Relationship Issues Therapists in Washington, DC

Have you not found success with other therapy experiences? Let’s meet. For over 25 years, I have been providing psychotherapy services to individuals and couples. It is a pleasure to see clients grow, resolve problems, and begin to live and feel in ways they never imagined. I create a safe, supportive, and affirming environment for exploring and gaining insight into the challenges you face, and together we will find new ways to understand, and address them. My goal is to help you find meaningful and lasting solutions that improve your mood, sense of well being and relationships.

Emotional suffering, whether from depression, anxiety, grief or harm and betrayal by others, is often invisible. While you may urgently desire help, shame and fear of exposure may make it difficult to get the help you want. In over thirty years of psychotherapy practice, I have learned to help patients find ways to face their worst fears and feel safer. Even desired change can bring fear of losing yourself. I think honestly confronting loss and limitaion can lead to freer decisons about living your life.

Welcome! I am very glad you are here! I offer a person-centered, compassionate, and systemic approach to therapy. I consider working with each client to be a privilege and a collaborative therapeutic experience. 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, I look forward to working with you to achieve your goals and hopes. Internal Family Systems (IFS), an evidence-based model, guides my approach to helping individuals and couples heal by unburdening their protective and wounded parts in a loving and compassionate manner.

I think therapy is like a puzzle, you put the pieces together to create a full picture. I focus on helping you develop a deeper exploration of who you are and how you can feel whole again. By understanding what's working and what's not working, we will be entering a deeper exploration of the self. The ultimate goal of therapy with me is to develop greater self knowledge, self acceptance and be able to change the things that need changing. Bring your patience, this is hard work and it takes time. I welcome the opportunity to work with you.

Looking for new perspectives to change recurrent patterns that aren't leading to desired outcomes? Aspiring to develop new ways to approach challenges in a relationship? Wanting to move past a relationship that is no longer working? Wanting to improve coping with traumatic or distressing experience, illness, or loss? Looking to better cope with troubling depression or anxiety; or wanting to re-think career decisions? These are some of the issues that people bring to my practice. I am a therapist with 30+ years experience and am committed to assisting people who are feeling stuck with what hasn't been working.

Are you longing for vitality, a sense of choice or self-love/confidence in your life? Are you looking for authenticity, courageous conversations, resonance or deep trust repair in your relationship/s? Are you hoping to find how to live a meaningful and impactful life? I support authentic, compassionate and empowered relating to yourself and others with courageous journeying opening your full expression, connection and power for change. My clients are individuals, partners, co-parents, educators, caregivers or leaders, teams or groups who want to achieve greater trust, connection, resonance, collaboration and systemic resilience.

Hello, it is so good to connect with you! Welcome to my practice! You may be ready to explore your life in an intentional environment. To engage in a space where you can fully embrace yourself, your journey, and your gifts. I believe in your ability to process, validate, and overcome life's unexpected events, such as grief, breakups, career or academic setbacks, relationship disconnection, and loneliness. Let's work together to uncover your inner strength and build a foundation for your well-being.

District Psychotherapy is a counseling practice serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We specialize in young and middle-age adults (18-40’s) facing life challenges and/or mental health issues; or simply seeking greater fulfillment in life. Our most common treatment areas are anxiety, depression, career & relationship difficulties, ADHD, OCD, panic attacks, and trauma—among others. Sometimes just feeling stuck or adrift.

Dr. Lamar is a psychologist and a licensed professional counselor who has been providing therapy to individuals, families and groups for over 18 years. She earned a Psy.D. and Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University's Illinois School of Professional Psychology.

Thanks for taking a look at my profile! I provide individual and couples therapy to adults and enjoy helping clients work through anxiety, trauma, attachment and relationship challenges, life transitions, and identity-related concerns. As your therapist, I will strive to understand your challenges and symptoms in the context of your personal history, biology, relationships, and intersectional identities. We will work collaboratively to develop an individualized treatment plan informed by our shared understanding of your presenting concerns and goals, my knowledge of psychology and evidence-based treatments, and your feedback.

People often seek therapy when they are in a crisis or are facing roadblocks and want to change their lives. My goal is to use evidence based practices that have scientific support for their effectiveness within the context of a good working relationship. I also want you to achieve change as quickly as possible.

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. I offer therapy, assessment, and gender affirming evaluation services in person and remotely.

I'll work to help you better understand your inner experience, to act more effectively, and to treat yourself kindly. I will support you as you build the skills needed to meet current challenges, or as you go about reducing impulsive or avoidant trends. Because turning against oneself after not performing well compounds one's emotional burden, it is important to learn to replace self-condemnation with a self-affirming stance. I can assist you in acquiring the know-how and power to move steadily toward these goals. The reward for making progress internally or behaviorally is greater self-control and an increase in self-esteem.

Therapy can be a process of both healing and growing. Together we can explore important aspects of your past, while working to improve your present. I foster warm and collaborative relationships with my patients so that they feel understood, supported, and appropriately challenged. As your therapist, I would be committed to helping you develop the tools and mindset necessary to face present and future challenges. I would also support you in achieving greater self-acceptance, authenticity, and more satisfying relationships. I approach each new therapy relationship with curiosity, flexibility, and openness.

Chances are you want to improve your sense of self or address difficulties you're having in an important relationship. Or maybe certain feelings get the best of you. Or perhaps something from your past keeps coming up and disrupts your life. No matter your reason for seeking help at this time, I commend you for prioritizing your mental health and taking steps to finding a new way forward.

Couples therapy is my calling and life passion. I created IntimacyMoons for Couples as an intensive transformation model and was voted Best Couples Retreat by Women's Health, Bustle, Livestrong, Matador Network, Madame Noire and Black Enterprise Magazines. Not only am I a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist but I am also a Certified Sex Therapist, and Certified Sexuality Educator by the American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists (AASECT).

I specialize in working with trauma, anxiety, depression and relationship issues. I help clients gain insight into what is getting in their way and to develop healthier coping strategies. I also work extensively with those struggling with addictions, including alcoholism and sexual addictions and compulsive internet pornography use. I have successfully helped break the interference of addictions and compulsions to lead healthier, more productive lives. In addition, I often work with spouses/partners who are struggling with the impact (and trauma) of these addictions on themselves and their relationships.

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you don't know how to react. Perhaps you are feeling sad or anxious. You realize that you need to make changes but you're struggling on your own. I can help you discover new ways of thinking and acting to change your life. You can learn to make better decisions for your life. We will work together to get you back on track. My approach is supportive and practical, caring and challenging. Your success is my success.

Therapy works best when you’re feeling understood. By processing and understanding the events of your life and your reaction to them, we will identify healthy coping strategies to manage stress and strong emotions. Have you experienced a loss that feels overwhelming? Feeling “stuck” or alone in your grief? Together, we can work to help you feel better.