Tonia Guzman, MD, LCSW-C

Tonia Guzman meets people where they are and helps them take the next step. She brings a calm, straightforward approach to issues like anxiety, stress, grief, low self-esteem, and depression. Her style is practical and respectful, aimed at making therapy feel doable for busy lives.

She uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help clients notice unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. She also draws on client-centered and solution-focused methods to keep sessions focused on what matters most to each person. Motivational interviewing helps when someone wants to build or sustain change.

Tonia has 12 years of experience and holds an MD and a license as a clinical social worker - LCSW-C - in Maryland. Her background includes working with people facing trauma, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting stress, career questions, chronic illness, and issues tied to identity and multicultural stressors.

In sessions she aims to tailor conversations and plans to each individual. Expect clear goals, practical steps between meetings, and checks on what is working. She values respect, sensitivity, and compassion in every interaction.

For people juggling many responsibilities, she offers flexible formats to fit different schedules. The emphasis is on steady progress and practical strategies that can be tried right away.

How these approaches work online

CBT helps people identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. Online CBT sessions often include homework, behavioral experiments, and step-by-step skill practice that can be reviewed during video or phone meetings.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on noticing difficult feelings and choosing actions that match personal values. In teletherapy ACT exercises, clients learn mindfulness skills and practical ways to move toward meaningful goals even when emotions are strong.

Tonia aims to find the right mix of approaches in collaboration with each client. She will talk through goals, try a few techniques, and adjust methods based on what feels most useful. That process is shared so the client helps shape the plan.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for fuller conversation and skill demonstrations, phone calls can fit shorter check-ins or low-bandwidth needs, and chat or messaging work well for brief updates or ongoing coaching between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or health-related schedules.