Come as you are, and together we can find pathways that help you weather through the storms of life.
About Therapist Eva Shpak
Hello there! I’m Eva (They/Them, She/Her). I hold a strong commitment to co-creating a therapeutic space in which you feel safe to be your full self, whatever that means to you. I bring a non-judgmental presence to every session, ready to be the witness to your unique journey. Regardless of how you feel as you read this, I am here to remind you that you are on the right path. After all, by researching the right therapist for you, you are already showing up for yourself.
Before becoming a talk therapist, I was a massage therapist. I am very curious about the mind-body connection, and as a result, my approach to talk therapy is infused with my knowledge about how our body holds onto so many of our memories and emotions. Additionally, I recognize that our minds and bodies exist within many systems, like family dynamics, social structures, institutional hierarchies, ancestral lineages, and economic conditions. These systems shape our lived experiences and influence how we move through the world. Ultimately, therapy can help you get in touch with the truest and deepest parts of yourself.
My therapy sessions are completely tailored to the individual(s) in the room and their needs. I have experience helping children explore emotions and developing personalized tools for emotional identification, regulation and processing. I collaborate with caregivers to make sure that the skills their child is working on in therapy are supported and continued in other settings. With adults and teens, I bring a range of modalities that help you feel heard, understood, and safe. As a queer therapist, I also enjoy working with the LGBTQ+ community and their families.
Education and Experience as a Therapist
As a therapist licensed in Maryland and Washington, DC, I have had the privilege of working with individuals of all ages as they navigated various challenges, such as transitioning into a new school, gender transitions, divorce, acute trauma, grief and loss, and institutional oppression. I graduated with a masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a focus in Somatics (the mind-body connection), from Prescott College, and have a bachelors degree in Economics from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Prior to Montgomery County Counseling Center, I worked with teens and adults at a community health center focused on the LGBTQ+ population. More recently, I served as a school-based therapist at a public elementary school in Washington, DC. I worked with young children and their caregivers, and helped families advocate for their needs within the school system.
I bring a range of modalities that help you feel heard, understood, and safe. With children, I often use play-therapy, expressive arts techniques (such as coloring, music, painting), sand tray-based therapy, and narrative storytelling techniques. Additionally, I am trained in EMDR, a technique that supports healing for many types of trauma. I use this approach with both children and adults, tailoring it to fit to each individual’s developmental needs. I have completed the Internal Family Systems (IFS) Basic Exiles Course with Bonnie Weiss and incorporate IFS-informed strategies, along with sensory and somatic approaches such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.
Specialties
Types of Therapy Provided:
Areas of Focus & Expertise
- Trauma
- Relationship and Familial Conflicts
- Neurodiversity
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Self-Esteem
- Grief & Loss
- Gender and Sexuality
- Burnout
Get to Know Eva Shpak
Meet Eva in this Short Video!
Beyond the Therapy Room
As a Montgomery County native, I enjoy taking in all the nature that this area has to offer. My shy dog, Junie, is often by my side. Fulfilment for me comes in the form of giving back to my community, spending time with loved ones, and connecting with a larger sense of purpose. I am often reading the latest psychology books to help me come prepared as my fullest self to each session.
I am so grateful to have a job that allows me to connect with humans every day, and I look forward to meeting you!
Contact Eva Shpak
Email: eva@mccounselingcenter.com