LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

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 towards 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.

I am a counselor with years of experience working with clients who have depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. I have specialized training in working with those who experience interpersonal violence and sexual assault/abuse. Furthermore, I am skilled at working with clients who are managing chronic illness, depression, anxiety, and other mood concerns.

Welcome to my practice! Seeking professional support is a courageous step. Life often poses many challenges, which can be difficult to navigate alone. Through empathic, genuine, and non-judgmental support, I help clients understand how past experiences have impacted their current lives and relationships. I work collaboratively and creatively with my clients to build their awareness and confidence to feel empowered to make changes that lead to more satisfying and fulfilling lives. My aim is to help clients reduce suffering, build insight and awareness, develop more adaptive resources, and facilitate growth and healing.

My primary focus is on helping couples and individuals with sexual issues. In working with couples, I find dissatisfaction with partnered sex is often linked to deeper relationship difficulties and the two can be intertwined. In other instances, the therapeutic focus is primarily on enhancing technique and increasing desire rather than improving the relationship. I also work individually with women to eliminate barriers to sexual wellness and increase acceptance. I enjoy working with gay , lesbian , and heterosexual clients and have respect for sexual fluidity and variance in erotic interest.

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, as well as explore parts of your history that may inform our work together. We will identify concrete treatment goals and will implement therapeutic techniques designed to support symptom relief as well as addressing the root causes of these symptoms.

Psychotherapy can help you make sense of complicated feelings, gain insight into relational patterns, and begin to move forward in areas of your life where you feel stuck. My focus is to help you untangle struggles, set meaningful goals, revise problematic narratives about yourself, and re-orient you toward your values. My integrative approach is informed by psychodynamic, feminist, multicultural, relational, and behaviorist theories. Above all, I value the therapeutic relationship and your personal growth.

Are you standing at a crossroads tempted to turn around because you're not sure how to take your next step? Do the "what if" scenarios that cycle through your mind make it difficult for you to make decisions and fall asleep at night? Do you feel stuck daydreaming of the life you want certain that it will only ever be a place you imagine? Does all of this make it hard to get out of bed some days, full of dread when you finally do, and likely to isolate from those you love?

Things seem "off." You can't put your finger on it, but stress is coming at you from all sides. Maybe your relationship isn't where you'd like it to be. Your friendships might feel one-sided. School or work isn't feeling manageable anymore. Most importantly, you're starting to ask tough questions about yourself that you can't answer, or don't want to answer. I believe that one of the most important things in life is how we balance change and acceptance. I'm here to help you along that journey.

For over 15 years, I have worked with clients who struggle with "diagnosable" eating disorders, chronic disordered eating, food and body obsession, shame and self blame, thought patterns and behaviors resulting from prior dieting and living in a thin-obsessed world. My goal for every one of my clients is peace, freedom and sanity around food, movement, and body shape; that's it. I am a Health At Every Size certified practitioner. As such, I am dedicated to an anti-diet, body liberation perspective. My approach is compassionate, relational, casual, warm, and loving.

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. You've made the courageous choice to seek professional help. I understand finding the right therapist can be tough, and this may be your first big step towards change. If you are wanting more calm and centeredness within yourself and more stability and connectedness in your relationships, we might be a good fit. I value collaboration, trust and safety above all else. I like to see us as a team where your sense of choice and voice are essential to the process. Together, we will work to forge a new path towards healing.

I am Founder and Director of the Capital Institute for Cognitive Therapy. Since 2003, the Institute has been a leading provider of research-proven treatments and compassionate care. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective for a number of problems, including: depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding, panic, phobias, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, insomnia, chronic pain, personality disorders, and relationship problems. Studies find most patients in CBT have significant reduction in symptoms and distress.

I offer psychological services for individuals and couples. I value creating a healing space for my clients, honoring their unique needs, and providing them with tools to help them cultivate skills that are transferrable outside of our sessions. I have helped clients with a range of issues including anxiety, depression, the aftermath of abuse and trauma, life transitions, and career development. My specialties include working with people struggling with emotional regulation and "negative," or "self-sabotaging" modes of thinking. I help my clients understand their emotions and to use them to navigate their relationships successfully.

My goal is to create a safe and accepting environment that allows us to better explore the issues you are facing. I believe that one of the most important elements of counseling is the therapeutic relationship. I value a trusting, open, and interactive relationship that allows us to improve insight into your struggles and issues, and develop a plan for recovery and healing.

In my therapy work, it's important that I first learn who you are, and what strengths and values you possess. We then work together to identify how patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior may be holding you back from being the best version of yourself. I use evidence-based interventions (strategies proven successful through research) within a cognitive behavioral model. My style as a therapist is warm, nonjudgmental, and active. Whether you are hoping to improve your mood, develop more meaningful relationships, or learn skills to manage emotions, I'm here to support you through the ups and downs.

Eating disorders are like chasing a rabbit down a hole in pursuit of something you lost. One day, you realize what you lost was yourself. Food, exercise, & body image are treacherous to navigate in a society that overvalues appearance and that values some body types over others. It can be especially challenging if you identify as autistic, an ADHDer, a highly sensitive person, and/or a human who wrestles with gender dysphoria. 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.

In my practice I am guided by the belief that change is possible and that every person has the capacity for healthy growth and development but may at times need help in accessing inner resources for positive change. I believe a therapist-client relationship that is characterized by empathy, curiosity, acceptance and caring is what facilitates the therapeutic process. I aim to provide an environment where my clients feel safe and free to explore their feelings, thoughts, needs and goals - an environment where we can work together at understanding what is keeping them from living a more fulfilling life.

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.

Therapy helps us cope more effectively with challenges and encourages growth even in difficult circumstances. A strong relationship between therapist and client can make the process significantly more enjoyable and productive. I strive to be genuine and authentic in sessions, incorporating humor and warmth to create a safe, nonjudgmental, and respectful space for support. Together, we will explore your ways of thinking in order to facilitate insight into your experience and gain new skills and strategies to create long-lasting, positive change in your life.

We are CBT experts. Since it was founded in 2003 by Dr. Stephen Holland, Capital Institute for Cognitive Therapy has been providing research-proven treatments and compassionate care. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective for a number of problems, including: depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding, panic, phobias, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, insomnia, chronic pain, personality disorders, and relationship problems. Studies find most patients in CBT have significant reduction in symptoms and distress.

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.