Helena Santos-Collins, LCSW-C

Practicing since: 1996

Helena graduated from the University of Maryland with a Master’s degree in Social Work. Inspired by the idea that individuals can nurture hope for their future and build greater connections to the people and things that are most important to them, she decided to become a mental health counselor.  Helena believes that everyone has strengths that can be built upon to create better patterns of functioning in order to really thrive and be resilient against life’s inevitable challenges.

Helena also holds a Nurturing Parenting and Partners for a Healthy Baby license and implements this expertise in treatment with clients. She has experience with a multitude of diagnoses and areas of practice, including parenting challenges, life transitions, and family dynamics. She approaches treatment with expertise in working with individuals who struggle with finding their sense of identity due to experiences with foster care, adoption, being an immigrant, or being a member of a third culture. Helena believes nurturing a growth mindset is essential to finding greater peace and empowerment. No one should be defined by their darkest moments or by the goals that they haven’t yet achieved.

Clients will experience a warm and empathetic space during treatment with Helena to work through what is most important to them and explore how to thrive despite challenges and setbacks. Helena employs a strength-based style that focuses on helping clients discover their strengths, identify their goals, and implement tools to drive their own healing journey. She is inspired by the belief that every single person is a gift to the world and has strengths that can be built upon to expand their resilience and way of showing up in the world. Furthermore, Helena trusts that together they can identify the patterns and thoughts holding them back.

Helena Santos-Collins, LCSW-C, is licensed in the state of Maryland (#12962).