Cynthia K. Goeller, LCPC, LMHC

Sometimes you feel like you're doing life all wrong, that nothing you do is right. Though you are kind and generous to others, people often tell you that you are very hard on yourself. You are afraid of making the same mistakes you saw growing up. People may have observed that you struggle with giving yourself the grace and compassion you easily give to others. Often, you accept responsibility for others' feelings and behaviors, leaving you feeling drained, guilty, and resentful. You fear that you are the only one who feels this alone and confused. You have few close friends and wish you knew how to have deeper friendships and healthier relationships with your partner and / or your own children. You find yourself in a pattern of feeling guilty for not being enough sometimes and being too much at others. You struggle to communicate in a way that is clear, and are having the same arguments with your parents, siblings, and significant others. It's all very frustrating and confusing that no matter how hard you try, nothing seems to change. You are starting to notice old relationship patterns from your life repeating into the present, maybe with your partner, kids, or both. Sometimes you feel ignored or misunderstood, despite working yourself up to honestly express yourself. Secretly, you have always wondered if it had something to do with your family growing up but you quickly dismiss that idea because you have always told yourself (or been told by others who were there), “It was fine. It wasn’t that bad." What you do know, is that you never feel good enough. And sometimes you wonder why anyone would like you when you are such a mess. ​Frequently running through your brain is the fear that you are ruining your relationships.​ ​I get it. And I can help. I know the effects of unacknowledged substance abuse, emotional neglect, mental illness, and family dysfunction, which is why I chose to work with others who are struggling to make sense of their background. I know what it's like not to know who you are, to feel ignored, and unworthy. I also know what it's like to find your voice, feel comfortable in your own skin, and confident in your decisions. I help individuals identify areas of over-functioning in relationships, develop a strong self-concept, implement boundaries, and learn how to nurture & care for themselves. Though they are skeptical and fearful at first, my clients love learning to empower themselves and how to love others without it being at the expense of themselves. I help my clients learn to relate to others in a way that shows respect and dignity to themselves and their loved ones. My clients learn how to really hear what others are saying and communicate in a clear, concise, compassionate way. ​Imagine a life where you can let go of the doubt, shame, fear, and guilt. A life where you are heard, seen, and validated. Where you genuinely like who you are. Imagine reclaiming your sense of self and knowing that you are making a positive difference in your life and the lives of those you love. ​Imagine enjoying the time you spend with yourself and with others. I help individuals & families break generational patterns of learned dysfunction that often arise during times of stress, recovery, and parenting. ​I will give you ​concrete solutions to letting go of guilt, shame, self-doubt, and frustration. With compassion, encouragement, and concrete tools, you can get the life you never knew existed, or may have heard about, but never thought was possible. I know how important it is to feel comfortable with your therapist and have your voice heard. At the same time, having someone be kind and compassionate towards you can feel strange and unfamiliar at first. We go at your pace. I promise to be open, transparent, and honest. Sometimes I say things you might not want to hear. I am also a relentless cheerleader for each of my clients because I know they can accomplish they change they seek, even if they don't know it yet. I know the last thing you need is to wade through traffic for another meeting or appointment. I built my practice exclusively online, affording you the opportunity to meet wherever you feel safe and comfortable. By meeting in your own environment over a secure video platform, my online counseling practice allows you to more quickly transfer the skills and insights you learn in session to your life in real-time. All sessions are completed with HIPPA compliant video software that is free and easy to use. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the process. If you are ready to invest in yourself to be the best version of you, let's get started. MY BACKGROUND Since 1995, I have been working in the field of mental health in a variety of settings: adolescent day hospitals, crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, university campuses, in-home therapy, addiction and recovery centers, outpatient counseling centers, and homeless shelters. I have run counseling groups and completed presentations to public, corporate, military, and religious groups. After completing my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Towson University, I completed my Post Master’s Certificate in Clinical Community Counseling from Johns Hopkins. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of New York, and Level 1 Trained in EMDR. All of my education and training has been designed to help my clients work thru the challenges at whatever stage they are in when they decide to seek help. ​​Every person deserves to be treated with compassion, dignity, and respect. My door is open to all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, or identity.