Michelle Smalls

I became a therapist because I know firsthand that life can get complicated in ways that don't show on the outside. Trauma, grief, the pressure of holding a family together, the quiet weight of depression — these are real things, and they deserve real attention.

I work with adolescents, adults, and seniors across a wide range of experiences: anxiety, PTSD, maternal mental health, domestic violence, substance use, family conflict, and more. My focus areas are anxiety, depression, and trauma — but I show up for the whole person, not just the presenting issue.

As a Black female therapist practicing in Maryland, I'm especially attuned to the cultural context that shapes how we experience stress, seek help, and heal. You deserve a therapist who gets that — and doesn't require you to explain it.

My approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing — which means we'll look at the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and work together to shift the patterns that are keeping you stuck.

I lead with your strengths, not your deficits. I believe you already have more resilience than you're giving yourself credit for — my job is to help you see it clearly and put it to work. Sessions are collaborative and goal-oriented, but never rushed. We go at your pace.

Our first session is a conversation, not an intake form. I'll ask you to share what's brought you here — what's been going on, how long you've been carrying it, and what you're hoping feels different on the other side of this work.

By the end, we'll have a clearer sense of your goals and a starting point that's built around your life — not a template. Most people leave the first session feeling heard, and ready to come back.