Bobbie Nnodim is a board-certified Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a holistic approach to understanding and enhancing well-being through assessments and interventions involving positive psycho-social characteristics with diverse ranging from children to geriatric populations. Her focus is on the individuals, listening carefully to their concerns and making them the focus of clinical attention without ignoring their broader subjective and cultural experiences. She is interested in developing effective therapeutic alliances with patients and their family members while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

She has strong clinical skills, enhanced by excellent communication skills. Her pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatments are based on evidence-based practice in the communities she serves, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, gender, spiritual beliefs, or lifestyle. She empowers others to be active partners in their whole health and well-being.

Bobbie, a Chatham University graduate of Doctors of Nurse Practitioner, began this journey as a compassionate healthcare provider two decades ago as a Staff Nurse at Sheppard Pratt Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center, and a charge nurse at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Baltimore, MD, managing complex medical, psychiatric cases. Bobbie is a skilled educator and patient advocate. 

Deborah Adedeji is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse Practitioner who is enthusiastic about caring for patients. She collaborates with patients across the lifespan and other providers. She provides holistic care to patients with good listening skills and culturally sensitive care. Empowering patients in self-care management to maintain their health and well-being and reduce chronic illnesses. Connecting patients to the resources in their communities to manage their health. Continues to support the patients and educate them in health maintenance strategies.

Rodney Lomax is a Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) therapist with Empowering Minds Resource Center. He is a Morgan State University alumnus and is experienced in a variety of clinical settings. As a youth, at age 12, he was adversely impacted by the murder of his father. This experience, along with other challenges in his life, was the catalyst for him to become a change agent.

Rodney has provided therapeutic services to diverse populations in urban educational systems, community-based outpatient programs, and inpatient behavioral health. He uses Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused, and Holistic approaches to assist individuals and families with learning and cultivating skills that promote healthier lifestyles. These tenets foster healing within the individual, family, community, and society. His goals parallel the agency’s mission, which is to provide resources and skills to marginalized individuals who typically are reluctant to seek services. Echoed are the sentiments of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “What we fear of doing most is usually what we most need to do.”

Eli has been a Social Worker for 10 years. He was lucky enough to take some time away from his direct practice for a few years to be home and raise his kids but he is happy to be back doing his favorite work, which is working directly with people in the community.

Eli has a vast array of professional and personal experiences that he employs to help guide his approach to therapy. From his time leading expeditions for Outward Bound and using experiential and nature-based learning to build individual self-confidence and resilience, to interning at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Outpatient Community clinic working with families to access their best selves, Eli has always taken a person-centered approach to treatment, believing that building trust and establishing a safe and trusting rapport lays the foundation for a successful treatment dynamic.

Eli believes firmly in the benefits of talk therapy and will always take the time to celebrate the “wins” no matter how big or how small.

As a therapist with over 14 years of social work experience, Phyllis knows life can be difficult to navigate on your own. Phyllis’s therapeutic approach is one of compassion, authenticity, and connection. With that foundation, she helps her clients acknowledge, process, and heal from pain.

As a Maryland state-licensed Social Worker, Phyllis considers it an honor to help clients recreate stability and meaning in their lives. Phyllis has worked in both residential and community settings helping clients who struggle with severe mental health barriers. 

Phyllis focuses her efforts on policy and practice to advocate and assist these groups with life’s challenges. As a therapist, Phyllis specializes in grief and loss, depression, mood, and anxiety disorders. Through the use of evidence-based practices, Phyllis helps clients tap into their strengths to achieve their personal goals.

Renee Scott is a Licensed Social Worker who is currently a Therapist at Empowering Minds Resource Center. She has worked in the mental health arena for the last 13 years as an agent of change within dynamic and growing communities. She has provided strength-based, ongoing mental health services for youth, adolescents, adults, and families by supporting them in the role of Direct Service Coordinator and Therapist since becoming licensed in June 2022. Renee earned her Masters and Bachelor of Social Work degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. Where she specialized in addictions. She continues to feel connected to the community and is eager to facilitate, educate, advocate, and encourage healthy personal growth and achievement within the individuals in the communities she serves.

My name is Franz Spillenger (he/him) and I am a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW). I graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. As a Mental Health Therapist with Empowering Minds Resource Center, my main objective is to be just that – a resource! There are so many issues that people encounter, it can be difficult to manage them all: trauma, relationships, anxiety, depression, financial concerns, employment, intense emotions, and more. My approach to therapy is client-centered, strengths-based, and utilizes cultural humility (in other words, I recognize the diversity of human experience, how culture impacts us, and how we may have both similar and different experiences and perspectives). As your therapist, I want you to educate me on your life, because you are the expert on you! My interventions include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and mindfulness techniques. I have a substance use treatment background and am comfortable with a wide range of ages and demographics. I respect and affirm your sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, spirituality, and values. In my spare time, I enjoy playing basketball, making music, watering my plants, and, oh yah, spending time with my family! Fun fact: I co-founded a small gourmet mushroom farm (ask me about mushrooms, they’re fascinating). Remember, life can be overwhelming, but there are tools to help us overcome our struggles. It all starts with the first step.

Let the challenges before you, provoke the power within” -Unknown

Hello, my name is Dena Scott, and I am a Licensed Master Social Worker. I believe that mental health is the beginning of self-awareness, through a journey of growth and healing. I have experience working with youth, adults, and families. I am passionate about empowering and uplifting individuals from all walks of life through a client-centered and strength-based approach. I enjoy assisting individuals define their strengths and build resilience in order to address personal life challenges and pursue desired life changes effectively.

My humble personality and lived experiences make me a relatable clinician. As a therapist, I counsel individuals who are affected by a variety of issues, such as trauma, anxiety, depression, and a lack of self-esteem. I will equip you with the skills and resources to manage these challenges while on your individual journey. I will provide you with support and encouragement to express your feelings and assist you with identifying your powerful self, personal beliefs, and values.

As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, I believe treatment should be based on the unique individualized needs of the client. Therefore, I use a diverse blend of evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Play Therapy Techniques, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. I have a diverse and progressive background supporting children, adolescents and adults who are experiencing trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, ADHD/ADD, behavioral difficulties, developmental disabilities, depression, school and relationship issues, stress, and life transitions.

My therapeutic approach is non-judgmental, respectful, open, honest, and collaborative. My goal is to cultivate an environment where individuals feel safe, seen, and heard, while fostering genuine and trusting relationships. I am passionate and dedicated to helping clients develop the tools needed to heal and live a life they feel is emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually fulfilling.

Valeria Ortiz-Torres was born in Tacoma, Washington. She received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland College Park. She is currently attending the University of Baltimore as a master’s student in their Applied Psychology program. She is completing her internship at Empowering Minds Resource Center. Her goals are to become a counselor that specializes in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and continue to work with children and adolescents. Additionally, she would like to gain further experience in other theoretical orientations within the field.

Mingxin is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.  She specializes in providing therapeutic services to children with severe behavioral and mental health challenges. Her expertise includes individual, group, and family therapy, with a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and play therapy.  Mingxin is Certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and is dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations and enhancing mental health outcomes through compassionate and evidence-based care.

Approach
As an LGPC I have the incredible opportunity of working with a wide array of people at different stages of their mental health journey. The bulk of my education and experience has driven me to want to work in outpatient practices. As well as outpatient work with refugees, asylum seekers, forced migrants, and other marginalized groups. Through these experiences I have developed, and continue to develop, a deep appreciation for the diversity, persistence, andresiliency that every individual is able to discover, maintain, and cultivate within themselves in their own unique way. My goals as a counselor revolve around helping every individual discover and disrupt less effective patterns, develop an understanding of their own goals and values, and expand upon skillsets to facilitate the change we would like to see. Through this I hope to assist my clients in expanding and maintaining their own autonomy and power over their own life’s journey.

As an LGPC my approach relies on a combination of evidence-based theories and collaborative effort. I believe that each individual requires a unique and personally tailored holistic approach that encompasses both the mind and body. Due to this I lean on a variety of theories including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Existentialism to help customize and shape our sessions. Additionally, I am a firm believer in the importance of advocating for and respecting the unique and often layered experience of many marginalized communities. I always strive to listen to and lift marginalized voices through allyship, appreciation for diverse perspectives, and support of intersectional equality efforts. 

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my two cats and dog, volunteering, and studying a multitude of languages. I am a Maryland native and enjoy finding new areas to hike, walk, and eat!

Educational Background:
B.A. Neuroscience, Psychology, Biology –Wheaton College MA
M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling – McDaniel College

Specialty Areas:
Anxiety
Depression
Young Adult Life Transition Issues
Trauma