Susann Adams, MD, LCSW-C

Susann Adams, MD, LCSW-C, brings 25 years of professional experience to her work with adults, teens, families, and groups in Maryland. As a Veteran, she has particular familiarity with the challenges faced by military veterans and has also provided treatment within legal-system settings, which informs a practical, results-oriented approach to care.

Her clinical focus includes addictions and substance use, post-traumatic stress and other trauma-related concerns, stress, anxiety, and depression. She emphasizes a strengths-based, client-centered philosophy - viewing each person as the expert of their own story and building treatment around individual goals and capacities. This approach allows flexibility in treatment plans, including options that do not require immediate abstinence for clients working on substance use and the use of shorter initial sessions for those who feel anxious about beginning therapy.

Susann works collaboratively to meet clients where they are, helping them identify and use their strengths to address abandonment, codependency, grief and hospice-related concerns, isolation and loneliness, personality and behavior issues, and other complex life challenges. Her dual credentials mean she is both a medical doctor and a licensed social work clinician - MD denotes medical training and LCSW-C indicates a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical authorized to practice in Maryland. She encourages those taking the first step toward therapy and supports practical, goal-focused progress along the way.

Flexible Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Care

Susann Adams uses client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy - CBT, and dialectical behavior therapy - DBT to guide online work in ways that match each person’s needs. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening closely and building treatment around the client’s goals and strengths, which is useful for people seeking a collaborative, paced approach to change. CBT helps identify and shift unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and is effective for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. DBT teaches practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be helpful for intense emotions, relationship difficulties, and some personality-related challenges.

Choosing the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and Susann collaborates with each client to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts strategies over time, starting gently when someone needs shorter sessions or a harm-reduction focus for substance use, and intensifying skills work as the client feels ready.

Online therapy in her practice is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for varied schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access consistent support from licensed professionals without needing to travel, allowing clients to engage in therapy in ways that suit their daily life and changing needs.