Ekene Elumelu, LMSW, LICSW, SIFI

I work with adults  (18+) on issues surrounding immigrant experiences and identity challenges; substance use; navigating how to balance career and family life;  frequent feelings of shame, mood changes, grief and distress; anxiety and depression. I am able to provide support to help clients gain insight to manage, decrease or eliminate the intensity, frequency and duration of distress and discomfort caused by guilt about setting boundaries and advocating for ones needs; challenging family of origin experiences that currently affect relationships; and those who have experienced sexual, physical and/or emotional trauma. I collaborate with my clients and prioritize their thoughts, ideas and needs.  

I use trauma-informed care, Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic therapies to explore the origins of behavioral, thought and mood patterns and deal with current current distress caused by thinking patterns that inform behavior that causes negative mood states and challenges. My practice is rooted in Cognitive therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Dialectical behavior therapy and allows clients to understand, explore and/or address irrational thinking patterns, gain mindfulness skills to make well thought out decision, gain mood regulation and distress tolerance skills, improve communication skills and relationships and strengthen personal motivation and commitment to  goals.

Clients benefit from my supportive validation, compassionate questions and practical feedback which helps them effectively gain insight into challenges and identify strategies to decrease the psychological impact of anxiety, depression, mood disorders, life transitions, relationship difficulties and early life experiences. More specifically my clients see successful treatment outcomes including: improvements in self-control, coping skills, emotion regulation, and emotional awareness.

My approach to therapy focuses on the development of a collaborative and egalitarian relationship that leads to positive change. I communicate directly, respectfully and with compassion toward my clients in order to better understand their expectations, identify treatment goals, and evaluate treatment progress/outcome. My clients are given an emotionally and physically safe space (in person or online) to share and explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences while I actively listens and seek to understand the client's perspective. This  cooperative relationship, allows clients to create a new or deeper understanding of their experiences, allowing for positive transformation. 

Clients experience my therapeutic style as a holistic approach that focuses on understanding your personhood in all environments (friends, family, work/school, etc.). 

I'm certified by the Maryland Board of Social Workers to provide supervised mental health counseling services. I have experience in providing individual counseling that centers around trauma, behavioral issues, self-esteem, family dynamics, bullying, grief, depression, and anxiety. I earned my Master of  Masters of Science in Social Work from Adelphi University School of Social Work and my Bachelors of Science in Psychology from York College 

Call 240-428-0465 or email staff@adikacounseling.com with any and all questions. Please specify your desire to work with me and include your insurance information.