Bipolar disorder therapists & psychiatrists in Gaithersburg, MD

Hello, and welcome. My name is Darius Brittingham, and I am a mental health and substance abuse therapist with a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. I am passionate about helping individuals navigate life’s challenges while building the skills needed to create meaningful and lasting change. My professional background includes working with individuals experiencing mental health concerns, substance use challenges, stress, anxiety, and life transitions. I strive to create a supportive, respectful, and non-judgmental environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their thoughts, emotions, and goals.

I'm a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner with over 10+ of experience in the mental health field, and 3 years as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I founded Isimi Health & Wellness to provide thoughtful, evidence-based psychiatric care rooted in compassion, cultural humility, and a deep respect for the mind-body connection. My clinical background spans across PHP/IOP settings, Outpatient psychiatry, TMS, and telepsychiatry. I’ve worked with diverse populations experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, and life transitions. Whether you're seeking support for mood instability, clarity around your medication options, or a space to reset and realign, I’m honored to walk alongside you on your wellness journey.

I am a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner for over 5 years, and I am also a board certified adult nurse practitioner for over 12 years. I began my nursing career graduating from university of MD with my bachelors, and then attended Johns Hopkins University for my masters. I decided to further my education by attending Brandman University to obtain my Doctorate and psychiatric mental health certification in 2018.

I received my medical education in Paris, France.

I arrived in the US in 1982 and completed my psychiatric residency at Temple University Hospital, in Philadelphia in 1989.

IN 2010, I completed a forensic psychiatry fellowship in Portland, Oregon.

I have worked as a staff psychiatrist within the Maryland state mental health system for 23 years.

I am working with patients suffering from general mental illness and patients suffering from substance abuse.

I have worked with substance abuse clients since 1992 when I created a treatment program at Crownsville Hospital, in Crownsville. More recently I have been working with clients receiving buprenorphine (Suboxone) for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Do you struggle with anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, negative thoughts, unhealthy relationships or the inability to say NO! Are you tired of feeling like nothing will change or your stuck in life because you don't know what to do to make it better? I focus on adults using CBT, REBT, Person Centered and Motivational interviewing to assist clients in learning more about themselves and their perspective on life. I have experience working with many different mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, stress, marital/relationship issues and career struggles to name a few.