WE’RE HIRING!
Come join our team of 2000+ clinicians
FEATURED ARTICLE
A comprehensive guide to starting therapy
Book my first session
96% of clients feel supported and understood by their therapist
Get expert medication support, tailored to you
Check my copay estimate
Sessions cost $24 on average with insurance
Discover how starting teen counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
4 therapists available in Owings Mills
I believe therapy is a space for genuine connection, growth, and lasting change....
About
I believe therapy is a space for genuine connection, growth, and lasting change.
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with 14 years of experience helping individuals navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. I create a supportive environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to explore the patterns that shape their experiences. My approach is collaborative and compassionate, focusing on helping clients uncover their strengths and move toward greater emotional balance and fulfillment.
I earned a Master’s in Professional Counseling from Loyola University. Depending on client needs, I integrate an eclectic blend of emotionally focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy. These approaches are especially effective for clients managing moderate to severe anxiety and depression.
My goal is to help clients recognize and shift automatic responses that cause stress, turning these insights into meaningful growth. By sharing practical coping skills and fostering awareness of mind, body, and spirit, I guide clients toward resilience, self-compassion, and lasting happiness.
Education and training
View more therapists in Owings Mills
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.
As an African American woman, I understand identity issues....
As an African American woman, I understand identity issues.
Donna Young is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Georgia with over 20 years of experience assisting adolescents, teens, young adults, and families with managing anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and adjusting to life’s ups and downs. She is also an approved CPCS with the state of Georgia.
Donna obtained her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. She takes an eclectic approach that meets the client where they are and encompasses cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, and person-centered therapy. She focuses on assisting the client with gaining insight and awareness that will facilitate growth and understanding to meet the needs of the client.
Donna works toward establishing a therapeutic relationship that is built on trust, honesty, and unconditional positive regard. She will create an environment where the client will feel safe and comfortable being open and exploring ways to develop skills.
As an adolescent, I did not fit the mold of the typical teenager—so I understand the struggles that many children and teenagers fa...
As an adolescent, I did not fit the mold of the typical teenager—so I understand the struggles that many children and teenagers face.
Amanda Valltos is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 5 years of experience, primarily working with children and adolescents. She is a caring advocate for her clients, patiently working through their anxieties and concerns by using a variety of mental health approaches that benefit clients individual needs.
Amanda completed her Master’s degree in Social Work at Salisbury University. She has always been drawn to kids and teens, especially those who are struggling. Amanda has experienced struggles socially and with her own self-confidence. Due to this Amanda is not only able to support teens and children’s needs but also relate to them on a level only someone who has “been there” can provide. Amanda utilizes problem solving, emotional expression and mindfulness as techniques to support her clients.
Amanda has a reputation for building strong relationships based on a foundation of genuine respect, trust, and communication. Her ability to break through message barriers and uncertainties is based on a working collaboration with clients, their family and in the school if applicable. She looks forward to addressing your therapeutic needs and goals as a team.
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.
Before attempting any sort of counseling technique with teens, I heavily focus on building rapport with teens to make sure they are comfortable. Depending on the age, sometimes I implement play-based (games) therapy, CBT, or person centered and even nature-based which includes taking walks outside while we talk. Focusing on attempting multiple creative techniques with teens makes therapy less rigid and helps them open up much easier.
Not all teens need the same type of help when coming to therapy, but I provide help with learning coping skills to help reduce symptoms of anxiety or lessen their depression. I additionally assist in any peer/social conflicts while also providing support for any interpersonal issues or identity questions. If needed, I also offer communication techniques with role play, such as using 'I statements'. When the time approaches, I can offer limited career counseling assistance with finding out career choices through some assessments.
I can tell when a client is making meaningful progress in teen counseling if depression or anxiety assessments are being used form the beginning and continuously throughout session, through their own self-report, or through any parent feedback provided.
Client's can supplement their time in counseling with any homework provided to complete, that can entail mood tracking, journaling, practicing coping skills, or practicing communication techniques.
To prepare for teen counseling, it is imperative to come when the teen is actually willing and wanting to come to therapy. The therapeutic relationship can be much more difficult when a teen is forced to come in when they don't want to and are being forced to by parents with compliance issues being on the forefront or interfering with any type of progress.
Teen counseling helps young individuals better understand and manage the challenges that affect their mental health. Common challenges amongst teens include anxiety, depression, ADHD, and problematic relationships with food.
Teen counseling works by using multiple techniques, tailored to fit the teen’s unique needs — based on their age group, their challenges, and the severity of their challenges. It might involve cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, art therapy, and others for varying ages. In any case, Thriveworks teen therapists in Owings Mills have the expertise and experience to help young individuals at their level.
Signs that teens might need Teen counseling can be very subjective, as they are experiencing many changes and can have intense reactions to them. As parents, you know your child best and are best equipped to judge whether certain reactions are standard behaviors for your teen or whether they might be hinting at a larger problem. Even so, there are a few common signs and events that often point to a need for therapy, such as experiencing divorce or loss, grief, consistent low moods, teens distancing themselves and becoming isolated, losing interest in hobbies, excessive anger or irritability, substance use issues, and suicidal ideation, among others.
Teen counseling providers at Thriveworks in Owings Mills, MD offer both in person and online therapy by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
The length of teen counseling depends on your teen’s needs as well as the goals that you and their therapist might have for them. Generally, teen counseling sessions will last for several months.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Shown in ET
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.