Katie Piura Gaitan

Katie is a Licensed Master in Social Work who has worked extensively with children, adolescents, adults, and families for 7 years. She specializes in trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, mood disorders, codependency, relationship and or family issues, and life transitions.

Katie values a nurturing and empathic relationship with her clients that shows unconditional positive regard. Meeting clients where they are and meeting them at their pace in the therapeutic process is what she does in order to help clients feel empowered in their healing process.

Katie received her BSW (Bachelor in Social Work) from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). She is an alum from UMBC, Shady Grove campus. Katie also received an MSW (Masters in Social Work), clinical concentration, from the Catholic University of America.

Katie has experience working as a clinician in non-profits and in government agencies serving clients who have endured different types of trauma, life transitions, and or struggle with a mental health diagnosis. She has extensive experience serving Black and Latinx clients and provides therapy in English or Spanish or both, depending on the client’s language preference. Katie also has experience providing social work services internationally. She is currently a clinician in a group practice while working at the Universities at Shady Grove Center for Counseling and Consultation.

Katie is originally from Honduras and has grown up in both Honduras and the DMV area in U.S. She attended a bilingual school in Honduras and attended college in Maryland and graduate school in D.C.

Professional Interests:  Working with survivors of child sexual abuse, including survivors of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC); pursue a doctorate degree to research CSEC in Latinx population; provide child sexual abuse and (CSEC) prevention workshops in the community; working as a clinician for college students; provide support groups for college students.

Personal Interests:  Makeup artistry; traveling; creating YouTube videos that are helpful; home decor; music; reading; comedy shows; and walks in nature with her shorkie dog

M.S.W, Social Work, Catholic University of America
B.S.W, Social Work, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Katie works for the Center Mondays - Thursdays, 5pm - 7pm (Mondays and Tuesdays are virtual only).