Find a Therapist in Alexandria, VA

Damian Ayala, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 12 years of experience, is dedicated to providing quality mental health services for children, teenagers, adults, and families. He believes that life is a beautiful struggle, where challenges from transitions, loss, trauma, and daily stressors can often overshadow life's beauty. During these difficult times, Damian walks alongside his clients, offering the necessary space and time for them to gain insight, develop skills, grieve losses, and rediscover joy and hope. His approach is centered on connection, collaboration, and creativity, fostering a safe and compassionate environment to establish secure therapeutic relationships. With this relational foundation, Damian and his clients effectively collaborate to pursue their personal goals. His commitment is to help individuals create a new reality for their lives, recognizing that healing occurs within the context of relationships. Damian finds it a privilege to accompany his clients on their unique journeys, accentuating their strengths, elevating their hope, and facilitating positive change. He understands that the first step can be overwhelming yet essential for growth and transformation.

Melanie Ness, LICSW, is a compassionate and dedicated clinical social worker who specializes in helping teens and adults navigate the complexities of life. With a rich background in diverse therapeutic approaches, including somatic, positive psychology, and trauma-focused therapy, she adeptly addresses challenges related to anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues. Melanie employs various modalities such as the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy, ensuring a tailored experience for each individual or couple. Her strength-based and mindfulness-based techniques foster resilience and promote holistic healing, inviting clients to discover their inner strengths and build meaningful connections. Whether through psychodynamic insights or experiential methods, Melanie's warm and humanistic approach creates a safe environment for transformation and growth.

Hela Baer is a compassionate Clinical Social Worker and therapist dedicated to helping teens and adults navigate life's challenges. Whether clients are grappling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, or the complexities of LGBTQIA2+ identities, Hela creates a supportive space for exploration and healing. She believes that healing thrives in nurturing relationships, a strong mind-body connection, and deep compassion. Hela works with individuals experiencing family-related stress, overwhelming emotions, or those looking to engage in self-exploration. Through her diverse modalities—including Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Informed Yoga & Mindfulness—she guides her clients to uncover themes and patterns that may feel constricting, embracing opportunities for change and renewal. With a commitment to cultural sensitivity and experiential learning, Hela integrates mindfulness, nature, and animal-assisted therapies, fostering a distinct therapeutic journey. It is Hela's honor to walk alongside her clients, nurturing growth and self-discovery through every valley and peak they encounter. Together, they embark on a curious adventure to illuminate the beauty within each individual's path.

Pamela Bakel is a compassionate and dedicated Licensed Professional Counselor with over a decade of counseling experience and two decades in business. She specializes in helping children, preteens, adults, and elders navigate challenges such as ADHD, anxiety, adult autism, social anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, and chronic illness. Her holistic approach addresses mental, physical, and spiritual health, utilizing evidence-based tools and techniques tailored to her clients' unique needs. Pamela creates a safe and supportive environment where individuals can develop skills, manage new problems, and improve ongoing struggles. She integrates mindfulness, tapping, and yoga therapy with traditional therapeutic methods to enhance well-being. Additionally, she offers Christian counseling for those who seek spiritual guidance. With her wealth of experience, Pamela helps clients feel more successful, peaceful, and connected in their lives.

Diane Bonilla is a compassionate and dedicated Licensed Professional Counselor with over 25 years of experience in mental health. She is committed to helping individuals discover their resilience and navigate life's overwhelming challenges, whether they are therapists, business owners, parents, or caregivers. Diane emphasizes the importance of strengthening nervous system regulation as a foundation for managing stress and facilitating change. Specializing in grief, anxiety, and life transitions, she supports clients in addressing guilt, forgiveness, relationship communication, and boundary setting. Additionally, Diane offers expertise in burnout recovery and prevention, particularly for those experiencing work-related anxiety and imposter syndrome. As a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and a Certified Grief Informed Professional (CGP), she skillfully guides clients in reprogramming outdated thought patterns while promoting healing. Diane believes that in life, there is no failure—only feedback. She encourages clients to recognize that they have been doing their best with the resources available to them and affirms that, through therapy, they can expand their awareness, wisdom, choices, and resources. Is now the time for individuals to create a life filled with greater ease?

Elizabeth Bostick is a dedicated Clinical Social Worker and Therapist with a wealth of experience in guiding individuals through life's challenges. She understands that many find themselves feeling stuck, caught in repetitive thoughts and behaviors that hinder their ability to fully engage in the present moment. With her compassionate approach, Elizabeth assists clients in navigating these challenges, particularly in managing mood disorders, anxiety, and self-esteem issues. Through mindful techniques and her expertise in various therapeutic modalities, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Psychodynamic methods, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Interpersonal therapy, she empowers clients to alter established neural connections. Elizabeth believes that by learning how the mind functions, individuals can foster a greater sense of freedom and the possibility for change in their lives. With a focus on individual therapy, she is committed to supporting clients as they train their minds for a more fulfilling future.

Andrea Braxton is a licensed professional counselor who is dedicated to understanding her clients' worldviews and values as the foundation of a strong therapeutic relationship. She recognizes the uniqueness of each individual's lived experiences and is passionate about being a co-facilitator in their journey toward personal success. Believing that clients are the true experts in the therapeutic process, Andrea focuses on facilitating emotional growth through goal achievement and behavioral change. Her warm demeanor and welcoming smile set the stage for cultivating meaningful connections. Andrea's mission is to equip her clients with specific skills that will empower them to move toward their individual goals.

Gloria Brown is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in helping individuals navigate life's challenges. She understands that many people struggle with adjusting to various roles and the stress that can come with them. Gloria is dedicated to supporting her clients in developing and implementing effective coping skills to manage their stressors. With over ten years of experience in the mental health field at both a Community Health Center and in private practice, she has a compassionate approach that is central to her work. Gloria is particularly passionate about women's issues and enjoys working with adolescents. Her expertise includes assisting those dealing with anxiety, depression, and communication skill enhancement. Gloria provides a non-judgmental and open-minded environment for her clients to explore their challenges. For anyone who is struggling, seeking support from Gloria could be the first step toward finding relief and empowerment on their journey.

Kiona Bryant-Clay, LPC, NCC, a passionate therapist, specializes in working with clients of all ages—from preteens to adults. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by individuals, she diligently meets her clients at their level. Kiona is committed to empowering adults by helping them navigate troubling symptoms that impede their ability to fully enjoy life. Through a collaborative approach, she utilizes her extensive knowledge in various therapy modalities, including Expressive Arts, Positive Psychology, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to identify patterns and triggers contributing to personal or relational distress. Kiona addresses a range of issues, such as depression, anxiety, work distress, and behavioral concerns, and acknowledges the courage it takes to seek help. She prioritizes building a strong therapeutic rapport to earn her clients' trust and invites them to journey toward a brighter future with her guidance.

Alycia Burant is a compassionate and dedicated Licensed Professional Counselor, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to her practice. With a strong focus on helping individuals of all ages—from preteens to adults—Alycia specializes in addressing significant issues such as stress, trauma, PTSD, and chronic pain. Her therapeutic approach is integrative and tailored to meet the unique needs of her clients, utilizing a variety of modalities including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Compassion Focused, and Trauma Focused therapies. She is particularly skilled in fostering a safe and supportive environment that encourages growth and healing through person-centered and culturally sensitive practices. Alycia’s expertise extends to working with couples and groups, making her a versatile therapist who is dedicated to supporting her clients on their journey toward wellness and resilience.

Mary Ray is a skilled clinical social worker and therapist, credentialed as an LCSW, ACSW, and SEP. She specializes in providing both talk therapy and somatic therapy, paying close attention to the intricate connections between mind, body, social, and spiritual well-being. With a compassionate approach, Mary seeks to facilitate positive change in her clients' lives. Her holistic methodology considers the physical, emotional, sexual, social, spiritual, and intellectual facets of life, likening them to the legs of a table—when one leg is unbalanced, the overall quality of life can falter. Mary emphasizes the importance of a mindful and flexible approach, equipping individuals with practices to navigate acute and cumulative life stressors and transform daily tensions into opportunities for growth. Since her practice began in 1990, Mary has dedicated herself to enhancing communication, problem-solving, and achieving balance in her clients' lives. She provides individual, couple, and family psychotherapy, and also offers group consultation for EMDR practitioners while collaborating in business settings to foster connection and understanding. Known for her lively and inspiring presentations, Mary has been recognized for her ability to impart valuable insights and support even in challenging conversations.

Dr. Susan Maytorena is a dedicated psychologist with over 15 years of experience in providing psychotherapy to individuals facing challenges such as anxiety, insomnia, and stress-related conditions. She specializes in helping clients deal with excessive worry, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, social anxiety, phobias, and insomnia. Dr. Maytorena’s clients often seek her expertise to better manage their stress and to enhance their relationships. Utilizing an integrative approach, she draws upon recent advances in various treatment modalities including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and psychodynamic therapy. Her method not only aims to provide immediate relief from current stressors but also equips clients with insights and tools for lasting positive change. Understanding that the journey of therapy can feel overwhelming, she emphasizes the importance of a strong therapeutic alliance, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. Dr. Maytorena's practice offers more details about her approach, ensuring that each client feels informed and equipped to engage in their therapeutic journey.

Mary Calvert, MA, CCC-SLP, is a dedicated pediatric speech therapist with a wealth of experience in private practice dating back to 1988. Before establishing her practice, she contributed her expertise at the Children’s Hospital Hearing and Speech Center in Washington, D.C., where she not only provided evaluation and therapy for children but also played a key role as the coordinator for the learning disabilities school and served as a consultant for the Learning Disabilities Clinic. Mary has extensive experience in both Alexandria City and Los Angeles County schools, focusing on diagnostic assessments and student placements, in addition to serving as a classroom teacher for children on the autism spectrum. Her home office is designed to offer a warm and inviting environment for therapy. Depending on each child’s unique needs, therapy may aim to enhance pragmatic and social language skills, auditory comprehension, language organization, verbal expression, and written language capabilities. Through articulation therapy, Mary helps children improve their oral motor skills and speech sound production while simultaneously building essential phonological and literacy skills such as syllable segmentation and rhyming. An accomplished professional, Mary has guest lectured at George Washington University for graduate students in speech pathology and has presented workshops at city, county, and national conventions. She is also the co-author of 'An Environmental Communication Profile: Evaluation and Procedure for Children with Pragmatic Social Language Disorders.'