Therapists for college students near Washington, DC
I specialize in working with adults & teens struggling with mood disorders, depression, self-harm, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma and personality disorders to replace problem behaviors with positive coping skills through Dialectical Behavior Therapy. DBT is helpful for those struggling with managing emotions & stress. I also run DBT Groups for adults & teens. I also have a subspecialty in perinatal mental health including during PPD/PPA, pregnancy, postpartum, loss and PPD in spouses. I have a Masters in Social Work at Rutgers University. I believe that therapy should be client-centered, non-judgmental and at your pace. I hope to inspire you to make change in their life, work towards your goals, process life events and build useful coping skills. I can help you be in control of your emotions, manage stress without problem behaviors and be present in your life. Please feel free to reach out via phone, email or message so that we can chat about how I can be helpful!
I work with a variety of needs and concerns including trauma, PTSD, Complex-PTSD, ADHD, substance use concerns, anxiety, depression, OCD, social anxiety, and stress. I offer virtual therapy throughout Virginia and the District of Columbia. College is a wonderful time to begin or continue on with therapy as there are so many life adjustments happening.
Life as a college student is supposed to be great, but at the end of the day it can really suck. Exams, studying, roommates, relationships, missing home - these are all things that can drive us crazy, not to mention any depression or anxiety that might have been hanging around before. And if you’re dealing with sexuality or gender identity issues, it can really feel difficult. If you’ve made it this far you’ve taken an awesome step towards figuring stuff out. It’s not easy to do, and therapy really can help with the right fit. Whether it’s LGBTQIA+ issues, dealing with a less than ideal roommate, or just figuring out what you want to do with your life, I’ve been there and want to help you through it too.
Are you having trouble falling or staying asleep? Are you replaying painful memories in your head, unable to get past troubling thoughts? If you have tried everything to get better sleep, get rid of negative thoughts and anxiety, I can help using evidence-based techniques like EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing) and CBT-i (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia). In my practice, I help teenagers and adults work through depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic illness, problems sleeping and difficulty adjusting to college life. I believe that therapy works best when the therapist-client relationship is a collaboration, and we figure out how to move forward together. Clients describe my style as integrative, empathic and accepting and I hope to help you uncover the underlying cause of your struggles. If you have a busy schedule, working on yourself gets put off for months or even years. You may even feel like you are not worth prioritizing. Reaching out to a therapist can be difficult, but it is the first step toward getting better. Please contact me for a free phone consultation to determine if we will be a good fit.
Hello, I’m Alison. I help young adults who are overwhelmed, hopeless or anxious feel more in control and able to manage life's stressors and challenges. Some of the issues young adults have come to see me for include: relationship concerns, feelings of being overwhelmed, struggling to adapt to college or missing home, body image issues, life transitions, questions about gender/sexuality, and personal and family trauma. Trauma can include many things, such as relationship abuse, childhood abuse, illness, death, discrimination, and adoption issues. Using talk and somatic (body-oriented) therapy, as well as the expressive arts, I help clients connect to themselves and access resources to help them feel more at peace and in control of their lives. You will find me to be authentic, caring, and a dedicated support on your journey to healing. I bring compassion, mindfulness, and creativity to my work and consider it an honor to work with my clients. As a lifelong traveler who has lived in many places, I enjoy and value working with people from all walks of life. I look forward to meeting you.
Freedom from emotional hijack is found in noticing, naming, and knowing. This can be the gift of psychotherapy. Congratulations on looking for a therapist and trying to figure out what will be best for you! It can seem like it requires endurance, when all you’re trying to do is get your mental health needs met. The good news is there are lots and lots of great therapy practices! And a practice or a therapist that’s a great fit for one person, doesn’t mean that it is for you! All that matters is what works for you. Whether you feel nervous, doubtful, unsure, excited, and/or anything else, let’s chat, when/if you’re ready. Just because we talk, doesn’t mean you have to start therapy!