Maryland Staff
Dr. Maciolek serves as our founder, clinical and training director, and clinical psychologist for the practice. She began the practice in 2015 in order to provide integrated and holistic behavioral health to the Baltimore community.
She recently has expanded her practice to New Mexico and is finishing her training to prescribe psychotropic medications. In addition to running her practice, she serves as a supervisor to nursing students training for their psychiatric degree and psychology students in their doctoral training and post-doctoral training. Dr. Maciolek acts as a board member to advise and support companies as a behavioral health expert. She enjoys consulting with other clinicians and companies looking to start, change or expand behavioral health programs.
I have experience offering trauma-informed therapeutic services for survivors and alleged perpetrators. And I offer counseling to many emerging adults struggling with fundamental childhood pain related to their upbringing and connected their experiences of racism, their ethnic origins, sexual orientation, gender identity, neurodivergence, and the many other multi-dimensional ways we can identify and be made to feel othered.
Dr. Rachel Ladysh, PsyD
(Pronouns: She/Her)
LinkedIn
Psychology Today
Any person who is ready to seek help can benefit from our work together. The world presents us with significant struggles, and the willingness to be open to new ways of interacting with your environment is the first, most important requirement to making positive change.
A successful therapeutic relationship needs both the therapist and the client to be present in the therapy and committed to doing the necessary work. As your therapist, it is my role to help guide you through your progress, but the work cannot be done without you.
Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner Royse serves as our clinical psychologist and wellness coach. In addition to her work at ELM, Dr. Royse is a tobacco cessation coordinator and health behavior coordinator, for the Dept of VA, training patients and clinicians to improve their physical health with psychological techniques. Dr. Royse is a national leadership coach trained through the NCOD. Additionally, she serves as an international media expert on psychological matters and is an internationally published author.
Coaching: Coaching is a perfect blend of insight and action. Through this process, we will work together to understand what needs to be changed, why it needs to be changed and how it should be changed. I specialize in improving personal and professional areas of life through coaching.
Jordan Schmitter, PA-C
Jordan Schmitter is a Certified Physician Assistant who has been practicing outpatient psychiatry in the Greater Baltimore region since 2018. Specializing in psychiatric evaluation and medication management, he treats a comprehensive range of conditions in adults, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety spectrum disorders schizophrenia, PTSD, and ADHD. Jordan prides himself on serving a diverse patient population, maintaining a professional, welcoming, and judgment-free environment for individuals from all walks of life.
Dr. Rita Mercer,
Psychologist, PsyD
I am Dr. Rita Mercer, and I have close to ten years of experience as a mental health provider, including working with young adults in the community college setting and with a diverse forensic population in an in-patient hospital setting. I specialize in anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, severe mental illness, trauma, PTSD, domestic violence and interpersonal relationships. My goal is to assist clients in navigating life’s challenges and achieve meaningful growth.
Dr. Ruel R. Billones, PhD, EdD.
Psychology Associate
Hello, and thank you for taking the courage to seek support through counseling and psychotherapy. My goal is simple: to provide a safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental space where you feel seen, supported, and understood as you work toward healing and change.
With over 25 years of clinical, academic, and research experience across the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines, my background includes postdoctoral training in Clinical Health Psychology at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, Rehabilitation Psychology, and research fellowships in HIV and Substance Use Disorders at the University of South Florida.
I specialize in helping individuals’ mental health challenges around cancer, chronic medical conditions and end of life care by family members, chronic pain, addiction, trauma, and injured partners in relationships. My approach is grounded in compassion, science, and an unwavering belief in your capacity to heal.
Shakita Branch, MA, LPA
Shakita Branch, MA, LPA is currently a 4th year clinical psychology doctoral graduate student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and is a registered Psychology Associate. She specializes in helping individuals in their healing journeys by providing the tools and resources to achieve their clinical goals and cultivating a safe space to allow individuals to explore their feelings and behaviors without judgement.
New Mexico Staff
Dr. Maciolek serves as our founder, clinical and training director, and clinical psychologist for the practice. She began the practice in 2015 in order to provide integrated and holistic behavioral health to the Baltimore community.
She recently has expanded her practice to New Mexico and is finishing her training to prescribe psychotropic medications. In addition to running her practice, she serves as a supervisor to nursing students training for their psychiatric degree and psychology students in their doctoral training and post-doctoral training. Dr. Maciolek acts as a board member to advise and support companies as a behavioral health expert. She enjoys consulting with other clinicians and companies looking to start, change or expand behavioral health programs.
Licensed Master Social Worker, LMSW
Life is a beautiful experience however it comes with challenges, stressors, and pain. Therapy is a great tool to be able to assist in navigating all of the ups and downs we face in our daily lives. I am here to help you work towards your best self and assist in all of life’s experiences.
My name is Deanielle “Deani” Ntiforo, and I hold a Master of Social Work from New Mexico Highlands University and I provide masters-level psychotherapy to any individual 13 years and older. My goal is to meet my clients wherever they are in their journey and provide you with empathy, support, and guidance to accomplish your therapy goals.
My areas of specialty are grief, complicated grief, anxiety, and chronic illness. I look forward to working with you and helping you find the inner peace and comfort we all deserve.