Most people walk into my office a little skeptical. Maybe they’ve tried therapy before and it felt like going through the motions. Maybe this is their first time and they’re not totally sure what to expect. Either way, they’re not entirely convinced this is going to work.
Those are actually my favorite clients.
Something tends to happen in that first session. The skeptic starts to realize this isn’t what they expected. The conversation flows. It doesn’t feel like a protocol. And by the end, they’re leaning forward instead of bracing themselves.
That shift is what I do this for.
My sessions are conversational by design. There’s no script, no checklist we’re working through. You lead, I listen. When I see something worth exploring, or something worth challenging, I’ll say so.
That’s the part people don’t always expect. Easy and conversational doesn’t mean comfortable all the time. If something is getting in the way of your growth, I’m going to name it. Directly, but without making it a bigger deal than it needs to be. My job isn’t to tell you what to do. It’s to help you see what you couldn’t see on your own.
That skill traces back somewhere unexpected: my undergraduate degree in philosophy. Not the dusty, abstract kind. The practical kind. How to shift your perspective outside of yourself. How to think critically about a situation rather than just react to it. How to look at a problem from angles most people wouldn’t think to try.
What that gives me as a therapist is flexibility. When the standard approach isn’t working, I’m not stuck. There is always another way.
How I ended up here
I always knew I wanted to work in mental health. Substance use wasn’t part of the plan.
I was early in my career, trying to get my foot in the door at a community mental health agency. I sat down with three people from the leadership team expecting to talk about mental health openings. They didn’t have any. What they had was an opening in their substance abuse department.
I figured it would get me in the door. So why not?
A couple of weeks in, I was hooked. The work was unlike anything I had expected. The complexity of it. The way substance use connects to everything else going on in a person’s life. The fact that nobody stumbles into that struggle without a reason.
I never left.
That was over nineteen years ago. I have since got my second license as a Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner, became a Master Addiction Counselor, and completed a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. I also conduct forensic and psychological evaluations, which adds a layer of analytical depth to my clinical work that I find genuinely useful and rewarding.
But the reason I do this work is the same as it was in those first couple of weeks: this population deserves someone who actually gets it.
Who I work with
Adults navigating substance use, mental health challenges, or both at the same time.
If you’ve been told your situation is complicated, or that you don’t fit neatly into one category, you’re probably exactly who I work with best.
I also conduct forensic and comprehensive evaluations, including VASAP evaluations, SAP evaluations for the Department of Transportation, and court-ordered substance abuse evaluations.
Licensed in: Virginia and Washington D.C.
In-person sessions: Burke, Virginia (5240 Lyngate Ct)
Virtual sessions: Available for Virginia and D.C. residents
Ready to find our if we’re a good fit?
Complete the form below or call Paris at: (202) 630-1765 and she’ll help you figure out the next steps.
Insurances Accepted
- Carefirst
- Tricare (Certified Out of Network)
For other insurances, we’ll submit on your behalf. Questions about coverage? [See our FAQ]
Services Offered
- Individual counseling
- Forensic substance abuse evaluations
- VASAP evaluations
- SAP/DOT Evaluations
- Comprehensive psychological evaluations
- Drug/Alcohol testing
Licensed In
- Virginia
- District of Columbia
Credentials
- PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP)
- Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)
- Substance Abuse Professional, DOT certified