Hello! I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C)! I am from Maryland but am licensed in Maryland, DC, or Virginia. I got my Masters from the Catholic University of America. I have been practicing for the past four years and specialize in working with teens and young adults. I also have experience providing parenting support/coaching and offer neurodivergent affirming care.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, I do have a lot of background questions to go over and discuss with you. Those are important so that I can understand the full picture around your life. We will also work together to create a treatment plan and goals that we can start working towards.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I know that I can create a safe space where you feel comfortable sharing harder feelings or doing the hard work that therapy requires. I am also really creative and can utilize arts or music through a therapeutic lens if that is something you are interested in! Lastly, I am happy to sit in any feeling state with you and I have been told that I am incredibly validating and empathic as a provider.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I love working with young teens or young adults who are struggling to navigate the challenges of adolescence and/or college and adulting. Being a teen or entering into the grown up world is really hard and I can help facilitate and offer concrete tools for navigating any struggles encountered along the way.
About Rachel Scharf
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Psychodynamic
I utilize a client-led psychodynamic approach meaning you get to decide the pace we go at and the goals we work towards. Its up to you to decide what you would like to address during therapy. I will provide you with a safe space where you can feel comfortable expressing inner thoughts, worries, and feelings. Feel free to vent frustrations or whatever is on your mind!
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I also employ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which can be a really helpful approach and offer concrete strategies and skills for breaking the cycle between what we think, what we do, and how we feel.
Play Therapy
I am trained in play therapy as well! Play therapy can be a useful approach for children ages 4-12 and even adolescents ages 12-18. Play therapy goes off the idea that children and teens communicate best through play (expressive arts, drama, music) and that is a medium for deeper expression! Play therapy can assist children and adolescents with processing deeper worries and bigger feelings that may just be to hard to verbalize.