Emotionally Focused Therapists in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC
See all therapists in Dupont Circle, WashingtonNot accepting new clients

Ami Norman Levy
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW, LCSW-C
Verified
Verified
I work with my patients from an integrated approach, depending on the needs of the individual(s), incorporating aspects of psychodynamic therapy,
Emotionally Focused
Therapy (
EFT
), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP).
As a Licensed Clinical Social worker, I provide individual psychotherapy as well as marriage and couples counseling in a safe, compassionate and non-judgmental environment. I specialize in guiding individuals through the complexities of eating disorders as well as helping couples repair their connections and establish secure, lasting bonds with one another.
Not accepting new clients

Olesya Van Dijck
Pre-Licensed Professional, MA, ATR-P, LGPC
Verified
Verified
Helping clients access underlying emotions in their individual work and recognizing the power of connection is what drew me to specializing in
Emotionally Focused
Couples Therapy.
Trauma and attachment issues can impact our body in ways that make us feel disconnected, often stuck in cycles of distress and suffering leading to anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and addictions. As a trauma-informed therapist and life-long yogini and artist, I help my clients to explore suppressed emotions and reconnect with their authentic selves through creative and embodied practices that reach beyond words. I use an integrative holistic approach to guide and empower my clients to strengthen their mind-body connection, activate their inner resources, and overcome unhealthy patterns to create more fulfillment and joy.

Carolyn Bell
Counselor, LPC, NCC, MA, MBA
Verified
Verified
My approach to couples therapy is based on
EFT
, Imago and Gottman Method Therapy.
Are you seeking deeper attachment? I work with couples and individuals increasing your awareness in daily moments. In a trusting environment, I help clients process life-changing events including loss and grief, chronic health diagnoses, adoption, and job growth and relocation. I offer support for couples who want to strengthen their relationships and resolve issues preventing emotional and sexual intimacy. Where appropriate, I offer intensive therapy to bring clarity and begin the healing process of life experiences. I am licensed in DC and VA.

Robert G Hartford
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW, LCSW, CSW, LSCP, EFT
Verified
Verified
As 1 of 5 certified
EFT
therapists in DC - by the International Center for Excellence ICEEFT, this couples method, I practice
Emotionally Focused
Therapy, developed by Sue Johnson, a research driven model, with findings that 70-75% of couples move from distress to recovery with approximately 90% showing significant improvements.
As the only Licensed Systems-Centered Therapist in the DC area, together we will explore how to get more of what you want. In a supportive, safe environment, you'll learn methods to reduce anxiety, depression and identify patterns that likely served you at one time but are no longer effective. Initially, sessions will be focused on: Exploring the issues that are important to you - determine goals you want to achieve. We will begin to develop trust, respect, and a personal connection so that you feel safe and understood. Also specializing in marriage/couples work I am a Certified
EFT
-
Emotionally Focused
Couples Therapist.

Huma Sikandar Fatakia
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC, NCC
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I also provide
Emotionally Focused
Couples Therapy and Interracial Couples Therapy, helping couples create a stronger bond and work through communication/ trust issues, infidelity, past traumas, tough life transitions, conflicts in integrating cultural/value differences, boundaries with families and the impact of a mental health diagnosis.
We all have a unique journey in life, as individuals and as couples, and I believe that our resilience is as unique as our journey. I work with clients to help them overcome distressing cycles that make them feel stuck and empower them to find stability, create healthier relationships and live an enriched life. Together we explore underlying emotions and find new ways of coping with past traumas, difficult life transitions, loss, relational distress and other mental health issues. While EMDR, mindfulness and cultural sensitivity are at the core of my practice, I also integrate Psychodynamic and CBT interventions.

Natalie V Setliff
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, LMFT
Verified
2 Endorsed
Verified
2 Endorsed
Her therapeutic approach is integrative, with its roots in systemic family therapy, solution-focused models, motivational interviewing/mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, and
emotionally focused
therapy.
Your search for inner peace is closer to fulfillment than you may realize. You have just made the first step toward healing, by looking for information that can help you make life changes and live the life you desire. Most of us expect to have a life surrounded by loving, intimate and meaningful relationships. Sometimes our expectations do not meet the reality of our lives. I will help you uncover your true potential and lead a life that is worth celebrating. I am here to listen and work with you during your journey towards healing and living the life you want.

Freedom's Flow Pllc
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW
Verified
Verified
With relationship issues, I use
Emotionally Focused
Therapy (
EFT
).
New you, new flow! Have you been able to process how your nervous system is adjusting to life's stressors? I take an empathetic and affirming approach and I acknowledge that doing the inner work can be difficult. I'm proud of you for considering & investing in yourself. I work with clients who are BI&POC-Black Indigenous and People of Color. I enjoy empowering clients as they explore how their nervous system is responding to past and current experiences. Your relationships, career and dreams are evolving and when you win, I win!

Sonja Harrison
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW
Verified
Verified
In addition to traditional talk therapy to glean how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors inform your process, I use mind-body awareness,
emotionally focused
therapy and provide psychoeducation about the neuroscience of trauma to help you understand, identify, and achieve optimal well-being.
I believe that everyone has the capacity to accomplish their goals. My role is to help you uncover and understand the obstacles and trauma that are getting in the way of achieving what you desire, and then help you tap into your inner resources to succeed. With empathy and authenticity, I work alongside my clients to promote healing and discovery of their power to change. Whether you are experiencing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, grief and loss; problems with relationships, parenting, or self-esteem; or a general sense of disconnectedness – whatever it is – I recognize that therapy is self-work, and it's not easy.

Sage & Fifth Therapy Place PLLC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Verified
Verified
We also offer
Emotionally Focused
Couples Therapy (
EFT
), Interracial Couples Therapy, and Perinatal Therapy for Couples to help couples repair and strengthen their connection when dealing with tough life transitions, communication/ trust issues, infidelity, past trauma, postpartum issues, parenting struggles and conflicts in integrating cultural differences.
Accepting new clients in DC & MD - Our resilience is as unique as our journey, as individuals and couples. We empower our clients to break out of the distressing cycles they feel stuck in and help them overcome anxiety, depression, relationships difficulties, past trauma, life transitions, pregnancy issues & postpartum issues. We specialize in holistic psychotherapy with a focus on mindfulness, cultural sensitivity, EMDR and somatic body interventions to help clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships to live a more enriched life. We also integrate Psychodynamic and CBT interventions.

John W Cornelius
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MS, MSW, LCSW-C, LICSW
Verified
Verified
I help individuals work on life issues tied to anxiety and depression, relationship difficulties, stress symptoms tied to childhood trauma, and families struggling with behavioral challenges. I teach communication skills that help with difficult relationships. These skills include helping my clients improve their power, voice, and contact with significant others. I employ many approaches in psychotherapy, including psychodynamic, gestalt, somatic experiencing (SE), accelerated experiential dynamic (AEDP), cognitive behavioral (CBT) and
emotionally focused
couples therapy (
EFT
).
Waitlist for new clients

Stacy Notaras Murphy
Licensed Professional Counselor, MS, NCC, LPC, EMDR-C
Verified
4 Endorsed
Verified
4 Endorsed
I am a Certified Emotionally-Focused (
EFT
) therapist, a credential requiring several years of training and supervision to integrate attachment-focused repair tools into my relationship work.
Whether in person or via telehealth during the pandemic, I am passionate about helping people facing relationship struggles that manifest as anxiety, depression, and difficulty with intimacy. My experience and training (
EFT
: Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy, Imago, PACT) taught me that most emotional challenges are tied to how we function in our personal relationships. I've been told that my real strength is helping people feel safe and reflective enough to recognize, think through, and either accept or change the way they approach the relationships that matter most.
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Angela Fowler-Hurtado
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am a certified therapist and supervisor in
Emotionally Focused
Therapy (
EFT
) and use this model when working with couples and families to bring healing and connection to relationships.
As a relationally focused and trauma informed therapist, I have a passion for helping clients feel more connected, grounded and safe in their lives and relationships. Every person has the ability to move toward connection and healing, even in the face of difficult, challenging or traumatic experiences. I work with couples, individuals and families to help them reconnect with the healthiest and most grounded parts of themselves and to restore and rebuild connection and safety within themselves and with others. I use research based, experiential models to keep us focus on your goals and healing process.

Sonja Harrison
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
In addition to traditional talk therapy to glean how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors inform your process, I use mind-body awareness,
emotionally focused
therapy and provide psychoeducation about the neuroscience of trauma to help you understand, identify, and achieve optimal well-being.
I believe that everyone has the capacity to accomplish their goals. My role is to help you uncover and understand the obstacles and trauma that are getting in the way of achieving what you desire, and then help you tap into your inner resources to succeed. With empathy and authenticity, I work alongside my clients to promote healing and discovery of their power to change. Whether you are experiencing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, grief and loss; problems with relationships, parenting, or self-esteem; or a general sense of disconnectedness – whatever it is – I recognize that therapy is self-work, and it's not easy.

Sonja Harrison
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
In addition to traditional talk therapy to glean how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors inform your process, I use mind-body awareness,
emotionally focused
therapy and provide psychoeducation about the neuroscience of trauma to help you understand, identify, and achieve optimal well-being.
I believe that everyone has the capacity to accomplish their goals. My role is to help you uncover and understand the obstacles and trauma that are getting in the way of achieving what you desire, and then help you tap into your inner resources to succeed. With empathy and authenticity, I work alongside my clients to promote healing and discovery of their power to change. Whether you are experiencing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, grief and loss; problems with relationships, parenting, or self-esteem; or a general sense of disconnectedness – whatever it is – I recognize that therapy is self-work, and it's not easy.

Sonja Harrison
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
In addition to traditional talk therapy to glean how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors inform your process, I use mind-body awareness,
emotionally focused
therapy and provide psychoeducation about the neuroscience of trauma to help you understand, identify, and achieve optimal well-being.
I believe that everyone has the capacity to accomplish their goals. My role is to help you uncover and understand the obstacles and trauma that are getting in the way of achieving what you desire, and then help you tap into your inner resources to succeed. With empathy and authenticity, I work alongside my clients to promote healing and discovery of their power to change. Whether you are experiencing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, grief and loss; problems with relationships, parenting, or self-esteem; or a general sense of disconnectedness – whatever it is – I recognize that therapy is self-work, and it's not easy.

Sonja Harrison
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
In addition to traditional talk therapy to glean how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors inform your process, I use mind-body awareness,
emotionally focused
therapy and provide psychoeducation about the neuroscience of trauma to help you understand, identify, and achieve optimal well-being.
I believe that everyone has the capacity to accomplish their goals. My role is to help you uncover and understand the obstacles and trauma that are getting in the way of achieving what you desire, and then help you tap into your inner resources to succeed. With empathy and authenticity, I work alongside my clients to promote healing and discovery of their power to change. Whether you are experiencing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, grief and loss; problems with relationships, parenting, or self-esteem; or a general sense of disconnectedness – whatever it is – I recognize that therapy is self-work, and it's not easy.

Paul B. Sheesley, MA, LPC, LCPC, LCADC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, MA, LCPC, LPC, LCADC
Verified
Verified
My work with individuals, couples and families is drawn from psychodynamic,
emotionally focused
, cognitive behavioral theories using a variety of thoughtful and targeted interventions.
Therapy is not education or advice-giving. People are unique, so elements of therapy are tailored because healing is different for everybody. My treatment approach is an atmosphere were you can speak your mind safely, to someone who listens, listens intelligently, and cares is important. I believe a successful counseling experience depends on the therapists ability to understand and respect the unique concerns, background, and context of each patient. I am committed to achieving such an understanding in every counseling relationship.

Sabine Cornelius
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, PhD, LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am trained in
Emotionally Focused
Couple Therapy, Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, and somatic experiencing to help clients (re)gain emotional stability.
I believe in clients' innate ability to heal and grow, and in helping them to tap into their inner wisdom and resources. I have worked creatively, effectively and empathically with couples and individuals struggling with relationship difficulties, painful childhood and life experiences, personal and work stress, anxiety and depression, and social isolation. I have helped clients with complex needs in a variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatry, LGBT-friendly mental health services, university student counseling, and family services. I feel passionate about my work and view therapy as a collaborative, interactive process.
Waitlist for new clients

Yuko C Constas
Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy, MSMFT
Verified
Verified
Life can be challenging. Perhaps you are feeling stuck in your marital or relational issues. Maybe, you are feeling hopeless after the loss of a loved one or job. When you need help and direction most, therapy can guide you through challenges. I believe that anyone can excel with sufficient guidance and support. My areas of concentration are couples’ issues, family conflicts, life transitions, self-esteem, trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, emotional healing, spiritual issues, and more. Also, I use EMDR to help you with trauma and childhood experiences.
(571) 200-4860
Waitlist for new clients

Christine H. Wang
Psychologist, PhD
Verified
Verified
My approach is integrative, but reach out if you're curious about a certain treatment (CBT, ACT,
EFT
, mindfulness, PCIT).
I provide psychotherapy/counseling to children/teens experiencing anxiety (separation, social, excessive worry, panic, and phobias), depression and/or ADHD. In addition, I specialize in anxiety, stress & depression that is specifically tied to (1) health concerns (e.g., type 1 diabetes, picky eating/ARFID, food allergy, chronic pain, GI, sleep, etc) and/or (2) identity concerns (race/ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, religion). Lastly, I have a specialization in preschool mental health through providing Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for anxiety and temper tantrums/moodiness in young children.
See more therapy options for ,
Emotionally Focused Therapists
Who is emotionally focused therapy for?
Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is for couples who are emotionally distressed, stuck in an unsatisfying relationship pattern or feeling deeply alienated. They may even believe the relationship is beyond repair. Very often, the partners display intense anger, fear, grief, loss of trust, or a sense of betrayal in the relationship. In addition, EFT is helpful to couples and individuals who have difficulty expressing emotions and those who have trouble regulating emotions.
Why do people need emotionally focused therapy?
People need emotionally focused therapy because the need for others is built into the brain, but the pressures of daily life can erode feelings of love, and couples often do not have the skills to find their way back to the comfort of each other. Instead, they may be stuck in repetitive patterns of anger, fear, grief, loss of trust, or a sense of betrayal. Emotionally focused therapy regards such strong negative feelings as expressions of protest over the loss of connection and turns them into pathways of reconnection.
What happens in emotionally focused therapy?
Over the course of eight to 20 weekly sessions, couples de-escalate their negative emotional reactivity to one another so that they can listen to each other and be responsive to each other’s needs. Then the deep emotional and physical bond is restored, giving partners a sense of comfort and security, which they can use to solve whatever problems come their way. The therapist plays an active role, helping partners understand how anger and withdrawal are actually misguided cries for connection.
What problems does emotionally focused therapy treat?
EFT is designed to help couples stuck in dysfunctional relationship patterns regain closeness and rebuild their relationship. Typically, such couples experience considerable distress, with partners feeling alienated and distrustful of one another, not certain their relationship can survive. EFT is also helpful to individuals experiencing attachment-related fears of loss; it helps them learn to use their fears as a way of eliciting the closeness they desire.