Therapists in Downtown, Washington, DC

I work with people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, OCD and panic, as well as those facing relationship difficulties, life transitions and people coping with trauma/PTSD. I also help people who experience difficulties with acculturation and adaptation. I use insight-oriented psychotherapy to help identify patterns in a person's life that may be contributing to their current difficulties, as well as to help improve the nature of their interpersonal communication and achieve a more fulfilling life.

Let's be real- oftentimes, life isn't the easiest. It makes sense that we live in an anxious, depressed, and traumatized society with the amount of alarming information we are exposed to. Because of this, we frequently find ourselves obsessing over the same thing over and over, struggling with motivation, engaging in yet another unsatisfying relationship...the list goes on and on! I understand that finding some peace in this world can feel like a never ending task.

Are you new to the area and feel overwhelmed starting a new life? Are you ready to find love in your life, or breaking up/divorcing, or are you and you partner ready to repair and grow your relationship? Are you looking to find a new job, move up the ladder, or change professions completely? Did you just graduate from College or Grad school and feel lost as to what career aligns with your interests and values? Or maybe you're struggling with the death of a loved one and are wondering how to fill the void. Perhaps you've decided to investigate your spirituality or change your religious affiliation.

Some reasons you might seek therapy with me include the following: if you are struggling with anxiety or depression; if you lack motivation or feel overwhelmed by stress; if you are having trouble in your romantic or social relationships; if you are grieving the loss of a loved one; if you are navigating challenging workplace relationships; or if you are having strong emotional responses you don't understand.

We'll explore how to identify and reframe negative thoughts, regulate mood, improve communication, learn and implement new behaviors . We'll also explore how your childhood experiences might impact and inform your current ability to form meaningful bonds. I work with create space for BIPOC, AAPI, Latinx, LGBTQ+ (diverse) clients to be candid about their experiences. We identify cognitive, emotional and behavioral distress related to anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, roles an expectations, discrimination or privilege, shame, transitions, anxiety, grief, trauma and/or abuse, racial, ethic and cultural identity, and relationships.

You can become someone who you can learn to love and trust, and I would like to help you with that. My name is Ella Henley and I am a trauma therapist with over 20 years of experience working with survivors. I offer individual talk therapy services to address CPTSD, anxiety, dissociation, emotional regulation, identity, and attachment and developmental trauma. I enjoy working with LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse individuals. I am a member of AASECT, am certified as a Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP) and am working towards credentialing in sex and couples therapy. I am Anti-Racist, and am Queer, Trans, Kink, and Poly affirming.

As your therapist, I take an investigative and collaborative approach to what you are experiencing. I provide an open and safe space for us to explore why you feel the way you do, past experiences that may be contributing to your present, and how you can move forward. We will consider all angles of your lived experience in making sense of the issues you’re facing. Angles like your relationships to others, your childhood experiences, instincts and gut reactions, and societal systems. I welcome adults of all identities.

As a licensed psychologist, I provide individual therapy to adolescent and adult clients looking to better understand themselves and their relationships. People often seek therapy to address symptoms or problems that they want to change, but ironically, this felt need for things to be different can often create more stress. I believe people are more than their problems, and so my aim is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore the connections between your past experience, relational patterns, and current behaviors to help you a achieve a meaningful sense of self-awareness, thereby giving you more freedom and choice.

I believe that psychotherapy provides the opportunity to develop self-awareness, improve our relationships with others, and alleviate distress and suffering. Whether you are struggling with anxiety or depression, dealing with life’s transitions and challenges, or seeking to improve your overall well-being, I can help you develop the strategies and insight to do so. Together we will identify patterns of relating to yourself and others that are no longer working for you and figure out how to replace them with more fulfilling and satisfying ones.

Welcome to my practice and thank you for considering me as a companion on your journey towards healing and growth. Are you looking for a compassionate therapist who will listen deeply and attentively to your concerns whether they stem from difficulties coping with relationship issues, work stressors, past traumatic events or simply feeling that your life could have more meaning and depth?

Are you looking to make a change in your life or your relationships? Do you want to understand why you tend to repeat the same patterns again and again? I am here to help. I believe in the resilience that exists within all of us and the healing power of the therapeutic relationship. My role as a therapist is that of an active collaborator, working together with clients to explore and address current challenges. My most important job is creating a safe and empathic therapeutic environment which fosters individual growth and empowers clients to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.

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.

Patients with a history of trauma, addiction, or Attachment Issues will find comfort, guidance, education and even community in this practice through individual and/or group therapy as well as award-winning psychoeducation.

CURRENT openings. You may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck, held back by worry and doubt. Perhaps you are struggling under the weight of sadness or shame, or due to a loss or trauma that continues to impact you day to day. I offer a skilled, supportive space to guide you through the process of finding your own voice, helping you to create the confident, calm and connected life you wish to live. My style is compassionate, unbiased, and grounding, and I strive to create an environment that fosters growth, self-awareness and lasting change.

Life is lived in the intersection where intentions and outcomes are determined by our actions. We are happy when our intentions match our outcomes... but when they do not, we can feel stressed, anxious, depressed, disappointed or even desperate. At such moments, it is helpful to speak to someone that can help us feel understood and find the courage to power forward.

Therapy can empower you to cope with and improve a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, relationships, loss, low self-esteem, past trauma, identity issues, and insecurities. My gentle, strengths-based approach will help you recognize the best in yourself and tolerate difficult feelings, while promoting changes in your life. I have a nonjudgmental attitude and appreciate each individual's cultural, spiritual, and family backgrounds. My style is collaborative and respectful; together we will consider how experiences from the past intersect with the present and focus on what is most meaningful to you now.

Overcoming mental and emotional challenges can be difficult, but even more when you feel like you are dealing with them alone. It's not always easy finding someone who's willing to listen and understands from a culturally responsive lens, especially when discussing personal challenges that have been discouraged outside of the home. Stress can come from many different avenues of life (career, family, relationships, society, and culture, etc) and can bring about depressions, anxiety, anger, isolation, and low-self esteem. It's not easy learning healthy ways to cope, managing your symptoms, and even recognizing that there's a problem.

You are seeking therapy because it is time to make a change. Whether it’s the way you connect with others, the way you handle yourself when stress arises, or the way you are grieving life’s losses, something needs to shift before you can move toward the life you want. As an integrative psychologist, I love helping individuals and couples uncover what is most important to them, as well as what is getting in the way, so that they can begin to live with a greater sense of purpose, connection, and well-being. I would love to help you do the same.

I stress the importance of a strong, caring therapeutic relationship with my clients. My approach depends on each person's goals. My approach is exploratory and less structured for those with general concerns about identity issues, transitions, or relationships. For those seeking a resolution of a particular problem (e.g., depression, PTSD, OCD), I take a structured, goal-oriented approach. I have advanced training in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, and personality disorders. I often utilize EMDR for trauma, DBT for emotional dysregulation, and exposure therapy for anxiety disorders.