Mina Kirkova, LCSW-C
Child, Adolescent, and Family Therapist
in Phoenix/Jacksonville, MD
ABOUT MINA KIRKOVA, LCSW-C
I am a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) and child, adolescent, and family therapist in Hunt Valley, Maryland. I have more than 20 years of clinical experience working with children, teenagers, parents, families, college students, and young adults.
My professional training in child and family therapy began at Jasper Mountain Center in Oregon, a residential treatment program where I worked with children experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties. While in Oregon, I also worked for SAWERA and Options Counseling Center. Over the years, I have developed extensive experience helping children and adolescents with ADHD, anxiety, OCD, emotional dysregulation, behavioral concerns, low self-esteem, social difficulties, school challenges, grief and loss, and life transitions.
MY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
I came to the United States from Bulgaria at age 17 on a full four-year college scholarship. Leaving my family thousands of miles away at a young age gave me firsthand experience with major transitions, cultural adjustment, independence, perseverance, and adapting to unfamiliar environments.
I graduated with honors from Linfield College in Oregon and later completed two master's degrees. My educational and professional experiences have shaped a therapeutic approach that is practical, culturally sensitive, strength-based, and individualized to each client and family.
EDUCATION
- Master of Social Work (MSW), Portland State University, Oregon
- Master of Arts in International Studies, University of Oregon
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology, Linfield College, Oregon
- Associate of Arts in International Studies and Russian, Ricks College, Idaho
MY FAMILY
My husband is a professor of music theory at Towson University. We have two homeschooled children-with our oldest already navigating their freshman year of college. Our extended family lives in Bulgaria, and maintaining strong family and cultural connections has always been important to us. As a family, we enjoy traveling, spending time in Kauai, HI, and being outdoors, particularly kayaking, snorkeling, and exploring nature.
My experiences as a parent have given me an additional appreciation for the everyday challenges families face while raising children and adolescents, balancing responsibilities, supporting education, and maintaining healthy family relationships.
MY PET THERAPY HELPERS
Animals can be especially effective at helping children feel comfortable, engaged, and connected during therapy. I incorporate pet-assisted activities into sessions when they are appropriate for the individual child and therapeutic goals.
My Holland Lop bunnies have been a memorable part of my child therapy practice. Their calm and gentle presence can help children become more comfortable participating in therapy and practicing skills related to emotional regulation, anxiety management, relaxation, mindfulness, and breathing.
Pet-assisted activities may also be incorporated into behavioral goals and positive reinforcement. For some children, working toward time with the bunnies provides additional motivation to practice therapeutic skills and make progress toward weekly goals.
Currently, Misty is my therapy bunny who is with me in the office every day. She has become a special part of my work with children and often helps make the therapy environment feel warmer. Children enjoy petting Misty, sitting near her, and spending time with her during their sessions. Her quiet and gentle presence can help children feel more comfortable and relaxed, especially when they are nervous about therapy or have difficulty talking about their thoughts and feelings. She helps make therapy a place they can look forward to visiting and provides a comforting presence while they work through difficult feelings, experiences, and challenges.
You can see some adorable pictures of Misty bunny (and my home office) on my Psychology Today Profile below:
Mina Kirkova, LCSW-C
Child, Adolescent, and Family Therapist in Hunt Valley, MD
