Meet Derica Blackmon, LCSW: Compassionate Therapy for Anxiety, Trauma, and Life Transitions in Maryland
About Derica
Derica Blackmon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with Empower Psychotherapy and is licensed to provide therapy in Maryland. Her professional experience includes outpatient therapy, telehealth, medical social work, and behavioral health.
Before becoming a social worker, Derica spent 12 years working in elementary education. That experience helped her develop a strong understanding of child development, family relationships, advocacy, and the many systems that can influence a person’s well-being.
Today, Derica works with young adults and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. She is passionate about helping clients feel understood, develop confidence, and create meaningful change in their lives.
What Should a New Client Know About Working With Derica?
When working with Derica, clients can expect therapy to feel safe, supportive, and free of judgment. She creates a space where people can be themselves and speak honestly about what they are experiencing.
Her approach is collaborative, compassionate, and culturally responsive. Derica meets clients where they are while respecting their pace, identity, experiences, relationships, personal history, and readiness for change.
Therapy may focus on recognizing strengths and developing practical tools to manage emotions, strengthen boundaries, improve communication, and feel more confident when making decisions. Derica works alongside clients rather than directing their journey, helping them identify changes that feel meaningful and realistic for their lives.
Derica's Process for Working With Clients
Derica’s process begins by getting to know the client, understanding what brought them to therapy, and identifying what they hope to accomplish. Together, Derica and the client explore the thoughts, emotions, relationships, and life circumstances that may be affecting the client’s well-being.
Depending on the client’s needs and goals, Derica may draw from:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills
- Motivational Interviewing
- Mindfulness practices
- Family systems strategies
Derica tailors therapy to the individual rather than using the same approach for everyone. She and the client regularly check in about progress and adjust the treatment approach as needed so that sessions remain meaningful, practical, and connected to the client’s goals.
Why Choose Derica Blackmon?
Derica combines experience across therapy, healthcare, behavioral health, and education with a warm and culturally responsive approach to care.
Clients may appreciate Derica’s:
- Experience supporting young adults and adults
- Background in outpatient therapy, telehealth, medical social work, and behavioral health
- 12 years of experience in elementary education
- Understanding of child development, family relationships, and advocacy
- Support for anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship challenges, and major life transitions
- Collaborative, compassionate, and nonjudgmental style
- Respect for each client’s culture, identity, history, pace, and readiness for change
- Use of CBT, ACT, DBT skills, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness, and family systems strategies
- Focus on practical tools, stronger boundaries, healthier communication, and increased confidence
Derica’s goal is to help clients feel genuinely understood while building the insight and skills needed to create sustainable change.
Interested in Working With Derica?
Derica provides telehealth therapy through Empower Psychotherapy for young adults and adults in Maryland. Her services may be a good fit for people seeking compassionate and culturally responsive support with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, or significant life changes.
To learn more about working with Derica Blackmon or to ask about appointment availability, contact Empower Psychotherapy.
Contact Information
Phone: (480) 291-0769
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