Who We Are

Marie is a clinical psychologist with a broad background in school, college, and hospital mental health. Marie completed her Ph.D. at The New School for Social Research and trained at the Yale School of Medicine, at the Yale University Counseling Center, and with the Sheppard Pratt Health System. Marie has worked in a variety of residential and school treatment settings including special education, inpatient and outpatient eating disorders treatment, residential treatment, and in independent schools. Marie also maintains a private practice. Marie practices psychotherapy within a framework that integrates neuroscience, positive psychology, narrative therapy, self-acceptance, and a view toward lifelong growth.

As Director of the Counseling Center Marie oversees all aspects of the Counseling Center’s services, including outreach, psychotherapy, and support and consultation with students, parents, and faculty and staff, and the Notre Dame Community. Marie also provides supervision and training to the Counseling Center’s graduate level counselors. Marie is excited to be a part of the Notre Dame of Maryland community and its support of students, and is wholeheartedly committed to the support of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Cara has always been proud to be a licensed clinical social worker. She graduated from McDaniel College with a BSW and received her MSW from University of Maryland, Baltimore. Upon graduation she anticipated doing macro level social work, but over the years found her passion in providing micro level clinical counseling. Prior to transitioning to higher education, Cara spent decades of her career working with victims and survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence in a variety of non-profit and hospital settings. This work consisted of crisis intervention, advocacy, outreach, case management and both individual and group counseling. In working with clients, Cara focuses on the impact of early life experiences, family of origin dynamics, oppression and current life stressors as they are all important factors in our functioning and well-being.

As a therapist Cara has always been, and continues to be, grateful for the opportunity to work with people and recognizes the courage it takes to seek support via therapy. She uses a variety of treatment modalities, including internal family systems, acceptance and commitment, compassion focused, and mindfulness-based strategies. Cara's goal is to facilitate clients in identifying and getting to where they want to go; providing the support they need along the way. Beyond being a therapist, and in an effort to "practice what she preaches," she has many hobbies that she enjoys which include spending time outside, tennis, time with friends and family, reading and listening to books and podcasts. She's excited to be a part of the NDMU community with such an important mission, including the focus on social responsibility.

Brittany is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences at Divine Mercy University. She received a Master of Psychology degree from DMU and a B.A. in Psychology from Texas A&M University.

Brittany’s approach to therapy is based on meeting each person where they are by honoring their uniqueness and inherent dignity. Her goal is to create a space in therapy in which each person feels comfortable and safe to explore their inner world and to begin seeing their life with a new lens. She utilizes a psychodynamic approach while integrating various other techniques such as emotion focused therapy and interpersonal process in psychotherapy. She believes that Viktor Frankl captures the power of people in his quote: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Everyone has their story of sufferings and joys, and Brittany feels it is an incredible privilege to join people on their journey towards better understanding themselves and how they act and feel in the world. Her hope is that, through work done in and outside of therapy, each individual feels empowered to lead a life towards flourishing.

Hannah Stevenson is from Northern California. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a Bachelor’s of Science in psychology and a minor in anthropology. Currently, Hannah is a second-year doctoral student in counseling psychology at Howard University. Hannah’s research interests lie at the intersection of culture and mental health, and she is particularly interested in exploring the way multiracial individuals form identity and construct the self. The quote Hannah has shared below speaks to the choice that is love, and the idea that love is a powerful, required action in the effort to meet ourselves, as well as those around us.

"When we choose to love, we choose to move against fear - against alienation and separation. The choice to love is a choice to connect - to find ourselves in the other." – bell hooks, in All About Love

Meghan is a third year clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her clinical and research interests center around coping and resiliency in the aftermath of trauma. In particular, Meghan’s research focuses on mechanisms of healing from experiences such as sexual assault, abuse, traumatic loss, and the harmful impacts of systematic discrimination and disempowerment. She also has a special interest in personal cycles of shame, stigma, and self-blame, and how these constructs intersect with community cycles of intergenerational trauma.

In her therapeutic practice, Meghan draws from an array of approaches, including psychodynamic, relational, and experiential frameworks, in addition to incorporating techniques derived from acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based interventions. Above all else, Meghan loves connecting with her clients and creating a space of non-judgement and compassion. Her personal and therapeutic philosophy is articulated well by poet Nayyirah Waheed: “Where you are is not who you are.” In other words, our circumstances, difficult situations, and personal obstacles do not define us!

Daniel is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Divine Mercy University (DMU). He holds a bachelor’s in psychology from the College of William and Mary, a master’s in theology from the Augustine Institute, and a master’s in clinical psychology from DMU. Prior to joining the NDMU counseling staff, Daniel completed two clinical externships in community mental health settings in Virginia.

Daniel’s approach to psychotherapy is grounded in the inherent dignity of the person, the power of insight, and the potential of the therapeutic relationship to facilitate change. Drawing from psychodynamic, interpersonal, and attachment-based modalities, he strives to first cultivate a trusting relationship with each client and then to work collaboratively toward achieving clients’ goals. Daniel is passionate about helping young adults grow in self-knowledge, flourish in their relationships, and discover greater meaning and purpose in their lives.

When he is not at the counseling center, Daniel enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, watching Marvel movies, and spending quality time with his wife and two children.