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- Client-centered approach
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- DBT skills work
About Al
Al Balaa is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Maryland with 12 years of experience. He focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, compassion fatigue, addictions, relationship concerns, anger, career questions, bipolar disorder, depression, coping with life changes, and ADHD. He also attends to forgiveness, guilt and shame, life purpose, and self-love.
He uses client-centered methods alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Existential Therapy, and hypnotherapy. Sessions prioritize straightforward conversation about what is causing distress and practical steps to change unhelpful patterns. He aims to help people name difficult feelings, try small behavior changes, and notice what helps over time.
In practice he balances talking therapies with skills-based work. That can mean identifying thinking patterns with CBT, practicing emotion regulation skills from DBT, or exploring values and meaning through existential discussion. Hypnotherapy is offered as another way to access focus for certain issues.
People who prefer clear, practical guidance alongside open conversation may find his way of working useful. He frames therapy as a collaborative process, with goals set together and progress checked regularly. For new clients he invites a brief intake to map concerns and agree next steps.
Sessions are conducted in English. He accepts international clients; confirm current session options before booking.
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How his approaches shape online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting back what a person says to help them clarify feelings and goals. In online sessions this often looks like open conversation and guided questions to identify what matters most right now.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) examines the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and introduces small experiments to test new ways of thinking. Online work can include homework tasks, thought records, and reviewing progress together in subsequent sessions.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides practical skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Virtual sessions can teach and practice these skills, and the therapist reviews how skills are used between meetings.
Choosing the approach is collaborative. The therapist will help figure out which methods match a person's goals, needs, and preferences. That might mean focusing on skills first, exploring core beliefs, or trying hypnotherapy techniques as an adjunct.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. A common practical benefit of working online is easier scheduling - sessions can fit around work or caregiving, and shorter check-ins can be arranged when useful. Online work also makes it simpler to share worksheets, track homework, and maintain continuity when travel or relocation happens.
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Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
Maryland
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he address?
He works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, compassion fatigue, addictions, relationship strain, anger, career concerns, bipolar, depression, coping with life changes, and ADHD. Additional focuses include forgiveness, guilt and shame, life purpose, and self-love.
What therapeutic approaches does he use?
His work draws on Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Existential Therapy, and hypnotherapy. He mixes talk therapy with skills practice and value-focused discussion.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 12 years of clinical experience. That experience shapes how he balances practical skills and longer conversations about meaning and purpose.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is an LCPC, which stands for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, licensed in Maryland. His practice is based in Maryland.
Which languages are supported and can international clients work with him?
Sessions are offered in English. He does accept international clients.
What session formats does he offer?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options with him before booking.
How are fees handled?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Confirm exact pricing during intake or on the sign-up flow.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session. That process begins the intake and goal-setting conversation.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the urgent help numbers.