Healing That Honors Our Roots. Culturally Grounded Therapy Created By Us, For Us.
African-centered, trauma-informed therapy for individuals, couples, children, and families in Maryland, DC, and beyond.
Welcome to Esteemed Families, LLC
We see you, and we know your healing journey deserves to honor who you are. At Esteemed Families, we're not just another therapy practice - we're your community, creating a space where families can heal without leaving parts of themselves at the door. We practice African-centered therapy, celebrating your culture, heritage, and ancestral wisdom as the foundation of your healing, not something to work around.
Whether you're dealing with trauma, relationship struggles, childhood wounds, or just feeling overwhelmed by life - we're here for all of you. From kids to grandparents, individuals to whole families, we meet you exactly where you are. You don't have to be "ready" or have it all figured out. There's always a way forward, there's always hope, and you don't have to find it alone. Your family is esteemed, your healing matters, and we're honored to walk this journey with you.
Who We Serve
We Support:
-
🔸 Our care is inclusive, affirming, and deeply rooted in African-centered values.
-
🔸 Our care is inclusive, affirming, and deeply rooted in African-centered values. We use Imago therapy, IFS, and Relational Life Therapeutic interventions.
-
🔸 We value and listen to our teens. We developed Sankofa Play Therapy to assist teens with managing their emotions and behavior.
-
🔸 We honor all of our families and continue to build on the strength and wisdom that families have.
Our Unique Approach
Therapy That Reflects Your Story
We blend clinical excellence with cultural relevance. Our team uses evidence-based practices such as:
-
🌿 Internal Family Systems invites us to reconnect with the sacred wisdom within, guiding us toward healing by honoring each part of ourselves—just as our ancestors taught us: that wholeness is found in embracing the fullness of our spirit.
-
🌿 EMDR, when rooted in an African-centered approach, becomes more than a clinical technique—it becomes a pathway to ancestral healing. By gently guiding the mind through the pain of long-held trauma, it helps us reclaim our stories, restore our inner balance, and walk with the strength of those who came before us.
-
🌿 Somatic Experiencing, when embraced through an African-centered lens, gently guides us back into sacred relationship with the body—reminding us that our healing is not separate from our breath, our rhythm, or the wisdom passed down in our flesh. It’s a homecoming to self, where the body becomes a vessel of liberation and ancestral memory.
-
🌿 Play therapy, rooted in an understanding of children’s natural modes of expression, honors the ancestral wisdom that storytelling, movement, and symbolic play are vital for emotional and spiritual well-being. Through guided play, children are empowered to explore their inner world, build resilience, and restore harmony—within themselves and their communities.
-
🌿 African-centered therapy is rooted in the worldview, traditions, and values of people of African descent. It recognizes that trauma—especially racial, historical, and intergenerational trauma—cannot be fully addressed through Eurocentric models alone. Instead, it:
Centers community, spirituality, and ancestral wisdom as essential to healing
Emphasizes restoration of identity, dignity, and cultural pride
Views trauma as a wound to the spirit, not just the psyche, and healing as a communal journey
This approach affirms that culture is not just a context—it is a cure.
-
![Woman sitting on sofa with eyes closed, holding a cup, in a cozy living room with natural light from window.]()
Clinical Workshops
Our organization proudly offers African-centered clinical workshops that provide Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for mental health professionals, educators, and community healers. Grounded in culturally responsive frameworks such as NTU therapy, Ubuntu philosophy, and Sawubona healing traditions, our trainings integrate ancestral wisdom with evidence-informed clinical practices.
We are honored to partner with leading community-based organizations to ensure the highest level of cultural diversity, relevance, and depth in our programming. Together, we cultivate transformative learning spaces that affirm identity, promote healing, and equip practitioners with culturally grounded interventions designed to serve individuals and communities of African descent.
Our workshops are in person and we also offer virtual workshops.
-
![]()
Sawubona Healing Circles
In partnership with the Association of Black Psychologists, we are honored to offer Sawubona Healing Circles—sacred community gatherings designed to help individuals process the adversities, trauma, and spiritual fatigue impacting our communities today. Grounded in African-centered values of Ubuntu and cultural affirmation, these circles provide space to be seen, heard, and held.
We invite you to join us—to share your wisdom, your presence, and your story—as we walk together toward individual and collective healing.
-
![]()
Consultation / Supervision
At Esteemed Families, we offer culturally grounded clinical supervision for aspiring social workers, marriage and family therapists, and play therapists seeking licensure. Rooted in the African worldview and guided by ancestral wisdom, our supervision circles are more than professional development—they are spaces of transformation, reflection, and collective elevation.
We honor the interconnectedness of spirit, culture, and clinical practice. In this sacred container, practitioners are invited to deepen their therapeutic presence, refine their approach, and align their work with culturally affirming and healing-centered principles.
Through guided dialogue, mentorship, and intergenerational wisdom-sharing, participants explore holistic treatment frameworks, ethical complexities, and sustainable strategies for self and community care. These sessions not only support professional growth—they nurture a deeper calling to serve with integrity, compassion, and cultural reverence.
Denise Montgomery
LICSW, LMFT, LCSWC, RPTS
Meet our Founder & Clinical Director
Founder, therapist, teacher, and visionary—Denise brings over 20 years of experience supporting families with compassion and cultural intelligence. She specializes in trauma healing, relational repair, and emotional empowerment for Black families and individuals.
Credentials & Certifications
Ready to Begin?
Healing begins with one step. If you’re ready to feel more whole, supported, and empowered, we’d be honored to walk with you.
