If you’re thinking of starting therapy for the first time, you might know how to get started or what to expect.  At LifeSpring Counseling Services, we understand these concerns and have created the Starting Therapy podcast series to provide clarity and support. While we have lots of content on our website, we also wanted to make our content available in audio form.  Here’s a summary of this private, mini podcast series and the content you can expect to find.

Looking for a therapist in Baltimore or anywhere in Maryland? If you’ve never searched for a therapist before, you might not be sure where to begin. In fact, the process can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if this is your first time seeking therapy services. Whether you’re searching for someone who “gets it,” hoping to work with a therapist who shares your background, or just trying to figure out where to start, there are more resources than ever to help you find the right fit.

For many adults in Maryland, the idea of starting therapy sounds great in theory, but the reality of carving out time for sessions feels overwhelming. Between work responsibilities, parenting, caregiving, and simply keeping up with life, therapy often lands at the bottom of the to-do list.

At LifeSpring Counseling Services, we work with a lot of busy professionals, parents, college students, and caregivers. Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I know I need support, but I don’t know when I’d even fit therapy in.” If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Here’s the good news! People are making therapy work, often in creative, flexible ways that fit into their real lives.

If you're living in Maryland, whether you're in Columbia, Silver Spring, Baltimore, or a quieter town in Harford County and feeling stuck in sadness or low energy, this blog is for you! Depression affects people from all walks of life, and it's more than just “a rough patch.”

You might be holding it all together at work, at home, with friends, but still feel like something’s off. For many adult men in Maryland, stress, burnout, and emotional struggle go unspoken. Whether you’re in Towson, Silver Spring, or Baltimore, therapy offers a confidential space to release some of the pressure and reconnect with yourself.

As therapists, we try to encourage clients that our spaces are places where we can be vulnerable, share stories with one another, and develop a sense of trust between the two of us. But, what happens when you meet a client who has learned that speaking about their problems isn't the right answer? What if a client walks in that has been told to be tough all of their lives? What if this client views themselves as someone independent from others, who can control any emotional state that they are in? What do therapists do with clients whose values conflict with the therapeutic principles at its core?

If you’ve been looking into therapy intensives, you’ve probably noticed that they come with a higher price tag than traditional therapy. Understandably, that might leave you wondering—why do they cost so much? And more importantly, are they worth the investment?

Therapy intensives are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. They offer a deep, focused approach to therapeutic growth that allows people to work through big emotions, life transitions, and unresolved trauma in a shorter period of time. But with so many different therapy intensives available, how do you know which one is the right fit for you?

If you’ve been searching for therapy options in Maryland, you may have noticed something new.  More and more practices are offering therapy intensives. Whether it’s EMDR intensives, trauma-focused intensives, or Brainspotting intensives, these deep-dive therapy sessions are gaining traction fast. But why? What makes therapy intensives so popular, and more importantly, is a therapy intensive right for you?

When it comes to therapy, many people conclude that using insurance is the way to go or that all mental health providers accept health insurance. But did you know that many individuals–right here in Baltimore and across Maryland—choose to invest in private pay therapy instead? While insurance can be a helpful tool for accessing mental health care, it also comes with limitations that don’t work for everyone.

A topic that has come up in my personal life with male friends and in my work life with male clients is that of stoicism. This is a topic of genuine interest for me as a man who is a mental health professional as the practice of stoicism is problematic. This blog will outline what stoicism is, the messages it sends to men, and healthier ways of being for others.

We’re talking with Sara Sacada-Lovio, LCPC, who is a mental health therapist at LifeSpring Counseling Services. She'll be talking with us about demystifying the therapy process, which can be a great topic for someone who's been considering therapy or someone who has strong beliefs about therapy, even if you've never tried it. So this will be an opportunity to check some of the information that you already have about therapy.

When you call our office, Sarah is the first person that you're going to talk to. If you send us an email, she is the person who's going to answer you. We also want to say that Sarah is someone who gets tons of compliments! We hear a lot of feedback from clients who are just so impressed with how she takes care of them and how she makes them feel comfortable when they call our office.

While some therapists see participating in therapy as a normal and necessary thing to do when working in this field, others may experience shame over needing to seek help themselves. That shame might come from a place of asking, “How am I going to help my clients if I can’t help myself? I should have it together!” However, one thing I have come to learn is EVERYONE needs to check in with their mental health, therapists included.

Have you ever wondered if therapists think about their clients between sessions? If so, let me just cut to the chase and let you know that the answer is a resounding yes!! Does that surprise you? 

If you are surprised, I can kind of understand.

As the holiday season approaches, the idea of shopping locally and supporting small businesses takes center stage. From finding unique gifts to dining at neighborhood restaurants, buying local helps keep your community thriving. But have you ever considered the importance of "shopping local" when it comes to your healthcare choices?

Why not just wing it?

Why not just talk about marriage with your fiance one day over a cup of coffee and call it a day?

We already know everything we need to know about each other.

We’ve been living together for a while, so we’re basically married and there’s nothing new to learn.

Anything sound familiar? While there can certainly be some truth behind those statements, I would assume that - if you’re engaged to be married - there’s a high likelihood that it’s because you value your relationship with your partner and you want it to last a lifetime. If this is true for you, I MUST recommend an assessment (specifically the Prepare/Enrich assessment) as a part of your journey to marriage. 

If you’re reading this, I hope it’s fair to assume you and your other half are engaged (or about to be)! If you haven’t found out by now, the world of engagement can be… a lot. Maybe you’re getting 20 questions from family members, hearing unsolicited opinions, and probably already feeling behind on the planning process. I’ve seen firsthand the impact wedding planning can have on a relationship. It’s very easy for couples to lose sight of the marriage that awaits them on the other side of the wedding. That’s where premarital counseling comes in. 

Have you been dreading the idea of starting therapy? Perhaps you’ve been dragging your feet, even though you know that it’s a good idea. Or perhaps you don’t really want to do therapy, but everyone around you is encouraging you to go.  If that’s the case, here are some things that our Maryland therapists want you to know!

If you think about it, your doctor probably has a doctor and that doctor probably also has a doctor. Your teacher had a teacher who was taught by another teacher. Your mailman has a mailman who has a mailman and your dentist has a dentist…who has a dentist!

So, why is it harder for therapists to see or talk about their own therapists?