Desiree Gharakhanian , MD, LCSW-C

Desiree Gharakhanian, MD, LCSW-C, helps people facing stress, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, depression, grief, and major life changes. She focuses on practical support for relationship strain and communication problems. Her work also addresses guilt and shame, loneliness, life purpose, veteran and armed forces issues, post-traumatic stress, and women's issues.

Desiree uses a straightforward, collaborative style. She offers a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk through what feels hard. Sessions focus on identifying strengths, setting clear goals, and trying concrete steps that can be used between meetings.

With six years of clinical experience, Desiree blends medical and social work perspectives to look at emotional and practical needs. She listens for patterns that keep problems repeating and helps clients test small changes to interrupt those patterns. The aim is steady progress rather than quick fixes.

Therapy sessions can include short-term problem solving or longer work on deeper issues like grief or post-traumatic stress. Desiree pays attention to how stress and past experiences affect current behavior and relationships. She supports people who want clearer communication and healthier boundaries.

People meet with Desiree by video call, phone, live chat, or text messaging. She practices in Maryland and holds the credentials MD and Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical, LCSW-C. If someone wants to start, they complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Approaches and how online sessions support them

Desiree uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change. One common approach emphasizes problem-focused strategies that help people break down current stressors into manageable steps and try concrete actions between sessions. This can help with anxiety, anger, and daily coping.

Another approach she uses concentrates on processing difficult emotions like grief, guilt, or shame through guided conversation and reflection. This approach helps people make sense of painful experiences and reduce their hold on day-to-day life.

Finding the best approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose or adapt methods that match their goals, needs, and comfort level. Together they check progress and adjust the plan when something isn’t working.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits for this style of work. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation for deeper emotional work. Phone sessions can be a good option when lower bandwidth or a quieter setup is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to check in between sessions, share brief updates, or do short exercises without scheduling a full call. These options increase flexibility and make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy life.