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My goal is to empower people to make positive changes in their lives and help themselves become the person that they want to be....
About
My goal is to empower people to make positive changes in their lives and help themselves become the person that they want to be.
Molly Alvord is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Pennsylvania and Maryland with over 17 years of experience. Working in a variety of settings, Molly has had the pleasure of helping people of all ages and backgrounds by providing individual, couples, family, and group therapy. Her specialties include anxiety, stress, depression, and relationship issues.
Molly earned her Masters of Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work. She takes a humanistic approach that involves unconditional positive regard with a blend of techniques including person-centered, motivational, solution-focused, cognitive, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness to work with the client to find the methods that will fit their needs.
Molly starts where the client is and helps them explore their reasons for choosing therapy and identify their goals. Employing a variety of techniques to meet the client’s needs, she empowers her clients to use their strengths to make positive changes in their lives.
Education and training
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A fundamental aspect of our humanity is our need for unconditional positive regard, understanding, acceptance, and presence from o...
A fundamental aspect of our humanity is our need for unconditional positive regard, understanding, acceptance, and presence from one another.
I am a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) with 5 years of experience supporting adults navigating anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, life transitions, and emotional challenges. I provide a thoughtful, insight-oriented approach to therapy and believe that meaningful change begins with understanding the deeper roots of your struggles. I am committed to creating a safe, supportive space where you feel heard and respected.
I earned my master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Northwestern University, where I received training in psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. I draw from multiple evidence-based approaches and tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs, allowing therapy to unfold in a way that feels authentic and effective.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or isolated, you don’t have to face it alone. I offer an engaged, compassionate, and collaborative environment where we can explore challenges together and work toward clarity, relief, and lasting growth. I look forward to supporting you on your journey.
I believe therapy is a space for genuine connection, growth, and lasting change....
I believe therapy is a space for genuine connection, growth, and lasting change.
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with 14 years of experience helping individuals navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. I create a supportive environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to explore the patterns that shape their experiences. My approach is collaborative and compassionate, focusing on helping clients uncover their strengths and move toward greater emotional balance and fulfillment.
I earned a Master’s in Professional Counseling from Loyola University. Depending on client needs, I integrate an eclectic blend of emotionally focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy. These approaches are especially effective for clients managing moderate to severe anxiety and depression.
My goal is to help clients recognize and shift automatic responses that cause stress, turning these insights into meaningful growth. By sharing practical coping skills and fostering awareness of mind, body, and spirit, I guide clients toward resilience, self-compassion, and lasting happiness.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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Family therapy helps families resolve conflicts and strengthen their relationships. It is led by qualified mental health professionals like psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) who have extensive training in family dynamics and group communication.
Thriveworks family therapists in Columbia, MD usually begin by asking what everyone’s goals are for family counseling. Family members may need help with very specific issues or with general relationship functioning. But there are three main purposes in family counseling: to educate, to counsel, and to strengthen. Thriveworks also offers online family therapy and in-person services, so you may all meet in an office together or join a video call from your home depending on everyone’s location and availability.
The most effective form of Family therapy will often depend on the family itself, as there are many types of family therapy for therapists to use as they see fit in order to best meet the needs of their clients. However, one of the most commonly used types of family therapy is structural family therapy (SFT). SFT focuses specifically on family dynamics and interactions, looking at how they shape the relationships and structure present in the family. It can be effectively used to treat a variety of concerns.
This answer often looks different to each family that starts family therapy. However, some signs that your family might need to consider family counseling include frequent fights or misunderstandings, constant tension, experiencing loss, behavioral issues, marital issues, divorce, and blended family issues, among others.
In family therapy, therapists will often start by asking questions and assessing individual and family dynamics. From there, they may employ therapeutic techniques such as structured family therapy, CBT, strategic family therapy, and more depending on the present concerns and conflicts. From there, a therapist will work to open lines of communication between family members and facilitate emotional healing and growth.
Family therapy can be incredibly successful, with some studies reporting a success rate of almost 90% for improving participants’ emotional and mental health, and around 66% for improving their physical health.
Thriveworks therapists in Columbia, MD offer both online family therapy and in-person family therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
Family therapy is usually short term and solution-focused, with most families accomplishing their goals in 12 sessions or fewer. However, it can also last for longer if the probles at hand are more complex — and that’s okay, too.
Work, household chores, taking the kids to soccer practice or dance class. Life tends to be pretty busy these days with all of the different activities your family can choose to be a part of. However, sometimes life gets too busy and things start to spiral out of control. Your kids are acting out, your relationship with your significant other is a little rocky, things just keep building up and you do not know where to turn to get help. At Thriveworks Columbia, we believe family therapy could be the solution you have been looking for.
Family members can be in a constant slanging match with each other, so much so that they have forgotten how to behave in any other way. When kids run riot, parents let off steam by joining in with the chaos. Then, before you know it, there’s World War III in the home. The saddest thing of all is that no one enjoys living like this, yet no one seems able to stop it. Family therapy gives your family the platform to sit down and learn how to talk out the issues you are facing. Reach out today to schedule your first family therapy appointment.
Family counseling works by including all family members in the discussions whenever possible. The actual treatment is usually a specific plan that’s unique to you and the needs of your family. This is why an assessment period is so important. The family therapist will want to identify any physical, emotional or psychological issues in any of the family members. Some of these may include:
There may be others too, which is why an assessment can be so important. If the family and therapist already know the root cause(s) of the problems, then the counselor can put together a plan of action sooner. The role of a qualified family therapist is straightforward in theory. They have to:
If you feel like your family could benefit from a specialized plan by one of our family therapists or counselors, schedule an appointment at Thriveworks Columbia today. Family therapy could be the help your family needs to take a step back and face your problems head on. We want to help your family thrive and live a happy life together.
At Thriveworks Columbia we strive to create a personalized treatment plan for every family. In this manner, we try to ensure that our clients’ individual needs are met in the best way possible. At Thriveworks we accept many different insurance plans as well as offer flexible hours with weekend and evening availability. Thriveworks has a “no waiting list” policy. We want your family to get the help you need as soon as possible, and new clients can often have an appointment the same week as scheduling.
For more information on how we may be able to help you and your family, call Thriveworks Columbia today to make an appointment. (410) 910-2708.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Columbia is located in the Shoppes at Wilde Lake and near the intersection of Lynx Lane and Twin Rivers Road, off Governor Warfield Parkway. It is right by Wilde Lake and just off the campus of Howard Community College and Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center. The office is in a multi-story brick and glass shopping complex with attached grocery store. Enter through the small lobby on the left side of the building to access Suite 285 on the second floor.
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28 therapists available in Maryland, including 7 in Columbia
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