Couples and Family Institute of MPB Group, Inc

Lindsey Aumick is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Art Therapist in the state of Maryland. Lindsey joined MPB Group in 2019. She received her MA in Art Therapy from The George Washington University in 2015. She works with children, adolescents, and adults with trauma. She translates her passion for art as a modality for people to communicate and express their feelings in a deep, authentic, and meaningful way. Lindsey utilizes her gentle approach with knowledge of trauma and neuroscience to encourage each client to engage in their strengths and learn tools to thrive.

Mary Blackwood, LCMFT serves as the Program Director (Couples & Family Institute). Mary oversees the Couples & Family Institute after having created and developed the program in 2018. She received her MS in Marriage & Family Therapy from Capella University in 2013. She completed the 18-month process to become an AAMFT Board Approved Supervisor. She relishes critical thinking and envisions CFI to be an institute where students and mental health professionals grow, learn, and connect through CEU training and supervision. Think tanks are in the future for CFI.

Mary’s love and respect for the family positioned her to share this passion with MPB Group, Inc. for the last nine years. She started as an intern and is now a Program Manager for CFI. Since beginning her career in family therapy, she has worked extensively with families of adoption, foster care, and guardianship. This vulnerable population and the lack of resources for the families is the first program under CFI where extensive training is being developed and introduced to every clinician. The clinic is close to being an Adoption Competent Agency.

Ralnah Brown is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Registered Nurse who loves working with couples. She interned at MPB Group as a Couples & Family Therapist intern and earned her MS at Messiah College. She is a certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator, which directly connects with her goal to help couples make sense of their life stories and experiences. As an empathetic and compassionate listener, she helps pre-marital couples prepare for their marital journey. Through the lens of Attachment Theory, application of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy, Ralnah helps individuals and couples establish and/or deepen their emotional connection. Ralnah translates this approach when seeing individuals, for understanding one’s individual story is key to an enriched life.

Morgan Jefferson, LMSW, is a licensed therapist who specializes in work with adolescents and teens. She received her Bachelor of Science in Family Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, and received her Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University in New York City. Morgan is currently preparing to receive her clinical social work license before the year ends.

Morgan has predominantly worked with school-aged students of all backgrounds in New York City and in Maryland. Her reason for joining the social work field comes from her own life experiences and a determination to increase the number of therapists of color. She believes that individuals, no matter their age, can change the course of their familial, generational trauma. Through trauma-informed modalities, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), art therapy as a form of expression, and psychotherapy, healing is possible.

Jasmine Jenkins is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She received her MS in 2020 at Capella University. She joined MPB Group as an intern and returned in 2021. Jasmine is under an extensive training program to become an Adoption Competent Therapist. Jasmine combines her early child development professional experience with training in family therapy using Structural Family Therapy to realign families that need adjustment. Addressing challenges such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, parenting skills, and communication, she works with children, adolescents, and teens within the family system to help parents and children better communicate and find their family harmony.

Alicia is a Licensed Professional Counselor who works with individuals for the Couples & Family Institute. Alicia received her MS in Counseling Psychology from the University of Baltimore in 2019 and is currently working towards becoming an Adoption Competent Therapist.

Since beginning her career in therapy, Alicia has focused on working with individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, and grief/loss. She utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as well as Mindfulness in her therapeutic work. Alicia has extensive experience working with children in clinical and academic settings and uses the play therapy approach in working with younger clients.

Trish is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who earned her MA degree in 2021 at Northcentral University. Her graduate program specialization was Military Families. Trish is returning to MPB Group after interning with CFI in 2020. She uses Experiential Therapy as her model to create memorable moments in session for families and couples to see family patterns that are getting in the way of synchronicity. She then guides couples and families to take the steps towards positive change.

Adiat Saba, LMSW is a clinician who worked a great deal with children and teens and is now beginning to work with adults as well. Adiat came to MPB Group, Inc. after being a school-based mental health therapist with TIME Organization in Baltimore City. She received her MSW from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in 2019. Adiat received her LMSW shortly after graduation. Adiat's focus in working with clients is meeting them where they are and using their strengths to help guide them. It is Adiat's hope to eventually be able to work with families using the same approach.

Josh is a Licensed Social Worker who has 13 years’ experience in the foster care system as a case manager and clinical coordinator. He joined MPB Group in May 2013. He has a personal connection to the life a foster child and adoption, this personal connection aids in working with this special and vulnerable population.
He runs group therapy with at-risk youth in the community and juvenile justice system and has been doing so for the past 20 years.

Jennifer Staten began her internship at CFI at MPB in the fall of 2020. She is a Northcentral University student earning her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy with a Specialization in Child and Adolescent Family Therapy. Jen practices Solution-Focused Narrative Therapy which leads to families exploring and finding solutions to their challenges by constructing their preferred narrative.
Jennifer connects with children and adolescents well through her vast knowledge of gaming and Anime – this valuable connection is key to aid in the change necessary for communication, respect, and unity.

I have found that I have always been in the business of people. Throughout my experience as an account executive, my job has been cultivating relationships, building trust, listening to the needs of others, and providing viable solutions. In the last decade, my desire to move into the mental health and counseling field has grown. I love working with people, listening, and helping others. With the increase in mental health awareness and the increasing need for mental health counselors, I wanted to become part of the solution. I decided to pursue marriage and family because the dynamics and complexities of relationships have always fascinated me. Through an Existential perspective, utilizing Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), I ideally would love to focus my work on couples, pursuing a certification in sex therapy as well once I earn my master's.

Lila Gaines (she/her) is an LCSW-C who graduated with a Masters in Social Work from University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2013 and is a Maryland state recognized clinical supervisor. Before joining MPB group, Lila was a graduate school instructor for the University of Alabama, School of Social Work and worked at a social work graduate program in Kerala, India. Lila recognizes that clients are the experts in their own experiences and that the root of good therapy is an affirming, supportive relationship where clients can feel safe and seen.