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.
Need help finding the right therapist? We’ve got you!
Browse our directory of Trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+ affirming, holistic psychotherapist for Individuals and Couples Therapy in Washington, DC, Virginia & Maryland.
Filter therapists based on location and issues you want to work on.
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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 - Not Accepting new clients
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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
Clinical Supervisor, EMDR Trauma Therapist & Holistic Mental Health Counselor
DC (Virtual Only)
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Jane Townsend, LICSW
Clinical Supervisor, Perinatal/ Postpartum Therapist & EFT Couples Counselor
DC, VA & MD - Not Accepting new clients
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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
Holistic Perinatal/ Postpartum Therapist, Trauma-informed Psychotherapist & EFT Couples Counselor
DC (Virtual Only)
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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, LGPC
LGBTQ+ Affirming Psychotherapist, Holistic Trauma Therapist & Couples Counselor
Virginia (In-person & Online), MD & DC (Virtual)
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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.
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.
Clinical Supervisor, Perinatal/ Postpartum Therapist & EFT Couples Counselor
Jane Townsend, LICSW
Areas of Specialty:
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Interracial Couples Issues & Success
Perinatal/ Postpartum Parent Wellness
Perinatal/ Postpartum Relationship Issues
Relational Distress
Anxiety and Professional Burnout
Locations: DC, Virginia & Maryland (Virtual)
Languages: English
Jane is a Clinical Supervisor at Sage & Fifth Therapy Place. She utilizes a trauma-informed holistic and person-centered approach in therapy to empower clients to achieve their goals and overcome the challenges they are facing. She also incorporates mindfulness, attachment theory, Emotionally Focused Therapy, DBT and CBT interventions in her work with clients, tailoring her approach to help clients process through difficult life experiences and build the skills they need to thrive. She is a Certified Perinatal Mental Therapist, specializing in Perinatal/ Postpartum therapy and Couples Therapy and also has experience working with clients with anxiety, family conflict, depression, life transitions, relational distress, and self-esteem issues.
With her couples, she utilizes the proven interventions of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy to help couples build/ repair their connection and overcome communications issues, trust issues, life transitions issues, grief, trauma and mental health concerns. Whether its working with Couples or individuals, Jane always creates a safe, non-judgmental space for her clients to be their true selves and works together with clients as a team.
Jane earned her Master of Social Work from University of Maryland, Baltimore and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). She has been engaged in specialized training in Perinatal Mental health and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, developing her niche of working with Couples in the Perinatal/ Postpartum period. Prior to becoming a Licensed Social Worker, Jane worked with children with Autism and obtained her Bachelor’s of Arts from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Jane offers sessions in English and works with individuals and couples in Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia.
Clinical Supervisor, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
