Services
Individual Therapy
People often wonder: Can therapy help for anxiety or depression?
The answer is yes. Therapy can help. Individual therapy is one of the most effective ways to understand and address the root causes of emotional distress. At Metropolitan Counseling Associates, we offer a range of evidence-based individual therapy approaches for anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and other challenges. During your initial consultation, we’ll help you identify the best type of therapy for your needs, so you can start making meaningful progress toward lasting change.
How do I know which type of therapy is best for me?
Choosing the right therapy can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. At Metropolitan Counseling Associates, your therapist will work with you during the initial consultation to understand your goals, challenges, and preferences. Together, we’ll recommend an approach, or a combination of approaches, that fits your unique needs, so you can feel confident about your path forward.
Below, you’ll find an overview of the individual therapy methods we provide in Bethesda and online, designed to help you explore the options and get a sense of what might work best for you.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic therapy can help you explore how past experiences shape current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By increasing insight and understanding, clients can shift long-standing patterns and make meaningful change.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT therapy can help you recognize and change negative thought patterns and beliefs that lead to distress. Behavioral strategies support new, healthier responses to stress and emotion.
Art Therapy
Art therapy can help you use creative expression to help clients process emotions, manage stress, and enhance self-awareness. No artistic skill is required—just a willingness to explore. More Than Words: Why Art Therapy Matters at MCA
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR can help you reprocess distressing memories so they no longer disrupt the present. It’s especially effective for trauma, anxiety, and PTSD.
EMDR RTEP (Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol)
RTEP is a structured EMDR approach for those who have experienced a recent trauma, such as an accident or sudden loss. It offers gentle, effective support to reduce overwhelm and promote early recovery.
EMDR Intensives
Extended sessions allow you to work deeply without the interruption of weekly scheduling, helping you process more material in less time and achieve meaningful breakthroughs in confidence, performance, and emotional balance. EMDR Intensives at Metropolitan Counseling Associates
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT combines CBT with mindfulness and emotion regulation skills. It’s especially helpful for people dealing with intense emotions, mood swings, and relationship difficulties.
Exposure and Response Prevention (EXRP)
EXRP is the gold-standard treatment for OCD and other anxiety disorders. ExRP can help you gradually face fears without engaging in avoidance or compulsive behaviors, reducing anxiety over time.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBSR)
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an eight-week program. MBSR can help you use guided mindfulness practices to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Polyvagal Therapy
Polyvagal Therapy can help you understand and regulate their nervous system responses to improve emotional balance and connection.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Sensorimotor therapy integrates body awareness, emotions, and thoughts to address the effects of trauma and developmental disruptions. It helps release physical and emotional patterns that keep clients stuck.
Sports Psychology and Performance Enhancement
Perform at your best in sports, school, and work. Metropolitan Counseling Associates offers sports psychology and EMDR for performance enhancement to reduce anxiety, boost confidence, and improve focus under pressure. Sports Psychology and EMDR for Performance Enhancement