Janet Hughes, MD, LCSW-C, LICSW

Janet Hughes brings a calm, collaborative presence to therapy and has supported people through emotional and behavioral challenges for more than 20 years. She earned a Masters in Social Work in July 2001 and completed undergraduate studies at the University of Florida. As a seasoned, licensed clinical social worker practicing in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, she combines professional training and lived experience to help clients address depression, anxiety, substance use, and trauma. Janet is also certified in addiction treatment and integrates practical tools that promote lasting change.

Her approach centers on working together with each person as the expert in their own life, creating a plan that targets the issues needing attention and action. She frequently uses cognitive behavioral therapy - a structured method for identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors - along with mindfulness techniques that build present-moment awareness and stress management skills. In individual sessions she emphasizes empathy, transparency, and steady support to foster personal growth and empowerment.

Janet holds credentials including MD, LCSW-C, and LICSW and offers a welcoming, nonjudgmental space for those ready to begin a healing process. She is based in Maryland and accepts clients who seek guidance in making meaningful changes.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Care

Janet uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients examine and shift thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to distress. CBT is goal-focused and practical, often applied to anxiety, depression, substance use, and everyday coping challenges.

She also integrates mindfulness therapy, which cultivates moment-to-moment awareness and teaches skills for managing stress, emotional reactivity, and persistent worry. Mindfulness practices can complement other strategies by strengthening attention and resilience.

Motivational interviewing is another approach she draws on when change feels difficult or ambivalence is present. This collaborative, nonjudgmental method helps people clarify their reasons for change and build intrinsic motivation, which can be especially useful with addiction or behavior change goals.

Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Janet works together with each client to identify strategies that fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online sessions offer flexible ways to engage - video calls, phone conversations, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and reach people who cannot attend in person. These options support continuity of care and make it possible to work with a licensed professional from different locations.