Transforming Lives One at a Time
Meet Our Staff!
Kristen Brooks is the founder and lead clinician of Building Beyond Therapy Inc. With almost a decade of experience as a social worker, Kristen has provided social work services in many capacities, including child welfare, inpatient psychiatric services and schools. Kristen received her MSW from the University of Maryland Baltimore and is clinically licensed in Maryland, Washington, D.C and North Carolina.
While Kristen has provided therapeutic services for many years to individuals and families, her true passion lies in helping young women and mothers realize their true importance and potential. Kristen holds a Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International (PSI) and has completed specialized trainings in Postpartum Mood Disorders with an emphasis on trauma and pregnancy and infant loss. She has also completed training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.
Kristen is a Board Certified Supervisor with the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland, is a member of Postpartum Support International and the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color. Kristen currently resides in Prince George's County with her husband and children.
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Kristen is in network with Carefirst/BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna/Evernorth, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Maryland Medicaid.
Jasmine Lang is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been providing clinical social work services to adolescents and adults since 2017. She received her MSW from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and her undergraduate degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University.
Jasmine’s philosophy for therapy is very practical and grounded in a collaborative, strengths-based approach. She has practiced in a variety of settings and utilizes cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, and faith-based practices to support clients in their journeys of healing and wellness.
Personally, Jasmine understands that trusting a stranger with your private life is not easy and it is a responsibility that she does not take lightly. She feels very blessed to work as a therapist and aims to foster a safe and supportive space where healing and growth can take place.
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Jasmine currently resides in Southern Maryland with her family. She’s a bit of a bookworm who also enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones.
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Jasmine is in network with Carefirst/BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna/Evernorth, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare and is licensed in Maryland and DC.
Brittany Simms is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Walden University. Her experience ranges from anxiety, depression, perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety, trauma-related diagnoses, relationship challenges and other life experiences. She is on track to become certified in perinatal mental health, in the meantime, she will continue to engage in perinatal workshops and specialized trainings. Brittany’s personal philosophy is to create and engage in a safe and healing place to address life's difficulties. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in a wide range of ages.
Brittany incorporates a multi-modal therapeutic approach of person-centered and humanistic, focusing on aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, strengths-based and solution-focused methods to help each individual walk away with tools and resources from the supportive and understanding environment she creates. Witnessing the growth and resilience of those serves is what motivates her to remain in the field.
To practice her own self-care, Brittany enjoys spending time with her family and dog, traveling, exercising and practicing yoga.
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Brittany is in network with Carefirst/BlueCross BlueShield & Cigna/Evernorth and is licensed in MD & DC. Brittany is under the supervision of Kristen Brooks and Lola Knight, LCPC.
Traequanda Brock is a Licensed Master Social Worker who has worked in the social work arena with children and adults throughout the lifespan since 2011. She received her MSW from Howard University and her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University at Albany. Traequanda is licensed in Maryland, District of Columbia, and New Jersey.
Traequanda is passionate about the perinatal population and enjoys educating and empowering the perinatal population to be advocates of their own health and life. Traequanda is trained in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and is also a birth and postpartum doula.
Traequanda believes in getting to the root cause and uses a multi-model therapeutic approach of cognitive behavioral therapy, strengths-based, attachment, and psychodynamic. Traequanda aims to create a comfortable environment for clients, where they can seek solace to gather tools to address their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs in order to heal.
Traequanda currently resides in Washington, DC where she enjoys adventurous activities, learning new things, and traveling the world.
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Traequanda is in network with Carefirst/BCBS and Cigna/Evernorth and is licensed in MD & DC. Traequanda is under the supervision of Kristen Brooks.
Kiarra Bragg is a Licensed Master Social Worker licensed in Maryland. She attended the University of Maryland, College Park and earned her bachelor’s in Family Science. She later attended Walden University and graduated with honors with a Masters in Social Work.
Kiarra’ has accumulated a wealth of knowledge over the years through school, networking, volunteering, and interning. As a volunteer with The Arc of Prince George’s County, she has helped many families navigate through their personal life journey in caring for children with developmental disabilities such as Autism, ADHD, and more. She has also volunteered at an overnight camp with children who are visually impaired and shared that her experience was “life changing seeing through the world through the eyes of those who are not able too”.
Kiarra has also worked with those who battle with mental health disorders. Ranging from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, trauma-related disorders, depression, perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. She prides herself in understanding that each of us experience life in different ways and therefore she provides each person with a unique sound mind therapeutic experience.
Kiarra’s ultimate goal as a therapist is to provide her clients with a safe space and a soft place to land. Her life goal is to support mothers battling the challenges of motherhood and are in need of a village. In a world of such uncertainty, she values ensuring that each client’s voice is heard, their feelings are validated, and they have a sound mind. Kiarra has completed specialized training through Postpartum International on Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
She currently resides in Prince George’s County, with her husband and children. She enjoys old school music, singing, dancing, cooking, writing poetry, a good book, and self-care days.
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Kiarra is in network with Carefirst/BCBS and Cigna/Evernorth and is licensed in Maryland. Kiarra is under the supervision of Kristen Brooks.
Kariatu Jalloh is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor with an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a B.S. in Multimedia Journalism, both from North Carolina A&T State University. Born and raised in Prince George's County, MD, by way of Sierra Leone, Kariatu’s cultural background influences her compassionate approach to therapy. In 2018, she founded The Koze Korner, a brand dedicated to merging media and mental health. Kariatu utilizes a variety of platforms, including traditional talk therapy, podcasting, group therapy, events, panel discussions, and news appearances, to help individuals navigate mental health and emotional well-being.
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Kariatu specializes in relationships of all types—whether with self, friends, family, or significant others—while utilizing a multidimensional therapeutic approach. Kariatu’s techniques include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), humanistic/person-centered therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), all tailored to the unique needs of her clients. Passionate about community transformation, Kariatu’s work is rooted in creating vibrant and accessible spaces for emotional growth and healing.