Dr. Brett Opelt

Dr. Opelt earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at New Mexico State University after completing his Master’s of Science in Educational Psychology: Community Counseling from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. During his graduate training, he earned certifications in Trauma Counseling and Multicultural Knowledge Basis in Mental Health Practices, and a graduate minor in Integrated Behavioral Health. Dr. Opelt has completed postdoctoral fellowships in research in Rehabilitation Psychology, with an emphasis on Multiple Sclerosis, at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and in clinical Rehabilitation and Pain Psychology at MedStar Health National Rehabilitation Hospital. He has focused his clinical work on adults who have concerns about insomnia, cognitive impairment, addiction, LGBT+ concerns, caregiver support, transplants, burn survivors, cancer, musculoskeletal diseases like MS and Parkinson’s disease, and those who have amputations. He is a licensed psychologist in Maryland and Illinois.

My approach to therapy is to provide a space that feels comfortable and safe to be vulnerable. Therapy is meant to be a place where you get to grow into your authentic and genuine self. You can imagine that I am the one holding your map, but you are the guide and you get to choose the path to your growth.

The first couple of sessions will focus on gathering background information, such as your personal relationships, previous experiences in therapy, and any previous mental health diagnoses that you may have been given in the past. We will explore the reasons and your goals for coming to therapy. During this time, any questions that you have about the therapy process will be addressed. Last, we will brainstorm goals that you would like to accomplish in therapy and discuss the payment process.