Welcome! I'm an LCSW-C in Maryland and earned my MSW at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. I've been practicing over thirty five years and because I've loved the time I've spent in this work, the time has flown! I've worked in the mental health industry at many levels, and this helps me understand how to connect clients with the best type and level of treatment for them. My experience includes private practice/outpatient, inpatient care as well as running an innovative intensive outpatient care program for active seniors as a clinical director. I've also work for organizations which reviewed care, collaborating with the treating provider to ensure the quality of care is of the highest it can be. As a social worker, I was trained from day one to provide client-centered, strengths-based, unconditionally positive regard, 'person in an environment' therapy. This means that I begin where the client is, and I focus throughout on building and maintaining a therapeutic relationship that supports my client in helping them use our work to achieve what is important to them. I avoid using too many labels and/or medicalizing my client, and because I look at people as not just individuals but as embedded in various life environments, I teach my clients to understand themselves in those contexts as well as how they can better navigate their thoughts and behaviors within the various parts of their lives with greater emotional and behavioral success. Having worked closely with psychiatrists and various prescribers (nurse practitioners, physician assistants, CRNP's, etc.) over the years, I've gained extensive knowledge on how to direct clients regarding who to see/where to go regarding medical concerns and medication issues. It is important, for example, to rule out at certain times, particular medical issues which may be causing mental health symptoms.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
You can expect me to listen closely to you and ask you questions that help me begin to understand where to begin in our work together. You can expect me to help you feel comfortable, as first meetings aren't always easy. And, I think the most important result of a first session is for you, the client to walk away and say 'I want to continue talking to this counselor and i'm excited to talk with Barb again'.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
As an active senior myself, and having worked with hundreds of clients for over 35 years now, I believe my greatest strengths are my work and life experience and well as my willingness to engage fully and authentically with my clients. Because I've successfully 'thought on my feet' in such a wide variety of circumstances, I am very confident I can either help you or direct you to someone who can.
About Barb Elgin
Specializes in
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts cash
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I was trained in this method back in the 1990s when it came into use, and it is a valuable way of applying positive psychology and a solution focus to your life.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
The so called gold standard, I include CBT with my clients when it is appropriate. Helping you understand your automatic thoughts is one way to help you feel better. Thoughts that lead to distress are usually normal and had survival value at some point. However, in today's world, it's important to challenge them at times because they are reactive and biased.
Eclectic
I am very good at mixing therapies and use what works. I tailor treatment to the client not the other way around. Trained as a social worker. I understand that people exist not in a vacuum but an environments.
Gottman method
WHILE I DO NOT CURRENTLY WORK WITH COUPLES, I've intensely studied Gottman's work. Individual clients often find Gottman's principles very helpful in navigating all relationships, such as with children (adult and minor), co-workers, bosses, siblings, etc.