Jelisa Matthews

Hi! My name is Jelisa Matthews and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C). I work with children, adolescents and young adults that may have difficulty coping with major life transitions (divorce, relocation, career changes, etc.), managing stress, anxiety, and/or depression symptoms. I work with clients to identify strengths, gain insight into maladaptive behaviors and coping strategies, and learn tools to improve management of stressors and overall quality of life.

I have over 7 years of experience as a social worker and graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Social Work in 2018. I graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in 2011 with a B.S. in Public Health. My professional experience includes conducting community outreach in Baltimore, working in child welfare and community mental health. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. Congrats on taking the first step of your mental health journey and please let me know if you have any questions!

As a therapist, my goal is to create a safe space for clients that is warm, non-judgmental, and safe. I emphasize the importance of utilizing a person-centered approach and understanding how culture and life experiences shape core beliefs and personal values. I utilize techniques from EMDR, CBT, Mindfulness, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing depending on the client’s individualized needs.

The initial session will focus on building rapport, completing a biospscyhosocial assessment, and collaborating to identify treatment goals.