Christine Coyle

Background

About Christine Coyle

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C) and received my Master’s in Social Work from Widener University in 2007. I worked at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore for 10 years before co-founding and opening a own private practice in Annapolis, Anchored Hope Therapy, LLC. I believe that building therapeutic rapport and creating a collaborative relationship are among the most important aspects of therapy. I allow my clients to decide if the environment I have created feels safe for them to heal. That is my goal with my clients is to provide them with time and space to find their voice, identify boundaries that work for them, and to heal from the challenges they may be facing. I feel informed and knowledgeable about how trauma impacts the whole self, not just thoughts and feelings, and remains stored in our very being. I am aware of how trauma often leads to intense feelings and/or engagement in maladaptive patterns of behavior. I am aware of how a child’s challenging behavior can impact family functioning and am knowledgeable in alternative ways for parents to interact with their children to improve relationships and help children build a healthy self-esteem. The foundations of trauma-informed care guide every aspect of Anchored Hope, from our intake process to our office suite. We designed our physical space using “trauma-informed design” principles. The wall colors, the physical layout, the sound proofing between offices, and the choice of natural light, plants and decorations are ALL intentional. We share a deep commitment to providing mental health services that intersect with social justice efforts. We create partnerships and collaborations that support our community and minimize barriers to services when possible. We are intentionally working to rehumanize therapy and to remove stigma and reconnect to self and business practices with purpose. This process is called decolonizing. This process also includes internal work. With both personal and professional self-reflection on how we are upholding systems of harm, we are figuring out ways to dismantle/challenge ourselves to do better, while still working in systems that are not trauma-informed and not safe or accessible to all people. We believe in using evidence-based models and recognize the importance of blending somatic therapies and other trauma-specific integrated approaches to promote healing. Healing does not happen in isolation, it happens within relationships. We also acknowledge power, privilege, and equity dynamics in our work with clients.