
About us
Our Mission
Core Wellness was founded in 2018 with the mission of providing holistic, evidence based support, therapy and training. We are staffed by the most highly trained and professional therapists whose skills, compassion, commitment and effectiveness are readily apparent to all those who interact with them.
Our Vision
To create a community of healthy and engaged members working to enhance their lives, bonds and personal and professional satisfaction, one person at a time.
Our Values
Core Wellness strives to treat each person with compassion and respect. We believe in maintaining the highest quality professional services catered to each person’s individual needs with a focus on respect, understanding and measurable outcomes. We celebrate multicultural awareness and value each individual’s contribution to society.
We believe in giving back to the community. We donate 10% of all company revenue to support local and national causes which promote social justice, fight poverty, enhance education and lend support to those in need.
From the moment you contact us you will see how our caring and respectful staff handles your questions with sensitivity, confidentiality and professionalism.
Our team

Dr. Michael Freedman, MSW, PhD, LCSW-C
Clinical Director, Therapist, Supervisor, & Mindfulness Guru
Masters in Social Work
Masters in Education
Licensure: LCSW-C, supervisor, addiction counselor
Specialty Training: mindfulness, addictions, domestic abuse
Experience: 36 years of clinical and school based counseling
Joined: 2018 (founder)
Dr. Freedman has presented at state, national, and international conferences on a variety of mental health issues. He is certified as a Clinical Supervisor by the Board of Social Work Examiners. He is a Field Instructor for University of Maryland Baltimore and Morgan State University, and was a Teaching Assistant at University of Maryland School of Social Work. He has been consulting with families for many years and ran a MASK group for parents, with acting out teens, in Baltimore. Dr. Freedman has worked with Project Shofar (Project CHANA) and served as the clinical director of the Shield of David Recovery Center.
Dr. Freedman is the founder and clinical director of Recovery Counseling Center, LLC since 2010. His mission is to provide evidence-based professional counseling services to clients in need based on offering effective up-to-date interventions, a convenient location, flexible hours, multicultural sensitivity and by accepting insurance. Dr. Freedman and his wife, Dr. Janice Freedman, a dentist, are Baltimore natives, who are passionate about family, wellbeing and community activism.
Dr. Freedman and his associates look forward to speaking with you about working together.

Dr. Joseph Tropper, PsyD, MS, LCPC, NCC
Director of Operations, Clinical Therapist, & Creative Advocate
Licensure: LCPC, Certified EMDR Therapist, Certified Hypnotherapist, Life Coach
Specialty Training: Trauma, EFT Externship, EMDR
Experience: 16 years of mental health coaching, counseling and administration
Joined: 2018

Elizabeth Faas Hughes
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
CRNP, PMH-BC, RN, BFA
Bachelors of Science Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Specialty Training: Trauma, anxiety, ADHD and mood disorders.
Experience: 15 years of nursing and mental health care, telehealth training and expertise.
Joined: 2021

Connie Meyerowitz, MSW, LCSW-C
Clinical Therapist & Inspiring Listener
Bachelors in Liberal Arts
Licensure: LCSW-C
Specialty Training: Chemical Dependence
Experience: 5 years of mental health counseling, case management
Joined: 2018

Ina Schwob, MSW, LCSW-C
Clinical Therapist
Education:
Bachelors in Human Services
Licensure: LCSW-C
Specialty Training: Certificate in Advanced Trauma Treatment Levels I and II from the Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy Training and Education
Experience: 20 years
Joined RCC: 2018

Beth (Batsheva) Hartstein, MSW, LCSW-C
Therapist & Play Therapy Specialist
Beth (Batsheva) Hartstein, MSW, LCSW-C, is a licensed clinical social worker and Certified Play Therapist who graduated from University of Maryland School of Social Work where she completed her Masters degree. She is an empathic and passionate therapist, who strives to work collaboratively with her clients to craft effective and meaningful interventions for achieving success, and learn essential tools which will serve them throughout life. Beth specializes in working with children and adolescents, and works with adults as well. She utilizes a holistic, person-centered approach, with an emphasis on expressive therapies including play therapy, sand tray, and art therapy. Play is the language of children; Beth uses it to effectively reach and facilitate the growth of the children she works with. DBT and CBT are also part of her practice, and Beth uses these modalities to help clients to overcome their challenges and achieve their goals. Beth believes that therapy should be tailor-made to fit the needs of each person, and strives to meet each client where they are so that they can gain the most from the therapeutic process. In her spare time, Beth enjoys being with her family and friends, shopping and baking delectable desserts.

Shai Meyerowitz, MSW, LMSW
Child and Adolescent Therapist
Education: Master’s in Social Work
Experience: 4 years in Mental Health and Child Therapy
Specialty: Children with ADHD, behavioral issues
Joined:2018

Dr. Sue Futeral
PhD, LCSW-C, C-EAT
Education: PhD, LCSW-C, C-EAT
Joined: 2019
Sue works for the BCPS system as a school social worker and has been serving the EAP population for over twenty years offering counseling and CISD (critical incidents stress debriefing) as well as teaching courses in Expressive Art Therapy, time management, negativity in the workplace, coping skills, ethics, and smoking cessation.
Dr. Sue, a Baltimore native, is as an Adjunct faculty for SDUIS. She is a licensed clinical social worker with 30 years experience in teaching, research and clinical practice. She earned her BA at Goucher College, and her MSW and PhD from the University of Maryland. She has a second doctorate in addictions counseling, focusing on drugs, alcohol, sex, food and gambling addictions. She holds certifications in techniques that include: hypnosis, art therapy, music therapy, and psychodrama.
In the past twenty years she has taught courses in ten colleges and universities from undergraduate introductory work to supervising graduate students in the field. She offers many workshops to professionals on topics such as Expressive Arts Therapy, Stress management, time management and communication skills.
Sue has worked in general, special and alternative education in schools through MANSEF, Maryland Association of Non-Public Special Education Facilities, Harford County, Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Her clinical work includes individual, couples and family counseling. She specializes in working with folks in their work settings who get stressed out!
Sue is married and has three adult children. Sue has one cat as well. Sue plays violin, piano, trombone, recorder, and many percussion instruments. She enjoys drawing, painting, sculpting, clay and crafts such as knitting.
Support Staff

Rachel Cohen, BA
Administrative Assistant
Education:
Pursuing a Bachelors of Nursing from Towson University
Experience: Active volunteer in Sinai Hospital Emergency Room and Rehab Center. JBZ Management LLC, Admin
Joined: 2018