Dialectical Behavior (DBT) Therapists in Washington, DC

Ready for less surviving and more flourishing? Less chaos and more ease? You feel like a hot mess, pouring so much energy into getting by. You want success at school or work, better connections with your partner, friends, and family, and a satisfying sex life. You wish you could have more fun. But past failures, disappointments, heartbreak, or regrets keep haunting you. It feels like the pandemic reinforced these mental and emotional shackles.

In each of us there is a wise and compassionate Self. It is already there, and does not have to be created or developed. Too often, however, our access to this Self is obscured by protective and sometimes conflicting thoughts and emotions. These protections were put in place for a reason, but can become outdated and even dysfunctional as we mature. In our therapy together we will uncover what is being protected, release old patterns and emotions, and create space for this wise Self to take a larger role in your life.

First and foremost, my responsibility is to create an environment where you feel welcomed, safe and supported. In our sessions, you can expect that I will spend a lot of time engaging in stimulating conversation that helps me to learn who you are, how you show up in the world, and what path(s) to take in helping you achieve your goals and desirable outcomes. As your therapist, you can expect for me to be actively present with you, while encouraging and supporting you along the journey of creating the life you desire.

Welcome! My primary goal as a therapist is to help you feel safe and comfortable exploring your concerns and challenges with me. Therapy can be both a difficult and rewarding endeavor, and I feel lucky to get to share with my clients in their fears, hopes, and joys. My hope is to help you feel comfortable and understood in delving into your own life and identifying areas where you wish for change. In my practice, I integrate elements of mindfulness, humanistic, and psychodynamic therapies to help you find new ways to relate to difficult emotions.

I genuinely enjoy being able to help individuals achieve real and observable changes in their lives. At some point in life, most of us encounter personal roadblocks that undermine growth and create stress and unhappiness. Through my work I help people facing a wide a variety of difficulties at all levels of severity to achieve more happy and fulfilling lives. While I enjoy working with all individuals, I also have specialized experience in counseling active and veteran military service members, trauma survivors, and women.

SMYAL’s mental health counseling services offer FREE therapy and provides a safe and inclusive space for you to explore your emotions and experiences. We know that finding a therapist who understands you and your community can be frustrating, expensive, and nerve-wracking. At SMYAL, we’re working to remove these barriers. Our team of therapists are well-versed in the challenges that LGBTQ+ youth face, and we are here to help you navigate those challenges with confidence and resilience. Whether you’re you’re struggling with self-acceptance, coming out, or dealing with discrimination, SMYAL is here for you!

My therapeutic approach is deeply rooted in building a genuine connection and honoring each client's individual needs and values. I believe in the power of cultivating a trusting therapeutic relationship with my clients as we embark on this journey together toward achieving their goals. Establishing a safe and secure environment is at the heart of the work, providing a solid foundation for us to navigate through challenges, uncover profound insights, and create positive change in cognitions and behaviors.

**ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS NOW VIA TELEHEALTH ONLY*** Safety and trust are key components to the working alliance between my clients and me. By creating a space of nonjudgement, compassion, empathy and unconditional positive regard, we work together to develop a safe and trusting environment to explore life's struggles and victories.

What if the things that always made you different (ie your neurodivergence, gender identity, sexual orientation) were not an indicator that you were wrong or broken? Who you are is a gift. You do not have to hide or become less of who you are. Through therapy we will uncover and use your unique strengths to move towards growth and healing.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist who sees adolescent and adult clients for individual and couples therapy. I take an integrative CBT approach utilizing empirically supported treatments and focus on mood and anxiety disorders with specific clinical and research interests in trauma, OCD, and mindfulness meditation. I specialize in treating eating disorders, body image, and self-esteem concerns. Therapy is a collaborative approach- with kindness and compassion we build trust and work together as a team to relieve symptoms and meet your goals for therapy.

As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a Doctorate in Clinical Social Work, I am passionate about actively listening to human experiences. I understand that many people deeply desire to be heard, honored, and feel connected. I emphasize the importance of honoring clients' stories. I believe everyone has a unique story that shapes their experiences and views.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist offering individual and couples psychotherapy. I have been working in the field as a clinician, teacher and researcher for 30+ years. My areas of expertise include trauma/PTSD, relationship issues, depression and anxiety. I view psychotherapy as a collaborative process and tailor my approach to meet individual needs. I strive to be active, flexible, genuine and attentive. To inform my work, I draw from cognitive-behavioral theory (skills based), attachment theory (insight based) and neuroscience research (psychoeducation re: the mind/body connection).

Are you in your twenties or thirties and feeling lost in life? While the many changes that occur during young adulthood like graduation, new jobs, and dating can be exciting, they can also feel completely overwhelming. If you're struggling with some of these changes, you may be experiencing a quarterlife crisis. You are not alone, and we are here to help! Our therapists and career coaches at the Quarterlife Center specialize in helping young adults survive their quarterlife crisis and thrive in their lives. We are culturally competent, BIPOC allies, and LGBTQIA affirmative. All are welcome. To learn more: www.quarterlifecenter.com.

Do you ever feel stuck? Misunderstood? Have moments when you feel out of control, sad or hard to breathe? I am a Clinical Social Worker licensed in Maryland and Washington, D.C., specializing in anxiety, depression, life transitions, career fatigue, substance use disorders, and living with chronic health conditions and life-threatening illnesses. I thoroughly believe in the power of self-care and teaching strategies to manage life stressors and the impact on clients’ well-being and relationships.

Beyond fear, there is freedom from your eating disorder. Living with an eating disorder is a burden you no longer need to carry on your own. Together, we can work to find freedom from the grasp of the eating disorder, to find joy out of moments around food and relationships, to gain body neutrality. Let’s take the first step to reintroducing yourself, to YOU again. I operate from a Health at Every Size and Anti-Diet approach and treat all eating disorders or disordered eating along with body image and self-esteem issues.

My therapeutic style is warm, authentic, and interactive. I create a comfortable and non-judgmental working environment for my clients, using empathy, honesty, and a sense of humor. I approach each individual treatment collaboratively - establishing treatment goals that are tailored specifically to the individual client's needs. My clients gain understanding and insight that help alleviate symptoms and create positive life changes. Because the way we think affects the way we feel, I help my clients learn how to identify and challenge negative thinking. These practical skills enable them to maintain the level of progress they make during therapy.

You'll candidly process your experiences, identify triggers and learn more adaptive, relational, strength-based, cognitive, behavioral and emotional strategies to alleviate, eliminate, manage or build resilience and improve functioning. I am attuned to the ways in which history, injustice other structures affect the mental health. Individuals living with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, ADHD, substance use work with me to explore, identify and implement strategies to manage their symptoms. I embrace LGBTQ+, AAPI and BIPOC identities and address the impact of homophobia, racism, sexism, transphobia, patriarchy & more.

Life can be overwhelming and you are not alone in your struggles. Though reaching out for help can feel scary, making this choice is often transformative. You deserve support and to have hope in your life. Therapy with me is a process where this happens and I find it an honor to walk beside and gently guide you through whatever you may be experiencing. I believe in basing our therapeutic relationship on acceptance, genuineness, and empathy. I work with all types of people--children, adolescents, and adults--who are struggling with the external, internal, or both in a non-judgmental, strengths-based, trauma-informed manner.

I have been working in the mental health field for over fifteen years with a variety of clients including children and adolescents, families, and adults. I enjoy utilizing an eclectic approach to treatment, recognizing the uniqueness that each individual brings to treatment. I specialize in the treatment of exposure to trauma, providing treatment to survivors of sexual violence, childhood abuse, domestic violence, and military combat trauma. When addressing the needs of those who have survived trauma, I focus a great deal of attention on the neurological effects of exposure, as well as the mind and body connection.