Teddy Knebel, LMSW

~My Background and Approach~ While I’ve always had an interest with our minds and how we relate to one another, it was my sister who first introduced me to IFS through a book recommendation (The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk). It felt more compassionate and comprehensive than any other therapy I’d had experienced before. With the support of an IFS therapist, I found and connected with the parts of me that needed witnessing and healing. This opened paths to profound transformation and growth, which also led to more internal trust and confidence in my system. Since then, I was fortunate to become trained in IFS professionally, giving me the confidence and clarity to pursue a career in social work to help others experience the magic of this model. Under the supervision of certified IFS therapists, I’ve provided IFS therapy to adults and couples in private practice and in a community mental health agency in Maryland. Prior to getting my MSW (Master of Social Work) degree, I was an IFS Practitioner, supporting therapists and allied health professionals nationally and internationally. As your therapist, I am committed to providing a calm, judgment-free zone regardless of your sexuality, race, gender, culture, and spirituality. ~What to Expect in Our Sessions & How I Can Help You~ Each session, I will check what is most useful to you, whether that involves deep therapeutic exploration or more focused problem-solving. We will collaborate and work at the speed of trust, and it’s my role to support you every step of the way. That means that you don’t have to know anything before a session, or “get it right” in a session. I know that you are intelligent in many ways, and that you’ve worked hard for a long time. Rather than being another responsibility, therapy can be a time to be appreciated for all that you do each day and to be less alone in your struggles. Ultimately, this will allow you to feel more seen and valued in your relationships. I look forward to supporting you on your healing journey as you develop a deeper connection and trust with your internal world. I also welcome your questions and feedback. ~My Style & Skills~ As an Enneagram Type 9, “the Peacekeeper,” I feel a natural ease with appreciating various perspectives, and mediating internal conflicts. When practicing IFS, I enjoy being flexible to the person I am supporting. I can maintain a pragmatic focus, offer humble leadership around a conflict, or encourage lots of space to gently explore subtle somatic signals in new ways, depending on what feels right to you. I am happy to encourage curiosity towards an inner voice who is used to being brushed aside, or to speak directly to an inner critic. I have learned IFS with a somatic focus, and I am equally happy to support connections to your intellectual parts. Your faith or spiritual beliefs are welcome in our work, whenever it feels right to you. I know that you are a good person, and I understand if parts of you have forgotten or taken on beliefs that deny that. At your side, I will be your companion as you reconnect with your creativity, confidence, and freedom of choice. When working with a couple, I use Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO), the application of IFS to relational therapy. You may be seeking help with brushing up on your communication skills, exploring a conflict in the relationship, or finding new ways to physically reconnect with love and passion. I will support each of you to bring more courage and perspective into your everyday interactions to allow for more openness and compassion for one another. Couples therapy can often bring deep healing for both partners as you get to know yourSelf in new ways and witness your partner do the same. As your couples' therapist, I aim to empower all partners to have more connection and choice as you navigate the big decisions and challenges of life.