top of page

Kerstin Youman, Ph.D.

Clinician

Kerstin Youman is a psychologist with a dedication to treating adults, adolescents and their families, using a strengths-based approach to facing challenges and stressors. She approaches cases with compassion, openness, non-judgment, flexibility and cultural humility. Kerstin received her Bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University.

She earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from George Mason University where she was was recognized with the Graduate Student Service Award. During her practicum training, she provided therapy and assessment with children, adolescents and adults at the Center for Psychological Services, a community-based clinic affiliated with George Mason University and the Loudoun County Community Mental Health Center. Kerstin was a research assistant in Dr. June Tangney’s Human Emotions Research Laboratory. Kerstin completed her clinical psychology internship at the John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (JLG-RICA) where she treated adolescents and families in a therapeutic day school and residential treatment setting. She continued practicing there for 10 years, as she assisted her clients with a wide range of coexisting presenting problems including complex trauma, depression, anxiety, psychosis and interpersonal challenges.

Her clients have been diverse in terms of gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, and neurotypicality (Autism spectrum). Kerstin is highly relational and seeks to help her clients nurture their interests and talents while developing specific skills to live a safe and meaningful life with growing independence. In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Youman was the Director of Research and Program Evaluation at JLG-RICA with a focus on evaluating service delivery with a goal of continual improvement. She highly enjoyed supervising interns and psychology associates during their training and is continuing to provide clinical supervision at the facility.

Kerstin has co-authored journal articles, book chapters and presentations at professional conferences in race and gender differences in mental illness; shame and guilt; and a randomized controlled trial of a successful mindfulness-based intervention to prepare jail inmates for re-entry to the community. At DBT Maryland, Kerstin works with adolescents and adults. Kerstin provides Comprehensive DBT, including individual, group and family therapy as well as parent coaching. Family therapy is conducted in a spirit of building and utilizing mutual respect, effective communication and collaborative problem solving.

Kerstin-Youman.jpg

To book an appointment with Kerstin Youman, email info@dbtmaryland.com, or call us at 301-229-0063.

bottom of page