LP, 14 years of experience
I’m Dr. Luba Popivker. I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist based in Maryland and have over 10 years of experience. I hold a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland. My areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship issues, and low self-esteem. I am dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment for my clients, fostering a space where they can explore their feelings and experiences to gain deeper insights and develop effective coping strategies.
During the first session with me, my primary goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment where you feel comfortable sharing your story. I aim to learn about you and understand what brings you to therapy, including the specific challenges and goals you have. We'll discuss various aspects of your life, such as personal history, relationships, work, and any significant experiences that have impacted you and your current experiences. This comprehensive understanding allows me to tailor our sessions to best serve your unique needs and collaboratively develop a plan to help you navigate your journey toward healing and growth.
My greatest strengths as a therapist stem from my ability to meet my clients where they are and deeply understand what they are going through. I bring compassion and validation to our sessions, creating a supportive space where clients feel heard and respected. At the same time, I gently challenge them to grow and make meaningful shifts within themselves and their lives. By balancing empathy with encouragement for change, I help my clients navigate their journey toward greater fulfillment and well-being.
I am committed to being a support to others, who take the courageous and vulnerable step towards personal growth and well-being, by starting therapy. I have extensive experience helping individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, fears, panic attacks, interpersonal challenges, and who may feel alone, and overwhelmed by life's challenges or transitions.
My therapy style is emotion-focused and insight-oriented with the goal of helping clients better understand, accept, and manage their complex emotional experiences. I strive to create a safe environment by providing empathetic and nonjudgmental listening and encouragement so that clients feel comfortable exploring whatever feelings, thoughts, or challenges they are experiencing. I use an integrative approach, which includes Interpersonal/Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Through this approach, combined with building a strong therapeutic relationship, I will provide my clients with the space to begin to accept and be kindly curious about themselves, their relationships, and their experiences. Collaboratively, I will guide my clients toward developing resilience, learning specific strategies to cope with emotional pain and life’s stressors, and working on making changes toward living a more fulfilling life.
In addition to my integrative therapeutic approach, I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is an evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals process and recover from traumatic experiences. By using bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps clients reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional impact and facilitating healing.
I am also skilled in the Gottman Method for couples therapy. This approach is based on over 40 years of research on relationships and focuses on strengthening relational bonds by improving communication, increasing intimacy, and resolving conflicts. The Gottman Method equips couples with practical tools and techniques to enhance their emotional connection and build a stronger, more resilient partnership.