Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Washington, DC
I get it! You may be carrying stress, pressure, or emotions you have held in silence. You might feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of how to move forward. You are looking for clarity, relief, and space to breathe again a place to understand what feels heavy and reconnect with parts of yourself pushed aside by survival mode. You want to cope with more capacity, feel less stuck, and either find yourself again or discover who you truly are without the add ons of life.
I get it! You may be carrying stress, pressure, or emotions you have held in silence. You might feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of how to move forward. You are looking for clarity, relief, and space to breathe again a place to understand what feels heavy and reconnect with parts of yourself pushed aside by survival mode. You want to cope with more capacity, feel less stuck, and either find yourself again or discover who you truly are without the add ons of life.
Are you repeating the same patterns, replaying the same thought spirals, and dating the same people? Maybe you find yourself overthinking, questioning if you’re really “enough,” or wondering why relationships feel so difficult, or why anxiety and sadness keep showing up no matter how much you achieve. Maybe you feel like you are living the same relationship over and over again, just with a different person. Therapy can be the space where you finally break the patterns, heal your attachment wounds, show up differently, in love and in life, and finally find peace.
Are you repeating the same patterns, replaying the same thought spirals, and dating the same people? Maybe you find yourself overthinking, questioning if you’re really “enough,” or wondering why relationships feel so difficult, or why anxiety and sadness keep showing up no matter how much you achieve. Maybe you feel like you are living the same relationship over and over again, just with a different person. Therapy can be the space where you finally break the patterns, heal your attachment wounds, show up differently, in love and in life, and finally find peace.
My name is Michelle Durham. I work from a trauma informed, harm reduction, strength-based perspective, with proven ability to collaborate and coordinate within cross-function team environments to maximize case plan desired outcomes. I have over 15 years of direct staff development, coaching, and supervision experience, all of which informs my work in private practice. I have worked with a diverse population of women, men, LGBTQ+, non-binary, gender nonconforming individuals and couples living with a variety of life challenges for over 16 years. Prior to coming into private practice, the majority of my work has been done in community
My name is Michelle Durham. I work from a trauma informed, harm reduction, strength-based perspective, with proven ability to collaborate and coordinate within cross-function team environments to maximize case plan desired outcomes. I have over 15 years of direct staff development, coaching, and supervision experience, all of which informs my work in private practice. I have worked with a diverse population of women, men, LGBTQ+, non-binary, gender nonconforming individuals and couples living with a variety of life challenges for over 16 years. Prior to coming into private practice, the majority of my work has been done in community
You're looking for a therapist who does more than "just listen" - you want an outside perspective, greater self-awareness, and concrete strategies to help with life's challenges. Many of my clients are navigating career or life transitions, changes in their physical health, anxiety, relationships, and questions about their identity and purpose in life.
I believe that therapy is a place to explore the full range of the human experience, and that no topic is off limits. By saying things that would otherwise go unsaid, my clients experience radical candor, feedback, and a break from their own self narrative.
You're looking for a therapist who does more than "just listen" - you want an outside perspective, greater self-awareness, and concrete strategies to help with life's challenges. Many of my clients are navigating career or life transitions, changes in their physical health, anxiety, relationships, and questions about their identity and purpose in life.
I believe that therapy is a place to explore the full range of the human experience, and that no topic is off limits. By saying things that would otherwise go unsaid, my clients experience radical candor, feedback, and a break from their own self narrative.
In addition, I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ( ACT), a mindfulness based cognitive therapy.
There are times when things are not going as well as we'd like in our family, social or work relationships, particularly post-Covid. You may feel alone, depressed, anxious, or have conflict or discomfort with those you care about. In my psychotherapy practice I help couples, individuals & families restore their sense of well being and connection. People learn how to be more present and intentional in accordance with their values. Partners learn to be safely available to each other through a dialogue process that teaches more effective listening, deeper understanding and empathy. In person and Telehealth meetings are offered.
In addition, I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ( ACT), a mindfulness based cognitive therapy.
There are times when things are not going as well as we'd like in our family, social or work relationships, particularly post-Covid. You may feel alone, depressed, anxious, or have conflict or discomfort with those you care about. In my psychotherapy practice I help couples, individuals & families restore their sense of well being and connection. People learn how to be more present and intentional in accordance with their values. Partners learn to be safely available to each other through a dialogue process that teaches more effective listening, deeper understanding and empathy. In person and Telehealth meetings are offered.
My training includes Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Relational-Cultural Therapy.
I have experience working with those in transition, such as college students, early career professionals, career-changers, and new parents. I have a specialized interest and experience in fertility and perinatal/postpartum concerns. Additionally, I have experience in helping people explore their identities and the role they may play in one's well-being.
My training includes Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Relational-Cultural Therapy.
I have experience working with those in transition, such as college students, early career professionals, career-changers, and new parents. I have a specialized interest and experience in fertility and perinatal/postpartum concerns. Additionally, I have experience in helping people explore their identities and the role they may play in one's well-being.
From Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for exploring how thoughts affect emotions, to Mindfulness for embodying stress reduction tools and awareness, to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for identifying ways to accept and defuse from thoughts, to Positive Psychology which emphasizes growth, potential, and well-being.
Feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or quietly exhausted—even when life looks “fine” on the outside—is more common than you might think. Many of the women I work with are navigating career pressure, relationship strain, identity shifts, or burnout while holding a lot for others. I specialize in therapy for Gen Z, millennial, and midlife women seeking support with anxiety, stress, relationships, and life transitions. My approach is relational, thoughtful, and personalized, offering a calm, nonjudgmental space to explore what feels out of balance and what’s asking for attention now.
From Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for exploring how thoughts affect emotions, to Mindfulness for embodying stress reduction tools and awareness, to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for identifying ways to accept and defuse from thoughts, to Positive Psychology which emphasizes growth, potential, and well-being.
Feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or quietly exhausted—even when life looks “fine” on the outside—is more common than you might think. Many of the women I work with are navigating career pressure, relationship strain, identity shifts, or burnout while holding a lot for others. I specialize in therapy for Gen Z, millennial, and midlife women seeking support with anxiety, stress, relationships, and life transitions. My approach is relational, thoughtful, and personalized, offering a calm, nonjudgmental space to explore what feels out of balance and what’s asking for attention now.
I provide individual therapy for adults carrying the weight of always being "the strong one," the high achiever, the caretaker, and the high functioning professional. You're exhausted from performing, overthinking, and pushing through while your own needs go unmet. You're functioning on the surface but internally you feel overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, maybe battling depression, processing trauma, and/or barely holding it together through chronic stress and life transitions. You don't have to keep carrying everything alone. I provide a safe, trauma-informed space to untangle these patterns and truly begin caring for yourself.
I provide individual therapy for adults carrying the weight of always being "the strong one," the high achiever, the caretaker, and the high functioning professional. You're exhausted from performing, overthinking, and pushing through while your own needs go unmet. You're functioning on the surface but internally you feel overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, maybe battling depression, processing trauma, and/or barely holding it together through chronic stress and life transitions. You don't have to keep carrying everything alone. I provide a safe, trauma-informed space to untangle these patterns and truly begin caring for yourself.
Nick Donahue: ADHD Therapy for Adults &
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LICSW, LCSW
3 Endorsed
Washington, DC 20009
Let’s be honest — ADHD can be brutal.
Your brain feels overloaded, so you do whatever you can to shut it off for a while. Scrolling. Zoning out. Smoking weed or pouring another drink. Avoiding the thing you’re supposed to be doing. Then the next morning you wake up anxious, foggy, frustrated with yourself, and somehow even further behind.
Rinse. Repeat.
If you or your teenager has ADHD, you may feel like you're constantly trying to keep up with your own mind. The harder you try to “just focus,” the worse it seems to get — and over time, it can easily chip away at your confidence.
That’s where therapy can help!
Let’s be honest — ADHD can be brutal.
Your brain feels overloaded, so you do whatever you can to shut it off for a while. Scrolling. Zoning out. Smoking weed or pouring another drink. Avoiding the thing you’re supposed to be doing. Then the next morning you wake up anxious, foggy, frustrated with yourself, and somehow even further behind.
Rinse. Repeat.
If you or your teenager has ADHD, you may feel like you're constantly trying to keep up with your own mind. The harder you try to “just focus,” the worse it seems to get — and over time, it can easily chip away at your confidence.
That’s where therapy can help!
Gender-focused queer care for folks of all ages and identities.
Gender-focused queer care for folks of all ages and identities.
I work with clients who are experiencing depression and/or anxiety symptoms, wanting to develop a strong sense of self-worth, learning to thrive with ADHD as an adult, processing trauma, and working through family of origin concerns. We will work together to identify and untangle unhealthy patterns in your life and to foster a healthier relationship with yourself.
I work with clients who are experiencing depression and/or anxiety symptoms, wanting to develop a strong sense of self-worth, learning to thrive with ADHD as an adult, processing trauma, and working through family of origin concerns. We will work together to identify and untangle unhealthy patterns in your life and to foster a healthier relationship with yourself.
I also implement Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for practical coping skills to use in the day to day.
Eating disorders can be all encompassing and can start to take over so many different aspects of your life. It becomes hard to do anything without hearing the eating disorder’s disapproving voice in your head making comments about your food intake, your body, and most painfully, who you are as a person. This voice is not you. We can work together to help you fight back and regain your identity. You do not need to have an eating disorder for us to work together, I also work with those struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, life transitions, trauma, relationships, and identity.
I also implement Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for practical coping skills to use in the day to day.
Eating disorders can be all encompassing and can start to take over so many different aspects of your life. It becomes hard to do anything without hearing the eating disorder’s disapproving voice in your head making comments about your food intake, your body, and most painfully, who you are as a person. This voice is not you. We can work together to help you fight back and regain your identity. You do not need to have an eating disorder for us to work together, I also work with those struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, life transitions, trauma, relationships, and identity.
We are an accomplished team of Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Master Social Workers. We are licensed in GA, MD, MS, TN, and DC. Our therapy style is warm, open, caring, and collaborative. We are dedicated to redefining the stigma of mental health while helping you identify and address triggers, patterns, and unwanted behaviors.
We are an accomplished team of Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Master Social Workers. We are licensed in GA, MD, MS, TN, and DC. Our therapy style is warm, open, caring, and collaborative. We are dedicated to redefining the stigma of mental health while helping you identify and address triggers, patterns, and unwanted behaviors.
To the outside world, you are thriving. You are successful, capable, and in control. Internally, you are obsessed with details, use busyness to outrun your brain, or overthink every decision you make.
I specialize in the “High-Achieving Mind” because I know the terrain. I understand the specific suffering of the professional who tries to “outwork” anxiety, perfectionism, and/or OCD. I also understand the unique grief of fertility struggles and IVF. This is often the intersection where high-performance meets biology, and you can no longer optimize, track, and execute your way to success.
To the outside world, you are thriving. You are successful, capable, and in control. Internally, you are obsessed with details, use busyness to outrun your brain, or overthink every decision you make.
I specialize in the “High-Achieving Mind” because I know the terrain. I understand the specific suffering of the professional who tries to “outwork” anxiety, perfectionism, and/or OCD. I also understand the unique grief of fertility struggles and IVF. This is often the intersection where high-performance meets biology, and you can no longer optimize, track, and execute your way to success.
Are you one of the many adults who are currently feeling overwhelmed because of the constant negative news cycles? As an older adult, are you concerned about what the world is going to be like for your children and grandchildren? Are you experiencing grief, loneliness, depression, anxiety, or unexpected life changes, or perhaps dealing with chronic pain or illnesses that are making it hard for you to cope in your usual manner? Life can feel unbearable when you are experiencing these kinds of challenges. I will provide you with personally tailored support and work with you to navigate your challenges and find healing!
Are you one of the many adults who are currently feeling overwhelmed because of the constant negative news cycles? As an older adult, are you concerned about what the world is going to be like for your children and grandchildren? Are you experiencing grief, loneliness, depression, anxiety, or unexpected life changes, or perhaps dealing with chronic pain or illnesses that are making it hard for you to cope in your usual manner? Life can feel unbearable when you are experiencing these kinds of challenges. I will provide you with personally tailored support and work with you to navigate your challenges and find healing!
Thriveworks Counseling &Psychiatry Washington,D.C.
Clinical Social Work/Therapist
Washington, DC 20045
At Thriveworks, we're dedicated to providing top-tier mental health services that are easily accessible to everyone. With over 340 locations nationwide and flexible online therapy options, our professional therapists are equipped to assist you through any stress, life transitions, or ongoing mental health concerns. We prioritize your convenience and needs by offering flexible scheduling, including evening and weekend appointments, ensuring that you can start your therapy journey as early as this week. Plus, we accept most major insurance plans, making your path to mental health support smoother and more affordable.
At Thriveworks, we're dedicated to providing top-tier mental health services that are easily accessible to everyone. With over 340 locations nationwide and flexible online therapy options, our professional therapists are equipped to assist you through any stress, life transitions, or ongoing mental health concerns. We prioritize your convenience and needs by offering flexible scheduling, including evening and weekend appointments, ensuring that you can start your therapy journey as early as this week. Plus, we accept most major insurance plans, making your path to mental health support smoother and more affordable.
Hi, and welcome! If you're here, chances are life feels a whole lot harder than it looks from the outside. Maybe you're constantly juggling responsibilities, grieving a loss, navigating a major life transition, or feeling exhausted by trying to keep it all together. You may know what you want to change, but feel stuck figuring out how to get there.
I work with adults who are ready for things to feel different—even if they're not quite sure where to start. Together, we'll explore what's getting in the way, build on your strengths, and create practical, meaningful changes that align with the life you want to live.
Hi, and welcome! If you're here, chances are life feels a whole lot harder than it looks from the outside. Maybe you're constantly juggling responsibilities, grieving a loss, navigating a major life transition, or feeling exhausted by trying to keep it all together. You may know what you want to change, but feel stuck figuring out how to get there.
I work with adults who are ready for things to feel different—even if they're not quite sure where to start. Together, we'll explore what's getting in the way, build on your strengths, and create practical, meaningful changes that align with the life you want to live.
Hi, I’m Ilana.
I specialize in supporting children, teens, and young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, loss, trauma, and life transitions, including the move to college and beyond. I believe that meaningful change begins within an authentic, trusting relationship. Therapy is not just about techniques or strategies—it is about feeling genuinely seen, understood, and supported. I prioritize building strong, collaborative relationships with my clients, creating a space where curiosity, honesty, and emotional safety can grow.
Hi, I’m Ilana.
I specialize in supporting children, teens, and young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, loss, trauma, and life transitions, including the move to college and beyond. I believe that meaningful change begins within an authentic, trusting relationship. Therapy is not just about techniques or strategies—it is about feeling genuinely seen, understood, and supported. I prioritize building strong, collaborative relationships with my clients, creating a space where curiosity, honesty, and emotional safety can grow.
Congratulations on your decision to seek support. I am a holistic, trauma-informed therapist providing virtual therapy services in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Florida, Colorado, and Idaho. I specialize in supporting women navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, attachment wounds, work stress, self-esteem concerns, life transitions, and chronic illness support. I am also a Gottman Certified couple's therapist.
I enjoy partnering with clients who are ready not only to heal, but to create meaningful transformation in their lives.
Congratulations on your decision to seek support. I am a holistic, trauma-informed therapist providing virtual therapy services in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Florida, Colorado, and Idaho. I specialize in supporting women navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, attachment wounds, work stress, self-esteem concerns, life transitions, and chronic illness support. I am also a Gottman Certified couple's therapist.
I enjoy partnering with clients who are ready not only to heal, but to create meaningful transformation in their lives.
I draw from different therapeutic modalities and techniques, primarily using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in addition to other evidence-based treatments and methods, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ( ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Treatment (DBT), psychodynamic approaches, among others.
Life can be difficult, but psychotherapy can help navigate challenging times. As a clinical psychologist, I combine evidence-based approaches to psychological assessment and treatments to help individuals across the lifespan manage their difficult symptoms and overcome life’s obstacles. Collaboratively, we will develop a strong therapeutic relationship, and you will learn skills to manage psychological symptoms while being afforded an open, inviting space to explore life’s challenges. I believe in treating clients with warmth, empathy, and respect, and together we will engage in work to help you reach your best self.
I draw from different therapeutic modalities and techniques, primarily using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in addition to other evidence-based treatments and methods, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ( ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Treatment (DBT), psychodynamic approaches, among others.
Life can be difficult, but psychotherapy can help navigate challenging times. As a clinical psychologist, I combine evidence-based approaches to psychological assessment and treatments to help individuals across the lifespan manage their difficult symptoms and overcome life’s obstacles. Collaboratively, we will develop a strong therapeutic relationship, and you will learn skills to manage psychological symptoms while being afforded an open, inviting space to explore life’s challenges. I believe in treating clients with warmth, empathy, and respect, and together we will engage in work to help you reach your best self.
See more therapy options for Washington
Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists
How does acceptance and commitment therapy work?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy encourages a person to listen to their self-talk. A person’s inner dialog can be indicative of how they treat themselves. ACT also encourages self-compassion; this can lead to a better understanding of negative thought patterns and emotional states. This understanding can then lead the individual to needed behavior change.
What are the goals of acceptance and commitment therapy?
The goal of acceptance and commitment is to expand a person’s psychological flexibility, a trait that encourages an individual to live in the present moment and to accept all their thoughts, feelings, and emotions, even ones that are difficult such as sadness and anxiety. In ACT, this acceptance is congruent with the individual’s values and beliefs.
Does acceptance and commitment therapy work for depression?
Acceptance and commitment therapy is effective for depression because it allows the individual to view their discomfort and suffering differently. Depressive feelings about relationship heartaches, for example, are a part of life. A despondent person learns to let go of their struggles and instead view their painful thoughts and feelings with compassion. This will lead the individual toward positive change.
How long are people typically in acceptance and commitment therapy?
A typical acceptance and commitment therapy session is 50 minutes long with one session per week. Treatment for common problems such as anxiety, depression, or relationship difficulties can last between eight weeks to four months. However, more severe cases may require more than one session a week and/or a longer time frame for treatment.