Janelle McCarthy, LCPC, LPC, RPT™

she/her

CLINICAL counselor, intermediate, level 4

Serving Maryland & DC Clients

I am a licensed clinical professional counselor in Maryland and a licensed professional counselor in DC, serving clients virtually in Maryland and DC as well as in-person in North Bethesda, MD as well as a registered play therapist™.

Growing up, my family called me “A Heart on Two Legs” and throughout my varied professional experiences, I’ve done my best to channel that as I celebrate children and advocate for their holistic well-being. Between my early days as a childcare worker, my experience as a former elementary teacher for students with high support needs, and my clinical experience as a therapist serving neurodivergent kids and their families (including interning right here at Playful Therapy Connections!), I have accumulated a lot of experiences, resources, and (never to be discounted) EMPATHY.

What does my experience mean for you as my client?

I’m really good at holding both. At the same time that I relish your child’s awesomeness and don’t confuse their big, baffling behaviors for who they are, I also grieve with you when you say that those same very real behaviors are hard and scary.

When we’re in parenting sessions (or school meetings or meetings with camp directors or extracurricular instructors or anyone else who’s a part of your child’s team), I will come with my signature curiosity and creative thinking about contributing factors that might be getting in the way of your child being able to access the authentic, meaningful experiences that mark childhood—family gatherings, sports, religious school, community theater, and many, many more. We’ll get to the root of the challenge and then dive into discussion about potential supports to help your kid know the joy of being a kid.

My work is guided by the social model of disability: people are not problems AND disabilities are far more rooted in systemic barriers than individual traits. I celebrate neurodivergence and get curious about how even my youngest clients can harness their strengths - or “mirror traits” - to help them navigate their challenges.

My “low and slow” approach to therapy–focused on co-regulation and offering an agenda-less presence–has helped many a reluctant child and teen feel safe enough to engage in meaningful therapeutic work.

*Portrait by Nathan McConnell*
When I’m not therapizing, I really enjoy hosting my friends for weekly Shabbat dinners, contemplating my next mug of tea, and snuggling up with a great book. I recently came across the “outdoorsy” vs “outsidey” designations; my Spoonie self is definitely in the latter. I love hearing the birds through my windows, catching a sun nap, and observing snow and rain from the comfort of my couch or a cozy deck.

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Frequently Asked Questions…

What is your favorite color?
- Mustard yellow!
What’s your favorite book?
- Favorites are so hard! Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day holds a special place in my heart.

What brings out your inner sparkle?
- Fangirling FOR SURE. Whatever my interest of the moment is (currently HSMTMTS), I love geeking out over it, head-canoning oodles of stuff with friends, and using my daily free 20 pages of color printing at the library to make wall collages.
Why did you decide to be a therapist?
- I came to the field for one reason and stayed for another. TLDR: I fiercely believe in protecting human dignity and being a therapist gives me the chance to do that on both individual and systemic levels.

The Nitty-Gritty Details

Education

MESSIAH UNIVERSITY, PA*
M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2021)

*Please note, I chose this awesome program not because the university aligns with my religious or political beliefs but because it offered a CACREP accredited program and was an accessible option when I lived in rural PA.

LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE, PA
B.S., Early Childhood and Special Education (2017)