Meet our Practitioners
Dr. Lorrie Ness
Dr. Lorrie Ness is a licensed psychologist in the state of Maryland and Virginia and she is also a member of Psypact, which allows her to provide telehealth services in more than 30 states. Before founding Ness Psychological Services, she received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee.
Prior to starting the practice, Dr. Ness worked in a variety of different settings, including residential treatment, community mental health centers, college clinics and forensic settings. One common thread that carried through all of these settings was the intense, and often unrecognized impacts of learning differences, ADHD and other neurocognitive issues on individual’s academic success, behavior and interpersonal and emotional adjustment. Recognizing the dramatic changes that could be brought about by identifying and then intervening in these issues became Dr. Ness’ driving professional passion and she created this practice to help guide individuals through this process.
Dr. Ness strives to remain connected to a wide range of academic and therapeutic services in the area so as to guide individuals to the resources they most need. She is happy to liaison with schools, health care providers and extended family members in order to help an adults, children and families enact the change they are seeking.
Areas of special interest and experience include treatment of ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety and mood disorders and educational difficulties. Dr. Ness also enjoys working with parents, providing consultation about academic issues and ADHD so that they can better understand how those conditions are affecting their children at various life stages. Parent consultations can also help provide families with strategies and appropriate interventions.
Dr. Ness provides testing for adults, as well as children ages 6+. She also provides therapy for adolescents and adults. Her treatment approach is eclectic and strengths-based, drawing from a range of techniques based in cognitive behavioral and interpersonal orientations.
Dr. Danita Wynes
Dr. Danita Wynes is a licensed psychologist in Maryland and Virginia. She received her Bachelors and Masters in psychology from San Diego State University and she earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Louisiana Tech University. Dr. Wynes assisted with youth empowerment groups in San Diego and she served as a crisis interventionist at an inpatient facility for youth in Louisiana. During her advanced practicum she worked at a private practice providing therapy and assisting with forensic assessments and at LSU’s Health Shreveport, Dept. of Neurology conducting neuropsychological assessments. She participated in various community outreach and volunteer opportunities while in graduate school and she has appeared in print for a Louisiana magazine and on the radio as a speaker on mental health matters. Dr. Wynes completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia where she conducted forensic and educational assessments and provided therapy for pre and post-adjudicated youth within the Family Court Division.
At Ness Psychological Services, she conducts comprehensive educational/neuropsychological assessments for learning differences and disorders and provides recommendations and resources for adolescents and adults in accordance with the college board, MCAT and LSAT guidelines.
Dr. Wynes also provides individual therapy and she is a member of Psypact, which allows her to provide telehealth to clients in over 30 states. She takes a Humanistic, Person-Centered, and Integrative approach to therapy. She tailors her therapy sessions based on her clients’ goals. She has experience working with clients on difficulties related to emotional and behavioral problems such as anxiety, attention, stress, and interpersonal challenges. She enjoys getting to know and working with diverse clients and helping them achieve their goals. Dr. Wynes also loves dance, laughter, travel, and culinary adventures.
Dr. Mehrit Tekeste
Dr. Mehrit Tekeste is a licensed psychologist in the state of Maryland. Dr. Tekeste received her B.A. in Psychology from American University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from George Washington University. Throughout her training, Dr. Tekeste has worked at college counseling centers, a community-based mental health clinic, and a substance use treatment facility providing culturally informed and empirically supported psychotherapy or comprehensive psychological assessment. Dr. Tekeste has experience providing short- and long-term individual counseling to culturally diverse populations presenting with a range of internalizing disorders as well as complex grief, childhood trauma, interpersonal conflicts, intergenerational racial/cultural trauma, and adjustment-related difficulties. Dr. Tekeste also has experience providing comprehensive psychoeducational assessments for individuals across the lifespan presenting with various psychosocial or academic concerns. When providing such services, Dr. Tekeste takes a collaborative and holistic approach that accounts for her client’s personal goals and preferences, developmental history, social context, and culture.
At Ness Psychological Services, Dr. Tekeste conducts comprehensive psychological assessments and provides individual therapy. Dr. Tekeste has particular interest in neurodiversity, learning differences, major life transitions, bi/multicultural identity exploration and development, trauma recovery, and holistic healing. In therapy, she utilizes an integrative approach that incorporates elements of Mindfulness-based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Family Therapy, and Multicultural Counseling. In her free time, Dr. Tekeste enjoys traveling, dancing, star gazing, and Netflix marathons.
Additional languages: Amharic