‘I am a late-diagnosed autistic individual with lived experience of OCD. Having relied on exposure therapy throughout my life, I stumbled upon a lesser-known European therapy that transformed my OCD into a subclinical condition. This transformative experience sparked my passion for Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), becoming one of its pioneering adopters in the United States.
As the founder and director of Zen, my work focuses on the supervision, training, and dissemination of I-CBT, particularly in the context of neurodiversity. I established the I-CBT Online Learning program, a self-paced platform designed to educate clinicians on neuroaffirmative therapies. I am so an instructor at the Cognitive Behavior Institute, enhancing the professional community’s understanding of I-CBT through live training sessions. My dedication to advancing this field is further demonstrated by my membership in the International OCD Foundation and by authoring the first workbook on I-CBT.
I also specialize in conducting autism evaluations for adults in Maryland and am an affirming therapist in Pathological Demand Avoidance/Persistent Drive for Autonmy (PDA), leveraging my personal and professional expertise to recognize and address demand avoidance in therapy.
Being a neurodivergent woman who often went unnoticed, I was compelled to conform to a world that wasn’t designed with me in mind. The sting of rejection sensitivity fostered narratives of inadequacy and abandonment, or grappled with the insidious impact of internalized ableism, which drove my perfectionistic compulsions tendencies led me to mask my true self. This masking, done without my awareness, contributed to obsessive thoughts about my identity and my place in society.
When working together, there are a few things to expect. I will be able to recognize your demand avoidance probably before you can. My therapeutic approach is carefully tailored to ensure it does not overwhelm the nervous system, allowing you to maintain autonomy throughout the session. If you are looking for a compliance treatment, approach I may not be the best therapist for you. I also believe that Black Lives Matter and work from an anti-oppressive and anti-capitalism lens.
Other areas I work with in addition to OCD and Autism are LGBTQ issues, ADHD, chronic illnesses related to neurodivergency, PANDAS/PANS, chronic Lyme disease, ADHD, social anxiety, phobias, BFRB’s trauma. The therapies that I utilize are Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy, Internal Family Systems and Somatic therapy.
Let’s discover life behind the mask and obsessions into finding your true self.”
Certificate in the Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program from the University of Maryland School of Nursing and is a board-certified family psychiatric nurse practitioner. She also earned a Master’s degree in Nursing from the School of Nursing and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland at College Park.
She has experience treating patients with obsessive compulsive disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma disorders and dual diagnosis. She is also certified to prescribe buprenorphine.
Dr. Mallare works with patients of all ages including children, adolescents, and adults. She has provided care in inpatient, outpatient, and virtual settings and works collaboratively with significant others in the plan of care, explaining how to support loved ones while they are taking medications. Additional therapies include Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral therapy,
Acceptance and Commitment therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. She stays apprised of evidence-based recommendations, recent research, up-to-date regulations, and available community resources to help connect clients to the best care available.
On the first visit, we will discuss your expectations and goals for treatment and develop a care plan. My job is to provide education, guidance, advocacy and appropriate medications for your journey to wellness. I offer flexible hours including evenings and can accommodate short notice sessions as my schedule will allow.
“I was inspired to become a therapist by the helpers in my own life that facilitated my recovery from PTSD after a sudden loss in college. I originally developed my practice working with queer and transgender youth, adults and their families after struggling to find care for my transgender family member. This took me through WPATH training and more recently, to complete a certificate in Advanced Transgender Studies from Widener University. When Covid hit, my practice went through an enormous shift and I found myself noticing connections I had previously missed. After years of reading and researching everything I could get my hands on, as well as consultation, I realized that many of my clients were also neurodivergent. That led to my own self-exploration of burnout prevention and recovery, which heavily influences my work. Many of my clients also struggle with depression, anxiety and OCD, which inspired me to get consultation in treatment of OCD and now to learn and incorporate I-CBT. I firmly believe that my clients are the experts in their own lives and that I am just here to help you uncover deeper understandings and shift patterns that you have been stuck in and desire to change.”
With an enriching journey spanning 26 years, I have dedicated my professional life to the art and science of psychotherapy. My expertise is not just deep but also varied, enabling me to provide tailored therapeutic interventions that resonate with each individual’s unique experiences and challenges. Every therapy session with me is grounded in a strength-based approach. I believe in harnessing your inherent strengths and resilience, ensuring that every step forward is built on a foundation of empowerment and self-belief. Your well-being is my mission. Let’s embark on this transformative journey together.
I have provided care in outpatient, inpatient, group and telehealth settings using individualized care plans that are strength based. Meditation and mindfulness is encouraged. Periodic screenings of symptoms can be helpful in tracking response to treatment and may show positive change over time. I enjoy the supervision of Master-Level Social Work Interns to build clinical skills as therapist. While working for the Veterans Healthcare Administration, I received certification in evidence- based treatments – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain, Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Combat and Non-Combat Trauma. I believe that evidenced-based care gives people hope, and I have been privledged to witness healing of mind, body and spirit.
“Through my work as a therapist and lived experience as an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) and empath, I understand that we experience the stimuli of daily life in various ways; there is no such thing as too sensitive! In fact, there are countless ways for sensitives to adapt and thrive, starting by embracing our many gifts and accepting our unique neurobiology.
I was inspired to become a therapist by my sensitive, inquisitive, and creative nature. Growing up, I was the peacemaker with whom others shared their feelings. In addition, as a lover of theatre and literature, I was fascinated by characters’ motivations and analyzed them for my college English papers. While I was born a lightworker and sensitive, it is my lived experience with the trauma of chronic pain and Illness that solidified my desire to be the therapist I needed during my journey toward healing from Lyme disease.
The path toward wellness is one of self-discovery; it can be painful and requires humility, fortitude, resilience, and faith in one’s inner guidance. I strive to empower each client to discover this universal truth. Consequently, it is my dark night of the soul experience that inspires me to provide judgment-free support to clients facing all life stressors, symptoms, and challenges.
Lastly, when unable to work, I created some fun hand puppets, based on my drawings of characters that inspired me. They represent five fun themes: art, silliness, space exploration, music, and performance. These puppets are a daily reminder that we can overcome adversity when we have the support we need to believe in ourselves and our life goals and dreams.”
I am a licensed graduate professional counselor specializing in obsessive compulsive disorder, grief and loss and mental health concerns related to reproductive issues. I utilize Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy and I-CBT combined with an eclectic style of counseling that is based on the individual needs of my clients. I have a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Marshall University and have experience in a variety of settings including outpatient, inpatient, acute, educational and long-term residential care. As both a therapist and someone who has been in your shoes, I know how overwhelming it can feel to make this first step. I want you to know that what you have to say is important, and I strive to create a space where you can safely and freely discuss all of your thoughts and feelings- even the ones you are afraid to say out loud.
Jasmin has experience working with in Applied Behavior Analysis with children and teens diagnosed with Autism. She has also worked with individuals whom experienced trauma from sexual assaults and harassment. As someone who understands the struggles of intrusive thoughts, pressured anxiety and the weight of a depressive episode, Jasmin is here to help!
Jacob has made it his life’s purpose to help others manage OCD. When he is not working, Jacob enjoys traveling to other countries, teaching historical fencing, and spending quality time with his wife and two shi tzu pups.
Rebecca hopes to catalyze deep inner healing in her clients. While counseling naturally involves serious work, Rebecca also understands that creativity, humor, and flexibility are the ingredients of a positive therapeutic relationship!
“My main goal is to help you become your own healer by providing you the necessary tools and guide you in your journey. My style is informal, since I believe that this allows for clients to feel comfortable and safe to share what is on their mind without any fear of judgment. I decided to join this field due to my own personal struggles with anxiety, and I wanted to become the person I needed when I was struggling the most. Therapy is meant to be for you to feel heard, and to have the space necessary for further healing… I am willing to provide it!”
I received my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland and Master’s degree in Social Work from Walden University. Before joining Zen Psychological Center, I worked across various clinical settings, including Residential, Partial Hospitalization, and Intensive Outpatient programs, with a primary focus on eating disorders. I embrace a harm-reduction approach based on the principles of Health at Every Size®, respecting your autonomy over your own body. I offer Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Comprehensive Model for Behavioral Treatment (ComB), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), Unified Treatment (UT), Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Family Based Treatment (FBT) depending on your needs and preferences.
I have received my masters degree in clinical psychology from Towson University. I have gained knowledge working in multiple settings including community mental health centers, inpatient care, and private practices. I tend to utilize different modalities depending on the needs of the individual. I am trained in inference-based cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) for OCD. Additionally, I utilize other therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as well as emotion work to aid in working through core fears.
My goal is to find a balance between meeting you where you are and encouraging you to continue to grow to your greatest potential. I recognize the isolation, frustration, and difficulties describing what you are going through, as I have experienced OCD myself. As someone who has now been through treatment, I’m here to tell you that you are not a bad person, but don’t take my word for it, take the first step and reach out to find out for yourself!