- Stress and anxiety
- Life purpose
- Grief and trauma
About Al
Al Balaa is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) practicing in Maryland with 12 years of experience. He works with adults who are coping with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, bipolar challenges, ADHD, and life changes. He also addresses relationship strain, addictions, anger, compassion fatigue, and issues around self-esteem and self-love.
He focuses on helping people untangle guilt, shame, and problems around forgiveness while they look for clearer direction and purpose. Sessions involve straightforward conversation about what feels stuck and practical steps to shift patterns. He uses approaches such as client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior ideas, existential questions, and hypnotherapy to support change.
Al describes his work as collaborative and goal focused. He listens for what matters most and helps people test small changes between sessions. That can mean trying new coping skills, experimenting with different ways of talking about relationships, or practicing attention and emotion regulation strategies.
Over a dozen years in practice have given him experience with both sudden life shifts and longer term struggles. He draws on different methods depending on the problem at hand rather than relying on a single technique. This allows him to address immediate distress while also looking at broader questions about life purpose and meaning.
People who come to him often want clear next steps more than lengthy theory. He aims to make sessions practical, direct, and focused on usable tools that can fit into daily life.
Approaches used in online sessions
Al uses client-centered methods to focus on what the person says matters most, offering reflective listening and space to clarify goals. This approach helps when someone feels unsure what matters next and wants to organize priorities.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify unhelpful thinking and try concrete behavior changes. CBT can help with anxiety, depression, and managing symptoms of ADHD by breaking problems into smaller, testable steps.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides practical skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Those skills can be useful when anger, mood swings, or overwhelm interfere with daily life.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. He will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative planning can shift over time as progress and priorities change.
Session logistics vary by practitioner, and the biography does not list specific formats here, so confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and offer alternatives when camera use is difficult. Licensed professionals can adapt pacing and homework to suit everyday routines.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
Maryland
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he address?
He works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, bipolar challenges, ADHD, addictions, anger, relationship strain, compassion fatigue, and life changes. He also focuses on forgiveness, guilt and shame, self-love, and life purpose.
How would he approach feeling stuck or directionless?
His style is collaborative and client-centered with practical steps. He combines client-centered listening with cognitive behavioral and dialectical techniques to test small changes between sessions.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 12 years of clinical practice supporting adults through both sudden life shifts and long-term struggles.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is an LCPC in Maryland.
Which languages are supported and can international clients work with him?
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.
What session formats are used?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.