Courtney Gum, MD, LCSW-C

Courtney Gum is a licensed clinician in Maryland who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, and low self-esteem. She supports those facing depression, trouble concentrating, and difficulties related to ADHD. Her approach centers on listening first and creating a calm space for people to talk through what matters to them.

Courtney uses clear, practical methods to address everyday struggles. She blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with client-centered conversations to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. Emotionally-Focused elements and mindfulness tools are available when emotions or present-moment awareness need attention.

Sessions focus on what the client wants to change. Courtney works with people on relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting stress, career transitions, and coping with life changes. She also supports those dealing with trauma, chronic illness, caregiver strain, grief after loss, and complicated family dynamics.

Over eight years she has helped people facing issues like body image worries, fertility and cancer-related stress, divorce and separation, and compassion fatigue. Her background includes both clinical social work and medical training, which she brings into practical, down-to-earth sessions.

Courtney encourages small, manageable steps. She helps clients set goals, practice new skills between sessions, and notice what changes. The focus is on usable tools and steady progress rather than quick fixes.

How Courtney’s Approaches Translate to Online Sessions

Courtney commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot unhelpful thinking patterns and test new behaviors. CBT sessions usually involve setting clear goals, trying practical exercises, and reviewing what worked between sessions. Client-Centered Therapy is also part of her style and focuses on listening closely so clients can shape the work at their own pace; this helps when people need space to explore feelings without pressure.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. Courtney reviews goals and preferences with each person to decide whether CBT, client-centered work, or emotionally-focused strategies will be most useful. She adapts tools and homework to fit what a client says they can try in daily life, and reassesses as progress is made.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to offer flexibility. Video is useful for more interactive skill work and reading nonverbal cues. Phone sessions can be a good shorter option or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text messaging can suit quick check-ins, brief coaching, or people who prefer writing to speaking. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to keep continuity between appointments.