As a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, I see clients with many different issues. My area of passion and expertise is couples work; I am energized by the "a-ha!" moments, when the members of a couple understand their partner in a new way. I also work with families and individuals. What makes MFTs different is our ability to approach situations from a systemic perspective. We strive to understand people in the context of their relationship systems, as well as the systems within individuals - how their thoughts, feelings, and experiences affect their situation. I work with clients to understand how all these factors contribute to their present circumstances, as does each therapist at Laurel Fay & Associates.

Ms. Fay has a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Child and Family Studies from Syracuse University, and a Masters of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Maryland at College Park. In addition to being an LCMFT, she is a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and a member of the National Association for Relationship and Marriage Education. Ms. Fay has given workshops on relationships to several organizations, including the University of Maryland Department of Family Science and the Maryland Psychological Association.

The Reason I Became A Helping Professional

This is a big question! For as long as I can remember, I have been interested in other people and the human condition. In fact, the longer I practice therapy, the more assured I become that we are really not that different from each other! So often clients come into my office and think they are the only ones going through their particular issue. As the therapist, I am privileged to know that is not the case, and in addition to helping people with their individual issues, I want them to know they are not alone in it. I think it is the responsibility of a good therapist to hold the hope for clients, until they can hold it again for themselves. So, my reasons for wanting to become a therapist (at age twelve!) are ultimately very different from the reasons I want to stay a therapist: whereas then I thought I could solve the world's problems, one person at a time, I now know that being alongside my clients in the struggle and pursuit for a better life is an honor they give me, and that I don't solve their problems - they do. My aspiration is to provide a safe, encouraging yet challenging place, where we can work together to help them build and grow the life they want.

Laurel Fay

Additional Details

I am:

Married

Have children:

Yes

Laurel Fay

Payment Options

Accepts Credit Cards:

Yes

Accepts Insurance:

No

Accepts Paypal:

No

Sliding Scale:

No

Fee Range:

Over $120 per session