About Dr. Musser

Research consistently shows the patient-therapist relationship as the most important factor in promoting positive treatment outcomes. My primary focus is providing individuals an empathic, understanding, nonjudgmental and encouraging relationship. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of witnessing this environment be an integral aspect of healing and subsequent life enrichment.

Dr. Peter Musser is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Columbia, Maryland. He provides general psychotherapy services to individuals and couples and has specialties in the areas of addiction and trauma treatment. In addition to addiction and trauma treatment, Dr. Musser treats depression/mood disorders, anxiety disorders, relationship difficulties, self-esteem issues and stage-of-life issues. In family and couples treatment, Dr. Musser works with chronic conflict, intimate partner emotional and physical abuse, infidelity and the effects of addiction on the couple or family.

Dr. Musser received his Master of Arts Degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. He completed his clinical internship at the Perry Point Veterans Administration Hospital where he received focused training in trauma and addictions intervention. Dr. Musser is licensed in the state of Maryland. Please see attached Curriculum Vitae for a more extensive description of training and clinical experiences.

Clinically, Dr. Musser has found his calling working with adults to overcome addictive disorders. He headed the Department of Psychological Services at the internationally renowned Ashley Addiction Treatment Center (Formerly Father Martins Ashley) in Havre de Grace, MD. While at Ashley Addiction Treatment, Dr. Musser developed and implemented clinical protocols to address psychological issues co-occurring with addictions (e.g., depression, anxiety, and trauma related disorders). He has a keen interest in working with “dually diagnosed” individuals. These are individuals who have an addictive disorder and simultaneously have another mental health disorder. Further, he has delivered presentations on the topics of addictions and dual diagnosis throughout the United States and has taught workshops to psychologists and mental health professionals on the most effective clinical interventions to utilize with clients challenged with substance use disorders, dual diagnosis and trauma related disorders. Dr. Musser is published in peer reviewed scientific journals related to trauma and addictions.

Dr. Musser grew up in a medical family and appreciates the importance of collaboration with other medical professionals to holistically address clients’ presenting issues most effectively. While working directly with the medical director at Ashley Addiction Treatment and maintaining several close and collaborative relationships with psychiatrists in the Baltimore-DC area, Dr. Musser encourages the use of medications, when appropriate, to aide in symptom relief. This is often necessary to “Open the door for the benefits of psychotherapy.”

"My perspective on psychotherapy is that there is symptom relief and there is recovery and emotional enrichment. Getting relief from emotional pain in whatever form it takes (addictions, anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, stress related illness and chronic pain) is the first priority, but the kind of work I do goes beyond that. Because one can have symptom relief and not be well. My goal is for my patients to have an increased sense of hopefulness and vitality. I want them to flourish in their lives."