Contact Us

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Meet the Team

Jessica and Lauren met as graduate students at the University of Maryland. It was quickly apparent that they have many complementary strengths and a similar view on child and family resilience and treatment. Though they live many miles apart, they have forged a strong friendship over many years. They launched Evergreen Child & Family Therapy in 2022 and after five years, rebranded the practice to Evergrow Therapy & Wellness Collective.

Lauren A. Messina, PhD, LCMFT, DipACLM
Co-founder & Couple and Family Therapist

Licensure: Maryland LCM513, Virginia 0717002237
Licensed Since: 2010

Certification: Wellcoaches Certified Health and Well-being Coach, 2024

Diplomat of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, 2022
PhD: Family Science, 2015, University of Maryland
Master’s: Couple & Family Therapy, 2010, University of Maryland
Bachelor’s: Communications, 2005, Villanova University

Lauren specializes in improving relationship health, whole person mental health, mental health during the transition to parenthood (pregnancy and postpartum), and parenting. Lauren enjoys working with parents, families, children, teens, and individuals seeking to break unhealthy intergenerational patterns. Lauren has been licensed since 2010 and provides therapy services to Maryland and Virginia residents. She offers day time and evening virtual sessions and in-person sessions in downtown Silver Spring on Wednesdays. Lauren also offers Health and Wellness Coaching to adults anywhere in the U.S.

Lauren’s approach to therapy begins with taking a client-centered, strengths-based empathetic perspective. Lauren strives to create a comfortable and safe environment for everyone, child and adults alike. Drawing from Cognitive Behavioral, Solution-Focused, Acceptance and Commitment, Mindfulness, and Experiential therapy, Lauren is adept at tailoring her approach to meet the needs of clients and is committed to helping you excel in your emotional intelligence. Lauren is a Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and uses this knowledge to help clients improve their whole person well being. Lauren has a decade of experience in the prevention and translation science space, creating health education resources and curricula for U.S. Service Members and working to advance social fitness among military families.

Beyond therapy and work, Lauren can be found trying to soak in the wonder years of having two little ones at home, walking various Maryland trails, and finding new places around the DMV to explore with her husband. Lauren is currently on the board of Metro Marriage and Family Therapists, Inc. and she volunteers as the co-facilitator of the Maryland Chapter of Chamber of Mothers. She is a past Board of Directors member of NAMI-Maryland and past Director of Education at the Consortium for Health and Military Performance. Lauren is present, considerate, genuine, and a meaningful mix of serious and silly. Lauren enjoys watching documentaries, practicing yoga, and trying new (vegetarian) foods. Read more about her below:

 

Jessica Brenneman, MS, LMFT, RYT200
Co-founder & Couple and Family Therapist

Licensure: Maryland LCM446
Licensed Since: 2010
Master’s: Couple & Family Therapy, 2010, University of Maryland

Bachelor’s: Psychology, 2008, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Jessica has worked in the mental health field since 2007, always with a focus on children and families. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2010 with a degree in Couple and Family Therapy. Jessica has worked in a partial hospital program, schools, clinics, in-homes, and in private practice both in person and virtually. She is licensed in Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina. Jessica has a certificate from the University of Maryland in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and a certificate from Georgetown University in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation. She is a board approved supervisor for master’s level therapists in Maryland. 
 
Jessica is in the process of becoming an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and is working on becoming a Registered Play Therapist. Jessica has attended many trainings in Sandplay, Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART), Theraplay, Child Centered Play, Filial Therapy, and Structural Family Therapy. She also teaches for SMART Moves, helping other therapists learn about somatic regulation in the treatment of trauma. She is also a board member of MetroMFT, an organization dedicated to protecting the profession of Marriage and Family Therapy and advocating for clients. 
 
Jessica has extensive experience working with children who have intense behaviors, anxiety disorders, parenting troubles, and trauma. Her calling in this world is to serve children and families. 
 
She lives in Delaware with her son and dog in a drafty 100 year old home. Jessica is warm and compassionate. She loves spending time with friends and family, cooking, and visiting coffee shops and breweries. Read more about her below:

 

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