Hi, I’m Dr. Radhika Parekh (she/her/hers), a licensed clinical psychologist in Maryland.
I specialize in providing trauma-informed and culturally responsive therapy to children, adolescents, teenagers, and young adults who are experiencing and have been impacted by various types of trauma (medical trauma, traumatic injuries, developmental or childhood trauma, abuse/assault, grief/loss, racial or cultural trauma, etc.), chronic medical conditions (Type 1/Type 2 diabetes, PCOS, endocrine disorders, autoimmune disorders, GI disorders, severe food allergies, etc.), adjustment disorders, and mood disorders (health anxiety, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, depression), as well as individuals who are struggling with identity issues, life transitions, and relationship, family, or social stress.
Clients describe me as warm, friendly, empathic, supportive, and down to earth. I genuinely enjoy connecting with others, and I am passionate about reducing stigma related to mental health issues. I love working with kids, teens, and young adults, and I use a strengths-based and person-centered approach within therapy sessions. At Connect and Heal Psychology, LLC I tailor therapy for each client’s unique needs.
My approach to therapy
I welcome individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and ability statuses to my practice. At Connect and Heal Psychology, LLC, I provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive therapy for children, adolescents, teens, and young adults. Whether you are dealing with trauma, a chronic illness, anxiety, depression, adjustment-related concerns, identity issues, and/or family, social, or relationship stress, I am here to support you. I acknowledge there may be stigma related to seeking out mental health services, and I am committed to providing affirming care for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and neurodiverse clients, fostering a community of empathy and growth.
Through building a strong and trusting therapeutic alliance, therapy can be a space where you and/or your child feels heard, understood, and supported. Research has found that having a non-judgmental and supportive therapist is a strong predictor of positive and lasting therapy outcomes. Therapy will also be a space where you and/or your child can cultivate new skills to help navigate life’s stressful moments. Together, we will collaborate to explore new perspectives, process traumatic or challenging experiences, and create meaningful lifestyle changes.
My therapy style is warm and supportive. I typically use an integrative approach that includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), multicultural therapy, and trauma-informed therapy interventions. Through this integrative approach, I help clients develop insight about the connections among their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as improve coping skills, perspective taking, identity development, and relationship functioning. Additionally, I help clients explore the ways in which past experiences have impacted them.
Some of my salient multicultural identities include being a South Asian American cisgender female and a second generation immigrant from India. I understand and acknowledge the challenges that many individuals, children, and families may experience when navigating multiple cultural contexts and identities, especially for folx who have multiple minority statuses or a mix of minority and dominant identity statuses. Given that our lived experiences and identities may also be different from one another, I hope to be an ally during the therapy process.
I understand that symptoms, as well as behavioral, emotional, and social concerns may look different at various stages of development. I use my specialized training in pediatric psychology to tailor my approaches in order to meet each client’s unique developmental needs.
Credentials
Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) PSYPACT #14865
Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Maryland, Maryland License #06465
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.), Loyola University of Maryland
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Therapist Certification
Doctoral Dissertation: Parent-Adolescent Relationship Quality, Ethnic Identity, and Romantic Attachment in Asian-American Emerging Adults
Pre-Doctoral Internship in Pediatric Psychology at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital (An affiliate of University of Maryland Medical System and Johns Hopkins Medicine)
Post-Doctoral Fellowship with a specific focus on providing consultation, therapy, and assessment services within the Pediatric Diabetes/Endocrinology clinic, Pediatric Integrated Primary Care for Complex Kids clinic, and Trauma and Healing Program clinic at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (M.S.), Loyola University Maryland
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish, University of Virginia
Education and Training
I received my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) from Loyola University of Maryland and completed my American Psychological Association (APA) accredited pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital (MWPH), in Baltimore Maryland. I have spent the last several years working as a pediatric psychologist at MWPH, providing consultation, therapy, and testing evaluation services to individuals across the developmental spectrum (birth to emerging adulthood), as well as training and supervising students in various medical clinics.
I am formally certified to provide Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to children, adolescents, teenagers, and their caregivers impacted by trauma(s). My clinical training experiences range from a variety of settings, including: a pediatric hospital, a residential treatment center, outpatient community mental health clinics, and private practices. I have also enjoyed providing community outreach services; collaborating with multidisciplinary treatment teams; consulting with other psychology providers, as well as medical and school providers; and, supervising pre-doctoral psychology students.
