Therapists in Washington, DC

At DBT Maryland, we believe that in order to grow and make changes in their lives, people need validation, support and practical skills. We strive to provide empathic, accepting and productive therapeutic relationships so you can feel safe while moving toward your goals. Each person's situation is unique and our therapy approach will be designed to meet your individual needs. Many of our clients suffer from problems of emotional dysregulation (borderline personality, PTSD, depression, anxiety & bipolar) most effectively addressed by a comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program.

I have an extensive and unique clinical experience with more than 15 years in inpatient and outpatients settings. I have helped many individuals with assorted emotional problems, including PTSD, mood and adjustment disorders, grief, anger, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder. I also serve as a mental health consultant for childhood and early childhood programs in Fairfax where I provide play therapy for young children with emotional and behavioral problems and parents' consultations.

What would it feel like to have someone help you navigate life’s challenges? Using an integrative approach, I work collaboratively with clients to better understand feelings of anxiety, sadness, frustration, and how to manage them. We discuss what you wish to get out of therapy and, using techniques from evidence-based approaches, work towards making sure you get the most out of our time together. My training includes Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Relational-Cultural Therapy.

Results-oriented, compassionate and "Relentless work ethic" are words patients have described me. I take a "whatever it takes empathic attitude" serving patients suffering from depression, psychosis, eating disorders, substance abuse disorders, and family dysfunction. I spent my most of my career practicing in DC's Ward 7 and Ward 8 servicing DC's most vulnerable lower income populations. I have experience with The Department of Behavior Health as a crisis supervisor, ACT clinical supervisor and a Child/Adult psychotherapist.

People seek psychotherapy feeling unhappy or helpless to bring about change in their life or fulfill their dreams. Patients are overcome with symptoms of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse or other problems, which in reality are unconscious defenses, blocking repressed feelings about something that went wrong, often in childhood, which is not yet resolved. These defenses once were adaptive, by protecting and helping them survive, but are no longer effective. I help people work through their underlying grief and face their feelings (sadness, anger, disappointment, yearning, powerlessness) surrounding trauma or loss, enabling them to engage in more free, authentic, satisfying lives.

Why do we cling to dysfunctional relationship patterns or engage in self-defeating behaviors, perpetuating these ways of living despite the suffering involved? The work we do addresses these concerns in the lives of adults, adolescents, and children.

Thanks for choosing this courageous step in your journey toward improvement. Life can be challenging and it might take some time to overcome obstacles in our way. I believe that everyone has a potential to learn, grow, improve, and heal no matter what circumstances one is facing. We are resilient beings so let's uncover what has been sitting dormant.

Life is like your favorite card game. Sometimes you are dealt a good hand, and sometimes you are dealt a bad hand. How you play that hand determines the outcome. If life has gotten difficult for you and you need help sorting through and coping with the challenges that you have been facing, please contact me. Together, we can explore and identify the issues that have led to your depression, anxiety, stress, feelings of hopelessness, trauma, relationship challenges, post-traumatic stress, grief, loss, life transitions, and any other obstacles you face.

As a psychiatrist and therapist, I offer both medication management and psychotherapy, fitting best mental health needs. I work with adolescents, adults and couples. I can help with the effects of traumatic experiences, with troubles of everyday living, interpersonal difficulties, sexuality, or infertility/adoption issues. I can help if you struggle with anxiety, depression, grief or with not reaching your goals. I assist couples in resolving painful, conflicted relationship issues. I also provide long-term therapy for self-exploration, and for changing complex personality patterns that make everyday life difficult.

*Now Accepting Tele-therapy Clients* Do you find yourself feeling sad, anxious, unhappy with life circumstances? Are you having relationship difficulties, feel stress from work, or have a child experiencing difficulties? I offer comprehensive assistance to change and work through many of life's challenges. If you find yourself suffering from any of these situations, or if you do not feel quite like yourself, let us help you begin on the road to improvement by addressing patient concerns, including but not limited to the following:

Beginning therapy can be a difficult step. But if you find yourself stuck, repeating the same ineffective, undermining coping mechanisms and unable to manage your emotions, then it might be time to start working together to help you identify more effective and constructive approaches to achieve your goals.

CONGRATULATIONS! You have taken the first step in taking the journey toward self-discovery. At some point, most people need assistance in their lives to deal with unresolved issues, to process feelings, or to make changes in their lives that stifle their personal growth and limit their potential growth. It is during these stressful times, a supportive therapist working in a safe, honest, and open environment would help you to address unresolved issues, to process feelings and to work on maximizing your potential in all aspects of your life.

I work closely and collaboratively with you to explore emotions, process difficult experiences, identify feelings, and develop the skills you need to make effective changes. We will work together to establish the best course of treatment to meet your goals and needs. I help clients identify their problematic thinking patterns, develop coping mechanisms, and understand how past experiences affect their current functioning. I value the transformative nature of a strong therapeutic relationship. I have paired my passion for helping others and experience with multicultural and diverse populations into my counseling approach.

I tailor my services to each client and their unique needs, always from the humanistic approach. That means that I see my clients first and foremost as human beings, having what we would consider a human experience. Clients experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship issues, job issues, or really any other type of discomfort will benefit from my integration of mindfulness and meditative practices into their treatment, alongside the use of building the psychological tools that empower them to create measurable changes to their circumstances.

Having been a clinical psychotherapist in DC for over thirty years, I am adept at helping adults with practical solutions to current troubling situations. With a nod to exploring your past life experiences and history, we together can identify patterns which are leading you to make personal and professional choices which may not be serving your best interests. I assist people with improving their personal and professional relationships, while managing a wide range of emotions in a relaxed and collaborative environment.

Please find more info at my website: noblepractice.com. I have unique experience working with people who struggle with complex medical concerns, chronic pain, and postpartum depression. About half of my clients fall into this category and the other half are struggling with anxiety, depression, or just feeling stuck in life.

When we are struggling with our mental health, the question often asked is “What’s wrong with you?” instead of “What happened to you?” Sadly, many people who have reached out for help have found themselves shamed, invalidated, and in worse shape than they were before. My goal is to provide an affirming and safe therapeutic environment for all identities, and I welcome individuals who are trying therapy for the first time, as well as those who have had previous experiences. I regularly work with clients who are experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and life transitions.

Sometimes the world can feel impossibly heavy, and it is exhausting to cope with underlying challenges like chronic stressors, depression, anxiety, or trauma. Having a space to fully vent your worries and frustrations without fear or guilt is so important for mental health, but often so difficult to find. I approach my clients with warmth and without judgment. I work to cultivate a collaborative connection with clients, while empowering them to make sustainable, long-term changes, beyond our time together.

I am an affirming, trauma-trained therapist who believes in the strength of a collaborative, compassionate, and spiritually grounded healing relationship. As a result of our co-created safe space and relationship, you will experience increased resiliency, positive self-identification, emotional balance, self-compassion, and enhanced spiritual connection with your inner self-energy.