Therapists in Washington, DC

Do you ever feel like you’re alone in your emotional challenges? Managing our mental health is something we should never have to do alone. My life’s journey has led me to my passions in both the mental health and entertainment industries, allowing me to advocate for mental health resources internationally and provide therapy. I guide people to feel their power which does not lie in an ideal of perfection, but rather to find ourselves in a space where we can begin to meet ourselves where we are to heal with self-compassion. With gratitude, I am a guide to assist individuals with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as couples.

I specialize in "overthinking" and am currently accepting new clients. In addition to my clinical training I have an extensive research background in anxiety, depression, relationships, overthinking, and eating disorders. I earned my Ph.D from Penn State and M.A. from Boston College. My approach to therapy is strength-based and results oriented. I adapt the work I do in psychotherapy to each individual client as I've found that each person benefits from an individualized treatment plan and a psychologist who is knowledgeable and experienced in a range of effective treatments.

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.

Hello! Congratulations on taking this important first step in your healing journey! If you're struggling with depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, grief or other life transitions, I’d be honored to work collaboratively with you. When we better understand our patterns of behavior, we can then make small changes, that have great impact. This is how we find peace and equanimity. I will assist you in understanding what is getting in the way of living your best life, creating a non-judgmental and supportive space to discover your strengths and what is most important to you. Your healing journey awaits!

Your decision to evaluate therapists today is a strong sign change is underway. I work to help individual adults and teens, couples, and families navigate relationship difficulties, behavioral issues, and unresolved emotional needs. My office is a place where clients can speak openly about their hopes, needs, and fears - with warmth, care, and authentic feedback in return. Our work can treat symptoms of grief, depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. Emotionally focused repair, cognitive insight, and concrete skills development can each play a role. My training emphasizes clients' experience in family, work, and other systems.

I am passionate about working with all minorities in society, including LGBTQ+ folx. I have experience working through taboo topics, trauma, racial identity and women's issues, and am vocal about my stance on social justice when necessary. I use an integrative approach to therapy to tailor sessions to the specific needs of each of my clients. I am humanistic, person-centered in my approach and facilitate interpersonal relational work. I am always strength based and really enjoy working with Black folx & people of color, but I am willing to work with anyone who is ready to work through current life stressors in non judgmental space.

I believe that therapy is most effective when safety and trust are prioritized in the therapeutic relationship. I intentionally foster safety and trust so that I can provide a space where you grow and achieve your desire outcomes by gaining a deep understanding of self, societal, and trauma imposed limitations that hinder you from showing up in life the way you desire. Your session will become opportunity to explore beliefs and patterns, their origins, their impact, and a way forward. My ideal client is someone that is looking to transcend the imposed labels of life and reclaim their power to live and achieve balance.

If you are in the midst of a daunting medical diagnosis or grieving a painful loss, I am glad you found my page. Perhaps you are caring for a loved one, and find yourself mentally and physically exhausted, or you're a healthcare professional and you're feeling overwhelmed. Or maybe you are about to embark on treatment for cancer and are struggling with a tangled ball of emotions. In my work with clients, I create a safe, compassionate space to unpack and explore these issues, and to be a companion on your journey toward healing, growth, and transformation. Whatever brought you here today: I am here to listen.

Do your emotions feel overwhelming? Are you bored and restless with your life? Does the future seem hopeless? Many of us experience these feelings, yet often think we're the only ones. We worry that if we show people what’s really going on, they will avoid and judge us. In therapy, we give voice to these feelings, and learn that while they can be scary at times, they also reveal a path to healing and change.

I believe that each individual that seeks therapy makes an important decision to create a change. I understand that asking for help and taking the first step feels difficult. I am qualified with professional and life experience for 30 years to assist you in making the desired change. I am sincerely committed, enthusiastic, dedicated, and available to assist you to take charge and create that positive desired outcome to discover the road to recovery. My mission is to provide quality psychotherapy and recovery services for late teens, adults, couples, and families for them to reach their fullest potential and personal growth.

When clients first reach out to me, they often feel depressed, anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed but are unsure about what steps to take to feel better. Clients also reach out because they want to further their understanding of their emotional experience or need help navigating challenging situations or relationships. And then there are others who feel stuck and seek to change patterns in their lives.

My main goal as a counselor is to provide you with the emotional support you need while helping you regain full self-reliance. I will devote time and energy in understanding you in the context of your relationships, your character and the psychological distress you are experiencing. Through a transparent and collaborative approach I will help you set treatment goals, take the first steps toward change and work towards establishing a long-term improvement of your quality of life. By focusing on psychoeducation and relapse prevention I will help you acquire new skills and knowledge that will make you more resilient in the future.

For many people, therapy can provide relief from suffering and give a person a deepened awareness of their life. Therapy can help us gain an active perspective in living a full and meaningful life. Whether one is struggling with depression, anxiety, or interpersonal problems, therapy may be a helpful journey to alleviate the pain. My approach is interpersonal and psychodynamically informed while also exploring concrete solutions. Many people can feel better in a couple sessions and others are looking for a long term process. Both can be helpful.

Psychotherapy can be many things: from understanding and gaining control of a major emotional or substance abuse problem, to improving a partner or family relationship, to knowing yourself better. Our “mental health” like our physical health can benefit greatly from a skilled helper to address a sudden major problem or provide long-term support to be stronger and achieve our potential. Good individual, couple/family or group therapy can address the kind of work you need for where you are in life, whether you are facing a major crisis or looking for the insight and support you need to be who you can truly be.

Life is like your favorite card game. Sometimes you are dealt a good hand, and sometimes you are dealt a bad hand. How you play that hand determines the outcome. If life has gotten difficult for you and you need help sorting through and coping with the challenges that you have been facing, please contact me. Together, we can explore and identify the issues that have led to your depression, anxiety, stress, feelings of hopelessness, trauma, relationship challenges, post-traumatic stress, grief, loss, life transitions, and any other obstacles you face.

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.

My practice is devoted to providing psychotherapy for older adolescents and adults from diverse walks of life. I treat clients who suffer from anxiety, depression, unresolved trauma, loss, grief, and other sources of seemingly unmanageable distress. I also help clients navigate specific life transitions -- for example, to a new school, job, relationship, or parenthood. Finally, I welcome clients who are experiencing relatively diffuse, general discontent and searching for greater fulfillment with respect to their health, relationships, education, job career, or creative endeavors.

Thanks for choosing this courageous step in your journey toward improvement. Life can be challenging and it might take some time to overcome obstacles in our way. I believe that everyone has a potential to learn, grow, improve, and heal no matter what circumstances one is facing. We are resilient beings so let's uncover what has been sitting dormant.

We specialize in working with adolescents and adults struggling with various psychological challenges including depression, anxiety and trauma. We also see many individuals presenting with concerns related to relationship difficulties, impulsivity, life transitions, identity challenges, perfectionism, reduced self-esteem, and difficulty connecting with a sense of purpose. Additionally, we offer specialized assessments to support individuals in preparing for and healing from medical procedures as well as treatment to promote effective coping with chronic and acute medical conditions. If what you read about our practice resonates with you, please feel free to visit our website to learn more about our clinicians and our approach to psychological wellbeing.