When Cleo was a teenager, therapy was the thing that kept him steady. He knew he needed it. What he could not find was a male therapist who looked like someone he could actually talk to.
That absence stayed with him.
He eventually decided the most useful thing he could do was become the clinician he once went looking for. So that someone else would not have to search as long, or leave empty-handed.
That is the whole reason he is here.
How Cleo Works
A session with Cleo is not going to feel like a clinical evaluation.
It is going to feel like an honest conversation with someone who is genuinely on your side and not going anywhere. He creates space where people can say the real thing, not the polished version of it. No performance required. No judgment waiting on the other side of honesty.
That said, easy is not the same as comfortable all the time. Cleo will gently push you toward the harder questions when that is what the work calls for. The goal is growth, not just relief. He holds both simultaneously, the safety and the challenge, without letting either one collapse.
One more thing worth knowing: healing does not always have to be heavy. Cleo believes a well-timed laugh can be just as useful as a deep revelation. If that sounds like your kind of therapy, you are probably going to get along.
How Cleo Thinks About His Work
Cleo approaches substance use through a harm reduction lens. In practice, that means he meets you where you actually are today, not where a textbook says you should be by now.
There is no predetermined finish line you have to reach before the work counts. There is no version of your situation that is too messy or too far gone to start from. He works with what is real, not what is ideal.
That philosophy extends beyond substance use. It shapes how he approaches every client. You are not a case to be solved. You are a person navigating a complicated world, and his job is to be useful to you in that.
Who Cleo Works With
Cleo works with teens and adults, with a particular focus on substance use and adolescent mental health.
For teens, he is the only adolescent specialist on the VCS team. Parents: if you are looking for someone who understands that world specifically, not a generalist who also sees teenagers, Cleo is your person.
For adults navigating substance use, he brings both clinical depth and genuine human understanding. He is not going to make you feel like a problem to be fixed.
His best clients tend to be the ones who are ready to be honest about where they are, even when that is uncomfortable. They do not have to have it figured out. They just have to be willing to show up and do the work.
Logistics
Licensed in: Virginia
In-person sessions: Burke, Virginia (5240 Lyngate Ct)
Virtual sessions: Available for Virginia residents
Insurance: Call us to confirm coverage for your specific plan.
Services: Individual counseling for teens and adults, substance use counseling, adolescent mental health, VASAP evaluations (under clinical supervision of Dr. Nelson)
Ready to find out if Cleo is the right fit?
Call Paris at (202) 630-1765 and she will help you get scheduled and answer any questions before your first appointment. Or fill out the form below.
Insurance
- Anthem BC/BS
All other insurance companies are out-of-network. For clients with insurance, we take care of filing all of the out-of-network paperwork for you!
For more information on insurance, go here.
Services Offered
- VASAP evaluations
- Substance abuse evaluations
- Individual therapy
- Adult counseling
- Teen counseling
Licensed In
- Virginia
Degrees:
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Credentials:
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (in progress)
EMDR Trained
Professional Organizations:
National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)
American Counselors Association (ACA)