Hi everyone!

My name is Randi Shultz, and I’m currently working as a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) at Maryland Counseling Associates, LLC. This is my first year working in a private practice setting, and it has been an incredible experience so far! I’ve been working in the mental health field now for several years in a variety of settings, so let me tell you a little bit about how I got to MCA.

I remember first being excited about studying psychology and mental health counseling when I was doing a project on Elizabeth Loftus for my AP psychology class in high school. From then on, I had pretty much made the decision that I wanted to stay in the field of psychology and help others prioritize their own mental health. After graduating high school, I went on to Lebanon Valley College to study psychology and sociology. While I was at LVC, I worked on several research projects and even did an internship with the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center in Lebanon, PA. After four short but amazing years, I graduated from LVC with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology, with a concentration in family studies.

From there, I began my master’s degree in clinical psychology at Millersville University and started my first job in the field. During my time in grad school, I worked in a variety of settings to really figure out what kind of work I enjoyed. I spent time as a mental health tech in an inpatient facility, as therapeutic staff support in a Montessori school, and as a direct support specialist in a residential home. I also spent a year conducting psychological assessments with a research study through Penn State College of Medicine. Toward the end of my master’s program, I completed an internship with an outpatient substance use treatment facility and really started to find a passion working with clients struggling with addiction, trauma, and identity development. This experience left such an impact on me that I decided to work in the field of substance use treatment full-time after graduation.

Now, a year after graduating with my master’s and getting licensed in Maryland, I am working full-time as a therapist at an outpatient substance use treatment facility. Here, I spend the majority of my time running psychoeducational and process groups for adults with a history of substance use. At the beginning of my studies, I never thought I would love the field as much as I do. I work with individuals in one of their most vulnerable times and help them rediscover who they can be without substances. It is such a powerful and rewarding experience!

About 8 months into the position, I decided to start part-time at MCA to really focus on my individual counseling skills and branch out from the substance use field. Starting in private practice has been so fulfilling because it allows me to tailor treatment to the individual and work together with my clients to reach their ideal mental health goals. Currently, my interests include working with anxiety, depression, addiction, LGBTQ+ issues, PTSD, trauma, grief and loss, relationship concerns, and life transitions. My goal as a clinician is to help others reach their full potential through collaborative learning and mindful change while creating a safe and accepting environment for each and every client.  

This past year has contributed to the every-growing concern about the mental and emotional health of ourselves and our loved ones. If you or someone you know is looking for additional support in this difficult time, please feel free to reach out via email, at randi@marylandcounselingassociates.com.