Hello, I'm Bertha (pronounced as Bear-ta) Carrelli. I'm excited that you're taking the step to heal painful experiences and unburden “old stuff” so that you no longer have to feel stuck. I look forward to helping you heal your trauma and discover and strengthen the voice of your innate inner wisdom so that you can thrive in daily life with more confidence and self-compassion.
During sessions, we’ll go at a pace that feels right for you. Treatment will feel both productive and manageable. All parts of you are welcome! Meetings 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.
I provide individual and family therapy for children (age 2 and up), teens, and adults for the treatment of adverse experiences, childhood trauma, recent trauma, anxiety, PTSD, C-PTSD, loss, and medical trauma.
If you're ready to accelerate your healing and/or the traditional weekly/biweekly therapy structure does not suit your schedule, Therapy 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.
To learn more about my preferred treatment modalities, please check out my specialties page. 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. The 20+ years have flown by! After being trained in EMDR in 2007 and witnessing its effectiveness, I was excited to advance my skills through EMDRIA certification and by pursuing additional trainings/therapy models that combine well with EMDR, such as Polyvagal Theory, Coherence Therapy and IFS. I’m IFS Level 1 trained (IFS Institute), certified in IFS-Informed EMDR (Syzygy Institute) and am a guide (training assistant) for IFS-Informed EMDR trainings with the Syzygy Institute. IFS has become an integral part of the way I conceptualize treatment. As an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. I love helping other EMDR therapists increase their confidence with the model. 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, I enjoy traveling with my spouse and teenager, hiking, tent camping in our beautiful state and national parks, reading a book in my hammock, and hanging out with dear friends.