Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Harring.
Hi Elizabeth, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Chesapeake Behavioral Health Services was born out of a strong desire to provide the Baltimore LQBTQIA+ community with accessible, competent, and affirming mental health therapy rooted in anti-racism and anti-oppression work. But, before all of that, I was just a social worker drowning in the realization that the communities we serve are under-supported, resources are limited, and mental health workers are undervalued.
I spent a decade trying to help other organizations build effective programming, often failing and feeling frustrated. I decided to wing it on my own in 2018. I started a private therapy practice in a tiny office in my favorite Baltimore neighborhood – Hamilton. Slowly but surely, I added additional therapists who shared my vision and approach, many of whom I have known and respected for years.
Today, we have 14 trauma-informed therapists – with a range of specialties serving individuals, teens, and couples.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Owning a business is never smooth but it is so rewarding. I am ultimately responsible for the quality of the service provided, and I take that weight with great seriousness. COVID was a debilitating time for our community, our clients, and our practice. We were unable to operate in person-we had to give up our office and pivot to a fully virtual platform.
This resulted in a loss of clients, a loss of income, and a loss of interaction with others. It also created a mental health crisis for so many around us. Being able to pivot, regroup, and still provide quality therapy during that challenging time was our biggest accomplishment.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What sets Chesapeake Behavioral Health Services apart from other providers in our region is that we have truly skilled and competent providers that provide individual and couples therapy to clients with insurance.
That may sound standard, but have you tried finding an affordable couples therapist lately? We truly respect our clients and referrals and prioritize communication and transparency. We were created out of a desire to provide the LGBTQIA+ community with truly supportive and competent care. While all of our therapists are affirming and queer-focused, each individual has a unique skill set that offers invaluable opportunities for healing. (some examples are trauma, anxiety/OCD, sex therapy, disordered eating, substance misuse, and depression).
We offer gender-affirming letter-writing assessments (OFTEN FOR FREE and within one session). We offer limited sliding scale spots for clients in need. I am most proud that my employees are provided with good pay and benefits, that are not always seen in our field. They are valued and supported-which is my primary mission.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting?
My best advice is to trust your skillset and spend time considering your goals and mission.
What is most important to you? Know when to outsource and trust what you can do yourself.
Consider small steps to your larger goal and learn to be flexible, things do not always go as planned but they can be overcome.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cbhtherapists.com
