Therapy in Washington, DC
Washington, DC is a city of remarkable ambition, relentless pressure, and hidden weight. The kind of weight that builds quietly until one day you realize you haven't felt like yourself in a long time. Whether you're carrying the stress of a high-stakes career, the toll of past experiences that won't stay in the past, or simply the exhaustion of a city that never quite slows down, you don't have to keep carrying it alone. Real change is possible. And it starts here.
Schedule a free consultationAt Full Self Psychotherapy, we use an integrative, evidence-based brain and body approach to help adults and teens reconnect with themselves, process what's held them back, and create change that actually lasts.
We use a mix of approaches, including EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic therapies, to help you understand how the past shows up in your present and find practical tools to move forward. We are not a one-size-fits-all type of therapy group practice. Sessions are collaborative and centered around what you need. Rather than pushing insight or forcing progress, we focus on creating safety, trust, and nervous system regulation so healing can unfold sustainably.
For clients who have tried therapy before and felt like nothing really changed, this integrative approach often makes the difference.
How many of these struggles can you relate to?
- Constant self-doubt and perfectionism leave you stuck, paralyzed, and with tightness in your chest or a knot in your stomach.
- Difficulty trusting yourself and others makes forming real connections feel impossible, leaving you tense and uneasy.
- Unresolved trauma and flashbacks pull you back into the past, triggering anxiety, a racing heart, or heaviness in your limbs.
- Struggling to set boundaries and prioritize yourself leaves you burnt out and resentful, with exhaustion you carry in your back and neck.
- Focusing on everyday tasks feels impossible, and you wonder if ADHD might explain why everything feels so overwhelming.
- Past painful experiences still cast a shadow, showing up as intrusive memories, difficulty trusting others, or a constant sense of being on edge.
You're in the right place.
Schedule a free consultation
Therapy can help you...
A clearer, calmer mind
Feel more in control of your emotions, even in tough moments, and get to know yourself better with real self-compassion.
More emotional openness
Set and stick to healthier boundaries, and feel more connected to yourself and others, building real, meaningful relationships.
A body that feels safe
Feel more in tune with your body, find relief from past struggles, and experience a greater sense of balance and ease.
And so much more, including:
Mental Health Services in Washington, DC
We provide individual therapy for a range of concerns that frequently bring DC-area clients to our practice.
Trauma Therapy
Trauma doesn't always look the way people expect. Using EMDR, IFS-informed therapy, and somatic therapies, we help you reprocess triggers, reconnect with your body, and release patterns that have kept you stuck. Always at a pace that feels right for you.
Learn MoreADHD Therapy
If you've been diagnosed, or suspect a diagnosis, and want more than a medication review, we can help. We work with the emotional experience of ADHD: the shame, the chronic self-criticism, the relational patterns, and the identity questions that come with a brain that works differently.
Learn MoreAnxiety Therapy
High-achievement environments like those common in DC can create or intensify anxiety in ways that are hard to separate from "just how things are here." We help you understand and work with the parts of yourself that carry anxiety's story, so it loses its grip.
Learn MoreSelf-Esteem Therapy
Some of the most successful people in DC carry a persistent, private sense that they aren't enough. Therapy for self-esteem addresses the deeper internal patterns that formed your sense of worth, and works toward the confidence and connection that's possible for you.
Learn MoreTeen Therapy
Adolescence in a high-pressure environment like DC creates a particular set of challenges. Our teen therapists specialize in working with adolescents navigating anxiety, identity, academic pressure, and family transitions, with approaches that are age-appropriate and genuinely effective.
Learn MoreTherapy Intensives
Experience faster breakthroughs with focused, personalized therapy intensives designed to jumpstart your healing journey. Perfect if you're ready to dive deep and start feeling real relief sooner, without the stop-and-start of weekly sessions.
Learn MoreInternal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS helps you understand and work with the different parts of yourself, including the parts that carry pain, fear, or self-doubt. Rather than trying to silence or fix those parts, IFS creates a compassionate inner relationship so healing can happen from the inside out.
Learn MoreEMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based approach that helps your brain reprocess and heal from trauma. It works by using bilateral stimulation to help distressing memories shift from emotional overload to a more balanced, calm state.
Learn MoreWho We Typically Work With in DC
Our clients aren't defined by diagnosis. They're defined by a shared desire to understand themselves more deeply and change more fundamentally. In Washington, DC, we frequently work with:
- Federal employees and government contractors navigating workplace stress, identity questions, and the weight of politically volatile environments.
- Attorneys, lobbyists, and policy professionals managing chronic high-stakes pressure and the erosion of personal life.
- Nonprofit and advocacy workers experiencing burnout, vicarious trauma, or mission-identity conflicts that are hard to name.
- Adults with late ADHD diagnoses seeking to understand themselves beyond the diagnosis.
- Individuals in transition, whether career changes, relationship shifts, identity work, or navigating the move to or from DC.
- Teenagers and young adults whose developmental work is complicated by high-pressure environments, social intensity, and academic demands.
Meet Our Therapists
Whether you're an exhausted people-pleaser, a close-to-burnt-out professional with high-functioning anxiety, or just stuck, we are here to help.
Margot Lamson
LICSW (she/hers)
Margot is a trauma-focused therapist who specializes in working with people for whom talk therapy hasn't been enough. With over 15 years of experience, she uses an integrative, evidence-based brain and body approach to help clients move out of patterns that feel stubborn, overwhelming, or hard to change.
Learn More About Margot Here!
Molly Michael
LMSW (she/hers)
Molly provides therapy with a warm, collaborative, and client-centered approach. She serves clients 18+ in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, specializing in life transitions, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She also works with veterans and military professionals navigating the unique challenges of service, transition, and reintegration. She draws on advanced training in IFS-informed therapy and EMDR to help clients build resilience and move toward meaningful change.
Learn More About Molly Here!
Brendan O'Connell
LMSW (he/him)
Brendan provides therapy with a warm, authentic, and collaborative approach. He serves teens and adults in DC, MD, and VA navigating relationship struggles, self-worth challenges, and the weight of past experiences. He has a particular passion for working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, supporting clients in healing from relational trauma at their own pace. He draws on IFS-informed therapy, EMDR, and Somatic Experiencing and meets clients in-person and via telehealth.
Learn More About Brendan Here!Ready to get started?
Here's what to expect. Book a free 20-minute consultation. On the call, we'll ask about your goals, answer your questions, and make sure it's a good fit on both sides. If you decide to move forward, your first session can be in-person at our Dupont Circle office or virtual through a secure platform.
Schedule a free consultationIn-Person Therapy in Washington, DC
Our office is located near Dupont Circle, one of the most accessible neighborhoods in the city, served by the Dupont Circle Metro station on the Red Line. The location is walkable from Adams Morgan, Logan Circle, U Street Corridor, Georgetown, and Foggy Bottom. Accessible by bus and bikeshare.
1350 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 1030, Washington, DC 20036
Monday through Saturday, 8:30am to 6:00pm
(202) 875-5861
Fees: Margot Lamson
45-min: $265 | 60-min: $370 | 90-min: $580 | 2-hr: $775 | 3-hr half day: $1,160 | 5-hr full day: $1,935
Fees: Molly Michael and Brendan O'Connell
45-min: $210 | 60-min: $290 | 90-min: $460 | 2-hr: $615 | 3-hr half day: $920 | 5-hr full day: $1,535
Sessions scheduled outside standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm) or on weekends incur a 25% surcharge.
Full Self Psychotherapy is an out-of-network provider. Superbills provided upon request for insurance reimbursement.
Therapy for Teens in Washington, DC
Age-appropriate, clinically rigorous support for adolescents navigating anxiety, identity, academic pressure, and family transitions. We work with teens and parents to calibrate the right level of involvement.
Learn More About Teen TherapyTherapy for Adults in Washington, DC
Individual therapy for adults navigating trauma, ADHD, anxiety, self-esteem, and life transitions. In-person at Dupont Circle or via telehealth throughout DC, Virginia, and Maryland.
Learn More About Adult TherapyVirtual Therapy: Healing from the Comfort of Home
Life is busy, and carving out time for therapy can feel like just another stressor. That's why we offer virtual therapy, a flexible, accessible option designed to fit seamlessly into your routine.
Imagine settling into your favorite chair, a warm drink in hand, your pet by your side, and starting your session from the privacy of your own space. Many clients find it easier to open up when they're in a familiar environment, free from the pressures of commuting or worrying about being seen at a therapy office.
Virtual therapy offers all the same benefits of in-person sessions, with added convenience and confidentiality. Your sessions will be held over a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform, ensuring your privacy and safety every step of the way.
Learn More About Virtual Therapy
FAQs about Therapy in Washington, DC
What types of therapy does Full Self Psychotherapy offer in Washington, DC?
Full Self Psychotherapy offers trauma-focused, evidence-informed individual therapy for adults and teens in Washington, DC. Specialties include trauma therapy using EMDR, IFS-informed therapy, and somatic therapies, ADHD therapy, anxiety therapy, self-esteem work, and teen therapy. Therapy intensives are also available. Sessions are offered in person at our Dupont Circle office and via telehealth throughout DC, Virginia, and Maryland.
Do you accept insurance for therapy in Washington, DC?
Full Self Psychotherapy is an out-of-network provider. We provide superbills for clients who want to seek reimbursement from their insurance company. Many PPO plans offer partial reimbursement for out-of-network mental health services. We recommend calling your insurer to confirm your benefits. Contact us to discuss fees and payment options.
Does Full Self Psychotherapy offer telehealth therapy for clients in Washington, DC?
Yes. Full Self Psychotherapy offers virtual therapy for clients located anywhere in Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Virtual sessions are held over a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform and offer all the same benefits as in-person sessions. Many DC clients, especially those with demanding work schedules, find it easier to open up when they're in a familiar environment, free from the pressures of commuting.
What is EMDR therapy and how is it used to treat trauma?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based approach that helps your brain reprocess and heal from trauma by using bilateral stimulation (i.e. guided eye movements, light buzzing stimulation, or tapping). This taps into your brain and body's natural ability to heal, helping distressing memories shift from emotional overload to a more balanced, calm state. At Full Self Psychotherapy, EMDR is often used alongside IFS-informed therapy and somatic therapies for a comprehensive, mind-body approach to healing.
Do you provide therapy for ADHD in adults and teens in Washington, DC?
Yes. Full Self Psychotherapy works with adults and teens navigating ADHD, including people who received a late diagnosis, people who have always suspected ADHD but were never formally assessed, and young people struggling with focus, emotional regulation, or the transition to more independent life. We work with the emotional experience of ADHD, not just the symptoms, helping you build strategies that actually fit how your brain works and address the self-esteem and anxiety that often come along for the ride.
How is Full Self Psychotherapy different from other therapists in Washington, DC?
At Full Self Psychotherapy, we use a mix of approaches to help you reconnect with yourself. EMDR helps you reprocess triggers. IFS-informed therapy helps you understand and work with the parts of yourself that have been trying to protect you, even when they carry pain or self-doubt. And with somatic therapies, we'll explore how your body holds onto past experiences. Sessions are collaborative and centered around what you need.
What should I expect in a first therapy session at Full Self Psychotherapy?
Your first session is all about getting to know each other and creating a safe, comfortable space for you to be yourself. We'll talk about what brought you to therapy, your goals, and any challenges you're facing. There's no pressure to jump into heavy topics right away. We'll move at your pace. Your therapist will share more about their approach and how you can work together to help you feel seen, heard, and supported.
What are therapy intensives and are they available in Washington, DC?
Therapy intensives are extended, focused sessions ranging from 90 minutes to a full day, designed to jumpstart your healing journey. Instead of weekly 50-minute sessions, you work in longer concentrated blocks, allowing for deeper processing without the constant stop-and-start. EMDR is highly effective in an intensive format. In fact, we typically don't conduct EMDR sessions under 90 minutes to start, because we find it more ethical to allow enough time for the brain and body to engage fully in processing. Intensives are available in-person in Washington, DC and virtually throughout Maryland and Virginia, and are especially helpful for clients with demanding schedules or those ready to dive deep. Visit our therapy intensives page to learn more.
How do I get started with therapy at Full Self Psychotherapy in Washington, DC?
Getting started is simple. Reach out through our booking page to schedule a free 20-minute consultation. This is a chance for you and your therapist to connect, talk about what you're looking for, and see if it's a good fit. If you decide to move forward, your first session can be in person at our Dupont Circle office or virtual through a secure platform. We'll get started on your goals from there!
Full Self Psychotherapy does not provide crisis services. If you are in crisis or need immediate support, please call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.