LGBT therapists in Gaithersburg, MD

There's a particular exhaustion that comes from being strong for everyone — from carrying your history in your body, from holding complexity in a world that keeps asking you to pick one lane. Whether you're sorting through old trauma, navigating mood swings that feel out of your control, or sitting with the weight of relationships that have hurt you, you don't need to figure it out by yourself. Many of my clients are high-functioning people who've been told they're fine — and they're tired of pretending that's the whole story.

I am a compassionate and dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over two decades of experience across a wide range of therapeutic settings, including family, adolescent, individual, group, adult, outpatient, residential, and day programs. I help clients enhance their quality of life by using evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Seeking support can feel like a big step, and I'm glad you're here. My goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable being yourself—without judgment, pressure, or the need to have everything figured out. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, mood changes, trauma, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges, we'll work together to help you move toward healing and balance.

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. I provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive therapy using an evidence-based, holistic approach. I believe mental health is about more than managing symptoms—it's about improving your overall quality of life and helping you thrive.

My clients often describe me as warm, humorous, open-minded, energetic, and easy to talk to. I also believe in being direct, honest, and solution-oriented because I know that meaningful growth comes from combining compassion with practical strategies. I enjoy helping people recognize their strengths, build resilience, and develop skills they can use long after our sessions.

I work with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults experiencing a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders. I also support clients navigating life transitions, grief, relationship challenges, stress, and emotional regulation.

I believe healing happens through collaboration, trust, and hope. Whether this is your first time seeking mental health care or you're continuing your journey, I'm here to meet you where you are and help you take the next step toward living a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Great to meet you! I am Dr. Shannon D. Howard, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC, LPC) for the states of DC & MD, a Certified Life Coach, and an Author. I have been helping individuals, children, couples, and families navigate grief and loss, trauma, anxiety, adjustment, depression and more for over 24 years.

My educational background consists of a dual Master's in both Counseling and Clinical Psychology. I received my first Master's at Towson University in 2000, a second Masters and Doctorate in 2008 and 2010 from The American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. I minored in Philosophy as well as Women's Studies.

I possess specialized training in areas of trauma, specifically in the assessment and treatment of sex offenders and survivors of sexual assault. I have worked in an adult inpatient psychiatric hospital, a day program for adults with chronic and acute mental illness, as well as on an outpatient basis as a private practitioner and with a group practice. I worked with Parole and Probation to help clients maintain compliance and management while on the registry. As a Certified Life Coach, I help coaching clients discover what they truly desire. We collaborate to create a roadmap to move you forward and build a future that feels grounded and authentic to you.

At present, I offer a full range of services and am open to accepting new virtual clients.

I am LGBTQIA+allied, sex-positive, kink-friendly and nurturing to clients within this community. I also help clients navigate open relationships (ENM), polyamory, and non-traditional relationships.

**I CAN ONLY SEE CLIENTS WHO ARE IN THE STATES OF DC AND MD AT THE TIME OF THEIR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT.

*We offer a 10- minute grace period before logging off of the platform. Please reach out to reschedule your next appointment. There us a $150 fee for appointments no shows and for cancelations not made 24 hours in advance.

I believe there is no one "right" way for therapy and healing, so I offer multiple pathways—talking, movement, art-making, and body-based practices, like EMDR and somatic therapies. Working together we will find what works for you.

With over twenty-seven years of diverse nursing experience, particularly in Emergency Room and Mental Health settings, such as St. Elizabeth Hospital, Providence Hospital, and the Psychiatric Institute of Washington. These positions have equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of both clinical excellence and operational efficiency.

Dr. Shannon Howard is a highly sought-after professional counselor and CEO of SinClair McCoy, LLC. She serves as a sexual relationship specialist who focuses on assisting women and men with healing from childhood trauma surrounding sexual abuse.

Dr. Howard is also a a practitioner who focuses on the mental health care needs of first responders, law enforcement, healthcare workers, and government personnel.

Her extensive educational background consists of dual degrees in both Counseling and Clinical Psychology with a focus on Philosophy and Women’s Studies. She also possesses specialized training in trauma relating to the treatment of sex offenders and survivors of sexual assault.

She believes that every client is unique in their way and that each person’s story is different. This is the catalyst behind her coaching methodology. Using targeted strategies and personalized coaching approaches, she works with couples and individuals to help them transition from victim to victor.

Dr. Howard helps clients face their past trauma by uncovering and resolving the root issue, assessing desired outcomes, and implementing a plan of action that leads them toward living a more optimal life experience.

She is the author under the alias Sinclair McCoy of The Alternative book trilogy. She speaks nationally to the masses on a variety of topics including:

-Life After Sexual Abuse

-Finding Your Sexy After Sexual Abuse

-Regaining Your Body Trust

She is the owner of a private practice AND co-owner/ managing partner of a group practice in Maryland. She has been in the counseling field since 2002 and is passionate to serve a variety of clientele.

Her clients are located in the D. C. and MD states.

I am a Licensed Holistic Mental Health Therapist with over five years of experience in the helping profession. I’ve had the privilege of supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds as they navigate life’s challenges and transitions. My passion is helping people who are at a turning point in their lives and ready to step into a new level of healing, growth, and expansion. Whether you’re a new parent adjusting to motherhood, exploring your identity, healing from heartbreak, or uncovering childhood wounds, I am here to walk alongside you. Together, we’ll use holistic, heart-centered approaches to help you reconnect with yourself and create the path that feels most aligned for this season of your life.

Hi! I'm so glad you're here. I’m Hunter Garrett, a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to partnering with children, teens, and adults as they navigate life’s hardest seasons. I have spent my career in a diverse variety of clinical settings and environments, working with patients from all backgrounds. I completed my advanced training at Vanderbilt University, where I focused on compassionate and holistic, evidence-based mental health care. Those experiences shaped my belief that every person deserves to feel seen, heard, and treated with genuine respect.