I provide a non-judgmental space where clients can speak freely, feeling heard and understood. My approach balances assertiveness and compassion, offering honest feedback while maintaining empathy and support.

I provide a warm and inviting atmosphere for my clients to feel comfortable, accepted, and safe to talk to me and feel confident enough to explore.

Welcome! You’ve taken a wonderful first step in getting the support you or a loved one may need! Life can be complex and challenging, especially for children, teens, young adults, and individuals with chronic illnesses or developmental, behavioral, and intellectual challenges. If this resonates with you or someone you care about, or if you’re seeking behavioral or mental health support for yourself or a minor in your care, I am here to help. As a therapist, my goal is to create a warm, judgment-free space that empowers clients to explore their thoughts and feelings, work towards mutually established goals, and build skills. During sessions, I encourage clients to be themselves and do what they need to feel present. If you want to color, sit on the floor, wear comfortable clothes, play a game, or use a fidget toy, feel free to do so! I strive to use inclusive, neurodivergent, sensory-friendly, and developmentally appropriate techniques and treatments tailored to each client.

Hey there! I'm Whitney, a Licensed Professional Counselor with over fifteen years of experience with a variety of populations ranging from young children to adults. My therapeutic approach is grounded in an existential model, but I also draw from various other forms of therapy to best support my clients. You can expect me to incorporate strategies and techniques from behavioral therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), as well as psychodynamic and family systems therapies. As a trauma-informed provider, I have received specialized training in treating trauma, shame, and anxiety. I'm passionate about staying up-to-date with the latest research and evidence-based practices and have specific training in understanding and managing ADHD across different phases of life. My ultimate goal is to provide a safe and empowering space for you to explore, grow, and overcome challenges. Together, we'll work towards helping you make choices that align with your goals and needs, fostering a sense of autonomy and personal fulfillment. I truly believe in creating a judgment-free environment where you can freely express your authentic self, embracing both the highs and lows of your unique path. I am here to support you in developing self-compassion and accepting the person you are today, despite the obstacles you have faced or are still working through. It's all part of your story, and we'll explore ways to love and appreciate yourself on this transformative path. Additionally, I'm committed to helping you explore your desires, find meaning in your life, and discover the direction you want to pursue for a fulfilling future. I am an expert in providing psychotherapy (also called therapy or mental health counseling) to four main groups of people and their loved ones: Child and Adolescent Therapy, Young Adult Therapy, Sports Therapy, and Parenthood.

No matter how much you do, that inner voice insists, “You could be doing more.” You convince yourself you just need to work harder, sleep a little less, and spread yourself more thin. Then you’ll finally feel that sense of accomplishment. But the more you do, the louder the voice gets. The weight of the constant stress is exhausting. The tension headache at the base of your skull won’t go away. You can’t control your emotions– the other day you blew up at your best friend. Your mother keeps calling; she’s worried about you. You’ve sacrificed so much, but don’t know what it’s all for. This can’t go on. It’s time to try something different. Using talk therapy with Internal Family Systems, we’ll explore the root causes of your issues and identify the patterns that no longer serve you. Utilizing Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and EMDR, you’ll learn to listen to your body’s wisdom and use it as a guide for healing. Together, let’s access your inner power and strength to create lasting change. Don’t waste another minute feeling lost and alone. Find your footing again. Take back control and start living as your true self. Untangle these big emotions so you can have more clarity and confidence. A life of peace and calm is possible, and you deserve it. Click the links to call me now for your free 20-minute consultation, and let’s take the next step together.

If you’re looking for therapy, you may be feeling discouraged, misunderstood, or unsure how to repair the emotional distance that’s developed between you and your partner. Maybe you love each other deeply, but can’t seem to stop the cycle of miscommunication or conflict. I understand how painful that can feel—and I want you to know that healing and connection are possible. My work focuses on helping couples rediscover their friendship, deepen their emotional intimacy, and learn skills that allow them to navigate differences with compassion and respect. Drawing from the Gottman Method and Prepare-Enrich, I use evidence-based approaches to help you understand what’s really happening beneath your interactions and to practice new ways of communicating that bring safety, empathy, and hope back into the relationship. You’ll find my style to be warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. Together, we’ll explore the patterns that keep you stuck, while also identifying the strengths that can move you forward. I believe therapy should be both a space for insight and for action—a place where couples can learn to listen, forgive, and rebuild a bond that reflects the best version of who they are together. All sessions are virtual telehealth, allowing for greater accessibility to therapy services, and are convenient for most people. My practice provides a confidential, compassionate space for couples and individuals seeking to strengthen their relationships and emotional well-being. Call or email to book your appointment today.

Our approach is first and foremost to offer acceptance and understanding. Our clinicians have a variety of theoretical orientations and approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy, attachment-based therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and interpersonal therapy. All of us have training and experience with a family systems approach to therapy and are able to integrate this into our work.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with one of our therapists, please use the contact form on our WEBSITE www.imaracounseling.com and a member of our intake team will be in touch with you within 24 business hours. Unlike many other practices you reach out to, we will respond and do our best to schedule you with someone who can assist you.

Welcome to my practice. I believe in the power of a strong therapeutic relationship to nurture change. I offer my clients a warm, collaborative, judgment-free environment where they can comfortably explore their challenges. I foster insight, offer support, and collaborate with my clients to establish new coping skills to effect meaningful change in their lives. I provide individual psychotherapy for adults who are facing a wide range of concerns. I welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and identities. I specialize in helping my clients manage anxiety, depression, identity issues, relationship concerns, postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, and working with the LGBT community as an affirming therapist. I also have experience working in university counseling centers, which offers me unique insight into the issues facing undergraduates, graduate students, and young professionals. I have also received advanced training in the assessment and treatment of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders through Postpartum Support International, which allows me to help new parents as they navigate perinatal mental health concerns.

At Laurel Fay and Associates, my colleagues and I are committed to providing you with a safe, caring environment in which we can address your unique situation. By carefully listening, I work to get behind the everyday surface of a situation to the underlying meaning. My systemic approach means I look to the dynamics between people rather than solely focusing on the internal workings of one person. Even in individual work, this approach can be helpful and empowering. I often use humor to gently but skillfully pinpoint specific issues and highlight areas of growth.

Navigating relationships, whether they are fresh or longstanding, can be riddled with pain, resentment, and miscommunication. This often results in a pervasive sense of exhaustion, with the weight of responsibility making us question whether the fulfilling relationships we desire are within reach. Confronted by a series of challenges, it can feel like there's an unspoken tension in every interaction, creating an elephant in the room despite our best intentions. The emotional toll of life stress, societal expectations, and familial pressures affects both couples and singles alike. However, it doesn't have to remain this way. Relationships possess the potential to heal and flourish if that is your objective. Discovering avenues to communicate without conflict, addressing difficulties without escalating tension, and fostering laughter, smiles, and romance are pivotal in transforming the dynamics. Rekindling the warmth in a strained relationship or emerging stronger and happier after a breakup involves simple yet effective strategies. Everyone deserves to experience respect, care, understanding, and love, forging genuine connections on a profound level. Whether you are seeking new relationships or striving to salvage an existing one, I am here to support you. My expertise lies in working with Artists, Creatives, High Performers, and individuals in the Media industry, understanding the unique challenges they face. I am passionate about assisting both couples and individuals in therapy to enrich their lives. My availability and flexibility in scheduling allow us to collaborate according to your needs and timetable. Our boutique practice thrives on tailoring treatments specifically for you, proving highly successful in resolving a multitude of relationship issues through evidence-based practices. For your convenience and safety, all sessions are conducted via Telehealth on a secure platform. I am a licensed therapist providing services to clients in DC, VA, MD, and CA. Feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule a free consultation. Let's work together to make daily improvements and cultivate the fulfilling relationships you deserve.

I believe that people are naturally resilient. Therapy offers an opportunity is to boost resilience by nurturing awareness and finding greater fulfillment and strength. Most of us have found ways to manage stress and conflict, but the things that worked in the past might not work today. We often feel stuck. I seek to provide a space for observation, reflection, and exploration so that new narratives and choice can emerge. Understanding the linkages between early, implicit learning experiences, including attachment patterns, and present modes of thinking and behaving is key to sustainable growth and change. Together we'll work to improve your flexibility, self-regulation, and choices for solving life's problems. I work with adults, children, adolescents, and couples. With couples, I help to identify patterns that promote increased mutual understanding and connection. I offer adolescents joint sessions with parents and other family members to promote more effective ways of communicating. My experience with school-based consultation and assessment offers a solid framework for coordinating with counselors and teachers, when appropriate.