Second Chance Counseling Services, LLC is a group psychotherapy practice.
Providing Supportive Psychotherapy Services to Individual and Families since 2006
Welcome to Second Chance Counseling Services,LLC, conveniently located in Montgomery County, Maryland. Here, our professionals know that behavioral health is not just about the ability to function: it’s about having the best quality of life. It’s about enjoying ones life! Our mission is to help our clients meet their goals in an effective, compassionate, and productive way.
We aim to educate our patients in a safe environment while offering them efficient and comprehensive behavioral health care. We created a soothing environment to resolve old hurts and help you get the life you want. By combining the latest techniques with traditional and complimentary techniques, we give our clients the best behavioral health care in the DC Metropolitan Area .
Meet Our Treatment Team
Terese Hayes, MSW, LCSW-C, SAP
Terese Hayes brings a notable hospitality to all her clients. She grew up in the DMV and has provided professional psychotherapy services since 2002. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Social Work's highly ranked MSW program. Terese has a Bachelors of Art in Social Work, Master of Social Work and a candidate for Doctorate of Social Work. She has an impressive background in behavioral health disorders utilizing complementary and alternative techniques in her treatment approach. She specializes in Depression, Anxiety and Substance Use Disorders. Before she founded Second Chance Counseling Services, LLC in 2006, she worked at some of the finest behavioral health inpatient and outpatient treatment programs in the DMV. She is an active member of the NASW, NAADAC, a certified Hypnotherapist, NLP clinician and Substance Abuse Professional. Additionally, she is an state of Maryland approved Social Worker supervisor and state of Maryland approved Substance Abuse Supervisor. When not striving to help her clients attain their goals, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four daughters. #healingheartstoday is her motto. If you don't need psychotherapy she is also a Wellness Coach for Self-Disclosure Counseling Services Alternative Treatment Program.
Denise Popevis, MS, LCPC
Denise is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, with a Master's of Science degree in Counseling from McDaniel College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Mount Saint Mary's University. Denise has worked with individuals seeking support to enhance the quality of their lives due to a wide range of issues, both big and small. They include coping with adjustments and transitions in their lives due to work, social skills, family, and marriage to individuals coping with mental illness, alcohol and substance issues. Denise also has extensive experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome and Autism. Denise believes that through counseling with a client centered approach; the individual can attain the solutions that they desire. Her therapeutic approach is to support the individual with enhancing their self-esteem, empowerment to make good choices and learning ways to increase their ability to effectively cope with issues that they are dealing with now and in the future.
Bita Safai, MA, NCC, LCPC
Bita is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a Masters of Art in Community Counseling. She helps individuals and families with a wide range of emotional problems and poor coping strategies with a special focus on younger children age 3-6 years old and their families. Her goal is to enable her clients to resolve their issues with lasting results and to live more satisfying, healthier lives. Over the years, clients have turned to Ms. Bita for help with depression, anxiety, loneliness, grief, low self-esteem, work stress, parenting and relationship problems.
Therapy is a collaborative experience. She creates a confidential environment in which clients are encouraged to talk freely, without judgement or criticism. Together we develop insight into your concerns, find solutions for your dilemmas and strengthen your ability to face the future.
Jennifer Tibbs, LCPC
Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She completed her Master of Science degree in Human Services/Mental Health Counseling from Capella University's CACREP accredited program. Jen completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at the University of Maryland University College. Jen has experience treating a variety of issues, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, traumatic brain injury (TBI), PTSD, life transitions, blended families, bipolar disorder, and other mental health disorders. Jen believes in a relaxed, judgment free atmosphere. She has a client focused style, because she believes that each individual is the expert on him/herself. Through the use of techniques from various modalities, she helps guide each client through a process of self-understanding and self-discovery.
Leah Reed, LCPC
Leah S. Reed received a Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology and Cultural Studies from Chatham College/University. As a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Maryland State Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), she has worked in a variety of settings ranging from academia, community/public mental health system and substance abuse rehabilitation facilities.
Her professional experiences range from treating individuals with severe and persistent mental illness along with clinical depression/anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse-related issues and the physically disabled. Many of the concerns she has addressed in therapy include grief/loss, stress, relationship issues, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and substance-abuse/recovery-related struggles, and multicultural/cross-cultural issues.
Leah employs a compassionate, non-judgmental, and strengths-based approach in her work with individuals, couples/families, mental health and psychoeducational groups. She has a passion for working collaboratively with her clients to define personal goals, explore ways to strengthen supports and gain a deeper understanding of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and concerns impacting the quality of their life.
Leah is dedicated to creating a safe space in which healthy processing and decision making empower one's instincts to practice setting boundaries, develop healthy self-care habits and resolve unexplored emotions to navigate life transitions.
She utilizes multiple approaches in her work, to include person centered therapy, interpersonal, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy to assist her clients on their journey towards healing and growth.
As a parent with a career and everyday life transitions, Leah practices many of the techniques she encourages her clientele to try. Leah is recognized as both a Maryland State LCPC Supervisor and a Maryland State Addictions Counselor Supervisor. She is also awaiting certification as a Master Addictions Counselor and has provided supervision to professionals in both the mental health and addictions field.