Dr. Bernadette Boozer-Madison, LMFT, MD, LCMFT

Dr. Bernadette Boozer-Madison focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and major life changes. She works with adults facing grief, trauma related to foster care, caregiver strain, and relationship or intimacy concerns. Her style is direct and collaborative so clients know what to expect from each session.

With 30 years in clinical practice, she draws on several therapy methods to match each person's goals. She often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is another tool she uses to help people notice values and take meaningful steps forward.

Her approach centers on a client-centered framework that values the person’s experience. She helps people build practical coping skills for both short-term crises and longer-term stressors. Sessions are tailored to the individual’s needs, values, and pace.

She has worked extensively with adults navigating separation, divorce, and the emotional effects of adoption or foster care histories. She also supports people dealing with compassion fatigue, post-COVID stressors, and career or identity questions.

Dr. Boozer-Madison holds LMFT and LCMFT credentials and an MD. She practices in Maryland and conducts sessions in English. Therapy is offered in multiple online formats to fit different schedules and preferences.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Dr. Boozer-Madison commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people notice patterns of thinking that lead to distress and experiment with different actions. CBT is practical and problem-focused, often useful for anxiety, depression, and stress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another approach she uses to help people clarify what matters to them and take values-based steps even when emotions are difficult. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships affect current patterns and can help with intimacy, abandonment, and communication issues.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods match their goals and preferences. That plan can shift as needs change, and techniques are introduced at a pace the client prefers.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls are good for face-to-face conversations and guided exercises. Phone sessions can fit a busy day or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging work well for brief check-ins, shorter coaching-style exchanges, or ongoing support between sessions. These formats make it easier to schedule care around work, caregiving, and travel while keeping therapy consistent.