Simone Novel Schwager, Clinical Director, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been providing therapy in a variety of settings for over 15 years. Simone has extensive experience working with children, adolescents/young adults and adults struggling with mood related difficulties, anxiety, unhealthy coping mechanisms, difficulties with interpersonal relationships, life transitions, school related stress, and poor impulse control. Simone has advanced training in multiple evidence based treatments including: Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Systemic Therapy, and Family Therapy. Simone is also in trained in CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality) and is a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP).
In addition to traditional talk therapy, Simone is known for her creative and interactive approach to teaching skill building techniques, processing life events, and educating clients about their symptoms and the mind and body connection. Simone believes, “There is no cookie-cutter way to therapy. As clinicians, it is imperative to explore different ways to connect and support the people we work with as they are all unique in how they learn, process, and connect with others”.
Simone integrates work with parents for parent coaching, family therapy, and collaboration with additional community based supports to navigate change through a systems based approach.
Therapy Services
- Individual Cognitive Behavior Therapy, ages 8 and up
- DBT skills training
- Family Therapy
- Parenting Support
- Couple’s Counseling
- Group Therapy
- Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) Assessments & Treatment
- Assessments for children and adolescents temporarily removed from school
Expertise
- Mood Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Self-Injury
- School avoidance
- Chronic passive suicidal ideation
- Treatment adverse adolescents
- ADHD/Executive Functioning Difficulties
- Mind-body treatment approach
- Neurodiversity newly diagnosed in Adolescence/Adulthood
- Anger Management
- Assertiveness Training
- Coping Skills
- Behavior Management/Parenting Support
- College transition support
- Trauma
- Family Conflict
Background & Credentials
Simone Schwager is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C) in the state of Maryland. She earned her Master of Science in Social Work in 2008 with a focus in Clinical Social Work and a sub-specialization in Substance Abuse. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UMBC, the Honors College of the University of Maryland System.
Simone’s extensive background includes serving clients with a wide range of diagnoses across all levels of care, including: psychiatric inpatient, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient, and private practice settings. In addition to private practice, Simone served as a director for a successful Partial Hospitalization Program for adolescents. She has experience developing innovative programs and curricula for crisis intervention.
Additionally, Simone has been a board certified supervisor for nearly 10 years, and is passionate about teaching and supervising new clinicians in the field. She has experience running a successful internship program at a large mental health organization, in additional to developing and leading their graduate clinician supervision program for newly licensed therapists.
Personal Life
Simone was raised here in Montgomery County and has lived here most of her life. During her down time she enjoys anything related to holistic living, traveling, baking, DIY projects, and spending time with her family. Simone is a mother to four amazing children and has three bonus daughters (oh my!).
