Dr. Alissa Putman, Psychologist

Dr. Alissa Putman helps people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about their relationships and life direction. She focuses on practical steps that make day-to-day life easier, like handling stress, improving sleep, coping with grief, and navigating relationship and intimacy concerns. Her tone is collaborative and straightforward, with an emphasis on checking in regularly to make sure sessions stay useful.

As a psychologist licensed in Maryland, she brings about 20 years of experience across higher education and healthcare settings. She draws on client-centered work and positive psychology to help people clarify goals and build momentum. Cognitive-behavioral ideas are used to shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, while family systems perspectives help explore how family background and communication affect current relationships.

In sessions she mixes coaching-style goal-setting with reflective listening. People can expect discussions about what is working now, what to change, and small experiments to try between meetings. She pays attention to identity, career pressures, burnout, and multicultural concerns when they matter to the person in front of her.

She also volunteers on suicide prevention education and mentors underrepresented minority teens, which informs her awareness of community and prevention work. Language of work is English and she does not take international clients at this time.

Her approach is practical and respectful, aimed at helping people move from feeling stuck to making steady progress toward their goals.

How her approaches work for online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person without judgment. It helps when someone needs acceptance, clearer goals, and a space to sort out feelings about relationships or identity.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. It uses simple exercises and experiments to change patterns linked to anxiety, low mood, sleep problems, or stress at work.

Internal Family Systems treats different parts of a person like members of an internal family. It can help people understand inner conflicts such as shame, guilt, or feelings of abandonment and improve self-compassion.

Choosing an approach is a shared process. The therapist will listen to your goals and try methods that fit your needs. If something doesn’t feel right, she will check in and adjust the plan together with you.

Many people find online therapy easier to fit into busy lives because appointments can be scheduled without travel. Confirm the current session options before booking so you know how sessions will be held. Online work can make it simpler to keep regular check-ins, practice skills between meetings, and manage care alongside work, parenting, or other commitments.