About Us- Our Therapists

Welcome! Creative Counseling Connections specializes in working with FAMILIES, CHILDREN, TEENS and ADULTS for the treatment of:

  • anxiety and depression, utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (making connections between the way we think and the way we feel and behave), The Dare Program and biofeedback
  • communication, conflict resolution and relational concerns
  • trauma utilizing EMDR and TF-CBT
  • complex developmental trauma concerns via use of TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention & TF-CBT), attachment theory and family systems approach
  • PANS/PANDAS
  • alternative (non-medicinal) treatment of ADHD via Brain Integration Therapy
  • grief and loss
  • biofeedback training for stress, pain, and handling emotions

Life can be more than just existing. It’s possible to feel whole again.

 

Connect to a Therapist Who Is Right For You…

Independent Contractors serving Creative Counseling Connections

Christine Winkler, LCSW-C

In-network with Cigna or self-pay

Immediate evening telehealth openings. Hi, I’m Christine! I enjoy working with 1) ADHD and autism 2) trauma and 3) depression and anxiety. Do you worry that you won’t be able to function well in school, college or work, getting stuck in cycles of task anxiety, which leads to procrastination then further stress & feelings of hopelessness? Whether you’ve received a recent ADHD diagnosis, overall anxiety or have been masking your autism for years, I’m here to tell you – you’re not too much! I can help with organization, systems (and more), using thought patterns to help you feel and do better, and Brain Integration Therapy.
For trauma, I utilize EMDR or Cognitive Processing Therapy, depending on what best fits you. I have a special interest in coming alongside those who’ve experienced sexual trauma.
As a believer, I’m happy to incorporate your Christian faith into therapy, upon request only.

Dr. Didi Anude, resident

      Office location- Gaithersburg (Tuesdays), Frederick (Mondays) or virtual
     Cigna or Self pay $50 per session

 

 Hi, I’m Dr. Didi Anude, resident, pastor and Mama of 5! As a previous family physician, I found my passion was truly knowing my patients as people- all of their history and complexities. I now work with couples, families, and adolescents 12+ and want you to be seen, valued and heard, maybe for the first time in your life. Do you have repetitive conflicts or reactivity, cycles of disconnection? Painful experiences that follow you into relationships, work, school, parenting or how  you see yourself? We will work on restoring joy and emotional closeness via attachment and Gottman theories. For individuals, I also work with depression, anxiety and trauma via EMDR, CBT, TF-CBT, CPT and EMDR. Christian faith integration available upon your request only. 
Dr. Didi is self-pay at $50 and has in-person (Gaithersburg, Frederick) and virtual openings. Please contact us at creativecounselingconnections@yahoo.com for scheduling. 
 

Learn more about couples therapy and FAQ’s HERE

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Hi, I’m Emma! I work primarily with children, teens and families, and TBRI-trained. Other people would describe my relaxed and supportive, yet proactive and goal-oriented- making it easy for children and teens to feel comfortable but also grow. I believe it’s important for therapy to:

1) include parents as an important piece of the puzzle 

2) send you and your child out the door with new skills or a deeper awareness every week and….

3) be fun, especially for the littles!

For kids, I can incorporate creative arts, play, games, virtual activities and even a therapy swing (!) into our time together. For teens, we may talk or incorporate creative arts depending on what you prefer. Christian counseling focus available upon request.

While I work with a range of concerns, I tend to work very well with kids struggling with anxiety, behavior, ADHD and those who have experienced childhood trauma or disconnection from their parent, including but not limited to foster care and adoption. 

“Therapist lingo” for modalities utilized:

  • TBRI and attachment-based therapies such as theraplay and parent-child interaction
  • TF-CBT, DBT and CBT-based activities beyond simple talk therapy, helpful for those who have difficulty expressing themselves or struggle with anxiety or depression.
  • Brain Integration Therapy for a holistic, non-medicinal treatment of ADHD. Ask about our upcoming online course for at-home treatment!
  • Making Sense of Your Worth/Past for those recovering from unhealthy families of origin and the impact on current relationships.

Parents will also have access to training in “therapeutic parenting” by senior therapist, Sara Rodriguez, LCSW-C. 

I look forward to hearing from you! Please email me at: creativecounselingconnections@yahoo.com.

Ben Hurlburt, LGPC

Office- Frederick or virtual 
Insurance- Cigna/Evernorth, self pay or Aetna/United out of network
  • Aetna and United- we partner with Thrizer, a reimbursement company for those with “out of network” insurance benefits. Simply pay your out of network copay or receive automatic reimbursements to your bank account every 3 weeks.

 
Hi, I’m Ben! Do you often feel down, unmotivated, numb or swinging between angry and numb? Have you experienced an event or a series of events that seems to impact your relationships [trust, openness], sleep or work/school? Frequently criticize your body, under or over-eat when stressed? Feel you want more in your relationship with your partner? I work with older children, teens, adults and couples who want help with 1) trauma or painful childhood or adult experiences, 2) body image or challenges with eating, including those wondering if they have bulimia, anorexia or AFRID- PANS/PANDAS clients welcome and 3) underlying depression. I use techniques such as CBT, ED-CBT, DBT, EMDR & CPT, & body positivity (Health at Every Size).
 
Perfectionism and a lack of self-acceptance lie at the core of many issues. I can help you to unconditionally accept yourself- whether you body, work or grades- and can teach you howto  handle distress instead of allowing it to bully you. I am known for my patient & supportive nature (my supervisor describes me as having “chill vibes”), having a knack for helping folks open up and “put the pieces together” of their story.
 
Ben is also trained in attachment-focused therapies such as TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) and theraplay, especially designed for children and teens who have early developmental trauma or have experienced foster care or adoption. As an adoptive sibling himself, he’s had some personal exposure to the ups and downs of walking beside someone who’s experienced developmental trauma.
 
CBT -assessing thought patterns and how they affect emotions & behavior 
DBT- distress tolerance
EMDR- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing and CPT for trauma
CPT- Cognitive Processing Therapy using journaling and thought processing
Art therapy
Faith-based counseling is available upon request
 
Intensive outpatient or multiple sessions a week schedules are available.
 
In his free-time, Ben enjoys baseball and spending time with his wife and daughter.  
Please email us at creativecounselingconnections@yahoo.com to set up your first appointment.
 
 
Katie (Kathleen) Giganti, LCSW-C
Virtual telehealth on Tuesday and Wednesdays
Insurance- Cigna/Evernorth, self pay or Aetna/United out of network
Aetna and United- we partner with Thrizer, a reimbursement company for those with “out of network” insurance benefits. Simply pay your out of network copay or receive automatic reimbursements to your bank account every 3 weeks.
 
 
Hi, I’m Katie! Do you struggle with high stress or feeling down, but not sure how to feel better? Daily challenges, emotional burdens, and past experiences can leave you feeling drained and stuck in a rut. I specialize in helping women who want to exit the vicious cycle & feel themselves again. I can help you identify triggers, set goals and maintain them. I use techniques known as “CBT,” or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (using the way you think to improve mood or stress) and distress tolerance skills so that you build that resiliency muscle- just like an athletic trainer would in a gym. I am a trained fitness instructor and am able to incorporate physical and/or spiritual health into my work, upon request. 
 
Sometimes what causes stress for women is raising kids! As a mom of four, my approach to parent coaching relies heavily on “positive parenting” strategies for avoiding power struggles and maintaining connection. Together, we work on healing generational patterns and establishing a balanced, fulfilling life.
 I have immediate virtual openings on Wednesdays and look forward to hearing from you. Please email me at katie.creativecounseling@yahoo.com to connect and set up your first appointment!
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Michelle McLaughlin, LGPC

Office- Frederick, MD or virtual
In-network Insurance- I accept Cigna/Evernorth, self pay or Aetna/United out of network
* Aetna, United & others- we partner with Thrizer, a reimbursement company for those with “out of network” insurance benefits. Simply pay your out of network copay or receive automatic reimbursements to your bank account every 3 weeks. Thrizer processes the requests to insurance automatically on your behalf.
 
Hi, I’m Michelle! I am a licensed psychotherapist, retired military veteran, Christian counselor, wife and mother of two sons. I enjoy working with teens and adult individuals with complex issues such as traumatic incidences, painful childhood experiences (bullying; physical, emotional or sexual abuse, etc), or intimate partner abuse. I am a Certified Traumatologist, EMDR-trained. I prefer to create a tailored approach to every individual based on their unique needs. Therapeutic interventions used have included EMDR for trauma, emotion focused couples therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, coping skills, expressive therapy and trauma informed interventions.

Brief explanation of EMDR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUufXf_cTec&list=PL97wJ-7bx1-Z5sy5sBYXpk0DWuW30Myc-&index=3

Please contact us at creativecounselingconnections@yahoo.com or 301-740-6050 to connect. I’m happy to talk with you for a free 10 minute consultation to see if we would be a good fit!

Elise Celli, LGSW

Office location- virtual only

In-network Insurance- I accept Cigna/Evernorth, self pay or Aetna/United out of network
* Aetna, United & others- we partner with Thrizer, a reimbursement company for those with “out of network” insurance benefits. Simply pay your out of network copay or receive automatic reimbursements to your bank account every 3 weeks. Thrizer processes the requests to insurance automatically on your behalf.

Hi, I’m Elise! I enjoy working with 1) young adults and teens entering and surviving the adulting world 2) stressed out men & women- I connect well with both 4) those who feel disconnected in relationships or choose the “wrong” people after painful childhood experiences- adult adoptees welcome 4) those with chronic pain or illness. As a person who has both personal & professional experience with chronic pain/illness, I get it and am here to help! My approach? I am supportive & a little spunky, but also gently challenge you so that you can reach your goals. Christian counseling available upon request.

You might find me introducing distress tolerance skills (DBT), help you observe thoughts, feelings and behaviors (CBT), connecting the dots from past experiences to current relationships (attachment theory), & exploring the different parts of yourself that pop up when triggered (IFS). I previously owned my own art studio, so I am happy to incorporate creative arts in our time together.

She also works with children from an attachment and trust-based perspective (TBRI) and encourages parents through connected parenting strategies.

Elise Celli has a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maryland and is a formally trained artist with a degree from the Fashion Institute of New York, which allows her to combine her two passions, art and therapy, to create dynamic counseling tools for certain clients where appropriate.

According to Elise, “Art has the power to transform and heal, and yet so too does communication with a highly empathetic and trained individual, especially when it comes to trauma. By combining various theoretical perspectives, I am able to connect with clients and meet them where they are, so we can work together to get to where they want to go.”

Ms. Celli, together with her husband Louis lives in Montgomery Village, Maryland and together enjoy a blended family of six children, two grandchildren, and one puppy daughter named Savannah.

Please contact us at creativecounselingconnections@yahoo.com or 301-740-6050 to connect. I’m happy to talk with you for a free 10 minute consultation to see if we would be a good fit!

About Sara Rodriguez, LCSW-C

Office- Gaithersburg or virtual

In-network Insurance- I accept Cigna/Evernorth, self pay or Aetna/United out of network
* Aetna, United & others- we partner with Thrizer, a reimbursement company for those with “out of network” insurance benefits. Simply pay your out of network copay or receive automatic reimbursements to your bank account every 3 weeks. Thrizer processes the requests to insurance automatically on your behalf.

Post-Graduate Certifications:

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma, National Center for PTSD
  • Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner (TBRI), Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development
  • “Adoption Competent Counselor,” Adoptions Together/C.A.S.E
  • Trauma-Focused CBT Program, University of South Carolina

As an independently licensed clinical social worker, I enjoy using my training and experience in therapy to serve others. I am not the typical therapist depicted on TV who simply nods her head and asks “how does that feel?” I believe it is my job not only to create a safe place where you can feel heard and understood, but to send you out the door with skills you or your child can use in your daily lives.

As a believer, I am able and happy to include spirituality as a part of this journey, upon request. It is my goal that healing, connection and hope grows as a result of our time together.  Please feel free to visit the rest of my website for more details.

Contact:

Sara Rodriguez, LCSW-C

Germantown, MD

301-740-6050