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What is Dr. Trish Gaffney's psychotherapy practice?
Dr. Trish Gaffney's psychotherapy practice is a solo, virtual-only counseling service led by Trish Gaffney, D.Min, LCSW-C, CCDC, described on its site as helping people find "hope in every difficult situation." Her site says in-person appointments are not yet available but that she has openings for virtual sessions, and it presents her as a therapist who listens and understands, with experience of struggle and change.
What the practice covers
Based on the site's navigation, the practice offers:
- Individual therapy, with a stated approach to psychotherapy and self-assessments
- Couples work, including guidance such as "8 Ways to Know You Need Couples Counseling" and material on lasting love
- Anger management and related reflection, including a "Beyond Anger Management" section and meditations
- Spiritual direction, alongside a book, Circle of Life
- Practical logistics: appointments, directions and contact by phone at (410) 782-0048
Who it may suit
The mix of clinical credentials (LCSW-C, CCDC, indicating licensed clinical social work and certified chemical dependency counseling) with spiritual direction suggests the practice is aimed at adults facing life transitions, relationship strain, anger or dependency concerns, and people who want room to discuss meaning and faith alongside practical coping. Someone who prefers in-person sessions would currently need to look elsewhere or wait; someone comfortable with telehealth and a single-therapist practice may find it a straightforward fit.
A useful next step
Write down the one situation you most want to change and what you hope a first session would address. Then call the listed number and ask two things: whether virtual sessions work for your location and insurance situation, and how she would approach your specific concern. A brief call is the fastest way to judge whether the style described on the site matches what you need.
Is virtual therapy available, and how do I schedule an appointment?
Yes. Virtual therapy is available: the practice states that in-person appointments are not yet available but that several openings exist for virtual sessions. Sessions are with Dr. Trish Gaffney, D.Min, LCSW-C, CCDC, a licensed clinical social worker and certified chemical dependency counselor, so the fit is strongest for adults seeking individual therapy, couples work, anger management, or spiritual direction.
How to schedule
Call (410) 782-0048. The site frames the first step as a conversation: look through the practice pages, then call if it seems right. Expect to describe what you want help with and to confirm availability, session format, insurance or fee arrangements, and any licensing or residency limits on virtual care, since those details are not spelled out on the page.
What to review before calling
- Services: individual therapy, couples counseling, anger management, self-assessments, and spiritual direction are listed.
- Format: virtual only for now; ask whether sessions use video or phone.
- Practicalities: ask about fees, insurance, cancellation terms, and confidentiality of online sessions.
- Fit: her stated approach centers on finding hope in difficult situations and on listening and understanding, which suits someone wanting a warm, reflective style more than a highly structured, skills-first program.
For comparison while deciding, the American Psychological Association at American Psychological Association offers guidance on what to ask a new therapist, and Psychology Today maintains a therapist directory if you want to weigh other virtual providers in Maryland.
What should I expect during couples counseling, and how do I know if we need it?
Couples counseling is typically a structured, conversation-based process led by a trained therapist, and it's worth considering when communication has become repetitive and unproductive, when small disagreements escalate, or when you feel more like roommates than partners. On this site, Dr. Trish Gaffney's practice frames the work around "finding hope in every difficult situation" and includes a page titled "8 Ways to Know You Need Couples Counseling," which suggests the practice treats the decision as a practical checklist rather than a last resort. The site also notes that in-person appointments are not currently available but virtual sessions are open — a useful detail if scheduling or geography is a barrier.
What to expect
- An initial assessment. Early sessions usually focus on why you're coming in, what each partner sees as the problem, and what you each want to change. Expect to answer questions individually and together.
- Guided conversation, not refereeing. A therapist helps each partner be heard, interrupts escalating patterns, and points out recurring cycles you may not notice from inside them.
- Skills and homework. Many therapists assign communication exercises, reflection prompts, or "simple things that matter" style practices between sessions — the site's "Lasting Love.. Simple things that matter" section suggests this practice leans toward practical, everyday habits.
- Uneven expectations are normal. One partner often arrives more motivated; a good therapist addresses that openly rather than pretending it isn't there.
How to know if you need it
Use these as decision criteria rather than a diagnosis:
| Signal | Worth a call | Consider waiting or other support |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | Same argument on repeat, avoidance, contempt | Occasional friction you both resolve |
| Trust | Secrecy, broken agreements, lingering resentment | Isolated disagreement already discussed |
| Life transitions | New baby, move, illness, retirement strain | Change you're managing well together |
| Individual factors | Active addiction, untreated mental health issues | — (address individually first or alongside) |
The last row matters: Dr. Gaffney's credentials include CCDC (a chemical dependency counseling certification), which points to experience where substance use intersects with relationship work — a common reason couples seek help and often best addressed in tandem with individual treatment.
A practical next step
Before calling, each partner should write down two or three specific situations that keep recurring and what each of you would like to be different. Bring that list to a first session or a brief phone consultation; it turns a vague "we should probably talk to someone" into a concrete agenda. If either partner is hesitant, agree to try a set number of sessions and reassess afterward rather than committing indefinitely.
For broader context on what couples therapy involves and how therapists are trained, American Psychological Association and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy publish plain-language guides for the public.
How can self-assessments help me decide whether to start therapy?
Self-assessments work best as a structured prompt for reflection, not as a diagnosis. They help you notice patterns—how long a problem has lasted, how much it interferes with work, sleep or relationships—and put words to what you'd tell a therapist in a first call.
On Dr. Trish Gaffney's practice site, self-assessments appear alongside individual therapy, couples counseling and spiritual direction, which suggests they're meant as an entry point for prospective clients rather than a clinical tool. The site's framing—"finding hope in every difficult situation" and the question "Is it time to do something about your situation?"—treats the decision as a personal threshold rather than a score to pass.
A practical way to use them
- Take the assessment when you're calm, not at a crisis peak, and answer about the past two to four weeks.
- Write two or three sentences about what scored highest and what you'd want to change first.
- Repeat in a few weeks. Movement in either direction is more informative than a single result.
- Bring the results to a consultation call and ask how the therapist would approach what you described.
When a self-assessment is the wrong tool
If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, assessments are not a substitute for immediate help—contact emergency services or a crisis line. For couples issues, an individual questionnaire won't capture the dynamic; a joint conversation with a counselor is more telling. And if you mainly want a diagnosis for insurance or documentation, a licensed clinician's evaluation is the appropriate route.
Deciding to book
Treat a high score as a signal to talk to someone, not a verdict. A useful criterion: if the concern has persisted for several weeks and affects daily functioning, a consultation is worth scheduling. Dr. Gaffney's site lists virtual session openings and a phone number, so a short call to ask what a first session involves is a low-commitment next step.
What is spiritual direction, and how does it differ from individual therapy?
Spiritual direction is a reflective, faith-oriented conversation in which a person meets regularly with a trained companion to notice where meaning, values or the sacred are showing up in daily life and to consider how to respond. It is not diagnosis or treatment of a mental health condition, and it is not the same as pastoral counseling, which usually addresses a specific crisis or decision. Individual therapy is clinical work: a licensed clinician assesses symptoms and functioning, develops a treatment focus and uses evidence-based methods to reduce distress or change behavior.
Where the two differ
| Dimension | Spiritual direction | Individual therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Meaning, prayer or reflection, values, discernment | Symptoms, functioning, patterns, coping and change |
| Typical provider | A trained spiritual director or minister, not necessarily a licensed clinician | A licensed therapist, counselor or psychologist |
| Usual goal | Greater clarity and attentiveness in how you live and relate | Relief from distress and concrete behavioral or emotional change |
| Format | Regular, often monthly, quiet conversation | Weekly or biweekly sessions with an assessment and treatment plan |
| Limits | Does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions | May or may not address spiritual questions, depending on the therapist |
The two can work well together. Someone navigating grief, a career decision or a sense of spiritual dryness might use direction to think through meaning while seeing a therapist for anxiety or depression. The reverse also happens: a person in therapy may want a separate space to explore faith without making it the clinical focus.
On the practice's site, Dr. Trish Gaffney, a licensed clinical social worker and certified chemical dependency counselor with a Doctor of Ministry, lists spiritual direction alongside individual therapy, couples counseling and anger management resources. The site states that in-person appointments are not yet available and that virtual sessions are open. For a reader deciding between the two, that combination is a practical signal: ask directly whether a given appointment is clinical therapy, spiritual direction or both, and how notes and confidentiality differ between them.
A practical next step
Write down what you want from the first few conversations—for example, "understand why I keep avoiding this decision" versus "make sense of what I believe now." If the answer involves persistent low mood, sleep problems, trauma symptoms or substance use, start with a licensed therapist and ask whether spiritual questions can be part of the work. If the answer is mainly about meaning, prayer or values, ask a prospective director about their training, supervision and how they handle a concern that looks clinical.
What is the Circle of Life book, and how is it used in therapy?
The site presents Circle of Life as a book by Dr. Trish Gaffney, listed as its own item alongside her therapy, couples counseling and spiritual direction pages, but the page evidence does not describe its contents or a formal therapy protocol built around it. What the site does show is a practice that frames change through reflection: self-assessments, writings on anger and courage, meditations, and a stated focus on "finding hope in every difficult situation." The book fits that pattern as a reflective resource a client might read between sessions, not as a replacement for assessment or treatment planning.
How it could be used in practice
- Between sessions: a client reads a chapter and brings reactions, disagreements or questions to the next meeting, giving the therapist concrete language for what feels stuck.
- When someone is deciding whether to start: reading first can help a hesitant person clarify what they want to work on before calling.
- Alongside couples work: the site pairs relationship help with written reflections, so a couple might read and discuss separately, then sort through differences in session.
- As a values and meaning prompt: given the practice's spiritual-direction offering, the book may suit clients who want to connect practical coping with larger questions of purpose.
What to keep in mind
A book cannot assess risk, diagnose, or adjust to what emerges in the room. If someone is in crisis or experiencing severe symptoms, reading is a supplement at most. It is also worth asking Dr. Gaffney directly how she intends the book to be used, and whether it is meant for individual reading, group discussion, or as an adjunct to therapy. Her site notes that in-person appointments are not currently available while virtual sessions have openings, which matters if you prefer reading material discussed face to face.
A practical next step
If the title appeals to you, call and ask two questions: what the book covers, and whether it works best before, during or after a course of therapy. For general reading on counseling approaches while you decide, American Psychological Association and NAMI offer plain-language starting points.
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