Therapy offers a setting in the service of further knowing and understanding one's feelings, so as to be better able to respectfully care for one's self. Generally, the more choices we have in caring for our feelings, the better we usually feel and function. Learning to talk through feelings lessens the risks of those feelings being acted out in self-destructive ways. Constructive self-management contributes to self-esteem. Self-understanding, in combination with more clearly defined personal boundaries, makes for more satisfying relationships with others.

Life can and often does present us with challenges which create distress and make it difficult for us to feel satisfied. It can be very helpful to speak with a well-trained, experienced, and supportive person when facing such challenges. Whether you are looking for extra support during a stressful period of time or you are interested in focusing on longstanding difficulties, I offer to create a space that promotes symptom relief and results in greater awareness, satisfaction, confidence, and fulfillment.

Queer Affirmative Therapy envisions a society where the mental and emotional well being of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people are affirmed, where safety is a priority and where healing is rooted in social justice.

I work with adults of all ages on a variety of issues including but not limited to anxiety, depression, family conflict, coping, adjustment, and quarter- and mid-life crises. As a life-long competitive athlete, I also work on issues within the sports psychology realm. I will work with you as a partner to define your goals, identify what may be holding you back from living the life you want, and explore realistic ways to make positive change. I offer a safe, honest, and judgment-free space to share and grow. I incorporate cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and mindfulness approaches to tap into and leverage your many strengths.

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 25+ 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).

By the time people get to me they’ve often tried many things. They’ve read self-help books, perused articles, confided in friends about problems that just don’t seem to go away. Those issues span the gamut, from difficulty with family members to on-the-job problems, to outright trauma, to a nagging sense of dissatisfaction with life. “What can I do about this?” people want to know. My answer is usually something along the lines of “Let’s try to understand more.” Things are often not what they seem at first glance. My office is a place to figure things out, to increase empathy for yourself and others, and to make needed changes.

My aim in individual and couple therapy is to help you with your life challenges - whether it is with anxity, depression, self-esteem, conflictual and/or less than satisfactory relationships and intimacies, understanding and overcoming the limiting, even crippling, effects of early life traumas on your life at present. I believe that the safety of a confidential therapeutic environment is ideal for us to explore problems together and find ways to move forward to a more rewarding and satisfying life.

Finding the right therapist is like any other relationship in our lives, it's important that it's the right fit. My therapeutic style is warm, engaging, and collaborative. My priority is making sure the therapeutic relationship is a space where you can feel open to share your fears, dreams, goals, and authentic self while being supportively challenged on the things that are impeding your happiness and contributing to your distress. Throughout this process we will consider the role of your unique cultural identities and how your life experiences have influenced the person you are and hope to be.

Michael F. Shea, LICSW, is a integrative psychotherapist operating a private practice in Washington, DC with over 28 years of experience. Utilizing a holistic approach to health and healing, he integrates the disciplines of Social Work, Mind-Body Medicine, and Spirituality to aid those who seek self-awareness. He works with individuals, couples, families, groups, and corporate executive teams. His specialties include: addictions, mood disorders, pain management, crisis intervention, spiritual crisis, and strategic planning. He is certified by and is on the faculty of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, DC.

If you've said many times, over many years "I can't keep living like this. Something has to change," then now is the time to make that change. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stuck, anxious and worried, curious about or ready to quit drinking/using, overly critical of yourself and others, sick of putting others before you, paralyzed by perfectionism, and losing yourself while people-pleasing the world, then notice the voice inside saying, "Now is the time.” The courage -is- inside you to make that call or send that email to start making changes now. If you answer "yes" to any of these, reach out below to get help.

My practice in Farragut West focuses on supporting working professionals & college/graduate students to better cope with work/academic stress, depression, various anxieties (generalized, performance, social, panic, obsessive-compulsive), difficult relationships, and substance abuse. My practice in Tenleytown focuses on helping parents and their children improve emotional regulation and behavior, as well as depression and anxiety. I use both supportive and insight-oriented therapies to help clients identify areas of difficulty, strategize what can be changed, and provide ongoing support as they try out new approaches.

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.

Hello, I am a Harvard trained practitioner and Board Certified Coach with more than 30 years experience helping people to make their dreams come true. Our work together would define where you want to go in your life & how you will get there - with special emphasis on what's in the way. You may work on one or more parts of your life. Since 'You are You' wherever you may go, you may find that gains you make in one part of your life significantly improve other parts too. You will decide which part(s) of your life you want to work on. These may include: Work, Play, Family, Friends, Physical, Emotional, Spiritual, Money, Romance...

"Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know." Pema Chodron... One path to learning these lessons is to choose come to therapy. With over 10 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families, I can partner with you in this journey of discovery. I strive to create an atmosphere where my clients feel safe to share their feelings and experiences without feeling judged. I also have a special interest in working with individuals, couples, and families in the LGBTQ community. Accepting insurance for individual sessions only.

For over 15 years, I have worked with clients who struggle with food and weight obsession, shame and self criticism, many compulsive behaviors that are the aftereffects of dieting and living in a thin obsessed world. These are complicated issues that may seem like no one truly understands. I do. My goal for each client is peace, freedom and sanity around food, exercise, and body shape. I am a Health At Every Size certified practitioner. I am dedicated to anti-diet, body liberation, compassionate and relational approaches. I work from an all-inclusive, social justice standpoint. My approach is casual, relational, warm, and accepting.

Welcome to my practice!. What ever your needs, I approach our work with zest and empathy which comes from broad experience working in psychiatric and health settings. Whether with problems of elderly, families,couples or people facing job loss, academic problems, illness, bereavement, trauma or the loneliness of anxiety and depression, psychotherapy can bring relief and find inner strengths and possibilities. I focus especially on communication skills, and deprograming early dysfunctional messages which interfere with forming relationships in all aspects of life. Together we will meet your immediate needs and begin a longer journey towards fulfilling your deepest aspirations.

Need someone to talk to? Want to learn more about yourself and make positive changes? You've come to the right place. The approach is to provide an encouraging, warm, open and compassionate environment. Specializing in cultivating healthy relationships, work can be with individuals, families or couples, at any stage of their relationship. Some focus areas include communication, trust, strengthening bonds or coping with stress, family etc. We work with you to help identify when negative patterns began and guide you to create healthy changes to lead a happier and more peaceful life.

My style of therapy creates a warm, supportive, and collaborative environment where clients can enhance their self-understanding, maximize their strengths, and learn to achieve greater satisfaction in their personal and professional lives.

Although by orientation I'm a cognitive-behavioral therapist--that is, I focus on how thoughts and actions affect how we feel and respond to situations--I don't follow a cookbook approach to treatment. Each individual brings a unique set of problems to therapy, and I start with a thorough evaluation to assess your needs and develop a collaborative treatment plan that is personal yet based on current research. This type of therapy is focused more on the present than the past and on developing coping skills to help you deal with the problems that are currently troubling you.