Sexual Abuse Therapists in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

If you find yourself struggling to overcome trauma, maintain healthy relationships, or cope with anxiety, I would be happy to talk with you about my approach to therapy and how we might work collaboratively to empower you to make meaningful changes in your life. I specialize in providing clinical services to adult survivors of trauma, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, and witnesses to violence. I also help clients address issues of depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and grief.

I am a counselor with years of experience working with clients who are managing depression, anxiety, and chronic illnesses. I have specialized training in working with those who experience interpersonal violence and sexual assault/abuse. When an individual survives a trauma or hardship it can be extremely difficult to cope and obtain fulfillment. Whatever the struggle is I believe in helping clients identify their strengths in order to overcome the obstacle.

I work with individuals at many points in their journey, I support the right to self determination but also work to motivate my clients towards a greater wellbeing. I employ a solution focused/strengths based, psychodynamic, and logotherapeutic approach. I believe therapy is driven by the client, and I tailor my approach to each individual.

I am eager to work with adults who have experienced trauma and want therapy to look through how it has impacted them. Trauma can mean a lot to different people though whether that is from sexual assault, military combat, child abuse, cultural/religious abuse or loss of a loved one. What is important is that there was a meaningful shift you struggle to deal with, and I want to help. It also more than post-traumatic stress. You can also experience great sadness, daily stress or trouble in your relationships you do not understand.

We provide multicultural trauma-informed therapy to adults hoping to better understand themselves and their unique experiences. We use a collaborative approach to highlight strength and resilience while helping clients manage depression, anxiety, body image dissatisfaction, racial trauma, and interpersonal relationship difficulties. We specialize in women's issues, LGBTQIA+ concerns, racial/ethnic identity, religious/spirituality concerns, gender identity and experiences of people of color. Our practice reflects diversity and commitment to cultural humility and awareness. Associate info at drbledman.com. Fees vary.

Hello and welcome! My name is Aysha (she/her) and I’m a woman of color with multiple nationalities who specializes in trauma-informed therapy. I strive to create a therapy space filled with compassion and warmth. I am passionate about providing culturally humble care to meet clients where they are. I strongly believe that having a safe space is essential to recovering from traumatic experiences. My special interests include working with trauma survivors who have experienced attachment trauma, interpersonal/relationship trauma, intergenerational trauma, sexual assault, and grief and loss.

In a world full of judgment, you need to trust that your therapist is affirming and ready to hear your "deep, dark secrets." With that, you can then talk about what's really going on and address your true concerns. I have experience helping people with all kinds of issues, including relationships, sex and sexuality, addictions, gender identity, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, as well as general questions of self-worth. Together, we will explore any issue that is important to you. We will discuss your past when relevant, and what you're currently thinking and feeling.

If you're looking for a therapist, there's a good chance you feel like "something" in your life isn't working -- perhaps within yourself, a relationship, or your career. Sometimes it's hard to know what that "something" is, and, other times, the feeling may be directly connected to a specific event, relationship, or personality trait. As your therapist, I will work with you at a pace that feels manageable, and together we will reflect on what feels like it's not working and identify possibilities that may bring relief or change.

Beginning therapy can be a difficult step. But if you find yourself stuck, repeating the same ineffective, undermining coping mechanisms and unable to manage your emotions, then it might be time to start working together to help you identify more effective and constructive approaches to achieve your goals.

Life has the ability to impact our physical, mental and emotional wellness. I am an avid believer that therapy has the ability to promote wellness throughout the challenges that each of us face. Do you ever find yourself battling negative thoughts? Feeling overwhelmed with trying to cope with feelings? Are you in need of a space where you can feel seen and heard? Whether you are facing loss, traumas, family conflict, life transitions or difficulty with social wellness, my collaborative and supportive style supports you as you work toward your wellness goals.

The people I work with want to change the way they feel and relate to themselves, their life circumstances, and their relationships. We might be a good fit if you are experiencing sadness, anxiety, low motivation or self-esteem, intergenerational trauma, and/or feelings of grief and loss. I particularly enjoy working with people who want to increase self-worth, self-esteem, and self-empowerment, women of color, indigenous populations, and LGBTQIA+, survivors of trauma, domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment, and people living with medical conditions, grief, and loss.

I work with adults who have experienced childhood trauma and abuse. It's OK if you don't resonate with that word. Maybe you've said that you had a "dysfunctional family" or a "complicated childhood." However you see it, it is what we experienced and learned in childhood that influences how we show up in relationships with others and with ourselves. My clients want to heal their inner child, want to improve their relationships, what to feel safe and secure in who they are. They want to rewrite the stories they've held on to, and unlearn the painful negative beliefs about who they are and what they deserve.

Each individual is unique and resilient. My goal in therapy is to find and respect those qualities, and to work together in identifying coping tools that will promote profound and lasting changes. I have been practicing for over ten years. My training has covered trauma-informed care, crisis intervention and psychodynamic therapy. I earned my bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Maryland and my master's degree in clinical social work at the University of Pennsylvania. I earned my independent clinical social work license in Washington, DC.

Life often places obstacles on our path, which can leave us feeling stuck, in pain, uncertain of how to move forward. I specialize in guiding those who arrive here by creating a nurturing and curious space to help you explore, unearth, and effectively heal untended internal wounds. My passion and expertise lie in supporting people in healing from childhood abuse and neglect, sexual violence, complex loss, and ancestral and identity-based trauma. Many also turn to me to better understand with who they truly are, their roles within relationships, and their unique purpose, or to prepare for and integrate psychedelic healing journeys.

I have been working in the mental health field for over fifteen years with a variety of clients including children and adolescents, families, and adults. I enjoy utilizing an eclectic approach to treatment, recognizing the uniqueness that each individual brings to treatment. I specialize in the treatment of exposure to trauma, providing treatment to survivors of sexual violence, childhood abuse, domestic violence, and military combat trauma. When addressing the needs of those who have survived trauma, I focus a great deal of attention on the neurological effects of exposure, as well as the mind and body connection.

Healing and change are possible for all of us. I am reminded daily of people's innate ability to mend and grow if they are provided with the right tools in a supportive and compassionate environment. Past traumatic events can leave scars and behavior patterns that can get in the way of people leading the life that they choose. I create a safe space where we can work together to allow scars to heal and transformative change to take place. My clients experience healing from sexual trauma, adverse life events, relationship issues, and dissociative symptoms. They find freedom from feeling "stuck".

My therapy work is focused on emotional health and wellbeing. I work individually with clients and tailor treatment to best fit each person's concerns, character and goals. I do this by integrating insight-oriented treatment and establishing new ways of being in the present. This combines the exploration of long-standing maladaptive patterns and a focus on present-day functioning. I help also people examine and improve relationship dynamics.

No matter how you are feeling, know that there is someone out here to support you, don't lose hope. I believe that we all have the innate ability to be well, regardless of race, sexual orientation or gender identification. Traumatic and challenging experiences in our lifes, can affect our nervous system, rendering us vulnerable, confused and at times stuck/frozen in fight and or flight responses to life. It would be an honor to assist you at recognizing and reclaiming your strength and true potential through gentle, mindful and regulated interventions that provide balance and peace.

You’re successful at work, an active community member, and the first person your friends call in a crisis. But inside, there’s a part of you that’s not getting what she needs. You know you ‘should’ value solitude and self-care, but it’s hard to be alone. Whenever there’s a pause in your busy life, you notice a gnawing sense of emptiness. Pain over past relationships is taking up a lot of your mental real estate. You wonder: Am I choosing the wrong people? Or am I pushing the ‘right’ people away? You long to be part of a close-knit tribe — but sometimes it feels like you need your friends more than they need you.