Meet Cindy
Cindy Crane, LCSW-C Owner, Director and Trauma Psychotherapist
Hi, I’m Cindy
I am an LCSW-C, MD #14018 with a Masters in Clinical Social Work from The Catholic University of America. My practice focuses on teens, adults, parents, and couples (LGTBQ+ or other), struggling with cancer, illness, grief, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, stress, motivation, depression, relationships, academics, career, as well as ADHD. In addition to my consideration of the person, I also consider the person's environmental stressors, and how these may be contributing to his, her, their issues.
How I Came to this Field
Prior to becoming a therapist, I was a journalist for 17 years. I focused on medical, health, trauma, and issues affecting women and children. In 2005, I traveled to Thailand twice with a team of doctors, nurses and television news affiliates to cover the tsunami that devastated Southeast Asia. It was during those mission trips I realized I wanted to work directly with people suffering and in need on a psychological level. This decision lead to my career shift to become a trauma therapist informs my therapeutic approach today in my practice.
My Therapeutic Approach
I am warm, direct, and compassionate listener. I am also interactive, providing insight and feedback. In addition to traditional talk therapy techniques, I also incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques, as well as several trauma-informed individual and couples therapy approaches noted below.
I’m a Trained EFT Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist
EFT is a systematic map of steps and stages that understands these cycles as the underpinnings of relationship distress. EFT works well with all types of couples’ issues, including trauma, loss, infidelity, and lost emotional connections. Couples are helped to create nurturance, love, and connection in their relationships, learning to identify their cycle, the emotions underlying the reactions, and their parts in the dance as they come up in the session and at home. Couples learn to regulate their emotions and send clear, coherent emotional signals to their partner for a healthier and happier relationship.
I’m a Trained EFT Tapping Therapist
EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a type of mind/body technique and a universal healing tool that can provide impressive results for physical, emotional, and performance issues.
I’m a Trained EMDR Trauma Therapist
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) incorporates elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy with bilateral rhythmic, left right stimulation. EMDR therapy directly affects the brain, “unfreezing” the traumatic memories, allowing the client to resolve them. Over time the disturbing memory and associated beliefs, feelings, sensations become “digested” until the client is able to think about the event without reliving it. The memory is still there, but it is less upsetting.
I have a Dog Friendly Practice!
In my spare time, I’m often playing, walking or hiking with my Mini Bernadoodle, Charlie. My pup frequently visits my beautiful and cozy downtown Bethesda, MD office. The vast majority of my clients find Charlie a comforting and soothing presence. And good news! If we have discussed it in advance, and you find it helps you to have him or her join you for your session - your OWN Fido or Bella are warmly welcome too!
