Dr. Mekdes Asha Hope

Clinical Psychologist

Who is the therapist?

My curiosity about how people think and relate to each other has always been part of my life. As a child, I was fascinated by human behavior—trying to read expressions, notice tone changes, and understand what drives people. Although that instinct faded as I grew up, it revived when I entered my first psychology class in high school. That experience reignited something essential in me, and I’ve pursued that interest ever since.

Alongside formal education, I’ve always believed that meaningful learning also comes from understanding our own lived experience, which helps build the capacity to understand others deeply. That belief led me to pursue my own personal work through various forms of therapy and analysis—initially to better understand myself, but ultimately as one of the most transformative influences on my professional identity.

My clinical journey has taken me from working with children and adolescents in schools, foster care, and outpatient clinics, to postdoctoral training at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, with a rotation at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. I now work with all ages, including adults, as I myself have expanded in both personal and professional pursuits since my graduate training. I later continued my education at the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis, where I’ve deepened my understanding of the mind and how we change over time.

Whether or not I am the right therapist for you or your child depends on what happens between us when we meet. My expertise in mental health sits with me, but I approach each person and family as unique—and I respond to each differently. Like any real relationship, therapy begins with how we experience one another. What unfolds between us often speaks louder than any knowledge I bring into the room.

Throughout this path, I’ve remained committed to growth—both in how I think and how I practice. My training spans behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic, and psychoanalytic models, and I integrate these approaches thoughtfully to meet the unique needs of the individuals I work with. I assess readiness, strengths, and the potential for meaningful therapeutic work, always with the aim of cultivating a space where lasting change can unfold. I see myself as a lifelong student of the mind, human complexity, and the subtle changes that make healing possible. Patients who are curious about their own experiences and interested in understanding themselves tend to be a good fit for my approach.

Issues I treat:

Your diagnosis may describe some of what you experience, but it does not tell me who you are. I have training and experience working from a diagnostic, or medical-model, perspective, including treatments focused directly on symptoms. At this point in my career, I am also able to think beyond the diagnosis itself—to understand your history, how you came to experience yourself and others, and what may be maintaining your difficulties in the present.

A diagnosis does not always describe a fixed or purely biological condition. For some people, symptoms such as depression can change substantially or resolve as the underlying conflicts, relationships, experiences, and patterns that sustain them become understood. Rather than beginning and ending with a symptom list, we use the diagnosis as one source of information and work toward understanding what is happening specifically for you.

Therapeutic Modalities:

  • Family Systems Therapy
  • Play Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Psychoanalytic psychotherapy

Assessment Services:

I conduct comprehensive psychological and neuro-psychological testing primarily with children, adolescents, and young adults to clarify diagnoses and provide clear, targeted recommendations. These evaluations help identify the underlying issues affecting emotional, behavioral, or developmental functioning. The information gathered guides treatment planning and supports decision-making about interventions at home, school, or other relevant settings. I provide thorough feedback to parents after the evaluation is complete, discussing the results in detail and offering guidance on how to support their child both at home and in educational or therapeutic settings. assess for a range of concerns, including:

  • Anxiety and mood disorders
  • Autism spectrum disorders
  • Executive functioning challenges/Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Social or emotional regulation difficulties
  • Behavioral concerns
  • School-related stress or performance issues

Educational Background:

Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) / Nova Southeastern University (2020)

Certificate: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine / The Kennedy Krieger Institute / Clinical Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology (2021)

Certificate: The Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis /Psychoanalytic Studies Program (2024)

Serving Maryland and Psypact states.

Location:

3355 St Johns Ln
Ellicott City, MD 21042.

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