WE’RE HIRING!
Come join our team of 2000+ clinicians
FEATURED ARTICLE
A comprehensive guide to starting therapy
Check my copay estimate
Sessions cost $24 on average with insurance
Book my first session
96% of clients feel supported and understood by their therapist
Get expert medication support, tailored to you
Discover how starting EMDR therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
2 therapists available in Baltimore
My own experiences have shown me the transformative impact of therapy, and I’m grateful to walk alongside others as they work towa...
About
My own experiences have shown me the transformative impact of therapy, and I’m grateful to walk alongside others as they work toward healing and self-discovery.
I am a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical with 5 years of experience helping clients navigate challenges related to mental health and substance use. My work has centered on supporting individuals seeking healing, balance, and self-discovery. I’ve worked with adults managing depression, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions, and I’m passionate about empowering clients to strengthen self-awareness and develop the skills to create lasting, positive change in their lives.
I earned my Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland and draw from approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care. My approach is collaborative and compassionate, helping clients uncover their strengths and work toward their personal goals.
I understand that seeking help takes courage, and my goal is to create a space that feels safe, empowering, and judgment-free. I invite you to begin your healing journey and take the next step toward living a life filled with purpose, growth, and peace. Together, we can work toward the changes you want and deserve.
Education and training
View more therapists in Baltimore
I am here to help my client's explore feelings, improve quality of life, and strive towards their goals, while they remain feeling...
I am here to help my client's explore feelings, improve quality of life, and strive towards their goals, while they remain feeling safe and heard.
Karen Ortman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 5 years of experience in the mental health field. She has worked with children to assist them in improving their emotional and behavioral challenges, and she has worked with adults to learn and improve their daily living and social skills. Karen specializes in ADHD, anger, behavioral issues, coping skills, family therapy, and adjustment disorders.
Karen completed her Master's degree in Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Karen is very motivated to help her clients achieve progress towards their personal goals. Karen utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, behavioral therapy, and structural family therapy (SFT).
Karen is willing to put in the time to help you discover new ways to understand and improve your quality of life. Be sure to schedule an appointment with her to begin working towards a healthier you.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
Not ready to book? Contact me
Look for a confirmation email in your inbox shortly. We'll help find you a provider and guide you through everything you should know about starting care at Thriveworks.
No membership fees or subscriptions
Evening and weekend sessions
Award-winning therapy & psychiatry
What support are you seeking?
You acknowledge that by submitting this form, you are providing what may be considered “sensitive data” and consent to Thriveworks Privacy Policy & Terms. By submitting this information, you consent to receive communication from Thriveworks about our services via automatic calls, artificial or pre-recorded messages, or texts at the phone number provided, or by email at the address provided. You have the option to opt out of communications.
We will contact you with availability updates based on the preferences you provided for up to six months.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a specialized psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on assisting individuals in processing traumatic memories, diminishing their emotional intensity, and facilitating the integration of the traumatic experience into their past, enabling them to progress in their lives. This process follows four steps: history-taking, preparing the client, assessing the target memory, and processing the memory and finding an adaptive resolution. After this, Thriveworks EMDR therapists in Baltimore will continue to help individuals process the memory and evaluate the results of the treatment to ensure its effectiveness.
EMDR is primarily employed to aid individuals who have endured trauma, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and who have experienced other distressing life events.
EMDR therapy is generally less suitable for individuals currently experiencing acute trauma or those who have not yet acquired fundamental coping and distress tolerance skills. To engage in EMDR therapy effectively, one must possess a certain degree of distress tolerance.
EMDR tends to be very effective in relieving the negative symptoms associated with trauma. In a study performed by Francine Shapiro called The Role of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy in Medicine: Addressing the Psychological and Physical Symptoms Stemming from Adverse Life Experiences (2014), results showed that after just three EMDR sessions, 84% of participants reported a remission of PTSD diagnosis. EMDR will often have a higher success rate for survivors of a single traumatic event than for those who have experienced repeated or multiple instances of trauma when EMDR is performed for the same amount of time. This is due to the increased intensity of the trauma and the need to process multiple events.
At Thriveworks, we accept most major insurance plans, allowing many clients to pay as little as $0–$50 per session with their co-pay. We also offer self-pay options for those out-of-network or without insurance. Self-pay rates for talk therapy range from $160 to $240 for intake sessions and $135 to $195 for follow-ups, depending on your state. For psychiatry services, self-pay intake sessions are $255–$375, with follow-ups ranging from $175–$300, also varying by state. More information on current self-pay costs is available on our pricing page.
If you’re looking for EMDR therapists in Baltimore, MD, you’re in luck. EMDR therapy at Thriveworks can be conducted both in person at one of our many offices around the U.S. and online via remote video conferencing. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
Generally, EMDR is a shorter-term therapy, typically encompassing multiple sessions. While some individuals may make substantial progress within just a few sessions, others may opt for an extended treatment period, particularly if dealing with complex or severe trauma or conditions.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Thriveworks Baltimore has no reviews yet, but check out these reviews from locations in Maryland.
Shown in ET
8 photos
Call us to book
Our team is happy to help you schedule your first session.
Book online
Find the right provider for you. Book your session online yourself in just a few easy steps.