Isabella Difilippantonio, LMSW

I work with young adults navigating concerns related to sexuality, LGBTQ+ experiences, neurodivergence and neurodevelopmental disorders, depression, negative self-talk, identity development, and life transitions.

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I view my role as a therapist as bearing witness to my clients' experiences while helping them understand how those experiences inform the way they relate to themselves, other people, and the world around them. At the center of my work is an understanding of how early life and experiences in young adulthood, may have shaped the individual and continue to influence who they are today.

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Together, we work to understand my clients' responses and reactions to people, places, and situations. This often involves exploring how their nervous system interprets interactions as safe or unsafe and how that information influences their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. These responses may show up as anxiety, sadness, fear, frustration, anger, agitation, indecision, or other emotional and behavioral patterns.

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As we gain a deeper understanding of these experiences, we work collaboratively to identify opportunities to learn, relearn, or unlearn patterns that may contribute to anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addictive behaviors, OCD tendencies, executive functioning challenges related to ADHD, and other concerns. I also help clients develop language for their experiences and emotions so they can better understand themselves and communicate their needs.

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Our work focuses on both short- and long-term strategies that support meaningful behavioral change. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I tailor these approaches to each client's individual needs, experiences, and goals.

I take a holistic, preventative, and treatment-focused approach to therapy. This means I consider the whole person and may incorporate mindfulness, diet, exercise, and overall lifestyle factors into our work together. I also integrate these factors into my treatment conceptualization and understanding of each client's experiences.​

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I received my Master's in Clinical Social Work from Simmons University. I'm licensed by the Maryland Board of Social Work to provide mental health counseling under clinical supervision.