable mental health system where financial barriers don’t determine who gets help.

We Treat the Whole System, Not Just the Individual
Personal problems rarely exist in isolation. Your anxiety might be connected to your work environment. Your depression might be related to your relationship dynamics. Your motivation issues might reflect a values mismatch in your life. We look at the bigger picture and often involve partners, family members, or other important people in your treatment when appropriate.

We Use Psychodynamic Therapy Because the Research Supports It
The research very clearly shows that psychodynamic therapy achieves strong outcomes for depression, anxiety, and relationship issues – with benefits that often continue growing after treatment ends. Unlike approaches that focus primarily on symptoms, psychodynamic therapy helps you understand how unconscious patterns from your past shape your current relationships and choices. This deeper understanding leads to more sustainable change because you’re addressing root causes, not just managing symptoms.

Director of Psychotherapy and Clinical Training

• Location: Silver Spring, MD
• Virtual therapy available in participating PsyPact states
• Insurance: Out-of-network provider (we provide documentation for reimbursement)
• Session length: 45 minutes
• Frequency: Typically weekly