Apex Counseling Center LLC only uses licensed professionals to perform clinical treatment.
The following professionals make up the clinical team:
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Harvey J.D. (Dick) Brown, Ph.D. (Counseling Psychologist) In 2004, Dr. Brown co-founded the Apex Counseling Center to serve the mental health needs of Baltimore. He completed his M.S. in Community Counseling with a focus on Drug and Alcohol Counseling in 1976 and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 1982 at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Brown has worked with inmate populations, children and adolescents, and substance abuse programs. As a visual artist, Dr. Brown believes psychotherapy is more art than science, and brings an integrative approach to therapy. Agneta Mitchell, Ph.D. (Clinical Psychologist) Dr. Mitchell co-founded Apex Counseling Center in 2004 to serve the mental health needs of Baltimore City and surrounded areas. She received a B.A. in Psychology from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a M.A. and Ph. D. in clinical psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in 1990. She received special training in ethnic minority mental health issues and has worked with children, adolescents and adults, families and couples in various inpatient and outpatient settings. She works with clients with mood disorders, anxiety, adjustment disorders, personality disorders, women's issues and relationship issues using an eclectic, collaborative therapeutic approach applying cognitive-behavioral (CBT) and insight oriented interventions. |
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Carlos Astrada, M.D. (Psychiatrist) Dr. Astrada has been medical director and a staff psychiatrist at Apex since we opened in 2004. Dr. Astrada received his M.D. from the Catholic University of Cordoba, Argentina in 1970 and since 1980 has been working as a psychiatrist in the Washington, D.C./ Baltimore area. He is board certified in General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. |
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Joyce Briscoe-Neale, LCSW-C Joyce Briscoe-Neale has forty years of experience as a social worker counseling children, adolescents, and adults in individual, couples, group and family counseling. Ms. Neale began her career providing psychiatric social work to inpatient adults and discharge planning services to state inpatient adults transitioning into the community. She also provided primary clinical and administrative services to adolescents and their families. Ms. Neale has provided psychotherapy services for clients at Apex for seven years and continues to enjoy working with adults and families in the community. In addition to working at Apex, Ms. Neale is a school social worker with Baltimore City Schools. |
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Marjorie Deck, LCSW-C Margie Deck is a psychotherapist with twenty years of experience working with clients who have PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, and those who are chronically mentally ill. She believes that clients should be treated the way she would like to be treated, and she brings patience, flexibility and enthusiasm to each of her appointments. Ms. Deck received her Master's of Social Work from Catholic University in 1991, and has worked with different mental health centers and treatment centers across the Maryland/ DC/ Virginia region. |
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Elizabeth Foss Delaney, LCSW-C
Betsy joined APEX in July 2014. She earned her MSW from The University of Pennsylvania, and has spent many years working in medical and outpatient mental health settings. She works with adults who are challenged by Anxiety, Depression, Grief/Loss, Adjustment Disorders, and Life Transitions. She uses both psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy to help people recognize, understand, and then change destructive thought and behavior patterns. She believes that every person has unique strengths and abilities, and that a safe, nonjudgmental team approach is the best way to promote healing, growth, insight, and lasting change. |
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Louisa Footman, Ph.D. Before joining Apex in 2011, Louisa Footman worked as a field based therapist, a school-based mental health specialist, a family intervention specialist, and a substance abuse counselor. |
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Jeffrey Aviles, LCSW-C Jeffrey Aviles graduated from Rutgers University in 2013 where he earned his Masters of Social Work. He became one of the first students to complete their addiction certificate program. Jeffrey has also completed courses at the Beck Institute of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and has worked in both private practice and traditional agency settings, where he has honed the necessary skills in order to treat children, adults and couples. His specialties include: couples therapy, anxiety, depression, stress management, PTSD, self-sabotaging behavior, and family conflict and life transitions. |
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Emnet Kflu, NCC, LCPC Emnet Kflu enjoys working with patients who suffer from depression and anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. She believes therapy is a step-by-step process, and wants to help clients through that process so they can learn the skills to work through their mental health issues. She received her Masters of Science in Counseling from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut in 1999. Before joining Apex, she conducted individual, family, and group therapy with children in foster care and persons recently released from prison, and has extensive experience in the fields of addiction and trauma. |
Estefania Simich, LCPC, CST
Estefania is a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified sex therapist. She is fully Bilingual in Spanish and English and heads the
Latino mental health Program at Apex Counseling Center. She has a holistic approach to counseling and works from a body, mind and spirit
perspective to help her clients heal their wounds and achieve their goals. She obtained her Masters in the Community Counseling from
Argosy University in Arlington, VA and is a PhD candidate at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She has vast experience working with
acculturation issues, mood disorders, anxiety, domestic violence, sexual violence, gender identity, and other sexual concerns.
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Teri Rich, LCSW-C, JD
Teri Rich rejoined the staff at Apex Counseling in early 2014. She has an extensive background in work with domestic violence, sexual assault, and victims of crime. Teri has experience in trauma psychotherapy and forensic social work, and has worked for the Family Violence Division of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City and in mobile crisis services. Having received a dual degree in Social Work and Law from the University of Maryland, she was also admitted to the Maryland State Bar in November 2008. In addition to her work at Apex, Teri currently works in crisis intervention services at Union Memorial Hospital, and as a trauma therapist at Turnaround, Inc. |
We are administratively staffed with the following individuals:
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Harvey J. D. Brown ("Dick"), Ph.D.
Counseling Psychologist Program Director & Co-founder |
Agneta Mitchell, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist Clinical Director & Co-founder |
Carlos Astrada, M.D.
Psychiatrist Medical Director |
Mollie Reillo
Office Manager |
Toni Pritchard
Administrative Assistant |
Ingrid Friedenberg Office Administrator, Private Insurance Billing |
