John Hardenbergh, LICSW
Therapist
John Hardenbergh, LICSWGender-Affirming Psychotherapist & Attachment-informed EMDR Trauma Therapist
"When we experience trauma, the memory stays with us unprocessed — affecting our moods, our bodies, our sense of self."
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Issues John helps with
Who he works with
John works with adults navigating the present-day effects of past trauma and attachment disruptions — the anxiety, mood shifts, and sense of disconnection from yourself that can follow when a difficult experience never got fully processed. He also specializes in gender-affirming therapy: a calm, nonjudgmental space to explore gender identity and sexual orientation, for clients who are considering medical transition as well as those who are not. If you're pursuing a letter for your insurer conforming to WPATH's Standards of Care 8, John can write it based on your ongoing work together. He brings an intersectional lens to all of it, understanding that your overlapping identities shape your experience both in the world and in the therapy room.
How he works
John is an EMDR trauma therapist and psychodynamically informed psychotherapist. With EMDR, clients can approach painful memories safely, letting the mind do the reprocessing work it needs to do, rather than re-living the story in detail. His broader approach combines this with attachment-informed and intersectional thinking — recognizing that in any therapeutic relationship, identities overlap in some ways and diverge in others, and that this shapes the work. Before becoming a therapist, John was a public interest attorney, which shows up in how directly he talks about what's actually happening and what tends to help.
[Needs John's own quote — nothing invented here yet.]
Training & Credentials
Master's degree, The Catholic University of America
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) — Washington, DC
Trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Trained in WPATH Standards of Care 8
What a first session is like
After your free 30-minute consultation, if it feels like the right fit, you will schedule your first full 50–55-minute session.
For individual therapy, the first few sessions are a chance to begin developing a fuller, more holistic understanding of what you are facing now. John will learn about your history, when the current concerns began or became more difficult, what has shaped them, and what you have already tried. Together, you will start to make sense of the larger context around your experiences and identify where the work can begin.
If that sounds like what you are looking for, book a 30-minute consultation call with John.
Questions people ask John
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Yes. If you're working with John on an ongoing basis, he can write a letter conforming to WPATH's Standards of Care 8, which many insurers and providers require before covering gender-affirming care.
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Yes. John creates a safe, affirming space to explore questions around sexuality, gender, identity, belonging, and self-understanding at a pace that feels supportive to you. He is here to support you through the uncertainty, vulnerability, relief, or many other feelings that this process may bring up. John also helps clients make space for their internal thoughts and emotions, as well as the impact of any external pressures, internalized biases or expectations that may be making you feel disconeected from yourself and dettering you in exploring this part of yourself.
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EMDR is a structured form of trauma therapy that can help people process distressing memories and reduce the impact those experiences continue to have in the present. Ashley is trained in EMDR and will begin by getting to know you, your goals, and what feels manageable before deciding together whether EMDR is a good fit for your therapy. You do not need to be ready to recount every detail of what happened to begin the conversation. You can read more about EMDR here.
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No. John works with the many ways trauma and attachment disruption show up — in mood, in the body, in how safe a relationship feels — whether that traces back to one event or to a longer pattern.
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John currently only has availabilty for self-pay clients at our practice. We provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement and have also partnered with Reimbusify to make this process seamless.
You can check your out-of-network benefits here. This can tell you whether therapy is covered in our Out-of-network benefits and what reimbursement may be available to you through your insurance for your session fees.
We understand therapy can be a investment in yourself and do not take that lightly, which is why our therapists are specialized and will make sure they have the tools to help you meet your goals.
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Yes. You do not need to decide whether an experience “counts” as trauma before reaching out. If something from the past still affects how you feel, relate to others, respond to stress, or move through daily life, it may be worth exploring in therapy. Christina offers a trauma-informed, supportive space to make sense of your experiences and process them at a pace that feels right for you.
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Yes. John’s practice is polyamory, kink and ENM affirming. He understands how much it can impact therapy to have to explain these things when your therapist doesn’t know enough about them. With John, you will feel safe, seen and understood, without having to educate her on your life experience, or justify your relationship structure.
Book a free consultation call
No waitlists and no phone tag. Pick a time that suits you, and John will call.
