Therapy Works!
![]() Our therapists are trained in many treatment models and utilize different types of treatments depending upon your needs. Our therapists will help you reduce your symptoms and move toward long-term success. We follow traditional and modern approaches to assist your to find healing from your trauma. To do so, we conduct an initial assessment to get a better idea of how to help you. After the assessment is completed, the therapist determines whether you should participate in individual, group, or experiential therapy. And in some cases, the recommendation is to do more than one of these forms of therapy at the same time.
First, A Clinical Assessment
To schedule an Assessment please click this link to send an email. Be on Alert for Danger or Rejection“No one can ‘treat’ a war, or abuse, rape, molestation, or any other horrendous event, for that matter; what has happened cannot be undone. But what can be dealt with are the imprints of the trauma on body, mind, and soul: the crushing sensations in your chest that you label as anxiety or depression; the fear of losing control; always being on alert for danger or rejection; the self-loathing; the nightmares and flashbacks; the fog that keeps you from staying on task and from engaging fully in what you are doing; being unable to fully open your heart to another human being.
Neuroscience research shows that the only way we can change the way we feel is by becoming aware of our inner experience and learning to befriend what is going on inside ourselves.” –Bessel Van Der Kolk,The Body Keeps the Score |
Therapeutic Treatment Approaches
Bottom-up or top-down approaches? Which is best, or does it matter when it comes to complex trauma? Bottom-up techniques work through the body to change the brain, especially the lower, subcortical areas of the brain outside of conscious awareness and conscious control. For instance, bottom-up techniques can be utilized to de-activate the amygdala (fear center) or to strengthen and regulate the insula (site of interoception). Examples include breathing exercises, body awareness, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, somatic therapies, expressive therapies such as art, music, drama, and some meditations (all found in dialectical behavior therapy or DBT) In top-down techniques, the mind is engaged to change the brain. In other words, the brain, especially the higher cortical areas, can be altered with thoughts. Examples include: cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), trauma-focused CBT, talk therapy, some acceptance & commitment therapy techniques (ACT), trauma-focused interventions that emphasize discussing traumatic events in detail, and some meditations. DC, MD, VA TherapistsCurrently, we are only offering individual telehealth sessions in DC, MD, VA. Where you live determines who your therapist will be. Even though we are only offering virtual sessions, we still have to abide by state regulations. Therapists can only see clients in the state in which they are licensed.
We are unable to offer group sessions at this time due to the pandemic. Payment for ServicesPsychotherapy (60 minutes) - $160
For clinical services, we only accept payment through CashApp. This is a free app you can download on your phone and there are no service fees. Fees need to be paid before your session.
Our highest priority is ensuring that every survivor of sexual trauma has access to the therapy and other social supports they need to heal. In order to remain financially sustainable so that we can continue to meet our mission, we do three things.
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