(she/her)
I am an experienced therapist licensed in Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, and Kansas. I work with adults seeking thoughtful, results-focused support during periods of stress, transition, grief, or relationship strain. Many of my clients are capable, high-functioning people who feel stuck despite doing all the "right things." They may be managing anxiety, burnout, or relationship challenges while appearing to have it together on the outside. They are looking for more than temporary relief—they want clarity, practical tools, and meaningful change. My approach is active, collaborative, and grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and relational therapy. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, we identify the patterns driving distress and build skills that support lasting change. I earned my master's degree from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. Clients often describe me as supportive, direct, compassionate, and realistic—with a grounded sense of humor. Find me at: www.PeggyDeCarlisTherapy.com
Please note: Individual therapy is typically covered through participating insurance plans. Couples therapy is offered as a private-pay service and is not billed through insurance. If you are interested in couples counseling, please send me a message before scheduling. I am happy to answer questions about the process, fees, and whether this approach feels like a good fit for your relationship. I work best with high-functioning adults who feel stuck despite insight and want meaningful, lasting change. In our first session, we'll take a focused look at what brings you to therapy, what feels most difficult right now, and what you hope will be different. Together, we'll begin identifying patterns, clarifying priorities, and developing a direction for our work. My style is active, collaborative, and engaged. I ask thoughtful questions, offer observations, and help clients recognize patterns that may be difficult to see on their own. Rather than simply providing a place to vent, I help clients better understand what is happening, why it continues to happen, and what they can do differently. Most clients leave the first session with a clearer understanding of their situation and one or two practical ideas they can begin applying immediately.
I quickly build collaborative, trusting relationships and create a space where clients feel both supported and challenged. Clients often tell me they appreciate my ability to identify patterns, ask meaningful questions, and balance compassion with direct feedback. I have particular experience helping couples move beyond repetitive conflict, resentment, emotional distance, and communication breakdowns. Rather than focusing on who is right, I help partners understand the patterns that keep them stuck and develop new ways of responding to one another. I also work with adults navigating anxiety, chronic stress, grief and loss, life transitions, chronic medical conditions, sleep difficulties, and the impact of over-functioning and people-pleasing patterns. My work is active, structured, and practical. Clients leave sessions with greater clarity, specific actions to practice, and a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships.
I work best with thoughtful, high-functioning adults who feel stuck despite insight and effort. Many of my clients are managing anxiety, chronic stress, life transitions, or relationship challenges while continuing to meet the demands of work and daily life—but at a personal cost. They are often self-aware, responsible, and used to pushing through, yet find themselves caught in patterns that continue to create stress, conflict, or disconnection. Common themes include over-functioning, people-pleasing, difficulty setting boundaries, and feeling responsible for everyone else's needs while neglecting their own. Clients who benefit most from this work are open to honest self-reflection and willing to examine the patterns that may be keeping them stuck. They are looking for more than temporary relief—they want meaningful, lasting change. This approach is especially helpful for individuals navigating anxiety, grief and loss, relationship distress, and major life transitions, as well as those who feel disconnected from themselves or uncertain about how to move forward.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $150 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth Administrators
Anthem
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
CareFirst
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Medica
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you develop a more flexible and effective way of responding to difficult thoughts, emotions, and life circumstances—especially when insight alone hasn’t led to change. Rather than trying to eliminate anxiety, sadness, or stress, ACT reduces the struggle with these experiences so they have less control over your behavior and relationships. The focus is on building psychological flexibility—the ability to stay present, respond intentionally, and take action guided by what truly matters to you. In our work together, ACT helps you: • Step back from unhelpful thought patterns rather than being driven by them • Regulate emotional reactivity in moments of stress or conflict • Clarify your core values and how you want to show up in your life and relationships • Take practical, values-based steps toward meaningful change ACT is especially effective for anxiety, chronic stress, grief, life transitions, relationship distress, and situations where you feel stuck despite “trying everything.” My goal is not to eliminate difficult emotions, but to help you respond to them differently—so they no longer dictate your choices. From there, we focus on building a life that feels purposeful, connected, and aligned with what matters most.
Couples Counseling
Many couples come in feeling stuck in the same arguments, emotionally distant, or carrying resentment or hurt that hasn’t been resolved. I specialize in working with couples experiencing repetitive conflict, disconnection, or trust rupture. My approach is structured and direct, integrating relational therapy frameworks with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to address the deeper dynamics driving these patterns. Our work focuses on: • Interrupting destructive conflict cycles • Increasing differentiation and emotional regulation • Restoring accountability and mutual respect • Rebuilding trust after rupture • Strengthening long-term partnership This is active, skill-based work—not open-ended venting. Sessions are focused and oriented toward sustainable, measurable change. Couples therapy is offered as a specialized private-pay service.
7 ratings with written reviews
June 17, 2026
Even though I only had one session with her, it was very productive and exactly what I needed. She has really helped me lay out my options in my current situation.
May 26, 2026
Peggy established rapport right away, it was clear she read my pre meeting notes, we connected easily, she’s informed, asked pointed questions.
April 30, 2026
Peggy is helping me wrangle my inner thoughts and give me strength to tell.them to stay in line or stop talking.