Therapists in Washington, DC

I work with individuals and families providing supportive psychotherapy to address life transitions, anxiety, depression, loss and parenting challenges. In addition, I also provide individual and group supervision for therapists and psychologists. After working at Johns Hopkins Child and Adolescent Clinic and then at Children's National Medical Center in Outpatient Psychiatry, I have been working in private practice for over fifteen years.

Welcome— I’m so glad you’re here. I’m Terah Ryan, a licensed Social Worker and therapist in the District of Columbia. It’s my commitment to create a safe place for you to explore your thoughts, emotions, patterns, and relationships to create a more meaningful self. I work with adults of all ages experiencing concerns such as chronic illness, grief, loss, relationship or family issues, anxiety, and troublesome or stressful life transitions. My clients find me to be supportive, collaborative, and direct. I also have substantial experience working with healthcare professionals and supporting caregivers of loved ones.

The MECCA Group is comprised of a clinically and culturally diverse team of professionals who provide comprehensive services for children, adolescents, young adults, and their support systems in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. Our dedicated team of therapeutic professionals consists of psychologists, social workers, counselors, behavior analysts, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, vocational specialists, and special educators. All professional team members have extensive knowledge and experience in providing evidence-based practices as well comprehensive holistic care to help all clients reach their highest potential and to Live Fully.

I help adults navigate the challenging experience of coping with grief following a loss. I also help clients with anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and family-of-origin issues. I specialize in treating complicated grief, traumatic bereavement, and grief stemming from attachment trauma, relationship loss, and family estrangement. Loss is often a highly distressing experience and there is not a duration of time that grieving should take; however, some mourners feel stuck in their grief or desire support. My aim is not to help you extinguish or "cure" grief, but to help you find ways to integrate it into your life narrative.

I help people who feel anxious, depressed or overwhelmed feel better about their current circumstances. Whether you are dealing with a stressful job, major life transitions or loneliness, I believe we can work together to address the situation. I also specialize in coaching and therapy for therapists and other health care providers. My hope is that I can help you develop the skills necessary to cope with your particular situation and improve your mood. If you feel like this describes you, please contact me.

The key to successful therapy is a relationship with a caring, nonjudgmental therapist there to respond sensitively and patiently to whatever comes up. In my work, I offer that to my clients, as we collaborate in developing an understanding of your emotional states and how they drive your thoughts and actions. We’ll learn together what you need to strengthen and grow. My work with children and adolescents informs my understanding of development over the life span, and how those relationships and experiences that shape us are alive in the present moment.

Typically individuals come to psychotherapy for relief of emotional and psychological pain, which may take the form of depression, anxiety, self-defeating behavior, and/or unfulfilled relationships or goals, to name a few. Many can identify some past trauma, or perhaps some mistreatment that seems somehow connected. For others the reasons are more elusive, like a general feeling of unhappiness, perhaps with oneself or with others.I strive to help you verbalize your thoughts and feelings about what happens between us in our emerging relationship as a way of understanding your relationships in general.

Are your fears so intense that they are preventing you from living the quality of life that you want? Are the compulsions so strong that you feel you need to do certain physical and/or mental compulsions to feel better for the moment, only to have the fear come back just as intense? Do you have intrusive thoughts that are so disturbing that you are afraid to tell anyone for fear they won't understand? I am here to provide a safe and non-judgmental space for you to share your personal journeys.

My practice focuses on adolescents and adults of all ages. I conceptualize issues from a cognitive-behavioral approach, meaning that I will explore together with you the thoughts and feelings related to your behavior patterns and examine the impact of any biological, psychological, and social factors. We will work together to make manageable changes so that you can feel better and move forward to reach your goals. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to problems, and a reduction in anxiety and stress. For more details check out my website at reignitepsych.com.

If you are feeling stuck but want to move forward in life, in emotional pain or discomfort, I am happy to speak with you about individual psychotherapy, couple/marriage or family counseling. I work with adults of all ages and backgrounds on problems in their relationships, in their workplace, in their family life, and at times of difficult life transitions. I offer a safe environment to talk comfortably and work collaboratively to improve a client’s well-being. I specialize in helping lawyers and medical professionals under stress. And having had a past involvement in politics, I enjoy working with elected/government officials.

Patients with a history of trauma, addiction, or Attachment Issues will find comfort, guidance, education and even community in this practice through individual and/or group therapy as well as award-winning psychoeducation.

Our life journey is challenging with unanticipated twists, turns, bumps and detours. How we choose to navigate these challenges will profoundly impact our ability to live a healthier, happier, and emotionally stable life.

Everyone deserves to live a life filled with happiness, health, and love. Whether you are within recovery, active addiction, experiencing relationship concerns, or looking for additional support with life stressors, I practice in the belief that every individual maintains unique strengths and positive qualities that assist in any stage of healing. Throughout the therapeutic process, I strive to empower individuals to identify and build on these strengths in order to reach their desired goals.

I work with individuals who feel their lives are hindered by unwanted or distressing feelings, or self-defeating patterns of behavior, and who experience depression, anxiety, anger, low self esteem, compulsive or impulsive behaviors, or relationship difficulties. By establishing more effective coping skills and responses, positive changes can develop and lead to a greater sense of fulfillment. I approach each individual treatment collaboratively, exploring the foundation of the problem, identifying problematic patterns, and then developing treatment goals tailored to the unique needs of each individual client.