Therapists for college students near Washington, DC

We are a mental health practice that specializes in providing quality therapeutic services. We strive to create a comfortable and supportive environment in which you can engage in a healing self-discovery. We provide individual, couples, and family therapy from a modern approach. Our clinicians are not only well-versed in their specialties and fields, but they are also from the same places you are from. The goal is for your mental health provider to be someone who looks like you and who does not sympathize, but can empathize with you life experiences.

Equip is the leading evidence-based virtual eating disorder treatment program on a mission to ensure that everyone with an eating disorder has access to treatment that works. Built by clinical experts in the eating disorder field and those who have experienced eating disorders firsthand, Equip fills the gaps in today’s insufficient eating disorder landscape. We provide fully virtual, evidence-based treatment through a multidisciplinary care team (which includes a medical provider, therapist, dietitian, and trained mentors), allowing each patient to achieve full recovery without disrupting their life. We treat patients of all ages and diagnoses in all 50 states, and we accept most insurance plans.

Clients come to me when they feel overwhelmed in life. The challenge is that the college experience can exacerbate these issues. It can be hard to navigate not only the academic expectations, but also the issues in our relationships. College is a unique and fleeting experience. I would be happy to support you in managing stressors to make this a positive experience. Our work together is based on radical kindness, cultural understanding, and empathy.

Offering exceptional mental health services to support your wellbeing and create meaningful change for you! Individualized, remote therapy to best meet your needs and schedule. Specialize in Trauma, Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, Adjustment Challenges, Personality Disorders, and ADHD.

Mildred “Milly” Altamira, LCSW, has over six years of experience providing therapy. She specializes in helping young adults and college students navigate life transitions, anxiety, stress, relationships, and identity exploration. Milly also supports the neurodivergent community with care that is affirming, collaborative, and tailored to each person’s unique needs.

Lime Counseling is passionate about providing an accepting, welcoming, and supportive space for you to be able to talk through whatever stressor is troubling you at this time. The practice focuses on anxiety, OCD, trauma, abuse, life adjustments, stress, and LGBTQ+ specialties. I'm also happy to talk with you about any other area of concern you may not specifically see listed here. Please reach out to discuss further.

Anxious or traumatized by the political impact of the election on your identity, your family relationships, your future career, and/or your loved ones? Dreading the family political discussions when you go home or when they call? Finding your authentic self as a college student, grad student, post doc, or struggling to become your authentic self? Having difficulty in your relationships? Or just wondering how someone else you see on tik tok makes everything look so easy when you feel like you are falling apart? Well then, you are in the right place. Let’s talk about how we can work together to get you out of that funk! We’ll try the psychodynamic approach in which we uncover the patterns you may be stuck in and figure out how to make healthier ones. We’ll try using DBT skills to build better tolerance in dealing with struggles so that you can be more effective in your decision-making and happier with the results of your choices. We’ll try humanistic theory to focus on building or repairing from your foundation up. There are a lot of strategies at our disposal that we can try until we find the right ones. Together, we’ll continue to build your toolbox. I write accommodations letters and gender affirming care letters for clients. With me, we’ll tailor your therapy to meet your goals. The faster you reach out, the faster we can get started on a healthier you. Reach out for a free 15 minute consult!

I am a clinical social worker with over a decade of experience. I practice affirming, allied, feminist therapy rooted in empowerment and strengths perspectives. I believe sleep, calories, and movement form the foundation for coping. My style of therapy is based in the knowledge that you are the best expert on your life. Your feelings may be unreliable narrators and together we will question their perspectives. I use behavioral activation, psychodynamic, and solution focused approaches to empower you to achieve your goals and tolerate your reality. I also believe that gummy peaches are the superior candy, music creates an entry to feeling, and belly laughs are as essential as hugs. I am a left-handed elder millennial. I am originally from Maine, and after years of travel, now live in rural Virginia with my husband and three young children (and giant dog).

My core values are faith, family, social and economic justice. My worldview is quite simple. You see, I believe that everyone has a right to be in a good place mentally physically and spiritually. I find that I have evolved into a change agent - which is a natural profession for a social worker. The same steps that I have taken to secure my life, mentally physically and emotionally, are the very same steps I am willing to assist my patients/clients in taking. My specialties lie in my abilities to move a person or a family from a place of dysfunction to functionality. I strive to improve the quality of life those whom I counsel. My theoretical framework a solution focused, interwoven with resiliency theory, using a strength-based approach. I am just a chat away if you need me – 'how may I help you?"

College can look exciting and successful from the outside while feeling overwhelming behind the scenes. You may be struggling with anxiety, academic pressure, perfectionism, relationship concerns, family expectations, or uncertainty about who you are and what comes next. Maybe others see you as responsible, driven, or strong, but you feel exhausted from trying to keep everything together. I work with college students who are used to putting pressure on themselves, taking care of others, or feeling as though they must always perform well. Therapy can be a space where you do not have to have all the answers. Together, we can explore the experiences and patterns contributing to your stress, strengthen your confidence, and help you develop healthier boundaries, relationships, and coping skills. My approach is warm, collaborative, and tailored to your needs. Whether you are adjusting to college, navigating friendships or dating, questioning your identity, managing family stress, or preparing for life after graduation, I will support you in gaining clarity and feeling more grounded. Contact me for a free consultation to ask questions, learn more about my approach, and see whether working together feels like a good fit.

Seeking therapy is often part of a painful journey. Things a person did on their own for their mental health & to connect with others have not worked. Sadness & fear interferes with their work & relationships. For some people seeking therapy, alcohol & drugs provide temporary relief from suffering; however, those behaviors sometimes cause further damage. It’s hard for them to accept compliments & they feel uncomfortable in their own skin, even after achieving things that are supposed to be fulfilling. They meet interesting, loving people, & they find it very hard to get close to them, leading to more isolation. I offer an opportunity for you to explore your thoughts, feelings, & past – to plan for things to be different in the future. I create a healing relationship with my clients, a refuge of clinically-sound & heart-driven support. Experience has taught me that people are much more than their symptoms – they are human beings dealing with human problems. If you’ve decided to try therapy, then I’m ready to work with you. In addition to working with people struggling with mental health & relationships, I am passionate about providing "outside help" to members of AA, DDA, NA, SMART Recovery, & other programs. Please call me today so we can schedule our first session and get you on the road to feeling better.

Are you anxious or overwhelmed? Do you find yourself constantly worried about the state of the world, searching for a sense of calm in uncertain times? I support individuals who are experiencing burnout, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and life transitions. Together, we will create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can slow down, process your experiences, and reconnect with yourself. My goal is to help you feel grounded, empowered, & equipped with tools to move forward with clarity and confidence. Navigate stress, reduce anxiety and depression, strengthen relationships, and thrive through life changes.

Are you trying to manage conflicting feelings, difficulty with relationships, trauma, grief, or simply facing the daily challenges of life? Sometimes a relationship with a skilled therapist can be a great place to explore these challenges and figure out how you can improve your quality of your life. I work with children, adolescents, and young adults who face struggles; some small, some big. Whether you’re looking for a therapist for yourself or for your child, I will tailor our work together to fit your needs. I have worked with kids of various ages, ranging from elementary to college age, and I have experience working in both school settings and in private practice. I specialize in working with trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, and relationship and identity issues. Children and young adults face many challenges stemming from their family of origin, questioning their identity, figuring out their way to becoming fulfilled adults, and much more. Our work together centers around how to help my clients to better understand their feelings and the way they think about the world, and how this all impacts their everyday choices. My therapeutic approach is based on Internal Family Systems (also known as “Parts Work”). This work stems from the belief that we are all made up of a system of dynamic, caring, and capable parts. When we experience trauma, some facets of our parts have to adopt extreme roles to protect us. Later on, these parts may need help letting go of their past experiences so they don’t negatively impact us. IFS work gives you the space and tools you need to approach your parts with curiosity, gain insight into them and why they were formed, understand what roles they play in your beliefs, actions, and relationships, and ultimately be able to heal yourself. In this work, I also use elements of Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Relational Therapy, and Mindfulness. For my younger or creatively-inclined clients, I include play and art therapy techniques to keep the sessions engaging and give clients creative modalities through which they can better express themselves. My success in treating clients lies in my ability to build trusting relationships with them. My goal is to create a warm, accepting, and encouraging therapeutic environment. I incorporate creativity and fun into my sessions while balancing the hard work that it takes to make meaningful life changes.

The clients I work best with often share a readiness to engage deeply with their own personal growth and face life's challenges head-on. They typically come from diverse backgrounds but share common experiences such as navigating life transitions, dealing with anxiety or depression, and seeking to improve their communication and relationship skills. My clients are often those who value a reflective and supportive space where they can explore their thoughts and emotions to foster healing and personal development. They appreciate a collaborative approach where they are active participants in their therapeutic journey.

Therapy can be intimidating, I get it. Together, we will co-create a space in which you feel safe to be your full self, whatever that means to you. I bring a non-judgmental presence to every session, ready to be the witness to your unique journey. Regardless of how you feel as you read this, I am here to remind you that you are on the right path. After all, by researching the right therapist for you, you are already showing up for yourself. I work with students as they navigate the variety of challenges that come up in school and life in general. Such as, handling and reducing stress and anxiety, making and keeping friends, keeping up with tasks, transferring into a new school, gender transitions, trauma, grief, and institutional oppression. You might be dealing with a number of challenges, but you don't have to go at them alone. When you're ready, I am here and excited to support you.

This process of being and becoming that we engage with as humans can simultaneously be both beautiful and incredibly challenging. The decision to take part in therapy can begin a transformative process that allows you to develop greater insight as well as ignite necessary behavioral changes. This can help promote greater well-being, vitality, healing, growth, resiliency, and self-actualization. There is perhaps no greater gift to give yourself than to invest in a process of self-exploration. Such exploration will better enable you to develop a deeper connection with your authentic self so that you may reach your optimal potential. Ultimately, engaging in therapy can be an empowered step toward claiming a life that feels more fulfilling, intentional and aligned with your goals. In turn, there is no greater honor for me than to get to share a part of your journey. I believe therapy to be a collaborative and relational process. You can expecte me to treat you with compassion and respect. I am a licensed psychologist in private practice after working in university counseling centers since 2003. Most recently, I served as the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at George Washington University since June 2020 after serving as Director of Counseling at Ursinus College since 2013. Prior to that I’ve worked in the counseling centers at Drexel, Columbia and Princeton University after completing my pre-doctoral internship at the counseling center at Johns Hopkins University and receiving my PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia in 2010. Prior to that, I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington and Lee University and my master’s degree in psychological counseling from Teacher’s College, Columbia University Collectively, these roles allowed me to identify my passion for providing quality mental health services to the adult and young adult population, particularly in helping the undergraduate and graduate students navigate through identity, relational and transitional concerns and stressors. In these roles, I both provided direct therapy to university students as well as oversight for the delivery of counseling services- including staff supervision and management, evaluation and assessment of services and programs, establishing best practices for the centers that met the needs of the campus community and supported student development objectives as well as the academic mission. I most enjoyed working directly with students to address both clinical and developmental issues and frequently experienced that through therapy, they could better realize their potential. I am very excited to be returning to a purely clinical role to dedicate my energy to providing direct therapy. I provide a warm, compassionate, supportive and empowering environment in which I meet individuals where they are and help them to feel seen, heard, and affirmed in order to heal, learn and grow. I believe that each client must be understood as an individual whose sense of self has been informed through many social, cultural and relational interactions.

Compassionate Therapy Center is a counseling center specializing in providing caring therapy for individuals and couples, high achieving professionals and students, gifted and highly sensitive individuals who are coping with issues such as anxiety, sadness, self-esteem, perfectionism, family/career concerns, and relationships. We currently offer psychotherapy services for adult individuals and couples located in DC, Virginia, and abroad. At Compassionate Therapy Center, we provide a warm, compassionate, and authentic therapeutic space for clients to explore meaning, cultivate acceptance, and recognize their own unique strengths, by embracing diverse identities and advocating for social justice. We are welcoming and affirming of clients of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, and religious/spiritual beliefs.

I am a board-certified psychiatrist and Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. For me, being a physician is more than a profession—it is a vocation to help indviduals flourish. My practice is devoted to students and young adults seeking thoughtful, individualized psychiatric care that extends beyond symptom relief. I provide comprehensive evaluations that consider medical, nutritional, lifestyle, and psychological factors—including laboratory testing when clinically appropriate—to identify the contributors to emotional and cognitive health. I also specialize in evidence-based de-prescribing for patients who wish to reduce or discontinue psychiatric medications for anxiety, attention difficulties, or substance use disorders. My approach is guided by precision, humility, and restraint: using the least intensive intervention necessary while drawing upon the full breadth of evidence-based medicine. Depending on each patient's needs and goals, I integrate psychotherapy, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, exercise, targeted supplementation, and, when appropriate, carefully selected medications into a personalized treatment plan. In addition to my clinical work, I have presented internationally on psychiatric deprescribing and medical ethics. My work has been recognized with awards from the American Psychiatric Association, the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions, the American Psychoanalytic Association, and other leading professional organizations. I am the Founder & Medical Director of Verigrate Health. I am licensed to serve patients in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Lousiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.

Freedom from emotional hijack is found in noticing, naming, and knowing. This can be the gift of psychotherapy. Congratulations on looking for a therapist and trying to figure out what will be best for you! It can seem like it requires endurance, when all you’re trying to do is get your mental health needs met. The good news is there are lots and lots of great therapy practices! And a practice or a therapist that’s a great fit for one person, doesn’t mean that it is for you! All that matters is what works for you. Whether you feel nervous, doubtful, unsure, excited, and/or anything else, let’s chat, when/if you’re ready. Just because we talk, doesn’t mean you have to start therapy!

Thank you for considering working with me. I understand how important it is to have the right support during difficult times. My approach is integrative and personalized, meeting you exactly where you are. Together, we’ll create a safe and supportive space to explore what’s on your mind, while also focusing on practical steps to help you feel more like yourself again. Whether you're feeling stuck in worry, overwhelmed by racing thoughts, or struggling with self-doubt, we’ll work together to build tools that help you feel more grounded and centered in the present.