About Al
Al Balaa is a licensed clinician practicing in Maryland. He combines medical training and counseling experience to guide people through hard emotional times. He aims to help clients find more self-compassion and a clearer sense of purpose.
With 12 years of work in clinical settings, Al focuses on practical steps people can use day to day. He supports those coping with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar challenges, ADHD, and the fallout of trauma and abuse.
How Al works
He also helps people dealing with grief, relationship strain, career questions, anger, and addictive behaviors. His approach blends several methods, including client-centered work, cognitive behavioral ideas, dialectical skills, existential questions, and hypnotherapy when appropriate. Sessions often include talking things through, learning new coping skills, and practicing ways to change unhelpful patterns.
He pays attention to guilt, shame, forgiveness, and building self-love as part of recovery. Al aims to make therapy collaborative. He listens for what matters most to each person and adapts strategies to meet real goals.
People who want straightforward guidance and a calm, reflective setting may find his style a good fit. He offers services in English and can work with international clients. Practical matters such as scheduling and session format are handled up front so work in therapy can focus on steady progress and clearer direction.
Al lists 6 ways of working on the entry:
What Al works with
The areas below are the ones Al selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Life purpose
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
Training and background
| Registers | MD, LCPC |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 12 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Maryland |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How specific approaches work online and what to expect
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on being heard and understood. The therapist listens carefully and follows the client's lead to help them find their own solutions and build confidence. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical exercises to change unhelpful thinking and behavior. DBT, or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions, improving relationships, and reducing impulsive reactions.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs and goals. That means trying a route, checking how it feels, and adjusting plans together over time.
Online therapy with this clinician uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging so people can fit sessions into busy lives. Video lets you read facial cues during deeper conversations. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or when being on camera is difficult. Live chat and text messaging provide shorter check-ins and daily support between longer sessions. These formats make it easier to keep continuity of care while balancing work, family, and other commitments.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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