Rated 4.4 stars out of 5, 25 ratings

Esperanza Ballenilla

LCSW-C, 8 years of experience

Solution oriented
Empowering
Warm

About me

I am a Licensed Certified Social Worker Clinical (LCSW-C) based in Maryland. I received my Masters from the University of New England and have been practicing in the Mental Health field for the past 6 years. I have developed therapeutic alliances with individuals by serving and leading with empathy and compassion, utilizing active listening skills and a holistic approach with a non-judgmental attitude. My practice is guided by cultural sensitivity and trust-building. I value the importance of human relationships, the dignity and worth of each individual, service, and competence. I help individuals with managing depression, anxiety, trauma, and self-esteem building.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

In our first session together, we will start with brief introductions and a brief discussion related to our expectations of this therapeutic journey. We will then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

My ability to develop a strong therapeutic alliance with clients, good listening skills, active listening skills, empathy, and my high level of the self awareness allows me to refer my clients to other mental health therapists who may be better able to help the client.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My practice is guided by cultural sensitivity and trust-building. I value the importance of human relationships, the dignity and worth of each individual, service, and competence. I help individuals with managing depression, anxiety, trauma, and self-esteem building.

Specialties

Top specialties

Other specialties

I identify as

Serves ages

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I’ve been using CBT in my practice for the past six years. During CBT, I help clients take a close look at their thoughts and emotions to gain an understanding how their thoughts affect their actions. Through CBT, clients can unlearn negative thoughts and behaviors and learn to adopt healthier thinking patterns and habits.

Grief Therapy

I focus on providing a safe space for clients to process complex emotions, thoughts, and memories. In the context of grief, in particular, it can also give individuals permission to express things that they may not want to say to their family or friends.

Trauma Informed Care

I focus on creating a physically and emotionally safe environment, establishing trust and boundaries, supporting autonomy and choice, creating collaborative relationships and participation opportunities and using a strengths and empowerment-focused perspective to promote resilience to reduce re-traumatization and promote healing.

EMDR

I focus on creating a safe environment where I engage the client in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and assist individuals to reprocess their traumatic memories with the aim of treating the distress associated with their traumatic memories.

Location

Offers in-person in 7310 Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD 21061, #200-GB37Virtual

Licensed in

Rated 4.4 stars out of 5, 25 ratings

1 rating with written reviews

April 26, 2025

For this to be our first time meeting she was very Sweet and Communicated with everything she made sure I understood what she does and how everything will go I’m looking forward to seeing her again and starting this new journey

Verified client, age 25-34

Review shared after session 1 with Esperanza