Meet the Team
Bria Rakison, MA, LBS, LPC
Owner / Licensed Professional Counselor
Bria is a licensed professional counselor, who has been assessing and treating SM and other mental health diagnoses since 2009. She is certified to treat SM through an evidence-based modality called Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism, or PCIT-SM, by Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC. In this approach, Bria works with both the child and the parent or caregiver to reduce the child’s level of anxiety and to create meaningful change in their ability to verbally communicate. Bria tailors her treatment plan to the needs of the individual child and family, providing services where they are needed most. This includes therapy in the office and via telehealth as well as in the clients home, school, and community. Treatment for Selective Mutism outside of the office includes specialized school interventions, teacher trainings, school consultations, and individual exposure therapy
Helena Vaughan, Ph.D., NCSP
Licensed Psychologist
Helena Vaughan, Ph.D., NCSP, is a licensed psychologist in Maryland and Pennsylvania, a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), and is also a participating provider in PsyPact, which allows her to meet with families in participating PsyPact states via telehealth. Helena received her Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of Maryland in 2021, followed by the completion of a post-doctoral fellowship at the Behavior Management Clinic at the Kennedy Krieger Institute (an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University), where she also worked as a staff psychologist. Helena is a certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist, and is currently completing certification in Parent Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM) with Dr. Steven Kurtz. Helena provides PCIT-SM sessions at the office and via telehealth, as well as school, home, and community sessions, and school consultation as needed. Helena utilizes evidence-based parent and child coaching in skills needed to address and reduce symptoms of Selective Mutism, and tailors treatment plans for individual families.