Play Therapy in Shaw, Washington, DC
I specialize in following therapies: cognitive-behavioral, play, solutions-focused & strengths based.
Accepting new clients- Life is hard. Most of us want to think that it gets easier but that only occurs when our skills (emotional, mental, physical, spiritual) improve. Therapy is the perfect place to learn and practice new skills while getting the encouragement to make it through life's toughest moments. And I am ready for you. I work with all clients and specialize in the Black/Brown communities, LGBTQ population, couples, and adolescents. I value intersectionality, solutions-focused work, and holistic practices.
I specialize in following therapies: cognitive-behavioral, play, solutions-focused & strengths based.
Accepting new clients- Life is hard. Most of us want to think that it gets easier but that only occurs when our skills (emotional, mental, physical, spiritual) improve. Therapy is the perfect place to learn and practice new skills while getting the encouragement to make it through life's toughest moments. And I am ready for you. I work with all clients and specialize in the Black/Brown communities, LGBTQ population, couples, and adolescents. I value intersectionality, solutions-focused work, and holistic practices.
Being experts in telehealth, I utilize virtual art, movement, meditation, narrative, play, CBT, DBT and psychodynamic techniques to meet you where you are at and connect.
Are you a parent of a child, teen or young adult struggling with big feelings? Does your child go from 1-100 in a second? Let's slow down, understand what your child is experiencing and learn together! Are you a young adult entering a new phase or overwhelmed with today's pressures of work, family, friends and relationships? Stages and changes are hard to go through alone, luckily, you don't have to. With a background in therapeutic and specials education school settings, I understand the pressures of kids and families today. I use creative tools to connect with you and your child.
Being experts in telehealth, I utilize virtual art, movement, meditation, narrative, play, CBT, DBT and psychodynamic techniques to meet you where you are at and connect.
Are you a parent of a child, teen or young adult struggling with big feelings? Does your child go from 1-100 in a second? Let's slow down, understand what your child is experiencing and learn together! Are you a young adult entering a new phase or overwhelmed with today's pressures of work, family, friends and relationships? Stages and changes are hard to go through alone, luckily, you don't have to. With a background in therapeutic and specials education school settings, I understand the pressures of kids and families today. I use creative tools to connect with you and your child.
I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Play Therapy, Sand tray, Solution Focus Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
I believe each of us has the capacity to overcome life issues and challenges by utilizing strengths. However, we sometimes need assistance working through life’s obstacles and leveraging our strengths. I can provide a safe and empathic space for healing. My experience includes working with individual adults and children addressing trauma, low self-esteem, relationship issues, life transitions, academic issues, anxiety, grief, and depression.
I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Play Therapy, Sand tray, Solution Focus Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
I believe each of us has the capacity to overcome life issues and challenges by utilizing strengths. However, we sometimes need assistance working through life’s obstacles and leveraging our strengths. I can provide a safe and empathic space for healing. My experience includes working with individual adults and children addressing trauma, low self-esteem, relationship issues, life transitions, academic issues, anxiety, grief, and depression.
My most used treatment modalities are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Strengths-Based, Play Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy.
Welcome! Congratulations on taking the first step to seeking help. Let the journey begin. My passion for helping others lead me to pursue a degree in social work. I have worked in several areas of social work over the years however, I found my niche working with children and adolescents.
My most used treatment modalities are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Strengths-Based, Play Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy.
Welcome! Congratulations on taking the first step to seeking help. Let the journey begin. My passion for helping others lead me to pursue a degree in social work. I have worked in several areas of social work over the years however, I found my niche working with children and adolescents.
I specialize in using interventions including play therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and much more!
Hi! I specialize in trauma, anxiety, depressive disorders, grieving, self-esteem, social skills, and relationship issues. I provide individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, and young adults. I am passionate about working with clients from diverse backgrounds and strive to incorporate cultural competence in my therapeutic practice. I believe it’s crucial to provide psychotherapy and preventative services to clients from diverse backgrounds who may be unaware of potential warning signs and risk factors associated with mental health disorders.
I specialize in using interventions including play therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and much more!
Hi! I specialize in trauma, anxiety, depressive disorders, grieving, self-esteem, social skills, and relationship issues. I provide individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, and young adults. I am passionate about working with clients from diverse backgrounds and strive to incorporate cultural competence in my therapeutic practice. I believe it’s crucial to provide psychotherapy and preventative services to clients from diverse backgrounds who may be unaware of potential warning signs and risk factors associated with mental health disorders.
I'm dedicated to helping clients unlock their full potential in a world where play is not just for fun but an essential component of well-being and relational health.
My ideal client is seeking more than traditional therapy—they want creative, playful ways to reconnect with their authentic self and joy. They may be navigating complex identities and need a supportive space to explore these. Often, they feel stuck or disconnected due to trauma, societal/familial expectations, or a desire for deeper self-awareness. Their goals may be about rediscovering their creativity, unlocking/understanding parts of their identity, and building deeper, more authentic connections in their relationships. They come to me ready for a dynamic, interactive approach that fosters growth and healing.
I'm dedicated to helping clients unlock their full potential in a world where play is not just for fun but an essential component of well-being and relational health.
My ideal client is seeking more than traditional therapy—they want creative, playful ways to reconnect with their authentic self and joy. They may be navigating complex identities and need a supportive space to explore these. Often, they feel stuck or disconnected due to trauma, societal/familial expectations, or a desire for deeper self-awareness. Their goals may be about rediscovering their creativity, unlocking/understanding parts of their identity, and building deeper, more authentic connections in their relationships. They come to me ready for a dynamic, interactive approach that fosters growth and healing.
I offer an integrative modality including but not limited to play, internal family systems, trauma-informed, CBT, and narrative therapies.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Washington, DC. My goal as your or your child's therapist, is to make you feel unconditionally accepted and to create an environment in which I can support you in your growth and understanding of self. I believe everyone has the innate ability to know themselves and create personal change. I would be honored to support you in discovering this ability. I am most passionate and skilled in helping children ages 5-18 and people experiencing perinatal mental health needs.
I offer an integrative modality including but not limited to play, internal family systems, trauma-informed, CBT, and narrative therapies.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Washington, DC. My goal as your or your child's therapist, is to make you feel unconditionally accepted and to create an environment in which I can support you in your growth and understanding of self. I believe everyone has the innate ability to know themselves and create personal change. I would be honored to support you in discovering this ability. I am most passionate and skilled in helping children ages 5-18 and people experiencing perinatal mental health needs.
Hello, I'm Kristine. After graduating in 2012, I relocated to DC and took my first job at Child and Family Services. From there, I spent several years working in child welfare before earning my Clinical License in 2014. Following receiving those credentials, I worked in the school setting while managing my private practice, which is now provided 100% virtually.
I am an individual and family clinical therapist who has focused most of my 9 years of practice working directly with children, families, and young adults. I have experience with a wide demographic from age 3 through 80 working in a variety of settings such as hospitals,
Hello, I'm Kristine. After graduating in 2012, I relocated to DC and took my first job at Child and Family Services. From there, I spent several years working in child welfare before earning my Clinical License in 2014. Following receiving those credentials, I worked in the school setting while managing my private practice, which is now provided 100% virtually.
I am an individual and family clinical therapist who has focused most of my 9 years of practice working directly with children, families, and young adults. I have experience with a wide demographic from age 3 through 80 working in a variety of settings such as hospitals,
Melrose Family Services
Licensed Professional Counselor, LMHC, LPC, BCBA, MA, PhD
Verified Verified
Online Only
Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that every family and individual deserves access to compassionate, evidence-based care. We understand that each family is unique and that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges they may face. That's why we work closely with our clients to create personalized treatment plans that are tailored to their specific needs.
Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that every family and individual deserves access to compassionate, evidence-based care. We understand that each family is unique and that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges they may face. That's why we work closely with our clients to create personalized treatment plans that are tailored to their specific needs.
Jocylynn Stephenson
Marriage & Family Therapist, MS, LCMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Serves Area
Waitlist for new clients
The philosopher Socrates once said that "the unexamined life is not worth living." As a therapist, I am committed to helping my clients examine their lives to find meaning, happiness, and strength. I work with individuals, couples, and families, striving to build skills to resolve conflicts, increase confidence, and move beyond past hurt and trauma. My clients often say that they appreciate my warmth, empathy, and combination of optimism and realism.
The philosopher Socrates once said that "the unexamined life is not worth living." As a therapist, I am committed to helping my clients examine their lives to find meaning, happiness, and strength. I work with individuals, couples, and families, striving to build skills to resolve conflicts, increase confidence, and move beyond past hurt and trauma. My clients often say that they appreciate my warmth, empathy, and combination of optimism and realism.
A Free Mind Integrated Services, LLC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LCPC, RYT-200, C-DBT, LCPC-S
Verified Verified
Serves Area
Welcome! Congratulations on taking your first step/s in seeking quality, professional mental health support. We want to see you create meaning and find solutions in your life. My name is Stacey Rowe. I am known loving as “ Thee Hope Dealer” by those I serve. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, as well as CEO and President of Free Mind Integrated Services LLC . I believe that my years in the trenches and overcoming some of life’s toughest battles gives me the fortitude to stand alongside you in your mission of finding your happiness. My team is passionate about the work that we do with our clients.
Welcome! Congratulations on taking your first step/s in seeking quality, professional mental health support. We want to see you create meaning and find solutions in your life. My name is Stacey Rowe. I am known loving as “ Thee Hope Dealer” by those I serve. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, as well as CEO and President of Free Mind Integrated Services LLC . I believe that my years in the trenches and overcoming some of life’s toughest battles gives me the fortitude to stand alongside you in your mission of finding your happiness. My team is passionate about the work that we do with our clients.
Meet Our Play Therapy
Dr. Sharnet Chavis is a clinical social worker that is licensed in Maryland and the District of Columbia. I have been dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and adults with diverse needs for over 30 years, specializing in helping them regulate their emotions and develop self-management skills. My background includes Special Education (MS), Mindfulness (CMIP, RYT-200), Wellness (CWP) and DEI initiatives. Additionally, I am committed to promoting mindfulness and movement-based practices to enhance self-management for individuals and those in caregiving roles.
Dr. Sharnet Chavis is a clinical social worker that is licensed in Maryland and the District of Columbia. I have been dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and adults with diverse needs for over 30 years, specializing in helping them regulate their emotions and develop self-management skills. My background includes Special Education (MS), Mindfulness (CMIP, RYT-200), Wellness (CWP) and DEI initiatives. Additionally, I am committed to promoting mindfulness and movement-based practices to enhance self-management for individuals and those in caregiving roles.
A Fresh Start Therapy
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW, LCSW-C
Verified Verified
4 Endorsed
Online Only
Well, it is April 2025! We are accepting new clients. Our clinicians are local to DC, MD, and Northern VA. They know how stressful it can be to live and thrive in the Nation’s Capital: Everything from speed camera tickets to car thefts. Please be safe out here and be sure to get in touch with us so that we can help.
Well, it is April 2025! We are accepting new clients. Our clinicians are local to DC, MD, and Northern VA. They know how stressful it can be to live and thrive in the Nation’s Capital: Everything from speed camera tickets to car thefts. Please be safe out here and be sure to get in touch with us so that we can help.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 22 years of experience in both the mental health and substance abuse fields. I am passionate about helping youth, adults, couples, and families address their presenting issues. I specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, phobias, OCD, and other life challenges. My approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, rational emotive therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, positive psychology, and reality and grounding techniques.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 22 years of experience in both the mental health and substance abuse fields. I am passionate about helping youth, adults, couples, and families address their presenting issues. I specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, phobias, OCD, and other life challenges. My approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, rational emotive therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, positive psychology, and reality and grounding techniques.
We understand that every individual and family is unique, which is why we strive to provide a therapist who will match your needs. We are here to help. If you’re looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you’re just ready to move in a new direction in your life, we look forward to working with you or your child to achieve. Our therapists have over 18 years of experience providing counseling, group work and case management services to children, adults, and families in a variety of community settings. We can provide services in the following states: CO, DC, MD, NY, PA, FL, NC and VA.
We understand that every individual and family is unique, which is why we strive to provide a therapist who will match your needs. We are here to help. If you’re looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you’re just ready to move in a new direction in your life, we look forward to working with you or your child to achieve. Our therapists have over 18 years of experience providing counseling, group work and case management services to children, adults, and families in a variety of community settings. We can provide services in the following states: CO, DC, MD, NY, PA, FL, NC and VA.
Cheers to you for starting this powerful therapeutic journey to enhance your overall wellness! I am an enthusiastic, holistic and innovative mental health therapist that is committed to guiding you to gain clarity, transform, and live your best authentic life. I am excited to share my passion, commitment, and leadership expertise in serving individuals across the lifespan navigate chronic mental health and co-occurring illnesses, complex trauma, grief and loss
Cheers to you for starting this powerful therapeutic journey to enhance your overall wellness! I am an enthusiastic, holistic and innovative mental health therapist that is committed to guiding you to gain clarity, transform, and live your best authentic life. I am excited to share my passion, commitment, and leadership expertise in serving individuals across the lifespan navigate chronic mental health and co-occurring illnesses, complex trauma, grief and loss
Ashley Wilson
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LGSW, LMSW
Verified Verified
Serves Area
Waitlist for new clients
My work with clients is grounded in, as Carl Jung said long ago, that "the privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." No matter where you find yourself on this path to your true self (or you find yourself lost in the woods searching for the path itself), I am ready to support and empower you throughout your mental health journey.
My work with clients is grounded in, as Carl Jung said long ago, that "the privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." No matter where you find yourself on this path to your true self (or you find yourself lost in the woods searching for the path itself), I am ready to support and empower you throughout your mental health journey.
You have come to this site to ask for help. That takes courage, strength, and a willingness to look at yourself, to lean into your fears, sadness, isolation, anger, and remove these roadblocks from your life, forever. Our therapists here at TrueYou Center are authentically here for you, supporting you as you unpack all the stories of your life that have lead up to this moment, and helping you rewrite your outcome. Together, we will gently, at your own pace, find the blocks that are preventing you from having the relationships and life you imagine having.
You have come to this site to ask for help. That takes courage, strength, and a willingness to look at yourself, to lean into your fears, sadness, isolation, anger, and remove these roadblocks from your life, forever. Our therapists here at TrueYou Center are authentically here for you, supporting you as you unpack all the stories of your life that have lead up to this moment, and helping you rewrite your outcome. Together, we will gently, at your own pace, find the blocks that are preventing you from having the relationships and life you imagine having.
Are you feeling overwhelmed all the time? Are you just not sure how to cope with life transitions? As a therapist, I am here to help and give you a space to vent or learn new tools to help you navigate through life and all of its obstacles! I specialize in trauma, anxiety, ADHD, life transitions, and relational stressors. I utilize a psychodynamic approach that is client led. It is up to you to decide the pace you feel comfortable going at at the topics or goals you want to address together!
Are you feeling overwhelmed all the time? Are you just not sure how to cope with life transitions? As a therapist, I am here to help and give you a space to vent or learn new tools to help you navigate through life and all of its obstacles! I specialize in trauma, anxiety, ADHD, life transitions, and relational stressors. I utilize a psychodynamic approach that is client led. It is up to you to decide the pace you feel comfortable going at at the topics or goals you want to address together!
Therapy enables clients to safely examine painful emotions, false beliefs, and the unhelpful actions that accompany them, all on a foundation of established trust and objective acceptance. It is important that my clients feel their needs are met and they are heard. Clients can develop a better sense of self and improve the quality of their experiences and relationships with others by incorporating insights with tools and strategies for wellness in therapy.
Therapy enables clients to safely examine painful emotions, false beliefs, and the unhelpful actions that accompany them, all on a foundation of established trust and objective acceptance. It is important that my clients feel their needs are met and they are heard. Clients can develop a better sense of self and improve the quality of their experiences and relationships with others by incorporating insights with tools and strategies for wellness in therapy.
See more therapy options for Shaw, Washington
Nearby Play Therapy Searches for Shaw, Washington
- Adams Morgan
- Capitol Hill
- Catholic University-Brookland
- Columbia Heights
- Downtown
- Dupont Circle
- Foggy Bottom
- H Street Corridor
Play Therapy
Who is play therapy for?
Play therapy is generally targeted to children between the ages of 3 and 11 who have social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties. Play therapy has also been found helpful for children who have experienced physical or emotional abuse or witnessed atrocities. Play therapy is also often recommended for children who are undergoing major medical procedures or who are suffering from chronic illness; many children’s hospitals are equipped to offer play therapy on-site. Play therapy is also sometimes used for adults; creative writing, music, and art are expressive forms that can all be adapted for therapeutic purposes.
Why do people need play therapy?
Children often do not have the language skills or words to know or to express what is troubling them. Yet they often spontaneously draw or use playthings to depict scenarios that reflect problems in their everyday life. Play therapy provides children with an array of objects and play situations to act out their feelings or experiences so that therapists can get a clear picture of what children might be struggling with and help them find solutions. In addition, play therapists are skilled at helping children understand their inner experience and find words for them, necessary steps toward helping children learn to control their own behavior and come up with solutions to problems they encounter.
What happens in play therapy?
A child enters a comfortable playroom where they are free to choose the objects they want to play with. The play therapist will typically observe how they play with the toys—whether a sandbox, puppets, dolls and action figures, trucks, costumes, drawing and painting materials, or more—because such play provides clues to a child’s family and social relationships, difficulties they are encountering in the world, and what going on inside themselves. Sometimes the therapist may ask the child to use the play objects to tell a story about their family. Using the same instruments of play, therapists can help children discover more advantageous ways of thinking and behaving.
What kinds of problems do play therapists treat?
Play therapy can help children who display destructive or self-destructive impulses; children who seem angry, sad, or fearful; children who experience frequent social, emotional, family, or school difficulty. Play therapy is often of value to children who have experienced a loss or distressing family experience, who are regularly exposed to family conflict, or who have been physically or emotionally abused. Play therapy can help children who are perpetrators of bullying as well as those who are targets of bullying. It helps children learn to identify their feelings, to express them in constructive ways, and to regulate them so they can get on with the business of development.
How long does play therapy last?
Play therapy sessions may last for 30 to 45 minutes, and they usually occur weekly for about 20 sessions. Each session is tailored to the individual child and the kinds of problems they are struggling with. Play that is highly repetitive often indicates a problem requiring further exploration. Therapists typically measure progress through session-to-session changes in play behavior.