Meet Our Specialized Therapists in DC, VA & MD - Find the Right Therapist for Your Needs
If you’re searching for a therapist in DC, you’re likely looking for more than availability — you’re looking for someone who feels like the right fit.
We are a specialized therapy practice in Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland passionate about helping clients overcome the struggles that are holding them back and make impactful changes in their lives, at a pace that feels supportive.
Our therapists work with adults, college students, parents, working professionals, and couples navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, identity-related concerns, perinatal struggles, and professional burnout, among many others.
We believe that the mind–body connection is essential to healing and growth, as supported by decades of research, so we integrate a holistic approach with evidence-based therapies such as EMDR & EFT.
Trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ affirming, relational, and holistic psychotherapy for individuals, parents and couples in Washington, DC, Virginia & Maryland.
We’re a Diverse Team of Specialized, Trauma-Informed Therapists
Our team is as diverse as our clients. Each therapist on our team brings their own areas of specialization, lived experience, and therapeutic style, including bilingual, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC clinicians providing affirming care in DC, Virginia & Maryland.
Below, you can read therapist bios, explore their availability, and request a consultation with any of our therapists who feel like the best fit for you.
Or, if you already know who you’d like to work with, you can start by requesting a free consultation below
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We are an LGBTQIA+ affirming, BIPOC-inclusive, Health at Every Size (HAES) supportive, body-positive, and sex-positive practice committed to creating a welcoming space for everyone.
Our Diverse & Specialized Therapists in DC, Virginia & Maryland
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Huma Sikandar Fatakia, LPC
Founder & CEO
Holistic EMDR Trauma Therapist, EFT Couples Counselor & Perinatal Therapist
DC & VA - Not Accepting new clients
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Erika Arnold-McEwan, LICSW
Clinical Supervisor, Holistic EMDR Trauma Therapist & Attachment-Informed Psychotherapist
DC (Virtual only)
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Olesya Van Dijck, LPC
EFT Couples Counselor, Trauma-informed Holistic Psychotherapist & Art Therapist
DC & Virginia (In-person & Virtual)
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Veronica Thornton, LPC
EMDR Trauma Therapist & Holistic Mental Health Counselor
DC (Virtual Only)
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John Hardenbergh, LICSW
Gender-Affirming Psychotherapist, Attachment-informed EMDR Trauma Therapist
DC Only (In-person & Virtual)
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Victoria Wendell, LPC
Holistic Trauma Therapist & Eating Disorder Specialist
VA (In-person & Virtual)
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Theresa Sherman, LGPC
Culturally-Attuned Perinatal/ Postpartum Therapist, Trauma-informed Psychotherapist & Couples Counselor
DC (Virtual Only), Virginia (Waitlist-VA)
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Christina Odwyer, LGSW
Holistic Psychotherapist and Trauma-informed Counselor
DC (Virtual Only)
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Madeline Gaffney, LGPC
Holistic Psychotherapist and EFT Couples Counselor
DC & Virginia (In-person & Virtual)
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Isabella Calingaert
LGBTQ+ Affirming Psychotherapist, Holistic Trauma Therapist & Couples Counselor
DC & MD (Virtual), Virginia (waitlist-VA)
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Ashley Badgley, LGPC
LGBTQ+ Affirming Psychotherapist & EMDR Trauma Therapist
DC Only (In-person & Virtual)
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Allie Kassraie, LGPC
Gender-Affirming Holistic Psychotherapist, Couples Counselor & Music Therapist
DC & VA (Virtual only)
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Christen Yu, LGPC
Trauma-Informed Psychotherapist & Culturally Responsive Therapist
DC (In-person & Virtual)
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Shayla Martin, LGPC
Trauma-informed Psychotherapist & Holistic Perinatal/Postpartum Therapist & Couples Counselor
DC Only (In-person & Virtual)
Meet Our Specialized Therapists in the DMV Area
Each therapist on our team brings their own areas of expertise and approach to care
Huma Sikandar Fatakia, LPC
Clinical Supervisor, Holistic EMDR Trauma Therapist, EFT Couples Counselor & Perinatal Mental Health Therapist
Not accepting new clients
Areas of Specialty:
EMDR Therapy & Post Traumatic Stress
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Interracial Couples Issues & Success
Perinatal/ Postpartum Parent Wellness
Perinatal/ Postpartum Relationship Issues
Attachment-informed Therapy & Relational Distress
Trauma-informed Clinical Supervision
Locations: DC & Virginia clients
Languages: English, Urdu & Hindi
Huma is the Founder & CEO of Sage & Fifth Therapy Place PLLC. She works with clients to help them overcome distressing cycles and empowers them to find stability, create healthier relationships and live an enriched life. While cultural sensitivity and mindfulness are at the core of her practice, Huma also specializes in EMDR, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Interracial Couples Therapy, Perinatal Mental Health and Attachment based Psychodynamic Therapy.
In her work with couples, she helps partners create a stronger bond and work through communication/ trust issues, past traumas, infidelity, perinatal issues (related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum, infertility), tough life transitions, parenting differences, conflicts in integrating cultural/value differences, boundaries with families and the impact of a mental health diagnosis.
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Erika Arnold-McEwan, LICSW, CCTP
Clinical Supervisor, Holistic EMDR Trauma Therapist & Attachment-Informed Psychotherapist
Areas of Specialty:
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
EMDR Therapy and Posttraumatic Stress
Attachment Ruptures and Family Systems
Developmental Childhood Trauma
Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Relational Distress, Abuse & Domestic Violence
Anxiety, Depression, and Phobias
Therapy for LGBTQIA+ Clients
Trauma-informed Clinical Supervision
Locations: DC clients only (Virtual)
Erika specializes in trauma and abuse recovery, particularly with female-identifying, LGBTQIA+, and immigrant populations. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Therapist who has two decades of experience supporting clients who have experienced childhood attachment wounds, relational distress, abuse, sexual assault, and grief/loss.
Utilizing an evidence-based therapeutic modality, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), she empowers clients to desensitize trauma reactions and correct unhelpful beliefs about one’s self and others to overcome how they continue to be impacted by past traumatic experiences.
EMDR can be helpful for clients who:
Have engaged in talk therapy in the past but feel stuck in distressing reactions;
Are struggling with unresolved childhood trauma, attachment wounds, and difficulty believing they are good enough;
Struggle with shame, anxiety, fear, and depressive thinking patterns;
Are ready for a more intensive, structured neurobiological therapy.
Erika consistently strives to create a safe, unconditionally supportive therapeutic space where clients can learn to calm their nervous system. She is mindful of how chronic traumatic stress and past traumas impact one’s present functioning. Erika maintains a clinical foundation of somatic processing, attachment-informed, client-centered, and Polyvagal theories to guide her therapeutic approaches. She believes every person has core strengths and internal resources that support their healing journey.
Erika is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota). She has also recently earned a certificate in Global Mental Health from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. She has a special interest in trauma healing of displaced persons and expanding mental health care access in developing communities. Erika is also the creator of a children’s book about trauma: When Sad, Scary Things Happen-Coping with Childhood Trauma. She offers virtual therapy sessions in English for clients in Washington, DC.
EMDR Trauma Therapist & Holistic Psychotherapist
Veronica Thornton, LPC
Areas of Specialty:
EMDR Therapy and Post-Traumatic Stress
Developmental Childhood trauma
Anxiety & Professional Burnout
Relational Distress, Abuse & Domestic Violence
Sexual Violence & Sexual Abuse
Locations: DC clients only (Virtual)
Languages: English
Veronica specializes in EMDR trauma therapy and Holistic Psychotherapy, incorporating mindfulness, somatic interventions, Psychodynamic Therapy and CBT interventions. The impact of trauma on one’s life may look like anxiety, depression, avoidance, loss of sense of self or grief that does not go away. It comes in many shapes and sizes, and can even be connected to chronic physical illnesses. Veronica has a deep understanding of this impact of trauma and helps her clients reconnect with themselves and learn new ways to overcome these struggles. She specializes in working with clients who need support with trauma connected to complex grief, divorce, disruptive family relationships/attachments, sexual Trauma, childhood abuse, high stress due to life transitions or other past experiences of trauma.
With EMDR therapy, Veronica has been able to help her clients process big emotions and traumatic events that felt stuck for them for a long time and has helped them learn new ways of being to attain the life they desire. She creates a safe environment for her clients, helps them build on their character strengths and collaborates with them to incorporate their history and cultural background in their therapeutic journey.
Veronica earned her MS in Human Development and Family Studies from University of North Carolina and her Master's in Counseling from Regent University. She also has specialized postgraduate training in EMDR Therapy. Veronica offers sessions in English and works with individuals in Washington DC.
Culturally-Attuned Perinatal/ Postpartum Therapist, Trauma-informed Psychotherapist & Couples Counselor
Theresa Sherman, LGPC
Areas of Specialty:
Perinatal/ Postpartum Support & Parent Wellness
Perinatal/ Postpartum Relationship Issues
Perinatal/ Postpartum Couples Therapy
Identity Exploration & Cross-cultural Navigation
Relationships and interpersonal dynamics
Trauma-informed Therapy
Life Transitions
Grief & Loss
Locations: DC clients only, Virtual
Languages: English
Theresa (“Tess”) is a culturally attuned perinatal therapist who specializes in supporting individuals and couples through the emotional and relational transitions of the perinatal period, from preconception through postpartum, and the evolving challenges of parenthood. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Tess Sherman has spent the past ten years living in the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. She understands that each individual’s unique cultural background informs and colors their interactions with the world. Tess pays close attention to all aspects of identity and their role in the therapeutic process, including race, gender, sexuality, and physical ability, honoring each person’s ability to define their own experience. Tess’s person-centered approach helps her create a safe space for her clients that they feel motivated to return to week after week, one where they feel heard, understood, and accepted,
A lover of foreign languages, literature, and poetry, Tess is able to distill into words what is often difficult to articulate emotionally. She believes that the power to name our experiences on our own terms, using our own language, can be an effective tool for healing. Trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Internal Family Systems Therapy, Tess is apt at deciphering when a client will benefit from targeted tools and practical solutions or a slower, more emotionally responsive intervention. Whether you are seeking support navigating a difficult season, healing trauma, or building closer, more fulfilling ties with those around you, Tess will work diligently and collaboratively to ensure you achieve your therapeutic objectives.
Tess received her BA in Arabic and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame and holds a Master’s in Counseling from the College of New Jersey. She also completed a Master’s program in Women’s Studies at the University of Jordan, writing her thesis on the role and significance of Jordanian midwives in national family health care initiatives. Although she conducts therapy exclusively in English, she also speaks Spanish, French, and Arabic. She sees both individuals and couples virtually in Washington, DC.
Gender-Affirming Psychotherapist, Attachment-informed EMDR Trauma Therapist
John Hardenbergh, LICSW
Areas of Specialty:
EMDR Therapy & Post Traumatic Stress
Gender Affirming Therapy
Polyamory & Open Relationships Issues
Therapy for LGBTQIA+ Clients
Developmental Childhood trauma
Attachment-informed Therapy for Relational Distress
Eating Disorders
Anxiety and Professional Burnout
Locations: DC clients only (In-person & Virtual)
John is an EMDR trauma therapist and psychodynamically informed psychotherapist. He believes that much of present-day psychological pain is rooted in past traumatic experiences and attachment disruptions. When we experience trauma, memories of these events remain with us as unprocessed memories, affecting our moods, behaviors, sense of self, and our bodies. Often the key to healing is fully processing those experiences in order to feel like yourself again. John has helped many clients reprocess painful experiences using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to create impactful change in their lives, helping them gain insight into themselves and others. With EMDR, clients can approach these memories safely, allowing the mind to go where it needs to go in order to heal. Healing from trauma can be hard work, but John is with his clients every step of the way and will be able to provide skills and resources for overcoming painful experiences.
He also specializes in gender affirming therapy and therapy for LGBTQIA2SP+ clients. Some people have more difficulty navigating the social expectations of gender, sexuality and their own gender identity than others. John provides a calm and nonjudgmental space for his clients to consider and explore their gender identity and sexual orientation. If you’re someone considering medically transitioning in any way, John can also write a letter to your insurance conforming to WPATH’s Standards of Care 8 based on your ongoing therapy with him.
John strongly believes in bringing an intersectional lens into the therapy room to understand how our overlapping identities and oppressions shape our internal experiences. In any therapeutic relationship, our identities will overlap in some situations and diverge in others. John would love to hear your story and talk about how he can work with you to get you through whatever you’re struggling with today.
Prior to becoming a therapist, John was a public interest attorney. He holds a Master’s degree from Catholic University and is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW). He offers sessions in English to clients in Washington DC, in-person and virtually.
Holistic Trauma Therapist & Culturally Responsive Counselor
Christen Yu, LGPC
Areas of Specialty:
Post-Traumatic Stress & Trauma Recovery
Childhood Developmental Trauma & Abuse
Relational Distress & Trauma
Cross-Cultural Identity, Acculturation Stress & Racial Trauma
Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy
Anxiety, Depression & Life Transitions
College Student Mental Health
Locations: DC clients only, In-person & Virtual
Languages: English & Mandarin
Christen is a trauma-informed psychotherapist with experience supporting individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and identity-related concerns in culturally diverse contexts. Through her clinical training at a community mental health agency and a college counseling center, she has worked with individuals impacted by complex trauma, including childhood abuse, domestic violence, sexual trauma, and systemic oppression. She also has a strong interest in working with college students and young adults navigating identity development, relational challenges, and life transitions.
Christen takes an eclectic, person-centered approach to therapy, meeting clients where they are and tailoring care to their unique needs and goals. She draws from a range of evidence-based modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based practices, solution-focused strategies, and relational-cultural theory (RCT). Clients often describe her as warm, thoughtful, and deeply attentive. She is committed to providing individualized, culturally responsive care that supports healing, growth, and self-understanding.
As a bilingual therapist fluent in Mandarin and English, Christen brings cultural and linguistic awareness to her work and strives to create a safe, affirming space for clients from diverse backgrounds. She draws on her lived experience across cultures to foster trust and connection in the therapeutic relationship. She is also active in her professional community, advocating for mental health awareness and inclusive, accessible care.
Christen received her M.S.Ed. and M.Phil.Ed. in Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her clinical training, she has been actively involved in research in the field of clinical psychology.
LGBTQIA+ Affirming Psychotherapist, Holistic Trauma Therapist & Couples Counselor
Clinical Areas of Focus:
Attachment-informed Therapy
Trauma-informed therapy
Individual & Couples Therapy for LGBTQIA+ Clients
Polyamory & Ethical Non-Monogamy Affirming Therapy
Non-Traditional Relational and Family Structures
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Self Esteem, Empowerment & Body Liberation
Chronic Pain & Illness
Grief & Loss
Locations: VA (in-person and online), DC & MD (Virtual only)
Languages: English
Isabella is a trauma informed, holistic therapist who believes in therapy that affirms all parts of your identity and intersectionality, and the greater systems we exist within. She specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ and polyamorous individuals and couples; those who want to make their own rules and work outside of traditional systems; those navigating multiple cultures; and anyone exploring identity and self-esteem.
She supports clients in working through all forms of trauma and grief, and the many different ways they may show up, through an attachment-based lens. She believes in the power of building a foundation of healthier self-talk and self-worth to address underlying issues at their root and understands the impact of trauma on one’s sense of self. Isabella also helps couples improve communication, break distressing conflict cycles, and navigate complex life transitions.
Isabella believes the relationship between therapist and clients is the most important part of therapy and approaches her work with humor and directness. She supports people in collaboratively building up their resources, practical tools, and community for life beyond therapy, using an integrative approach pulling from CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, family systems, strengths based, mindfulness, relational cultural, and existential therapy.
Isabella earned her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The Chicago School, her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Humanitarian Affairs from Fordham University, and has specialized training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. She works with individuals and couples for in-person therapy at our Arlington-Rosslyn office and for online therapy across DC, MD & VA.
Holistic Attachment-informed Psychotherapist & EFT Couples Counselor
Madeline Gaffney, LGPC
Areas of Specialty:
Attachment-informed Therapy for Relational Distress
Mindfulness Based Holistic Psychotherapy
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Anxiety and Professional Burnout
Couples Therapy for LGBTQIA+ Clients
Locations: DC (In-person & Virtual) & Virginia (Virtual only)
Madeline has a passion for working with clients on intrapersonal and relational concerns related to attachment. By using Emotionally Focused Therapy, Person centered therapy, Mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Madeline empowers her clients with tools to create authentic connections with others, while also prioritizing self-exploration and self-acceptance. She also helps clients overcome challenges related to burnout, depression, anxiety, life transitions and grief.
Madeline also has a special interest and training in working with couples struggling with communication and trust issues. Madeline earned her Master's in Couples, Marriage, and Family Counseling from the College of William and Mary. Before becoming a therapist, Madeline attended the University of Texas School of Law and worked as an attorney for four years. This background helps her better relate to clients dealing with burnout and work anxiety.
Madeline works with couples and individuals in Washington DC, virtually and in-person, and in Virginia virtually and offers services in English.
Trauma-informed Psychotherapist & Holistic Perinatal/Postpartum Therapist & Couples Counselor
Shayla Martin, LGPC
Areas of Specialty:
Trauma-Focused Therapy
Perinatal/ Postpartum Parent Wellness
Fertility Challenges & Perinatal Loss
Perinatal/ Postpartum Couples Therapy
Couples Therapy for Fertility Challenges and Perinatal Loss
Somatic, Mindfulness-based Therapy
Relational Distress
Anxiety and Professional Burnout
Locations: DC clients only (In-person & Virtual)
Shayla is a dedicated Mental Health Therapist specializing in compassionate, client-centered care for individuals and couples navigating pregnancy, postpartum struggles, fertility challenges and the transition into parenthood. Having gone through her own path to parenthood and fertility struggles, she understands first-hand what support parents need in this transition. She also holds space for clients navigating the heartbreak of perinatal loss through individual therapy and couples therapy. Beyond perinatal mental health, Shayla also supports clients experiencing impacts of past trauma, PTSD, relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions.
With a holistic trauma-informed approach, she integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), somatic interventions and mindfulness-based therapy to help clients move through life’s most vulnerable moments with clarity and confidence. She is especially passionate about inner-child healing, self-discovery, and creating a supportive yet transformative space for meaningful growth. She has a deep understanding of personal transformation, having transitioned from a career in television and film to one in mental health. This journey has shaped her ability to guide clients through their own shifts, helping them set boundaries, overcome avoidance, and reconnect with their emotions.
Inspired by those who live boldly and authentically, Shayla values self-awareness, ancestral connection, and challenging the status quo as pathways to deep personal healing. She helps clients understand the mind-body connection, empowering them to shift perspectives, embrace their strengths, and alchemize stress, trauma, and anxiety into meaningful change, leading to more fulfilling relationships and a stronger sense of self.
Originally from Charlotte, NC, Shayla has called the DC Metropolitan are her home for over 20 years. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University and Bachelor of Science in Communications from Western Carolina University. Shayla offers sessions in English and works with individuals in Washington DC, virtually and in-person.
What People Are Saying
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When I met Huma I was an adult revisiting some childhood traumas. I had been in counseling session at various times in my life and found Huma to be very different from other practitioners. Huma did more than listen, she provided strategies to assist me in and out of sessions. I am stronger as a result of the work I did with Huma.
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— K. M.
“
Of all the counselors/therapists I have worked with, Elise ended up being my absolute favorite and someone who I believe I made the most growth and progress with. I can't thank her enough for the impact she made in my life.
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— C. G..
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Huma has an uncanny ability to tune in to wherever I am each day, and she remembers everything I say, bringing things back when relevant to make connections I don't think I would've ever made on my own. It's a relief having Huma as my therapist. My time with her is something I look forward to every single week, and I don't think many people say that about therapy.
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— Elyse.
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I wanted to share with you how much our session helped me today, and really how helpful I always find our sessions. I am so impressed by your ability to tune into wherever I am.
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— Caitlin.
