Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapists in Washington, DC

Are you someone who avoids social situations, seeks out reassurance from others, or describes yourself as a people pleaser or perfectionist? If so, you might be struggling with anxiety. Anxiety shows up in a variety of different ways. These challenges often arise during major life transitions or may be associated with relationship, school, or work-related concerns. I have a special interest in working with teens as well as adults in their 20s and early 30s who experience anxiety and stress. I'm here to help you gain the tools you need to feel relief and to approach your life in a more authentic way.

Thanks for visiting! We will be the right fit if you’re striving toward a better version of yourself. You might notice it's easier to think than feel–maybe even overthink–about how to live, be, and relate to others well. You want more honesty throughout your relationships (and with yourself), even when it's uncomfortable. You thrive with exploring, challenging questions, and occasional redirection toward larger goals. We will be reflecting on relationships, families of origin, career, and general stress of life that leads to feelings of discomfort.

District Psychotherapy is a counseling practice serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We specialize in young and middle-age adults (18-40’s) facing life challenges and/or mental health issues; or simply seeking greater fulfillment in life. Our most common treatment areas are anxiety, depression, career & relationship difficulties, ADHD, OCD, panic attacks, and trauma—among others. Sometimes just feeling stuck or adrift.

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.

Make peace with your thoughts and emotions, silence your inner critic and experience authentic emotions. Increase peace and understanding in your relationships, learn to communicate in ways that facilitate connection and lessen conflict. Find clarity in your purpose and uncover what has been holding you back, keeping you feeling stuck. Identify triggers to feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, and imposter syndrome. End feelings of unworthiness and shame. Maximize your potential, and express yourself authentically. My name is Shalin Carter, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, these are the things I want to help you with.

At times the road to your fullest life is found by moving through trauma, rage, loss, and betrayal. How we cope with those hardships is important. Therapy can help you become more aware of suffering, the sources that are causing it, and tools to help you overcome it. I invite us to imagine a life beyond fear, shame, and regret. One where you feel your innate wisdom, compassion, and capacity, to live life more fully despite all of its complexities.

The journey of life is complex. We can often find ourselves struggling with difficult emotions, challenging circumstances, and coping skills that no longer serve us. Sometimes, these patterns can be explained by understanding the influences of our past. I also believe our lives are greatly influenced by the relationships around us and how we show up in them. As a therapist, I value creating a supportive and collaborative space for you to explore yourself, your experiences, and the changes you’d like to make in your life. Together, we will work to move towards empowerment, self-acceptance, and self-compassion.

I tailor my services to each client and their unique needs, always from the humanistic approach. That means that I see my clients first and foremost as human beings, having what we would consider a human experience. Clients experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship issues, job issues, or really any other type of discomfort will benefit from my integration of mindfulness and meditative practices into their treatment, alongside the use of building the psychological tools that empower them to create measurable changes to their circumstances.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with experience working alongside individuals with a range of mental health concerns. I have extensive training and specialization in the areas of anxiety and mood disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and severe and persistent mental illness (SMI). I am a Cognitive Behavioral psychologist who values eclecticism and integrating different therapeutic approaches to best meet each individual’s current perceived needs and goals. I approach therapy from a person-centered, strength-based, and collaborative perspective.

Moving through the ups and downs of life can be challenging. You might feel uncertain about who you are or where you are going. You might feel lonely or misunderstood. Maybe you feel stuck trying to move past painful experiences. Let’s work together to create a path toward healing, growth, and self-acceptance. I recognize how difficult it can be to find a therapist who gets it. I warmly welcome people from the queer community, black people, and people of color to contact me for services. Whether you are exploring your identity, navigating relationships, or feeling isolated.

I am committed to providing a safe and non-judgmental space for you to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. I am passionate about helping clients navigate through anxiety, depression, life shifts, relationships, dating, sexuality, gender, and trauma. I advocate for a sex-positive atmosphere, believing that sexuality is a vital part of human identity. Together, we'll explore the stories that shape your life, allowing you to better understand yourself and the patterns that may be holding you back.

We are CBT experts. Since it was founded in 2003 by Dr. Stephen Holland, Capital Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been providing 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.

Are you struggling with depression, anxiety, biploar disorder, or have experienced trauma? Have you self-medicated in an attempt to manage your emotions? You can expect supportive, practical help in overcoming trauma, the treatment of mood disorders, and recovery from substance abuse and behavioral addictions. Therapy will be tailored to your needs, using the tools that work best for you, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Restructuring (a core technique from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and learning stress reduction skills. In therapy, you can build lasting alternatives to unhealthy family dynamics.

I offer services throughout DC, MD, and VA. I specialize in providing support to individuals with eating disorders, disordered eating, and those who want to improve their relationship with food and their body. While challenges with food and body may be what brings a client to see me, I know that these struggles do not exist in a vacuum. This is why I take a holistic approach and support my clients in exploring and learning ways to cope with anxiety, depression, relational conflict, trauma symptoms and other life challenges. In addition to working with client's with eating disorders, I offer Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD.

Dr. Natalie Pierce specializes in the treatment of chronic pain/illnesses, insomnia, OCD, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, body image concerns, life transitions, and depression. Dr. Pierce is board-certified in biofeedback and practices therapy primarily from CBT/ACT and positive psychology perspectives through a health psychology lens to help patients manage stress, transition after an injury or disease, and cope with pain, loss, feeling “stuck,” anxiety, and depression.

Dr. Hollins specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, body image concerns, OCD, panic disorder, anxiety disorders, PTSD/trauma, racial/ethnic/cultural-related concerns, and depression. Dr. Hollins combines evidence based treatments with a sense of compassion, collaboration, and a nonjudgemental approach.

My therapeutic style is rooted in integration, blending Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing to tailor sessions to each client's unique needs. The goal is to create a safe haven where clients can rediscover their authentic selves, fostering vulnerability and transparency that paves the way for transformative change. Let's embark on this journey together toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Does it feel like you are surrounded by darkness? Perhaps you've experienced the death of someone close to you. Or perhaps you're facing a life-threatening illness, or anxiety is keeping you stuck in an unsatisfying lifestyle. My goal is to help you find peace and purpose in every possible life transition and challenge. I want to work with you to uncover any negative patterns that may be getting in the way of your best life. Together, we will develop and implement a plan that will allow you to achieve your goals. A rich, full, satisfying life is possible. We can get there together.

I specialize in working with teens and adults experiencing life transitions, chronic health conditions, GI disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma, and ADHD. I believe emotions are not meant to be overcome, but are natural signals we can use to deepen our relationships and life experiences. I also believe in the mind-body connection, and that a holistic health approach is central to healing. Lastly, I believe mental health is impacted by larger systems, power dynamics and historical context. As a result, I work with clients to recognize the impact of these broader systems, and advocate for change to support their wellness.