Meet Tara Mechlin, LCSW-C

Accepting New Clients in 2025!

Availability Below:

Tuesday at 9 am, 11 am, 2 pm

Wednesday at 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm

Thursday at 9 am or 12 pm

Friday at 12 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm 

I am a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) in Virginia and Maryland who is dedicated to providing high-quality, evidence-based treatment that is tailored to the client’s specific needs. The therapeutic relationship is the foundation of good treatment, and my approach is guided by this principle. I respect and value the trust given by clients.  With over 13 years of experience in the mental health field, I have treated a broad range of conditions. I specialize in working with individuals and families impacted by trauma, adjustment, grief, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other behavioral challenges.

I received my Master’s of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, concentrating on clinical work with children and families. Before receiving my MSW, I worked in treatment foster care and as an early childhood teacher in the public school system. In the mental health field, I have worked with children, college students, young adults, parents, and families. Working in a hospital-based outpatient clinic, I provided individual, family, and group therapy along with therapy supervision for child psychiatry fellows completing their clinical training.

My practice is informed by the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) along with the skills of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness, attachment theory, and solution-focused therapy. I am certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). I have also trained in several other models for treating the symptoms of trauma in children and families, including Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and the Attachment Regulation and Competency (ARC) framework. I am trained in Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). Therapy supervision is another area of speciality, and I enjoy training new clinicians.

My approach to therapy is strengths-based, and I believe in building from a client’s existing skillset to explore ways to grow and help them. I am experienced in working with children of all ages, and I enjoy being able to work collaboratively with families. I also have a specific interest in helping college students and young adults navigate the stress associated with the transitional phase of life.

I appreciate the accessibility of telehealth. Having a young child myself, I understand the need for flexible scheduling and managing work-life balance. Telehealth allows me to prioritize my family while also providing individualized and comprehensive care to every client and family I work with. I am excited to work with you and hope to help you find balance in your life.

Tara’s Services

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Get started with your free 15 minute consultation!