Chronic Illness Therapists in Washington, DC

Are you seeking a space to be seen and heard? Are there parts of you that are feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed? Are the big emotions feeling particularly heavy? Your story is important and is what makes you uniquely you. I believe that we are shaped by our past experiences, relationships, and environments. Our stories rarely unfold in the way we expect. Oftentimes, to move forward we need to heal from things in our past. Together in therapy, we will explore all parts of your story – from the chapters already concluded to those not yet written.

I specialize in working with clients experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and self-worth, trauma, and family of origin concerns. Often clients are discovering that their ways of coping with their emotions, their past experiences, and their relationships are no longer effective or healthy. Therapy is an opportunity to recognize and untangle patterns in order to have healthier coping strategies and a healthier relationship with yourself.

Years of experience often matter when people are anxious or otherwise distraught. For 25 years, I have specialized in the cognitive-behavioral (CBT) treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as well as a range of anxiety and depressive disorders in late adolescents and adults. These disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, and Illness Anxiety Disorder as well as persistent depression. I frequently work with relationship challenges, stressful life circumstances, and a broad range of outpatient mental health issues. I see clients in DC, MD, VA and nationally in all participating PsyPact states.

When feelings overwhelm us, it's hard to think through problems alone. My focus is on the struggles that we all experience at some point in our lives: loneliness, lack of self esteem or meaning, separation and loss. Change is a process that takes time, but you will rediscover a sense of confidence and purpose. One of my greatest joys is to see a client move from a place of unhappiness to having a sense of well-being. With over twenty years of practice, I believe I can offer you a creative and eclectic approach to working with your problems.

As a professional mental health counselor, Jennifer aims to support and facilitate growth and resiliency as well as assist in processing, managing, and improving healing strategies for her clients. Clients will work collaboratively to improve current concerns in a compassionate and confidential environment. Jennifer’s professional counseling experience reflects inclusive work with the diverse population of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. Her clinical experience involves individual, family, couples, and group therapy.

12/21/2023- Yes, we are currently accepting new clients. Welcome to A Fresh Start Therapy. FYI: This time of year is difficult for many as we get less sunlight and our days are shorter. Both Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Major Depressive Disorder flare up in the Fall. Consider making a small change in your environment like adding art to your sleeping area or tossing a piece of furniture or decor that no longer fits who you are. Making subtle updates to your home or work space can improve your mood a bit. Give it a try!

Welcome to my practice!. What ever your needs, I approach our work with zest and empathy which comes from broad experience working in psychiatric and health settings. Whether with problems of elderly, families,couples or people facing job loss, academic problems, illness, bereavement, trauma or the loneliness of anxiety and depression, psychotherapy can bring relief and find inner strengths and possibilities. I focus especially on communication skills, and deprograming early dysfunctional messages which interfere with forming relationships in all aspects of life. Together we will meet your immediate needs and begin a longer journey towards fulfilling your deepest aspirations.

Making the decision to embark on a therapeutic journey takes courage and vulnerability. Congratulations on taking this step towards improving your personal wellness. Productive therapy starts by creating a safe space and working on building a relationship that fosters trust. We will discuss your current reasons for engaging in therapy, explore parts of your history that may inform our work together, and develop a tailored plan to support symptom relief and address the root causes to optimize your healing and growth.

I work with young professionals to help them through difficult times, such as transitioning to a new place, new job, or new relationships. I assist my clients understand their emotions and thoughts and work to bring deeper understanding of their sense of self. By utilizing mindfulness interventions, along with cognitive behavioral therapy, I help my clients develop coping skills, boundaries, and techniques to help them feel grounded in the present time and reduce anxiety and negative thoughts.

Ideal clients are those who are looking for help and feel ready to challenge themselves and are ready for change. Issues of happiness, fulfullment, identity development, sexual orientation, gender, addiction, anxiety, depression and psychosis are some of the typical things clients bring into treatment.

I believe in the infinite potential within each individual. My approach is grounded in humanism, evidenced based interventions, and the wholistic wellness model.. As a therapist I consider physical, environmental, social, and spiritual factors in addition to emotional and mental issues contributing to presenting concerns.

I have been a licensed professional counselor since 2001. I offer individual, couples and family therapy. I focus on family and life challenges pertaining to marriage, partners, family cut offs and estrangements, friends, and parenting using Bowen Family Systems Theory. I work online with individuals, couples, parents, and families from all walks of life with a wide array of family and marital challenges, emotional and relationship concerns.

I have been working with various forms of trauma throughout my career. Whether it is a single-incident trauma, long term difficulties with relationships, abuse, or attachment trauma, processing your own medical illness or the death of a loved one, or navigating the impact of systemic oppression—the things that have happened to you do not have to be in control of you. I help my clients find empowerment in building the future you want for yourself and finding a healthy relationship with your past. I have extensive experience working with clients healing from identity based stressors. All races, religions, sexual orientations, gender

Congratulations on taking this next step towards achieving your wellbeing goals! Life is filled with various turning points and anxiety provoking situations, especially during a global pandemic and televised racial inequality. Are you tired of living the day to day grind without much motivation? Do you feel stressed or overwhelmed from all the pressure to perform from family, friends, your child, partner, society, and/or work? Perhaps you’re feeling stuck, need advice about a problem, or a motivational push to reconnect with your whole self, and finally accomplish that goal you have been holding off?

Choosing the right therapist is critical to achieving real results. I strive to create a compassionate and safe space where you can realize your strengths and full potential. At the same time, I use an honest and direct approach to help you achieve your goals. I work with children, teens, and adults in individual therapy and also offer parent coaching. My ultimate goal is for you to leave therapy feeling empowered, confident, and armed with the tools you need to create a life you love. I feel privileged in helping my clients on their journey to creating healthier relationships with themselves and others.

One of the hardest parts of the therapeutic process is choosing the right therapist for you, and I hope to join you on your journey toward greater self-understanding, compassion, and insight. Many people come to therapy after experiencing emotional distress that has led them to feel overwhelmed and as though they have lost direction in, and control of, their life. In a safe and non-judgmental space, I work collaboratively with my clients to explore ways in which they can effectively regain a sense of empowerment, meaning, and control in their lives.

Essential to my work is a belief that therapy is a sacred and intimate journey that you, as the client, invite me to walk alongside you. I am here to help you do the following: connect with your inner knowing and wisdom; enhance consciousness about the many layered factors contributing to who you are and the unique challenges you face; clarify your core values and life goals; & realize momentum forward on the path you choose.

I adamantly believe that my job as a therapist isn’t to “fix” people, or to give advice, or to tell you what to do. My job is to help you untangle, and then, put the pieces together - to meet you exactly where you are while gently encouraging your growth - and to help you unlock your own wisdom and strength. I like to describe my process as having “one foot in and one foot out.” I have “one foot in” in the sense that I am right there with you, present with your emotions, seeking to deeply understand your experiences, while also keeping “one foot out” so that I’m able to offer new perspectives and help you through your struggles.

The problems that bring us to therapy often start as solutions to life's problems, our best efforts to get by in a difficult world. When these solutions stop working, and when depression and anxiety break through despite our best efforts to cope, it is wise to seek help. You are giving yourself a gift in doing so.