Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Gaithersburg, MD

I provide structured, evidence-based psychiatric care for adolescents and adults with anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD, and complex mental health conditions. I specialize in treating individuals who have had limited response to prior treatment and require a more personalized, clinically guided approach. I also have extensive experience supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in both community and residential settings.

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 that each person is the expert of their own life. At times, however, navigating challenges, life transitions, relationships, or emotional struggles can feel overwhelming, and having a supportive, objective person to talk to can make a meaningful difference.

My goal is to provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where you feel heard, understood, and supported. Together, I am committed to helping you build insight, resilience, and confidence while working toward your personal goals.

I am an experienced therapist, licensed in Maryland, Ohio, Missouri, and Kansas. I will be your partner and tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. I have a master’s degree from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. I have been described as supportive, direct, caring, and compassionate, with a good sense of humor. I like to focus on identifying your strengths and helping you maximize them.

My name is Derrick C. Gibson — Licensed Professional Counselor, Elder at Brookside Ministry Church of God in Christ International, and someone who has spent his career showing up for people that many systems had already written off. I hold dual Master's degrees in Guidance and Counseling and Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and my work has taken me deep into Kanawha County, West Virginia — into the schools, into the judicial system, and into the lives of families navigating some of the hardest circumstances imaginable. I've worked with domestic abuse survivors, sexual abuse survivors, at-risk youth, and individuals managing anger — not from a distance, but up close, with real investment in real outcomes. I also serve as a Christian Counselor, which means faith is not a footnote in my practice — it's woven into the foundation. If you're looking for a counselor who brings both clinical training and a grounded spiritual perspective, you've found one.

PLEASE NOTE: Payment options are limited to Aetna insurance in FL, NY, MD, TX and Self-Pay in 42 States.

Dr. Tania is a Licensed Psychologist offering individual therapy for a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, OCD, ADHD, phobias, trauma, perfectionism, burnout, depression, disordered eating, body image issues, relationship challenges, addictions, grief, and other experiences across the human condition.

Dr. Tania also offers couples therapy (Gottman Method Levels 1 & 2 certified), comprehensive ADD/ADHD evaluations, ESA letters, and formal documentation for academic accommodations and standardized testing.

I work with teens and adults who are carrying more than anyone around them realizes. They're the capable ones, the ones people lean on, and they've gotten good at functioning while quietly running on empty. If that sounds like you, you're in the right place. I've spent nearly a decade helping people understand why they stay stuck, rebuild their sense of self after loss or burnout, and create lives that actually feel livable. I'm a licensed clinical social worker in both Virginia and Maryland, and I bring a culturally grounded, trauma-informed perspective to every

client I work with. Being a Black woman in this field means I understand firsthand why finding a therapist who really sees you matters.