About Us
The Skill Tree is a dedicated learning hub for neurodivergent, autistic, and non-neurotypical individuals, offering a range of social and practical skill-building opportunities. Our goal is to empower individuals to thrive and succeed in a world that often isn’t designed with their unique needs in mind. Through tailored programs, we help participants develop the tools they need to navigate life confidently and on their own terms.
Our Story
Steve grew up in a family that was active in the foster care program and has an adopted sister that has many special needs. He went on to develop a career in mental and behavioral health, specializing in the care of child and adolescent patients with disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, OCD, and many others. He is also the parent of a young adult son with ASD and other mental health issues. From the very beginning Steve has witnessed the struggles all parents face when navigating this world with a child that has a different way of doing things. It became extremely clear to him that the lack of services, and programs makes helping these individuals a very daunting task.
Tasha has worked in the emergency medical field for thirty years as an EMT and currently works at Johns Hopkins Lifeline as a Critical Care Transport Coordinator. She has witnessed first hand the breakdown of the mental health system and the effects it has on patients and families. Having ADHD herself, she understands that learning new skills and processing information can be quite challenging. When her and Steve got married, and his son became more prevalent in her life, she too felt the strain of the lack of services to help him better navigate this ever-changing world.
Together, Steve and Tasha decided to put together a program that will benefit the neurodivergent population by providing support, education, instruction, and most important a kind and welcoming atmosphere. While there is a “professional” list of services and actions that The Skill Tree provides, there are other things that can be found here as well. An open community, where questions should be asked, and someone will be there to help find answers. The lease may have just Steve and Tasha’s name on it, but real business is the community that will be built here.
Meet The Team
About Tasha.
Growing up Tasha always felt she had a different way of learning. Early in life, she was diagnosed with ADHD and, throughout her life, this diagnosis has been both a blessing and a curse. While it sometimes allows her an almost extra dimension to life, it also makes learning new skills and processing information harder.
Tasha has spent the last 30 years working in the Emergency Medical Services. She has experience with private and 911 services and has been a certified EMT for 30 years. Currently, she works for The Johns Hopkins Hospital as a Critical Care Transport Coordinator. In her spare time, she is passionate about her love of animals and is the proud mom of many pets.
Together Tasha and Steve are the proud parents of his children Sam and Kai, and her children Taylor and Craig. They live in Hampstead, Maryland with their 4 English Bulldogs, 4 cats, 4 quail, 2 rats, ferret, gecko, ball python, and sulcata tortoise. They are passionate about helping the neurodivergent community and spreading awareness of the ongoing needs in the mental health community.
About Steve.
Steve began working for Cedar Ridge in 2011 and works with many different populations, but specializes in work with children, adolescents, and families.
Steve completed his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Towson State University in 1998. He spent 5 years working for the Kennedy Krieger Institute, including the Neuro-Behavioral Unit and the Kennedy Krieger Middle School as a Behavior Intervention Specialist. Steve left Kennedy Krieger to attend Argosy University where he received his Master’s Degree in 2006 and his Doctorate in 2009.
Steve became a licensed psychologist in 2010. Steve had training experiences at the Roxbury Institute, the Kennedy Krieger Child and Family Therapy Clinic, the Kennedy Krieger Neuro-Behavioral Unit Outpatient, and the Kennedy Krieger Pediatric Developmental Disorders (PDD) Clinic. Steve worked for the Developmental Disabilities Administration on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for two years providing therapy and training to a wide milieu of individuals. Steve then worked as the Chief Psychologist at the Potomac Center, a DDA facility in Western Maryland. For the past 13 years, Steve has worked full time at Cedar Ridge Counseling
Steve has experience working with clients with Behavior Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, School Phobia, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Asperger’s/Autism, and a host of Family Issues. Steve usually works to be solution focused and works with the family to provide the best individualized mode of therapy. Although Steve has been trained in providing multiple theories of counseling, he tends to use Cognitive, Behavioral, and (Family) Systems therapy.
About Forza.
Forza is a English Bulldog that lives every single day to the fullest! Steve and Tasha have had her since the day she was born. Early on they noticed that she was a little different than the other puppies in her litter. While she was the first to achieve all the basic milestones, she just didn’t seem to walk the right way. After many trips to veterinarians and the help of her amazing neurologist, she was diagnosed with a
congenital spinal abnormality. She is paralyzed in her rear legs, wears a diaper and can be found being pushed by her parents in her stroller wagon.
As a puppy going to many appointments and enduring countless procedures, Forza always had a bright and welcoming personality. Steve started taking Forza to work with him and many of his clients reacted positively to her presence. Steve and Tasha started
working with Forza on basic commands and teaching her how to appropriately interact with people. Forza somehow has an ability to know when a person just needs an extra amount of caring or attention.
While Forza has had to learn to do things in her own way, there isn’t anything she has not been able to accomplish. She is able to climb steps up and down, run, jump, and always gives the best hugs and kisses. Due to her special needs, she travels with her humans everywhere and is very accustomed to meeting and interacting with all kinds of people. Although, she isn’t shy about letting you know that kids are her favorite!
