Suicidal Ideation Therapists in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

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.

I have 10+ years of experience working with clients who are in the acute phase of psychosis or a mood episode as well as moderate and mild phases of mental health issues, major life stressors, challenges and transitions. I offer a collaborative approach to therapy and provide an environment of acceptance, warmth and respect that allows my clients to gain insight, self-efficacy, and empowerment while working toward an ultimate goal of well-being, growth and healing.

Stress and anxiety are something we all have to deal with. Perhaps now you’re feeling like it’s getting to be a bit too much to handle? My specialization in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help you better manage your stress and anxiety, improve your mood and relationships, and get you moving towards the things you value most in life. We can work on this together by building a compassionate awareness of thoughts and feelings, and improving the control you have over your behaviors.

Young adulthood is one of the most formative and also challenging years of our lives. Your path forward might not always feel obvious or smooth. As a therapist, I provide a safe and empathetic environment for you to explore what matters to you most. The people I work with face challenges around major life changes and adjustments, school, college, and careers, relationship issues, family conflict, and parent-child conflict. I have many years of experience helping clients work through past trauma, those with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Gabby Douglas said it best "Hard days are the best because that's when champions are made." Are you struggling with managing daily stressors? Have you gone through a traumatic event and are ready to take back your power? Are you noticing a disconnect between you and your child? Therapy provides a place for you to work on your healing process. It's a powerful and rewarding journey. Remember, your life is your canvas, and you are the masterpiece. If you are ready for this next step, I would be honored to be a part of your journey.

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. You've made the courageous choice to seek professional help. I understand finding the right therapist can be tough, and this may be your first big step towards change. If you are wanting more calm and centeredness within yourself and more stability and connectedness in your relationships, we might be a good fit. I value collaboration, trust and safety above all else. I like to see us as a team where your sense of choice and voice are essential to the process. Together, we will work to forge a new path towards healing.

Therapy is a choice that may allow for insight, personal awareness and change. Therapy allows you to increase self-awareness so that you can be accountable for you thoughts, feelings, and actions and learn to avoid triggering situations, unhelpful patterns of behavior and overcome challenges you are facing. I firmly believe in a person's potential for growth by integrating aspects of their past into the present in an effort to heal. As you learn to externalize parts of your self, it is my hope that you become more comfortable with vulnerability and present in your daily life.

Reaching out and taking steps to improve your life takes real courage! As a social worker and therapist I see resilience and the capacity for change every day, and I am inspired to witness how renewal and strength can come out of pain, difficulty, and struggle.

I work with adults and adolescents who are experiencing challenging life circumstances and adjustments, struggle with important relationships, self-esteem, live with mood disorders/anxiety, are seeking relief from past trauma, and individuals wanting to live a more satisfying and engaged life. My work is to participate in creating a therapeutic space and to use my skills to promote awareness and support positive change. This may require looking at both past and present-day issues. Developing a good working relationship (being a good "fit") with my clients is essential.

Have you experienced a recent or past traumatic event? Do you have trouble expressing how you feel? I have advanced training in working with survivors of trauma, and extensive experience working with families who struggle to communicate effectively. I use the therapeutic relationship to create a safe space for clients to explore thoughts and feelings in order to set goals and move forward. Primarily using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness techniques, individuals are able to heal from past experiences and to lead satisfying and productive lives.

I work with individuals who feel their lives are hindered by unwanted or distressing feelings, or self-defeating patterns of behavior, and who experience depression, anxiety, anger, low self esteem, compulsive or impulsive behaviors, or relationship difficulties. By establishing more effective coping skills and responses, positive changes can develop and lead to a greater sense of fulfillment. I approach each individual treatment collaboratively, exploring the foundation of the problem, identifying problematic patterns, and then developing treatment goals tailored to the unique needs of each individual client.

I am Founder and Director of the Capital Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Since 2003, the Institute has been a leading provider of research-proven treatments and compassionate care. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective for a number of problems, including: depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding, phobias, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, insomnia, chronic pain, personality disorders, and relationship problems. Studies find most patients in CBT have significant reduction in symptoms and distress.

I believe that each person has an innate ability to heal from trauma and pain. Events from the past can impact our mind and body in the present--sometimes getting in the way of current relationships and goals. I offer a safe space to tap into transformative healing, self-exploration, and personal growth. My clients bring an array of issues to therapy including trauma, addiction, sexual difficulties, relationship challenges, self-injury, and dissociation. I work collaboratively, recognizing that each client brings their own unique strengths to the work.

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.

I treat individuals and couples who present with a range of needs, from debilitating eating disorders to mild anxiety and to issues that cannot be described in five words or less. I see the whole person rather than a group of symptoms with the recognition that people are complex and that most of us have difficulties in one or more areas of our lives. I work to help people become more integrated which, I believe, helps them lead more fulfilling lives. Life isn't so easy sometimes, but through insight change is possible.

You may feel anxious, depressed, angry and you "can't get rid of" or change your feelings or thoughts. You may be looking for ways to find some relief from your stress, emotional pain or unwanted behavior. Life's disappointments, big and small can lead to great worry, overeating, drinking too much, feeling unmotivated, not wanting to get out of bed, or being irritable with loved ones; this often leads to feeling guilt and shame. For everyone, life's challenges, fears, losses, traumas and oppression in all forms, can impact our internal thoughts and feelings about ourselves in a variety of ways, you are not alone.

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.

No matter what has brought you to therapy, your experience is valid. I believe that even the most unlikeable, confusing, extreme parts of you have a wisdom to be understood, a protectiveness to be thanked, and a vulnerability to be seen and held. In my practice, I will seek to meet you exactly where you are, and together we can tend to the unique challenges in your life. My ultimate goal is for clients to uncover their essential self—to rediscover their own innate wisdom and strength that can face whatever life brings.

Change can be scary, but therapy shouldn’t be. Receiving help looks different to everyone. It can appear like self-exploration for some, while for others it looks like support when standing alone seems impossible. No matter what impacts you, therapy can offer a guided exploration of what it means to be human. I am a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) in Washington, D.C., with a B.S. in Psychology from The United States Military Academy at West Point and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University.