Samuel Howden, LICSW, MD, LCSW-C

Samuel Howden is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Maryland. He holds LICSW and LCSW-C credentials and brings 12 years of experience in mental health work. Samuel focuses on practical, real-world support for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, or relationship strain.

Samuel keeps sessions straightforward and goal-oriented. He listens first, then helps people name what matters and what gets in the way. Conversations are used to spot patterns, set small goals, and try new coping steps between meetings.

He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients notice unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors that keep problems going. Motivational Interviewing is part of his style when someone needs help finding motivation to make changes. He also draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at long-standing patterns that trace back to early relationships.

Samuel often helps with grief, trauma, mood swings, anger, and issues around self-worth and impulsivity. He also supports people dealing with process addictions, compassion fatigue, and questions about life purpose and fatherhood. Sessions aim to be practical, with tools and experiments people can try outside of sessions.

Samuel works with respect and without labels. He will collaborate on a plan that fits each person's pace and priorities. If someone wants clear strategies and room to reflect, his approach mixes direct skills practice with thoughtful conversation.

Approaches that guide online care

Samuel uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test small behavior changes that can reduce anxiety and depression. Motivational Interviewing is used to help people clarify their reasons for change and build internal motivation when they feel stuck. Psychodynamic ideas are brought in to notice recurring patterns tied to earlier relationships that keep showing up in current life.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Samuel will talk with each person about goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust the plan based on what feels most useful. That means sessions can focus on skills practice one week and on exploring background patterns the next, depending on needs and progress.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for longer work and face-to-face conversation. Phone sessions can be a good fit when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, ongoing prompts, or when someone prefers written exchanges. These options give flexibility to fit therapy into work, family time, or other commitments.