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I've devoted a decade of my career helping parents learn how to best help their children. And another decade helping adults in an out-patient partial hospitalization program. These are the moments when people have felt the most vulnerable and in need of something more than what they are already trying to manage their mental health. Hopefully, my experience and tools that I've gathered working across the age groups and in a more intense level of care can help you build your own toolbox.

I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 10 years of clinical experience. I am passionate about helping others overcome the anxiety, depression, and trauma that impact their lives. I've worked in education, government, and hospital settings, and I am a former U.S. Marine. I bring depth, knowledge and experience to each session and use them to help promote and support healing for my clients.

I began working broadly in this field nearly 30 years ago and became a licensed clinical social worker 20 years ago. Along with completing a masters degree in social work from the University of Illinois, Chicago, I hold a masters degree in fine art in drawing and painting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I believe these areas of study have come to inform my practice in obvious and sometimes less obvious ways.

I began my private practice in 2014 specializing in a harm reduction and moderation as apt responses to problematic substance use, as defined by those seeking my help.

Largely in response to the evolving relationships with my clients and referrals that often came in for friends and family of previous clients, I've come to work with trauma survivors, people identifying difficulty establishing stable relationships in social and professional settings, and people addressing loneliness and mood dysregulation.

Motherhood changes you—but that doesn't mean you have to lose yourself along the way.

Whether you're preparing to welcome your first baby, adjusting to life with a newborn, juggling the demands of raising children, navigating divorce while parenting, or wondering who you are now that your children need you less, every stage of motherhood brings new challenges. These transitions can leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, or uncertain about what's next. You don't have to figure it out alone.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with almost 20 years of experience. I believe that healing is a process of nurturing what already lives within you. Whether you are facing stressors, anxiety, parenting stress, conflict, finding your assertive voice and boundaries or simply looking for clarity; I will walk beside you on this journey. I have experience with anxiety, life phase transitions, school related difficulties, navigating parenting, self-esteem, and family/relationship conflict. My experiences have come from working with a diverse population of individuals of all ages across settings including community agencies, hospitals, military installations, and private practice.

My approach blends clinical rigor with genuine warmth. I ask a lot of questions, not to check boxes, but because I want to understand the full picture of your life, biology, and history before we decide on a path forward. I'm not interested in just managing symptoms; I want to understand the root of what's going on — whether that's biological, situational, relational, or some combination- so that treatment actually addresses the cause, not just the surface presentation. Clients often describe our sessions as feeling more like being truly listened to than being processed through an appointment. As an integrative provider, medication is one tool among several we might use, and I stay curious rather than settling for the first explanation.

Dr. Maria Escobar is a licensed clinical social worker and Doctor of Social Work dedicated to advancing equity, empowerment, and well-being in diverse communities. With over 10 years of experience in the field, Dr. Escobar specializes in clinical practice areas, e.g., trauma-informed care, family systems, or mental health advocacy.

Thank you for taking the first step in sharing your story—your Mental Health Matters, and you deserve to be heard, supported, and understood.

Welcome to Integrated Family Behavioral Health & Counseling PLLC! I'm Mihaela Vladu, PMHNP-BC, a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 16+ years of experience in healthcare, dedicated to helping individuals achieve lasting mental wellness and regain control of their lives.

I provide compassionate, personalized, and evidence-based care in a safe and supportive environment where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered. My approach focuses on treating the whole person—not just symptoms—while working collaboratively with you to reach your goals.

I specialize in working with a diverse range of individuals, including younger/older adults, children aged 6 and up, women dealing specifically with trauma and abuse, and veterans, as well as active-duty personnel experiencing PTSD. As a certified ADHD specialist, I provide targeted, evidence-based interventions to help individuals improve focus and daily functioning. I also have extensive experience treating bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, panic disorder, OCD, and other complex mental health conditions.

Areas of Expertise:

• Dual-Diagnosis Care (SUD + mood/anxiety​/​psychotic disorders)

• MAT: Buprenorphine​/​Suboxone inductions & maintenance; relapse-prevention planning

• Alcohol​/​Opioid Withdrawal & Detox protocols (court order MAT program, inpatient, outpatient, and halfway houses)

• Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis

• Residential​/​PHP​/​IOP programmed care & step-down planning

• Trauma-informed care, veteran populations, and complex comorbidity

I don't start by asking, "What's wrong with you?" I start by asking, "Help me understand you."

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As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), I have had the privilege of caring for individuals across diverse healthcare settings throughout my nursing career. My professional journey has included advanced training as both a Nurse Educator and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, reflecting my ongoing commitment to lifelong learning, clinical excellence, and evidence-based, compassionate care.

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I provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy for individuals across the lifespan, with a special focus on children, adolescents, and young adults. Whether you're navigating ADHD, anxiety, depression, or a significant life transition, my goal is to provide thoughtful, individualized care in a calm, welcoming environment where you feel genuinely heard, respected, and understood.

With more than 15 years of experience in the mental health field, I am committed to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges with greater understanding, confidence, and hope. My approach to therapy is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and the belief that meaningful change is possible for everyone.

My primary goal is to walk alongside you throughout your therapeutic journey—creating a space where you feel heard, respected, validated, and understood, while also receiving practical tools and strategies to help you create meaningful change in your life. I believe therapy should provide both a place to process your experiences and a pathway toward growth, healing, and improved well-being.