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AP Portrait of Dr. Alissa Putman

Dr. Alissa Putman

Collaborative, goal-focused therapy for life transitions

MD Maryland

Experience
20 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English

About Alissa

Dr. Alissa Putman welcomes people who are ready to address stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, career challenges, grief, or questions about identity and self-worth.

Background and approach

She emphasizes fit and rapport from the start, working collaboratively to understand what is going well and what a client wants to change. Clients can expect goal-oriented work that values their time and priorities.

With an MD and two decades of clinical experience in higher education and healthcare settings, Dr. Putman integrates practical strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy with a client-centered stance and family systems ideas.

She draws on principles from positive psychology and executive coaching to help clients clarify goals, build resilience, and manage competing demands such as job burnout and caregiving stress. Her practice includes attention to mood disorders, intimacy and family issues, multicultural concerns, and a broad range of life transitions.

Dr. Putman also contributes to suicide prevention education and mentors underrepresented teens.

She offers collaborative, empathic care and regularly checks in with clients to ensure therapy remains aligned with their aims and scheduling needs.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Dr. Putman draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thought and behavior patterns, a useful approach for anxiety, mood concerns, stress, and behavioral changes. She also uses client-centered therapy, focused on empathic listening and collaboration to help people explore values, identity, and goals in a supportive atmosphere. When helpful, she incorporates internal family systems ideas to explore inner parts and their roles in emotions, relationships, and decision making.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Dr. Putman works with clients to determine what methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She emphasizes collaborative planning and regular check-ins so the direction of treatment reflects the client's priorities and life circumstances.

Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging provides flexibility for busy schedules and makes it easier to maintain continuity of care across life demands. These formats allow sessions to fit around work, family, and travel while enabling focused skill-building, problem solving, and ongoing support from licensed professionals and therapists.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, self-esteem, career concerns, grief, and many related topics such as intimacy, parenting, and compassion fatigue.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and empathic, blending client-centered listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and family systems thinking.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 20 years of experience working with diverse clients in settings that include higher education and healthcare.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an MD and practices as a psychologist licensed in Maryland with the license number MD Psychologist 04134.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Services are provided in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and routines.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the process for beginning therapy?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepression

Also works with

LGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentBody imageCommunication problemsDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersMulticultural concernsSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Internal Family Systems

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

Maryland

Languages

English