Who We Are

Therapy often requires courage: the courage to explore difficult emotions, expand your comfort zone, challenge your previous patterns, and move towards the life you desire.

Courage Counseling was created with the belief that meaningful change starts with exactly where you are now. Seeking help can feel vulnerable, and our priority is to make each on your journey feel safe, empowering, and worthwhile. We are rooted in the belief that growth happens in spaces where people feel truly seen, heard, and supported.

At Courage Counseling, therapy is not a one-size-fits-all process. Every person brings their own stories, strengths, challenges, and experiences into the room. The work we do together is shaped around what matters most to you. We take a collaborative and integrative approach, working together to create a path toward growth and personal transformation through compassion, curiosity, and understanding.

Whether you are navigating anxiety, OCD, overwhelming emotions, life transitions, stressors, or patterns that feel difficult to break, Courage Counseling offers a supportive environment where meaningful progress can flourish. Through evidence-based practices, compassion, and collaboration, we strive to help clients build insight, develop practical tools, and move forward with greater confidence and resilience.

Sunlight shining through a forest with tall trees, creating a lens flare effect with colorful light streaks and spots.
A photo of Kelsey Rood, LCPC

Meet Kelsey Rood, LCPC

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Kelsey Rood is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland. She received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. Kelsey believes therapy should be a collaborative and supportive process where individuals feel safe exploring their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. She works alongside clients on their mental health journey, while developing practical tools to support lasting change and emotional resilience.

Her approach integrates evidence-based practices, while remaining flexible to the unique needs of each individual, recognizing that every person’s path toward growth looks different.

Kelsey works with individuals navigating a wide variety of concerns and life challenges. She also has a specialized focus on anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and PANS/PANDAS.

She strives to create a warm and compassionate therapeutic environment, grounded in genuine understanding and empathy. She recognizes that reaching out for support can feel overwhelming, and values meeting each person exactly where they are on their journey. Her goal is to provide a space where clients feel comfortable exploring difficult experiences, facing challenging emotions, and building the confidence needed to move toward the life they want.

Individualized Therapy, Tailored to You

  • We offer individual therapeutic treatment to:

    • Children (ages 4 to 10)

    • Preteens

    • Adolescents

    • Adults

    • Older Adults (ages 65+)

    Therapeutic services are offered to those located throughout the state of Maryland.

  • We collaborate with each client on their individual goals. We treat a wide array of presenting problems including:

    • Anxiety & Anxiety Related Disorders

    • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

    • Anger Management

    • Behavioral Challenges

    • Depression & Mood Disorders

    • Grief

    • Life Transitions

    • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

    • Panic Disorder & Phobias

    • PANS/PANDAS

    • Peer Relationships

    • Relationship Issues

    • School Challenges

    • Self Esteem

    • Stress

    • Trauma & PTSD

  • We work one on one with each person to meet their therapeutic goals through various evidence-based treatment modalities and approaches, including:

    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    • Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)/Exposure Therapy

    • Integrative Approaches

    • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

    • Person-Centered Therapy

    • Play Therapy Techniques

    • Positive Psychology

    • Psychodynamic Therapy

    • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

    • Supportive Therapy

  • Individual therapy sessions are offered via telehealth to clients located throughout the state of Maryland.

    In person appointments for the initial intake may be available upon request.

Fields of blooming lavender with purple flowers, trees in the background, and the sun setting with a warm glow

Areas of Focus

While we support individuals navigating a range of concerns and goals, we have a particular focus on:

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

  • Anxiety & Anxiety Related Disorders

  • Panic Disorder & Phobias

  • PANS/PANDAS

We also support individuals navigating a range of life experiences, challenges, and areas of personal growth, with therapy tailored to their unique needs and goals.

Photograph of Caitlyn Shuy

In the Heart of Courage Counseling

Honoring the life, impact, and legacy of Caitlyn Shuy

Caitlyn Shuy was a dedicated mental health advocate, who openly shared her story to encourage and support others who were struggling. She was an active member and advocate for mental health programs and organizations, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Caitlyn was deeply passionate about encouraging honest conversations around mental health and helping others feel less alone.

While Caitlyn is no longer with us, the profound impact she had on others continues to lives on. Her advocacy, compassion, and dedication to helping others are woven into the heart and values that shape Courage Counseling. Her influence continues to inspire a space where people feel supported, understood, and encouraged to connect with their own courage.

Contact Us

Interested in working together or have any questions? Please fill out our form, and we will be in touch soon. We look forward to hearing from you!

Please note: This form is not monitored at all times and is not intended for emergency use