I offer therapy that is both gentle and effective.
Hello, I'm Bertha (pronounced as Bear-ta) Carrelli. I'm excited that you're here to find out about the different ways that we can heal your trauma, so you can thrive in your daily life and feel truly connected in relationships. Together, we can heal your painful experiences, discover and strengthen your innate abilities, and transform anxiety into a sense of calm and confidence.
As an EMDR Certified Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant, I have 20+ years of experience in treating trauma such as childhood trauma, recent trauma, anxiety, PTSD, C-PTSD, loss, medical trauma, adverse home or school experiences, abuse, and neglect.
I provide individual and family therapy for children (age 2 and up), teens, and adults. Session can be in-person or via telehealth. If you're a (mental) health professional seeking treatment, welcome! Please read more about therapy for therapists here.
If you're ready to accelerate your healing and/or the traditional weekly therapy structure does not suit your schedule, EMDR Intensives (multi-hour in depth sessions) may be a good fit for you! Intensives are offered as a stand-alone treatment and as an adjunct to regular ongoing sessions.
During sessions we'll incorporate EMDR, IFS (parts work), somatic focused interventions and, if you like, creative arts tools. Treatment will feel both productive and manageable. To learn more about my preferred treatment modalities, please check out my specialties. Additional practical information can be found on the FAQ page.
mY BACKGROUND
I earned my Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work (MSW) at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2004. After being trained in EMDR in 2007 and witnessing its effectiveness, it quickly became my favorite treatment method. As a lifelong learner, I enjoy opportunities to expand my knowledge and learn new skills through various trainings and integrating them into my practice. (check out some of my favorite resources!) I love working with other EMDR therapists as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Since 2008, I have been providing outpatient psychotherapy services at A Healing Place in Columbia, MD (www.ahealingplaceincolumbia.com). I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Music Therapy and am fluent in Dutch and Frisian (a minority language spoken by about 340,000 people).
In my personal life, these are some of my favorite things that bring me joy: Completing the daily Wordle with my teenager and playing duets together, attending concerts with my spouse, traveling to new places, hiking, tent camping in our beautiful state and national parks, reading a book in my hammock, and hanging out with dear friends.