Dialectical Behavior (DBT) Therapists in Braddock Road Metro, Alexandria, VA

Hello, my name is Michelle Wapnick. Acknowledging that you need support and want to improve is the first step. My hope for you is that you will achieve your goals, feel empowered and become more self-actualized through this journey. My role is to support you on your unique path toward healing and wellness. I work with patients struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem and body-image issues, eating disorders, ADHD and executive functioning concerns, interpersonal struggles, and life-transitions. I have a special affinity for those dealing with with chronic illnesses or health-related concerns for themselves or loved ones.

When everyday life gets you down, sometimes asking for help can be the hardest. I see therapy as a journey that we take together; providing trauma inform care, CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, substance abuse treatment, and support for growth and change.

I am licensed psychotherapist with more than twenty years of experience working with adults and adolescents offering counseling and therapy for a variety of issues to a diverse client base in Virginia and Washington, DC. I provide treatment for individuals, couples and families, and lead a number of therapy groups. My work combines cognitive behavioral techniques with other effective and evidence-based therapies, such as DBT, to help you to actualize your strengths and manage your behaviors in a safe, supportive and solution-focused context. I have extensive experience working with life's transitions, aging, illness, and loss and grief, particularly with the LGBT community.

Do you want to cultivate self-compassion? Improve your relationships, set healthy boundaries and be more assertive? I can help you! Get relief from depression, anxiety, ADHD, and past trauma. Awaken to your own insights, get in touch with your feelings, and practice acceptance of difficult situations. I can guide you on how to unhook from unhelpful thoughts/patterns and reframe/shift your perspective. We can explore effective coping skills, techniques for relaxation and how to get organized and motivated. Let’s reconnect with your values and rediscover what is meaningful to you.

The foundation of my counseling practice is the therapeutic alliance, rapport, and trust with my clients. My person-centered approach allows for positive changes to occur within the safety of a healthy therapeutic relationship. My role is to be genuine and authentic, to treat you with empathy unconditionally, and to provide you with a safe, nonjudgmental environment to reconnect with your authentic self. I tailor interventions to the needs of individual clients, incorporating CBT, DBT, and solution-focused work. I don't believe in “one size fits all” counseling approach, strategy, so I empower clients to chart their own course.

I think of psychotherapy as a creative partnership between client and therapist, accepting the client, just as they are, while also working with them towards lasting change. I strive to create a warm, safe environment, using culturally relevant, evidence-based approaches that foster collaboration and trust. We'll work to improve self-efficacy, develop healthier relationships with self and others, and practice skills to regulate emotions that have interfered with your quality of life. My orientation is trauma-informed and theoretically integrative, using cognitive-behavioral, biosocial, interpersonal process and attachment theories.

Life can be tough! So often, people find themselves struggling to cope with the demands of their everyday life, their emotions, or their unhelpful behaviors. I provide a therapeutic space filled with compassion and without judgment for clients to express their thoughts, feelings and life experiences. I can help you identify what a meaningful and successful life looks like to you. We'll identify barriers in the way of living that life, and the steps you can take to get closer to it. We achieve this together by learning new skills and by recognizing and using the unique wisdom you already possess.

Do you find yourself overwhelmed with stress or worries in your daily life? Is it having an impact on your work, relationships, or how you feel about yourself? Often, we can manage stress on our own, but other times, it's helpful to seek out a therapist for support. In therapy, we can work to improve self-awareness and understand our reactions to triggering events. We can learn specific skills to help with stress and coping, practice new ways to think about situations, find courage to make important decisions, and adjust our behavior in ways that may lead to more positive outcomes.

I am a psychotherapist who works with a diverse population of people. My goal is to collaborate with individuals to assist them in achieving their therapy goal(S). I am licensed in DC (LICSW), VA (LCSW), MD (LCSW-C), and PA (LCSW). I have BS in Human Ecology, BA in Humanities from The Ohio State University, MSW from San Jose State University and Post Masters fellowship in mental health from Stanford University.

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.

I like to think of psychotherapy as an intersection between science and art. As a clinician, my task is to merge the art of empathic healing with the scientific rigor of empirically-supported treatment - by providing therapy that is effective, individualized, person-centered, and culturally informed. Our therapy relationship will be based on mutual respect, trust, and collaboration in pursuit of your unique goals. Together, we will work to solve problems and improve your quality of life, by implementing evidence-based treatments in a manner that is consistent with your values and sensitive to your needs, strengths, and preferences.

Clients can experience a life situation or a series of life situations that cause some level of unwanted emotional arousal (sadness, hurt, pain, fear, anxiety) and as a result of the intensity, increases an urge to do a behavior they consider ineffective (self harm, suicidal behavior, isolate, withdrawal, shutdown, verbally/physically aggressive, tantrums, obsessions, compulsions, avoidance, school refusal). They are in need of skills to help them cope with their emotions and problem solve their life situations. Despite the discomfort, they want to be effective, maintain relationships and feel better.

Sheena Carter is Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She gained her Bachelors and Masters of social work from the Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been providing mental health services for over 12 years in the Richmond and Northern Virginia areas. Sheena believes in a client centered environment that is safe, supportive, nonjudgmental, and culturally sensitive with all clients.

As a Clinical Psychologist, I aim to create a safe and non-judgmental space where I can develop successful working relationships with my clients. My goal is to support my clients in developing more awareness on how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors impact on the quality of their lives, and assist them in developing the necessary skills to overcome the challenges of their daily lives. I believe every person deserves to have treatment tailored to their own unique needs. Therefore, I work collaboratively with my clients on the areas of their lives they value as important and that they believe need improvement.

We all have a human need to feel connected – to our loved ones, our communities, and the world around us. Sometimes, however, emotional roadblocks or negative thought patterns can create walls that make genuine connections difficult. Therapy can be a powerful tool to explore these very issues. Imagine therapy as a safe space where you can freely explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without judgment. Brianna's approach is collaborative and authentic, meaning you'll work together as a team to uncover how these internal factors might be impacting you.

I specialize in supporting adults and adolescents who are coping with pervasively invalidating experiences. My goal is to assist you to develop self-understanding and self-compassion. I work with clients who want to build on their capacity for emotional regulation, safely process their experiences, and establish and hold boundaries in their relationships.

Are you looking for a compassionate space to process life changes? A place to learn more about yourself and learn concrete skills to manage your emotions? If so, I might be a good fit for you. I provide a non-judgmental environment to foster create a strong therapeutic relationship and individualized treatment. I have expertise helping kids, adolescents and adults, as well as parents and families (including adult children and siblings) improve communication and effect positive changes in their household.

As a clinician, it is my goal to provide a safe, comforting, and encouraging environment for personal growth. I work from a strengths-based model to highlight the various systems in your life and work to address the needs and concerns that you bring into the counseling session. I strive to ensure that you feel supported and valued in our counseling relationship, this is one of the main benefits of seeing an independent provider.

Are you missing out on things that are important to you because of anxiety or depression? Has a major life change left you feeling the need to spend more time aligning with your values, but you don’t know where to start? I work collaboratively with clients to figure out how to remove obstacles to living your best life. I enjoy teaching clients skills that have lasting effects and fit seamlessly into your day-to-day life. My training includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Habit Reversal Training, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).