- Client-centered approach
- Cognitive behavioral tools
- Internal Family Systems
About Alissa
Dr. Alissa Putman is a Psychologist licensed in Maryland with 20 years of clinical experience. She works with adults on concerns common in early adulthood such as stress, anxiety, relationships, self-esteem, career questions, depression and life changes. She also assists people facing issues around grief, intimacy, sleep, parenting challenges, and identity questions including LGBT concerns.
Dr. Putman uses a client-centered stance that keeps the person's goals in focus. She draws on cognitive behavioral strategies and Internal Family Systems to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try different ways of responding. Sessions include practical goal setting and regular check-ins about how therapy is going.
Her background includes roles in higher education and healthcare and two decades working with diverse people. She has also volunteered on suicide prevention education and mentored underrepresented minority teens. Those experiences inform a straightforward, results-oriented style that values clear steps forward.
In a session she will listen for strengths and barriers, help set concrete goals, and work collaboratively on small experiments or skills to test between meetings. The emphasis is on what changes are useful in daily life - sleep, work, relationships, and mood.
People looking for help with career decisions, relationship struggles, or the stress of early adulthood often find this practical approach helpful. To begin, follow the site's steps to complete the matching questionnaire and schedule an initial appointment.
How her approaches work in online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely to what matters to the person and building a working relationship so goals can be clear. It helps when someone needs support sorting priorities, exploring identity, or deciding what to change in daily life.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down patterns of thought and behavior into steps you can work on. It is useful for anxiety, low mood, sleep problems, and testing new ways of reacting to stressful situations.
Internal Family Systems helps people notice different parts of themselves that hold fear, anger, or shame and learn gentler ways of relating to those parts. This can be helpful for issues like self-criticism, relationship tensions, and feelings of emptiness.
Choosing a therapeutic approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to identify goals, try approaches that match those goals, and adjust as needed. That collaborative stance helps people see what fits and what to change.
Practical benefits of online sessions include fitting appointments around school, work, or commutes and keeping continuity when schedules change. Because session formats are not specified in the biography, confirm available options before booking. The focus is on making therapy usable for everyday life and on steps that can be practiced between meetings.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Maryland
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationships, self-esteem, career questions, depression, grieving, intimacy issues, sleep problems, parenting strains, and identity concerns including LGBT matters.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centered style and draws on cognitive behavioral methods and Internal Family Systems to set goals and test practical changes between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of experience working in higher education, healthcare, and other settings with diverse people.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Psychologist licensed in Maryland and works with adults.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified in the biography.
How does payment work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.