Strength-Based Therapists in Southwest Quadrant, Alexandria, VA

I am a clinical psychologist in private practice formerly (pre-covid) in Old Town, Alexandria, VA; all sessions are now via secure telehealth. I provide consultation and supervision to other mental health professionals; and I consult to healthcare facilities. I have taught courses in trauma therapy, family therapy, and substance abuse counseling to graduate students in psychology and counseling. Although I specialize in helping people with issues of trauma, substance use, and relationship, people bring a wide range of concerns from personal growth to serious mental illness. I help people understand and change their life stories.

My approach to therapy is dealing with the problem at hand, while understanding that there is more beneath the surface. While I treat the current symptoms, I also help my clients figure out why these symptoms exist in the first place. I use a behavioral and cognitive approach, including tangible skills and collaborative accountability, to help with cessation of behaviors and decreasing discomfort with negative thoughts. At the same time, I also use a trauma-informed approach to help my clients become aware of, and heal from, the underlying core beliefs and memories that these behaviors and thoughts are trying to cope with.

I am continually amazed at the capacity of the human spirit. So I see my role as helping you access your inner resources to move toward wholeness and health. I don't believe any of us wake up in the morning thinking "how can I mess up my life today?" So I see my role as helping you access your confident, creative, and compassionate self. I work with clients who are depressed, anxious, facing relationship challenges, struggling with intense emotions, and trauma survivors.

Over the past 15 years I have learned that the change process is collaborative and requires a unified focus between therapist and client. In therapy, the most positive outcomes occur when we develop a healthy therapeutic relationship and focus on the same goals. Building this relationship allows both therapist and client to feel comfortable while cultivating positive change. I practice from a wellness perspective that states everything we experience throughout our lives is a natural part of our development as individuals. I will meet you wherever you may be emotionally knowing that your life's journey has brought you to this place.

We all have moments in our life where we need support and encouragement. My primary focus is to provide clients with a safe and trusting environment with a compassionate treatment model. As we work together, we will build a therapeutic approach that feels comfortable and meaningful to you. My areas of expertise begin with using a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach, Psychoanalytic and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy which concentrates on learning, Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance. I also offer spiritual support for those who are seeking spiritual counseling.

As of 05/2023 I am accepting new clients. I recognize a very strong connection between body and mind. Primarily, I utilize techniques to help you gain awareness into your inner landscape of physical sensations, how these are connected to your emotions, and combine movement with talk therapy. We work with different somatic based tools to build capacity in managing different stressors and releasing past "stuck" experiences. Using what we learn from our body can often help us in navigating anxiety, depression, stress, difficult emotions, situations, life transitions and trauma stored in the body.

Therapy is one's personal identified journey of trials, tribulations, highs-and-lows, and uncertainty. Clients who gravitate towards me are those who prefer transparency, engagement, no judgement, and genuine validation and assistance on their road to "who they themselves identify they want to be". Clients who work with me realize that days are difficult, as is change; however, they do not mind the reminders and encouraging sessions that enhance and challenge accountability and resiliency.

Counseling becomes less intimidating if you think of it like going to a doctor for medication: if something works, keep doing it! If not, then say so and we can find something else for you to try. My ideal client is someone who is ready to take an open, honest look at themself and their situation. Improved mental health and/or interpersonal relationships are attainable! Assessing where you are and where you want to be is the first step. I work with clients on behavior modification, social skills training, anxiety, depression, interpersonal issues, and life transitions. Life can be hard, but you don't have to figure things out alone.

I am currently only accepting new clients for Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP) and couples therapy. Sometimes, life can become too overwhelming for us to work through it alone. Whether it be a life transition, tension in a relationship, or past trauma, therapy is a way for you to reconnect with your mind and body and allow you to regain control over your emotions, thoughts and feelings.

As a former school counselor and domestic violence advocate, I am passionate about supporting individual, couple, family and adolescent needs as well as concerns with anxiety, depression, grief, domestic violence, sexual abuse or concerns and eating disorders. In addition to these needs I am looking forward to supporting those experiencing family conflicts, life transitions, identity discovery and exploration as well as sex therapy. I am supportive of nontraditional relationships as well as kink positive. My clients are 16 and over, families and couples.

If you struggle with self worth, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, ADHD, insomia/sleep disorders, women's health, and/or general health psych related problems such as chronic pain, acceptance of a new medical diagnosis, etc., I can provide the tools to assist you in navigating the complexity of these issues.

Licensed in Va, DC, MD and Ill. "Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us" (David Richo). 70% of us lay claim to at least one traumatic event in our lifetime. Trauma creates change you don't choose. Healing is about creating change you do choose. My vision is to empower your journey toward to a greater sense of Self-Worth, Awesomeness, Learning, Understanding, Synergy, Veraciousness, Inspiration to Triumph so you can live out your Authentic life. Each session is met with a person centered culturally sensitive and trauma informed lens. I see individuals and Couples. Se habla Espanol

I understand that everyone sometimes encounters obstacles in their lives that seem insurmountable. My goal is to create a therapeutic environment that allows each client to reach his or her full potential. I will work with you to address your symptoms and help you to rediscover your inner strengths to deal more effectively with your life's challenges and to guide you in the development of new life skills. I believe that each person is unique and therefore deserves an individual approach to therapy.