Licensed Psychologist in Bethesda, Maryland
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Adolescents and Adults
Feeling chronic negative emotions such as sadness, anger, anxiety, or loneliness is often a sign that something in our relationships has gone awry. By the time we attend psychotherapy, the task of altering our relationships may feel difficult or impossible to navigate alone. As a psychodynamic therapist, I am interested in how your early relationships impact your personality, worldview, attachment, perceptions, and coping mechanisms. Through compassion, challenge and sometimes humor, I aim to help my patients gain insight, learn new ways of relating to others, and implement change in order to heal, grow, and flourish.
I specialize in young adult issues such as anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationships, and identity. I have postdoctoral psychoanalytic education and have testified in court as an expert witness on parent-child relationships following divorce. Working with survivors of sexual abuse and complex trauma was a main focus of my training and study.
I work to provide a safe space for you to process negative emotions and experiences, self-reflect without judgment, explore ambivalence to change, and ultimately commit to healthily caring for yourself and others. I look forward to supporting you on the journey of learning about yourself in order to live a more authentic and meaningful life.
Dr. Stephanie Helwig (she/her) is a licensed psychologist in the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia who provides individual psychotherapy to pre-teens, adolescents, and adults. She earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University where she pursued the child and adolescent track. She has also gained advanced postdoctoral training through the Psychoanalytic Studies Program at the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis. Prior to her graduate work, she earned her B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from University of Maryland, College Park where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the Honors College. Dr. Helwig has experience working in community mental health centers, child assessment centers, public schools, and group practices. She is on the board of The Stroud Foundation for Children with Learning Differences and was selected as Best of Bethesda Psychologist in 2023 and 2024.
Let’s connect.
Beginning therapy can be exciting and sometimes intimidating. I am happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have about the process.