Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Cockeysville, MD

As a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, I provide personalized assessments, therapy, and medication management designed for you and your loved ones. Whether you’re facing depression, substance use, or personality challenges, I work with you to create a plan that helps you feel stable, supported, and able to live at your best.

I am dual board-certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. After several years of clinical practice, I earned my doctoral degree in 2021. My experience spans both behavioral and family health settings, including hospital-based behavioral health units, partial hospitalization programs, and intensive outpatient care.

I specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions, including ADHD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, panic disorder, and PTSD. My approach is grounded in evidence-based practice and emphasizes holistic, collaborative care.

Together, we will develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, goals, and values through a shared decision-making process.

I am committed to creating a supportive, nonjudgmental environment and to addressing disparities in mental health care. If you’re struggling, you don’t have to go through it alone. I’m here to support you with compassion, expertise, and care.

Welcome

Hello, and thank you for considering me as your therapist. My name is Tarianda Ruston, and I have more than 25 years of experience working in the helping profession. I am a licensed clinical social worker in both Maryland and the District of Columbia, with a diverse background that has allowed me to support individuals and families through many of life's challenges.

Throughout my career, I have worked in child welfare, foster care and adoption, inpatient mental health, custody cases, special education, and school mental health. These experiences have provided me with a deep understanding of the unique challenges people face across different stages of life. My passion is helping individuals discover their strengths, overcome obstacles, and build the tools needed for lifelong emotional wellness.

I believe therapy is a partnership built on trust, respect, and authenticity. My role is not to tell you what to do or make decisions for you. Instead, I provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences openly. Through thoughtful questions, compassionate reflection, and evidence-based strategies, I will help you gain insight, clarify your values, and make choices that align with the life you want to create.

I believe in the power of language, culture, and genuine connection to make therapy work. As an LCSW-C fluent in English and Yoruba, I bring both clinical depth and cultural understanding to my practice — creating space for clients from diverse backgrounds to feel truly seen and heard without having to translate themselves first.

Since 2016, I've worked across community mental health, schools, residential settings, and partial hospitalization programs, supporting adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, grief, OCD, domestic violence, and life transitions. I consider myself an agent of hope — helping clients build resilience, find healing, and rewrite the narratives of their lives one session at a time.

I'm trained at the University of Maryland and take a holistic approach — considering how physical health, relationships, culture, community, and spirituality shape each person's well-being.

I’m a therapist with more than 10 years experience in the field, in a wide variety of different settings. I prefer to utilize a Person-Centered, Solution-Focused perspective in providing treatment, and I'm highly practiced in a variety of CBT-based techniques. I'm happy to speak at length with patients about childhood traumas, their subconscious needs, and the impact of family upbringing on their adult lives- but that doesn't have to be therapy!

As a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over ten years of healthcare experience and a strong foundation in medical-surgical, oncology, and psychiatric nursing. My diverse clinical background has given me a comprehensive understanding of both physical and mental health, allowing me to provide compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to each individual's unique needs.

I understand that reaching out for help can feel overwhelming. Many of my clients come to me feeling anxious, exhausted, misunderstood, or unsure of what they need. Whether you're facing ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, mood changes, behavioral concerns, or other mental health challenges, I strive to create a space where you feel comfortable, respected, heard, understood, and supported.

My approach is collaborative and personalized. I work closely with each client to develop an individualized treatment plan that aligns with their goals, values, and lifestyle. Depending on your needs and preferences, I offer therapy, medication management, or a combination of both to provide comprehensive, well-rounded care.

Above all, I am committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where you can openly share your concerns, build resilience, develop effective coping strategies, and achieve meaningful, lasting improvements in your mental health and overall well-being.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) credentialed by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. I completed my Bachelor’s degree (B.S. in Psychology) at Towson University in 2013 and received my Master’s degree (M.S.) in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University in 2016. I am passionate about helping others conquer their challenges and transcend their goals. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with friends, loved ones, and her dogter, Lila. My favorite self-care activities include going to concerts, traveling, kayaking, cooking, and experimenting with different types of mocktails and coffees.

I believe therapy begins with feeling safe enough to be honest and being heard without judgment. I want my clients to know that you don't have to have all the answers before coming to therapy. Sometimes taking the first step is the hardest part.

I earned my Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Maryland and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C) licensed in Virginia and Maryland. I have worked in behavioral health for many years, with a particular focus on substance use, co-occurring mental health concerns, and trauma. My experience includes working with adults from diverse backgrounds and supporting individuals through residential, intensive outpatient, and outpatient levels of care.

I genuinely enjoy helping people recognize strengths they may have forgotten they have. I believe that your diagnosis, substance use, trauma, or past experiences are only part of your story—they do not define who you are. I will meet you where you are and work with you to identify where you want to go next.