Therapists in Arlington County, VA

My mission is to strengthen the emotional wellbeing of young children (babies-8 years old), and their families and teachers who support them. I believe that developing the coping skills of the children, while improving the family relationships (and school environment when possible) decreases and prevents behavior challenges. I provide family psychotherapy and parent coaching, with a combination of art therapy, play therapy, yoga and mindfulness techniques, to engage family members of all ages.

My special focus is disordered eating, including binge eating disorder, bulimia, anorexia, body dissatisfaction, chronic dieting, intuitive eating, and orthorexia. I serve as the Clinical Director for Rock Recovery, a non-profit providing accessible disordered eating care (Metro accessible). We offer individual and group therapy for VA, DC, and MD residents, as well as Christian support groups nationwide, to help people find freedom and healing in their relationship with food and their bodies.

Years ago, I visited Ghana where I was introduced to a symbol called the “Sankofa”. The Sankofa translates into “go back and fetch” and symbolizes the importance of looking to your past in order to reclaim the strength and wisdom that has been left behind. As a therapist this deeply resonates with me. Often pieces of our past may feel too painful or overwhelming to revisit. However, through my clients I've seen firsthand that even in some of the most challenging and traumatic experiences often lies perseverance, strength, and growth.

Emotional suffering, while it can be scary and challenging, usually represents an enormous opportunity for growth. Embarking on psychotherapy represents an important step towards that growth. Although this process may seem daunting, psychotherapy represents a unique opportunity to learn about yourself, your relationships and your history and their impact on your life. We will work with the here-and-now experience to more deeply understand your relational patterns and their origins. Working through your unique experiences and patterns, will generate self-acceptance, compassion, greater insight and clarity and help you navigate life and relationships with greater authenticity, integrity and wisdom.

I believe that the therapeutic space should be a place to center your feelings and story. For young people in particular, it can be so powerful to know that stories matter, that there is space for big feelings, and that agency over emotions is possible. In this space, we will work together to build a trusting relationship, grow, and heal. I identify as queer and primarily work with youth and adolescents in the LGBTQ community and individuals impacted by trauma. I center my therapeutic work in trauma-informed approaches and building a space of safety within the four walls (or the video session!) of therapy.

Most of my clients come to me in a state of Autistic burnout, although they may not realize what it is at the time. Treating it as depression or anxiety can be counterproductive & only increases burnout symptoms. These clients are also typically seeking a late-diagnosis (ASD) and figuring out the best way forward to meet needs that have been masked for years. As a neurodivergent affirmative therapist, I go through the diagnostic process with clients and after we formulate therapeutic goals that are individualized for each person.