Trauma is a strong emotional or psychological response to an event or experience that is deeply distressing or disturbing. When someone experiences trauma, their sense of safety, control, or trust in the world can be significantly disrupted.

Common causes of trauma include:

• Car accidents or serious injuries.
• Domestic violence or physical assault.
• Sexual abuse or assault.
• Natural disasters. (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes, floods)
• Loss of a loved one.
• Childhood neglect, abuse or emotional abandonment.

Types of Trauma:

• Acute trauma – results from a single incident.
• Chronic trauma – results from repeated and prolonged exposure. (e.g., ongoing abuse)
• Complex trauma involves multiple traumatic events, often involving relationships or caregivers.

Signs of Trauma May Include:

Flashbacks, anxiety, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, or emotional numbness.

Abuse is a pattern of behavior used to gain and maintain control or power over another person. It involves actions that harm, manipulate, or exploit another person, either physically, emotionally, sexually, or financially.

Types of abuse include:

• Physical abuse: Hitting, slapping, choking, or any physical harm.
• Emotional abuse: Threats, gaslighting, manipulation, or name-calling.
• Sexual abuse: Any unwanted sexual contact or coercion.
• Neglect: Failing to meet someone’s basic physical or emotional needs.
• Verbal abuse: Yelling, insulting, or constant criticism.

Abuse can occur in any type of relationship—romantic, familial, professional, or social—and often involves a pattern of control or coercion.

What’s the Difference Between Trauma and Abuse?

While abuse refers to the harmful actions or behaviors themselves, trauma is the emotional or psychological response that often results from those actions. Not all trauma is caused by abuse (e.g., a car crash or natural disaster), but most abuse causes trauma, especially when it is repeated or happens during childhood.

Understanding the difference between trauma and abuse helps people recognize the signs, seek support, and begin the process of healing. At Olney Counseling Center, our licensed therapists provide expert care for trauma survivors, abuse recovery, and emotional healing.

Treatment for Depression at Olney Counseling Center

At Olney Counseling Center in Montgomery County, Maryland, we offer personalized, evidence-based treatment for depression in children, teens, adults, and seniors. Our goal is to help you feel better, function more fully, and regain a sense of hope and purpose.

Our Approach

We understand that depression looks different for everyone, so we tailor treatment to meet your specific needs. Our licensed therapists use a range of approaches to support emotional healing and long-term wellness.

Treatment options may include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps clients identify and change negative thinking patterns that contribute to depression.
• Trauma-Informed Therapy: For clients whose depression is linked to past trauma or abuse.
• Mindfulness-Based Techniques: To improve emotional regulation and reduce stress.
• Supportive Talk Therapy: For exploring difficult emotions in a safe, nonjudgmental space.
• Medication Management: In collaboration with a psychiatrist or primary care provider, if appropriate.
• Psychoeducation: To help you better understand depression, triggers, and coping strategies.
• Family Therapy or Parent Consultations: Especially helpful when treating teens or children.

We also offer telehealth sessions for clients who prefer or need remote care.

What to Expect

Your care starts with a private consultation where we’ll learn more about your symptoms, history, and goals. From there, we’ll create a customized treatment plan and match you with a therapist who is the right fit for your needs.

Whether your depression is mild, moderate, or more severe, treatment is available—and recovery is possible.

Take the First Step

If you or someone you love is struggling with depression, you don’t have to face it alone. Contact Olney Counseling Center today to schedule an appointment. We’re here to listen, support, and guide you toward healing.

Mood Disorder Treatment in Olney, Maryland

Find Balance and Support at Olney Counseling Center

At Olney Counseling Center, we provide expert, personalized treatment for mood disorders in children, teens, adults, and seniors throughout Montgomery County, Maryland. Our licensed therapists and clinicians are experienced in helping individuals manage the symptoms of mood disorders so they can lead more stable, fulfilling lives.

What Are Mood Disorders?

Mood disorders are mental health conditions that primarily affect a person’s emotional state. They often involve persistent feelings of sadness, irritability, or fluctuations between extreme highs and lows. If left untreated, mood disorders can interfere with relationships, work, school, and daily functioning.

Common mood disorders include:

• Major Depressive Disorder (Depression)
• Bipolar Disorder (including Bipolar I and II)
• Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
• Cyclothymic Disorder
• Mood disorders related to medical conditions or substance use

Signs You Might Need Help

You may benefit from mood disorder treatment if you’re experiencing:

• Intense or prolonged sadness
• Sudden shifts in mood, energy, or behavior
• Low motivation or loss of interest in activities
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of hopelessness or suicidal thinking
• Periods of feeling unusually “high” or energetic followed by crashes

How We Treat Mood Disorders

At Olney Counseling Center, we use evidence-based treatments to help individuals manage mood disorders with care, compassion, and clinical expertise.

Our services include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and change unhelpful thought patterns
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Teaches emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness
• Medication Management: In collaboration with a psychiatrist or primary care provider
• Psychoeducation: Learn about your diagnosis and coping tools
• Family or Couples Counseling: To support loved ones in understanding the condition
• Lifestyle and Routine Coaching: Support for sleep, exercise, and self-care habits

Our therapists create customized treatment plans based on your goals and symptoms. Whether you’re dealing with long-standing depression or newly diagnosed bipolar disorder, we’re here to help you find stability and regain control.

Local, Compassionate Care That Fits Your Life

• Over 25 years serving the Olney community
• Flexible scheduling and teletherapy options available
• Support for adults, teens, and children with mood disorders
• Convenient location in Montgomery County, MD
• Collaborative care with schools, physicians, and family members when needed

Start Your Path Toward Emotional Wellness

If you or someone you love is struggling with a mood disorder, help is available—and recovery is possible. Contact Olney Counseling Center today to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced mental health professionals.

Personality Disorder Treatment in Olney, Maryland

Compassionate, Personalized Care at Olney Counseling Center

At Olney Counseling Center, we provide confidential, evidence-based treatment for individuals living with personality disorders. Our experienced clinicians support adolescents, adults, and families throughout Olney and Montgomery County, Maryland with therapy tailored to each person’s specific needs, symptoms, and life experiences.

What Are Personality Disorders?

Personality disorders are mental health conditions that involve long-term patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that differ significantly from cultural expectations and cause difficulties in daily functioning or relationships. These patterns typically begin in adolescence or early adulthood and can affect self-image, emotional responses, and how a person relates to others.

Common personality disorders include:

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
• Avoidant Personality Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
• Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders
• Dependent and Histrionic Personality Disorders
• Antisocial Personality Disorder

Signs You Might Benefit from Therapy

You may benefit from personality disorder treatment if you or a loved one is experiencing:

• Intense mood swings or emotional instability
• Chronic difficulties in relationships
• Fear of abandonment or extreme sensitivity to rejection
• Patterns of impulsive or risky behavior
• Distorted self-image or self-worth
• Ongoing conflicts at home, work, or school
• Trouble managing anger or anxiety
• Periods of dissociation or emotional numbness

Our Treatment Approach

At Olney Counseling Center, our therapists are trained in treating personality disorders using a compassionate, structured, and evidence-based approach. Because no two clients are alike, we build individualized treatment plans focused on long-term progress and personal growth.

Therapeutic services may include:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Especially effective for Borderline Personality Disorder
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors
• Schema Therapy: Focuses on longstanding emotional patterns and core beliefs
• Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores early relationships and unconscious processes
• Medication Management: When appropriate, in coordination with psychiatrists
• Family and Relationship Counseling: To improve communication and support systems

We emphasize emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, self-awareness, and behavioral change throughout the course of treatment.

Why Choose Olney Counseling Center?

• Over 25 years of trusted mental health care in Olney, MD
• Experienced therapists who specialize in treating complex diagnoses
• Safe, judgment-free environment for long-term therapeutic work
• Support for teens, adults, and families
• In-person and telehealth therapy options available
• Convenient location in Montgomery County, Maryland

Take the First Step Toward Healing

Personality disorders are treatable—and change is possible with the right support. If you or someone you love is struggling, we’re here to help.

Contact Olney Counseling Center today to schedule a confidential consultation and start your path to emotional health and improved relationships.

OCD and Phobia Treatment in Olney, Maryland

Specialized Care at Olney Counseling Center

At Olney Counseling Center, we provide expert, evidence-based treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and phobias in children, teens, and adults. Our therapists serve clients throughout Olney and Montgomery County, Maryland, offering personalized care to help individuals regain control over their thoughts, fears, and daily lives.

What Is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental health condition involving:

• Obsessions: Repeated, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety
• Compulsions: Behaviors or rituals performed to try to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions

Common OCD themes include:

• Fear of contamination or germs
• Excessive checking (doors, locks, appliances)
• Intrusive thoughts about harm or taboo subjects
• A need for symmetry or exactness
• Compulsive counting, praying, or organizing

What Are Phobias?

A phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that poses little or no actual danger. When left untreated, phobias can limit a person’s life and lead to avoidance behaviors.

Common phobias include:

• Fear of heights (acrophobia)
• Fear of flying (aerophobia)
• Fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)
• Fear of animals, insects, or medical procedures
• Social phobia (social anxiety disorder)

When to Seek Help

You should consider therapy for OCD or phobias if:

• Your thoughts or fears interfere with daily life
• You avoid people, places, or situations due to anxiety
• You spend an excessive amount of time on rituals or routines
• You feel out of control, stuck, or overwhelmed
• You’ve tried to manage on your own but symptoms continue

How We Treat OCD and Phobias

At Olney Counseling Center, our licensed therapists offer structured, research-backed treatments to reduce anxiety and restore confidence.

Our services include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with healthier ones
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): A gold-standard treatment for OCD and phobias, helping clients gradually face fears in a safe, controlled way
• Mindfulness-Based Strategies: For grounding and emotional regulation
• Psychoeducation: To help clients and families understand the condition and treatment process
• Family or Parent Coaching: Especially important when treating children and teens

All therapy is tailored to your pace, goals, and comfort level.

Why Clients Choose Olney Counseling Center

• Trusted provider of mental health services for over 25 years
• Clinicians trained in the most effective anxiety and OCD treatments
• Support for all ages—children, adolescents, and adults
• Options for in-person and teletherapy sessions
• Conveniently located in Olney, Montgomery County, MD

You Don’t Have to Live in Fear

OCD and phobias are treatable, and progress is possible. With the right therapy and support, you can feel more at ease, more in control, and more connected to your life.

Contact Olney Counseling Center today to schedule a confidential consultation and take the first step toward healing.

Social and Peer Relationship Therapy in Olney, Maryland

Helping Children, Teens, and Adults Build Healthier Connections

At Olney Counseling Center, we help individuals of all ages who struggle with social challenges, peer conflict, or relationship anxiety. Whether it’s a child having trouble making friends, a teen navigating peer pressure, or an adult dealing with social isolation or anxiety, our licensed therapists provide support that’s personalized, practical, and effective.

We proudly serve clients in Olney and throughout Montgomery County, Maryland, offering in-person and teletherapy options.

Common Social and Peer Issues We Treat

Difficulties in social settings can lead to feelings of isolation, low self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression. We work with clients experiencing:

• Social anxiety or fear of rejection
• Trouble initiating or maintaining friendships
• Peer pressure or bullying (in-person or online)
• Difficulty reading social cues or navigating group dynamics
• Loneliness or social withdrawal
• Conflict in school, work, or community settings
• Struggles with assertiveness or boundaries
• Transition issues (new school, moving, life changes)

Our Treatment Approach

Our therapy focuses on developing confidence, communication skills, and emotional awareness—essential tools for healthier peer interactions. We tailor treatment based on age, developmental stage, and unique challenges.

Our services include:

• Individual therapy for social anxiety, peer conflict, or emotional regulation
• Social skills training for children and teens
• Group therapy (where available) to practice skills in a supportive setting
• Parent coaching to help caregivers support their child’s social development
• CBT and mindfulness-based interventions to reduce anxiety and increase confidence
• School collaboration when appropriate, to support peer relationships in educational settings

Who Can Benefit?

We work with:

• Children who struggle with making or keeping friends
• Adolescents and teens facing peer pressure, bullying, or social stress
• Young adults navigating college life, social identity, or isolation
• Adults experiencing workplace conflict or difficulty forming relationships

Social skills and confidence can improve at any age with the right support.

Why Choose Olney Counseling Center?

• Over 25 years serving the Olney and Montgomery County community
• Experienced therapists specializing in child, teen, and adult social development
• Warm, supportive, and practical guidance for real-world situations
• Flexible options including telehealth appointments
• Collaborative care with schools, pediatricians, and families when needed

Take the First Step Toward Stronger Social Connections

Healthy relationships are essential to well-being. If you or your child is struggling with peer interactions or social confidence, Olney Counseling Center can help.

Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation and learn more about therapy for social and peer-related issues.

We know that our environment impacts our physical, mental, and cognitive functioning. Our environment or the influence of social issues can affect how that person functions in a social setting.

Why are Social Issues and/or Attachment so important?

The psychiatrist, Dr. Bowlby, studied the social relationship between mother and child by looking at the behavioral and psychological consequences of strong and weak emotional bonds between these groups. After watching the social interaction between mother and child, he developed the Attachment Theory that posits that there are four basic kinds of social attachments:

1. Secure Attachment: these infants showed distress upon separation and sought comfort and were calmed when their caregiver returned.
2. Anxious-Resistant Attachment: these infants experience intense distress however their connection was a mixture of wanting comfort from their caretakers and well as “punishing” their parents for leaving.
3. Avoidance Attachment: these infants show little or no distress when the caretaker leaves or when they are reunited with the parent.
4. Disorganized-Disorganized Attachment: these infants and children typically have no predictable pattern of attachment behaviors.

Healthy attachment behaviors tend to lead to better social relationships at home, work, and school which in turn lead to better social outcomes for the individual. Securely attached people tend to be bullied less, have decreased negative social interactions, and have a higher rate of making and keeping friends.

Another aspect of social issues is social media. Social media is one of the primary ways that people attempt to connect with others. While social media can be helpful, it can also be a source of anxiety and depression for many people. Studies show a positive correlation between the number of hours spent on social media and negative self-esteem. For example, the more time spent looking at pictures of others on social media, the more a person may begin to feel less than, “not enough”, and later feel more anxiety and depression than they did prior to viewing the social media.

If you or your teen is struggling with fitting in, attachment, and/or social issues, please call us at 301-570-7500 for help.

What is Stress or Anxiety?

Stress or anxiety is when a person feels an intense, excessive, and persistent worry or fear about everyday events that is not normal for the situation. Many view stress and anxiety as the same thing, however the subtle difference between the two is important to know. Stress is usually triggered by an external event whereas anxiety is an internal feeling as a response to an event.

Many people view stress or anxiety as a reaction that we are not dealing with a situation or event. They begin to feel that they are losing control and their anxiety can increase. This increase in anxiety is typically seen as a negative response, but stress and anxiety are not all bad. We need an average amount of stress or anxiety to have the optimal level of performance. For example, for a teen to do their very best on an exam, they need to have a moderate amount of stress to propel them to study for the test. If the same student is too laid back, they may not study adequately at all for the test, and as a result, they will likely not do as well.

When is stress and anxiety harmful? Stress and anxiety are viewed as negative when they are interfering with daily life and tasks, when the person struggles to not think about the worry (obsess) or when they must participate in compulsive behaviors to decrease or manage the anxiety.

Below are the most common types of anxiety:

Types:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Acute Stress Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Social Anxiety
• OCD