Therapy has a weird rep.

In some ways it’s a reputation we earned, though one that is fortunately improving. But as far as I’m concerned, the process of therapy is still far too enigmatic. So here’s my simplified approach to therapy— and why it works.

First, here’s my radical belief: You’re human.

I know, I know— it’s a bit of a therapist’s cliché, but if you’re like most humans, you didn’t exactly receive a primer on your emotions or mental health when you entered the world, despite being born with an excruciatingly intricate emotional system! And the emotional education you likely did receive— from our culture, from your family, from society— was likely unclear or confusing, if not actively harmful.

And, at some point, things likely went from bad to worse.

Chances are that you, not unlike most of us, have done the best you can with what you’ve learned along the way. And what you’ve learned has probably helped you in really important and adaptive ways! But at some point you’ve bumped up against its limitations:

You’ve grown exhausted by negative thoughts and feelings about yourself or your life
You’ve noticed frustrating and seemingly unchanging patterns in your relationships, always somehow ending up in the same place— again!
You’ve struggled to feel valid in your emotional experiences, even feeling guilty or ashamed that you can’t seem to “feel better” sooner
You’ve felt down, anxious, lonely, or on-edge, yet struggle to understand why
Or despite your accomplishments, you still feel unfulfilled, unhappy, stagnant, or lost
And, try as you might to follow new advice or make meaningful changes… nothing’s stuck

Maybe it’s time to try something new to create
real, lasting change.

The answer to your problems doesn’t exist somewhere in a book or on an Instagram feed. Real change, the kind that gets us “unstuck,” usually requires other people to help us out of the box. So it’s no surprise that what the science of therapy has found is that it’s our therapeutic relationship— a collaborative, warm, resilient, encouraging, supportive, and nonjudgmental one— that most contributes to change in therapy.

It’s a relationship unlike even our most intimate day-to-day ones, where we fear rejection if we’re too vulnerable, and it’s one that happens with a trained expert in how minds work— and how we can work with them better. It’s this combination of genuine connection and scientific expertise that makes therapy such a powerful, transformative tool.

Here’s what you can expect from therapy with me:

Therapist in Washington DC.png — Insight-Oriented

Having a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationships is often the first step toward taking control of your life. I help clients look to the past in order to understand their present, while remaining squarely focused on shaping their futures.
Are you ready to turn inward?

Online Therapy in Washington DC.png — Adaptive Approach

You’re complex; shouldn’t your therapist’s approach be too? I integrate a variety of therapeutic approaches including psychodynamic, interpersonal, person-centered, and feminist therapies. I also draw from skills-based approaches like CBT and mindfulness-based techniques.

Best Therapist in DC.png — Collaborative Style

I believe we’re both experts in the room. While I am an expert on the therapeutic process, you’re the expert on your life— even when you might not feel like it. I honor both by bringing authenticity, humor, and a focus on our relationship to humanize therapy and empower you to create change.

And it works.

Good therapy works, and it works surprisingly well. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, the average person who engages in psychotherapy is better off by the end of treatment than four out of five of those who don’t! For those of us trying to make the most of our lives and limited time, that’s a serious leg up— one that can help you to begin living a happier and more fulfilling life. What’s not to love about that?

I have witnessed how therapy can change lives.

At the end of the day, I believe in therapy. Whether you’re suffering from depression or anxiety, struggling in your relationships or feeling isolated, unlearning difficult family dynamics, recovering from trauma, feeling stuck, or simply navigating the complex challenges of your life and wanting extra support, I believe that therapy together can help you to find relief, experience yourself and your world more deeply, and live a happier, more connected life. Why not give it a try?