Posted on July 5th, 2023 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

When service members return from duty, they often carry a lot more than what they began with. For many, the heavy burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a profound effect not only on the […]

Posted on May 3rd, 2023 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Any traumatic event a person experiences in a relationship can change how they feel or think about certain things. Being lied to by a romantic partner or getting your heart broken by your family’s words […]

Posted on February 9th, 2023 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Relationships are hard, there’s no doubt about it. Many people find themselves asking, “how do I know if a relationship is right for me?” Most adults have been through at least one relationship in their […]

Posted on August 1st, 2022 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Substance abuse is a major behavioral and mental health challenge for any person to face. And there is a whole separate set of challenges that their spouse or partner faces. People struggling with addiction need […]

Posted on September 2nd, 2021 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

If your child is experiencing negative feelings that persist to the point that they are not functioning properly, then they might be suffering from a depressive disorder. According to the Centers for Disease Control and […]

Posted on August 4th, 2021 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

This article was originally published on Social Work Today. One of my least favorite questions to get from potential clients is, “How many sessions will this take?” I hate getting this question because the true […]

Posted on November 20th, 2019 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

One of the important components of anger management is getting an understanding of where your anger is coming from so that you can work towards not only managing your anger when it comes up but […]

Posted on December 26th, 2018 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

New Year’s resolutions – everyone makes ‘em, few keep ‘em. Why is this so? And how can we do it differently so we can finally make our New Year’s resolutions stick?

Posted on April 17th, 2018 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Change is hard. This is a truth I live by professionally, but it is also a reality in my personal life.  This week we are moving to a new office, and I must admit that […]

Posted on January 10th, 2018 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

If you are considering seeing a couples counselor/marriage therapist to address a problem in your relationship, there are a few things it’s vital for you to know before you jump in. 1. Be prepared to […]

Posted on August 30th, 2017 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

If you’ve been feeling down a lot lately, always tired, not in the mood to do much of anything, you may be suffering from depression. Depression is different from just feeling sad, and it is a […]

Posted on August 23rd, 2017 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

This is a guest post by a colleague of mine in Chicago, Josh Hetherington of the Northside Center for Relationship Counseling. Mindfulness Lately I’ve been reconnecting with some Buddhist writing. It underscores a lot of […]

Posted on April 10th, 2017 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

We’re taking a break from our regularly scheduled posts on the Five Love Languages to bring you this exclusive special in which I was invited to a local TV station to do a short bit […]

Posted on November 15th, 2016 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

So you’re looking for a therapist in Baltimore.  Maybe you typed “Baltimore therapist” into Google and it sent you here.  But how do you find the right “Baltimore therapist” for you?  What goes in to […]

Posted on June 16th, 2016 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Bariatric surgery and self-esteem are obviously intricately intertwined with each other. Most people who suffer from obesity naturally struggle with their self-esteem, especially in a culture such as ours where beauty and thinness have been […]

Posted on March 31st, 2016 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

It is not uncommon for us to field calls from people looking to get help for someone other than themselves. One common category of such callers is the family member of someone with borderline personality […]

Posted on March 21st, 2016 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

So what’s the connection between bariatric surgery and therapy? If you’ve gotten the operation done or are considering it, you are probably aware that you have to do a psychological evaluation before going through with […]

Posted on March 14th, 2016 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Every now and then I hear about a “great new therapy” that promises fast results and lasting change (often after a single session or treatment). I am highly skeptical of such approaches and I encourage […]

Posted on August 23rd, 2015 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

At the Baltimore Therapy Center we frequently get calls that begin like this: “Hi, I’m looking for marriage counseling. Do you take Blue Cross Blue Shield?” While the short answer is yes, there’s unfortunately a […]

Posted on August 6th, 2015 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Check out our latest article on the Maryland Addiction Recovery Center‘s guest blog! http://www.marylandaddictionrecovery.com/boundaries-inside-and-out

Posted on October 26th, 2014 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

This short video offers an excellent perspective on what it’s like to be depressed.  Depression does tremendous damage to relationships.  If you or someone you love is suffering from depression, don’t hesitate to reach out […]

Posted on May 14th, 2014 By Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

I thought the following video was a good way to launch this blog – Happiness 101! After all, we’re all looking for happiness; I hope that my services and my website can be one piece […]