Neurodiversity-Affirming Trauma Therapy in Maryland

Integrative Trauma Therapy for ADHD, Autistic, and HSP (Highly Sensitive) Teens and Adults

Parenting Support - Trauma-informed coaching to build a life that supports your unique family

Relationship/couple’s therapy designed to meet neurodivergent or neurodiverse couples where they are at and build intimacy that respects different needs and ways of relating

Professional Consultation for Therapists in EMDR and providing neurodivergence-affirming care

Free to be you. Cultivating Safety & Embracing Authenticity

We support neurodivergent teens, adults , and families to understand themselves and create lives in which they can thrive!

We also support teens and adults who have experienced trauma including attachment trauma and neglect, abuse, narcissistic abuse and high-demand groups / cults.

Experienced in treating attachment trauma and dissociation using integrative and somatic trauma modalities including EMDR, brainspotting, and parts work.

No matter what you’ve been through, You are welcome here!

Meet the Team!

Emily Francis, LCPC

Hi!  I am an AuDHD therapist with a passion for trauma therapy including EMDR, brainspotting, and parts work. 

I love connecting with my clients as unique and complex people and you will notice my warmth, acceptance, and enthusiasm for trying different approaches until we find a way to make therapy work for you! If you have been looking for therapist who is warm, nonjudgmental, direct, and out of the box, that might be me!

I have lived experience navigating trauma and healing as well as raising ADHD and Autistic kids as a neurodivergent parent. I am committed to walking through my own hard places so that I can show up with presence and authenticity to join you in yours.

Wherever it is that you have been and no matter how you see yourself, I want you to know that I will not judge you. I want to come alongside and help you find your way to a life that has meaning.

I use an integrative, relational, and person-centered approach in my work, allowing us to collaboratively identify and cultivate your innate strengths and resources in order to utilize them along with powerful trauma therapy modalities to heal past trauma and thrive in your present life.

Together we will work with your mind, instead of fighting against it.

My master’s degree is in Spiritually-Integrative Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Loyola University and am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia. I am also an EMDRIA-Certified EMDR therapist and Consultant-in-Training who loves mentoring other clinicians.

In my previous life I was a community college math professor and I still have a great love for mathematics, learning, and helping others grow through overcoming challenges and engaging with big ideas.

My specialties include

  • Attachment trauma and childhood abuse and neglect and associated symptoms including hypervigilance, intense emotions, and feelings of chronic emptiness or disconnection

  • Recovery from Narcissistic, Religious, and Spiritual Abuse 

  • Embracing and navigating neurodivergence and associated challenges including PDA profiles

  • Parenting support including navigating the impact of past trauma or neglect on parenting, as well as parenting high-needs kids and teens  

Specialized training and experience in:

  • Attachment-focused EMDR

  • Brainspotting

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) & parts work

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

  • Spiritually-integrative Clinical Mental Health Counseling

  • Neurodivergence-Affirming Care

  • Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Model (Ross Greene)

  • Trauma and Attachment-informed Parenting

Ashley Brilliant, LGPC

Hi!  I am an ADHD therapist who is passionate about connecting with clients of all ages and backgrounds and offering unconditional acceptance and the relational connection that allows for real healing of attachment wounds and empowers clients to make changes and create a better life.

I work with children, teens, and adults who have survived (or are surviving!) complex trauma or who are navigating emotional regulation challenges, obsessive compulsive disorder, life transitions, and/or nervous system differences. I take a trauma and nervous system-informed approach in my work and am committed to walking with my clients through hard places and helping them create lives that work no matter what challenges they are facing.

I also have a passion for working with individuals and couples in navigating relationship issues with a particular interest in (and lived experience with) working with those in neurodivergent or neurodiverse relationships or who are parenting neurodivergent kids. I have completed Level 2 training in Gottman Method for Couples Therapy as well as advanced training in Neurodiverse Couples Counseling (AANE certified).

I use an integrative, relational, and person-centered approach in my work. We will partner in making a therapy plan that works for you. I offer multiple treatment modalities ranging from acceptance-based behavioral approaches to somatic trauma therapy approaches and take a flexible approach to ensure that I am able to meet you where you are at and respond to your needs in the moment. I am an inclusive and affirming provider and welcome clients of all identities and orientations.

I have a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University and am a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor in Maryland and Virginia. I am currently pursuing EMDRIA certification for EMDR therapy as well as AANE Certification for Neurodiverse Couples Counseling.

My specialties include

  • Complex trauma therapy for teens and adults including attachment trauma and dissociative disorders

  • OCD and related disorders

  • Neurodiversity-Affirming relationship / couples counseling

  • Neurodiversity-affirming therapy for kids, teens, and adults

  • Working with survivors of the Troubled Teen Industry

Specialized training and experience in:

  • EMDR for complex trauma and Autistic and ADHD clients

  • Brainspotting

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) - informed therapy

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and gentle exposure approaches for OCD

  • Neurodiverse Couples Counseling (AANE certified)

  • Gottman Level 2 Trained

  • Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Model (Ross Greene)

Our Services

  • Individual Therapy

    In-person and virtual therapy for Teens and Adults

    Attachment-focused EMDR, Brainspotting, IFS & parts work, DBT-informed individual therapy to meet the needs of teens and adults impacted by trauma and nervous system differences

    Integrative, collaborative, and relational psychotherapy

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  • Parenting Support

    Trauma-informed, neurodivergence-affirming Parent Coaching and Consultation for Parents raising high-needs kids and teens

    Supporting parents to create a life that meets the needs of all members of their family

    Navigating grief and acceptance around challenges

    Nervous-system-informed, collaborative problem-solving

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  • Clinical Consultation

    Clinical case consultation, training, and EMDRIA-approved consultation towards EMDR certification

    Complex presentations, trauma & dissociation, IFS and parts-work integration in EMDR, and adapting therapy to meet the needs of neurodivergent clients

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  • Couples Therapy

    Couples Therapy

    Neurodivergence-affirming couples counseling to understand and adapt relationships to each partner’s needs

    Gottman Method couples counseling for resolving conflict and building a connected and lasting partnership

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Start with a free 20-minute consultation.

Please use this form to request a free 20 minute consultation.

We are currently accepting clients for telehealth (MD and VA) and in-person services in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Once we have received your request, please allow me 1-2 business days to reply.