Video Introduction

I grew up in Fort Worth, TX, and have lived here in Maryland for 17 years.  I did my undergraduate work at Texas Christian University and can be found in front of the television anytime my beloved Horned Frogs are playing football.  Music, particularly jazz, is an important part of my life.  I've played the trumpet and piano both privately and publicly over the years. In addition to my psychotherapy practice, I conduct pre-employment psychological evaluations for law enforcement and serve as a member of the Maryland State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

I have five adult kids, three of whom are now in college. Although parenting isn't for the faint of heart, I wouldn't trade it for all the world. I also enjoy constructing crossword puzzles, cooking, hiking in the mountains, visiting the beach, and sitting on my front porch on a cool evening chatting with my wife or reading a good book.

I love my job. I am privileged to do the work I do with clients. For me, there is no better life's work than helping others discover meaning and happiness and let go of old and unhelpful patterns.  I look forward to the opportunity to help you if your needs and my services are a good fit.

I offer individual psychotherapy (ages 16 and up) addressing a variety of issues.  I particularly enjoy helping people overcome:

• Anxiety and worry
• Self-criticism or self-doubt, including 'Impostor Syndrome'
• Anger behaviors which are making your life and the lives of people around you difficult
• Insomnia
• Perfectionism
• Problems asserting yourself
• Managing relationships with difficult people

My services also include, but are not limited to:

• Sadness, depression, or a feeling that joy is missing from your life
• Panic attacks
• Phobias
• Discomfort or fear of being around other people
• Adjusting to life changes/grief/loss
• Coping with high stress levels
• Self-esteem difficulties

I do not offer services in the following areas:

• Couples therapy
• Trauma and PTSD
• Alcohol and drug abuse as the primary presenting concern
• Chronic self-harm or suicidal behavior
• Children younger than 16

If your concern does not seem to fit anything listed above, please call me for a free 15-minute consultation at 410-5-EVANS-5 (410-538-2675).  

There are many styles of therapy which have been proven to work. I utilize a variety of therapeutic styles, using those that best fit you and the reasons you are coming to see me, with an emphasis on cognitive and mindfulness techniques.  One of the most important common denominators in effective therapy is the working relationship we develop, and my goal is to establish a warm, collaborative, trusting relationship with you in which you feel understood and accepted. 

My style is straightforward and practical. Although the practice of psychology requires doctoral training and is based in science, I am 'myself' when working with clients and I dislike fancy jargon or pretentiousness. I love to use a healthy dose of humor in my work. It's also very important to me to identify your strengths and capitalize on them. We will often discuss things you can do outside of the therapy session to reach your goals. You will get the most out of psychotherapy if you put a lot into it.

It's best not to think of psychotherapy as having a doctor fix what's wrong with you.  Human experience is too complicated for me to imagine I know precisely what the right thing is for you to do and tell you exactly how to do it.  Rather, consider me to be a coach who will assist you, guide you, and cheer you on as you work toward understanding your mind more clearly, breaking free of old patterns, and moving forward to achieve a greater sense of well-being and satisfaction with your life.

If you'd like to do some more reading about psychotherapy, a good resource is the American Psychological Association's "Understanding Psychotherapy and How it Works."

When you call or email, leave your contact information and we'll set up a free 15-minute phone consultation. If we're a good fit, we'll proceed with an initial evaluation. If not, I'll gladly refer you elsewhere.

Before our initial meeting, you'll sign up for my patient portal and complete some paperwork. In your initial evaluation, I will gather information about your current difficulties, history, and goals.  After gathering this information I will suggest a plan for therapy and answer any questions you have. 

I operate on a fee-for-service model, and am no longer an in-network provider with insurance plans. Here's why:

1. Greater Privacy: Without involving insurance, your personal details and therapy sessions remain entirely confidential. Insurance companies often require access to session details, diagnoses, and other personal information, which then becomes part of your permanent health record.
2. More Control Over Care: Insurance often dictates the type of and length of treatment, potentially limiting what might be best for you. In a fee-for-service model, we determine together what’s best for your care without external restrictions.
3. No Need for a Diagnosis: Insurance reimbursements often require proving 'medical necessity' which mandates a diagnosis. With my model, we focus on your needs, growth, and well-being, regardless of labels.

If your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits, you might receive reimbursement for my services. I recommend checking with your insurance provider about this, and I can help you with this process should you encounter a problem. If needed, I'll provide a “superbill” for you to submit for reimbursement. I'm happy to do this, but understand this will have privacy and control implications, and I will have to provide a diagnosis.

My fees are as follows:

Therapy: $175 per 45-50 minute session

Initial Evaluation: $225 for 60-75 minutes.

I offer a limited number of sliding scale slots based on need. We can discuss this during our phone consultation. My priority is to provide value while respecting your time and finances. Although of necessity I must charge for my time, I live for the privilege of helping others and I look forward to discovering whether I might be able to help you.