About Alissa
Dr. Alissa Putman welcomes people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to turn. She writes in a way that makes it clear therapy is a collaborative effort.
Dr. Putman focuses on listening first, then helping clients set practical goals they can act on. Her tone is direct and kind, aimed at people juggling stress, anxiety, relationships, or career challenges.
She uses a client-centered stance to keep sessions focused on what matters most to each person.
Background and approach
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ideas help break down unhelpful thoughts and habits into manageable steps. Internal Family Systems is used when parts work or inner conflict are getting in the way of progress. With 20 years of experience, Dr.
Putman has worked in higher education and healthcare settings. She has also provided suicide prevention education and mentored underrepresented minority teens. That background informs a practical approach to common concerns like depression, burnout, and sleep problems.
In sessions she checks in often to make sure progress matches clients' goals. She combines positive psychology and elements of coaching to support forward movement. Clients can expect short-term practical strategies alongside deeper work on identity, self-esteem, or family-of-origin issues.
Dr. Putman practices in Maryland and offers help for a wide range of life transitions. Her work also addresses grief, intimacy issues, multicultural concerns, and compassion fatigue.
She aims to help people find clearer direction and more manageable day-to-day routines.
How these approaches translate to online therapy
Dr. Putman draws on client-centered work to keep the focus on each person's priorities. That means sessions begin with open listening and the therapist checking in about what matters most to you. This approach helps shape goals and the pace of work whether meeting by video or text.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Online CBT can include short exercises, homework between sessions, and step-by-step plans to tackle anxiety, sleep problems, or low mood. It works well when you want clear tools and measurable progress.
Internal Family Systems helps when inner conflict or different parts of the self are causing distress. In online sessions this may involve guided conversation and mapping parts that hold fear, shame, or protective roles, with the aim of creating more internal cooperation.
Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with clients to choose methods that match their goals, comfort level, and day-to-day needs. Adjustments can be made over time as progress is reviewed.
Online formats - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - offer flexibility. Video is useful for deeper conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit a lunch break or low-bandwidth situations. Live chat or messaging can be used for brief check-ins, coaching-style support, or when writing feels easier. These options help therapy fit into a busy life.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Anger management
- Body image
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Parenting issues
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed
- Maryland
- Languages
- English
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