Molly Michael
LMSW · DC · VA · MD
she / her / hers
You understand yourself. You can name the patterns. And you're still stuck. Let's work on that, in your mind and your body.
Curious about people. Committed to helping them.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent two decades in public service as an intelligence analyst, studying complex systems to serve the greater good. Over time I realized the skills that made me effective there: curiosity, pattern-spotting, deep listening. They belong in the therapy room, one person at a time.
I earned my MSW at The Catholic University of America, counseled college students for two years, then pursued post-graduate training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR to support the kind of durable, body-mind change that actually holds.
I also receive regular clinical supervision from Margot Lamson, LICSW, a trauma-focused psychotherapist with 15 years of clinical experience. When you work with me, you are also drawing on that depth of expertise.
I strive to create a safe, compassionate, and collaborative space where every person feels seen, understood, and empowered. All of you is welcome here, even the parts that feel confusing, protective, or hard to understand.
"There is nothing as whole as a broken heart."
A teaching from the Jewish tradition that guides my work
I carry this as an attitude, not an agenda. Compassion and dignity for every part of you, and a genuine welcome for clients of all identities and backgrounds. The places that feel most tender are not defects to erase. They are doorways into wholeness.
You understand yourself. The patterns aren't moving.
That's a sign your nervous system needs a different kind of help than talking alone can offer. I work with young professionals and motivated adults navigating anxiety, trauma, attachment wounds, and life transitions. Together we move from "I understand why I do this" to something you can actually feel change in your body, in real moments.
A space forClinical experience
MSW, The Catholic University of America
Clinical social work concentration. Two years counseling college students before transitioning to trauma-focused private practice.
LMSW: DC, Virginia & Maryland
Licensed Master Social Worker across all three jurisdictions, with ongoing supervision from Margot Lamson, LICSW.
IFS Level 1, IFS Institute
IFS Institute Level 1 Training Program (1311) in Internal Family Systems Therapy. 91 hours. Online in Real Time, January to May 2026.
EMDR Training & Consultation
EMDR training with ongoing consultation under Margot Lamson, LICSW.
20 Years as an Intelligence Analyst
Before entering the mental health field, I spent two decades in public service studying complex systems. That career shaped how I listen, how I notice patterns, and how I hold complexity without rushing toward conclusions. Those habits travel with me into every session.
What we build together
Untangle the pattern
Map what pushes, protects, or shuts down, and what it's been guarding. Understanding at a felt level: body and mind together.
Build nervous system safety
When your system feels steadier, new choices become possible. We create that foundation before going anywhere deep.
Turn awareness into practice
Tiny, repeatable shifts you can use at your desk, in a hard conversation, when anxiety spikes. Practice, not homework.
Therapy approaches I use
I work primarily with IFS and EMDR because they reach the body and nervous system alongside the mind, where much of what keeps people stuck actually lives.
EMDR Therapy
Overwhelming experiences can stay "stuck," carrying the same images, sensations, and beliefs from when they happened. EMDR helps your brain finish processing so those memories move into the past, freeing up the present with less reactivity and more choice. We go at the pace of your system.
Learn more about EMDR →Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Instead of treating perfectionism, people-pleasing, or shutdown as flaws, we meet them as protective parts that helped you survive earlier seasons. When those parts feel respected, they can relax. Your steadier, compassionate core gets to lead.
Learn more about IFS →Therapy Intensives
Standard weekly sessions can feel like opening something significant and closing it before there's time to move through it. Intensives give us extended blocks, 90 minutes to a full day, to go deeper and farther in less time overall.
Learn more about intensives →Who tends to do the most meaningful work with me
Who's a good fit
- Self-aware but unable to shift patterns alone. You want change you can feel, not just insight you can describe.
- Navigating anxiety, trauma, or attachment wounds that talk therapy hasn't fully reached.
- Balancing high demands at work or school alongside complicated relationship dynamics.
- A veteran, military professional, or first responder (police, fire, or emergency services) navigating transition, trauma, or reintegration.
- Drawn to body-based approaches because you sense the work needs to go beyond thinking.
- Previous therapy gave you insight. You're ready for something that also creates relief.
If you're not sure, a free consultation is the best way to find out.
Who's not a good fit
- Looking for a structured, step-by-step approach without space for exploration.
- Currently in active crisis or needing intensive psychiatric care (referrals available).
- Unwilling to notice what's happening in the body alongside the mind.
- Preferring a therapist focused only on surface-level coping skills.
What change can look like
A steadier body: less bracing, easier breath, even under pressure
Decisions with less second-guessing and more trust in yourself
Boundaries that hold: clear and kind, without the aftermath of guilt
Self-talk that fuels effort rather than feeding shame
More clarity and confidence in how you move through the world
A different relationship with the hard parts: less at war with yourself
What colleagues say
"I cannot say enough good things about Molly Michael! She is an exceptional clinician and colleague, demonstrating a sincere investment in her clients' wellbeing and consistently showing up with empathy, presence, and deep care for those she serves. Molly has a natural intuition that helps her tune into what each client needs and thoughtfully adjust her approach in a way that feels both skillful and compassionate."Angelyn Wollen, LGSW
"Molly has a good balance between supporting her clients with tremendous empathy and challenging them to think differently about their situations. She came to this profession thoughtfully and with life experiences that have given her a sophisticated ability to think critically about clients and a wisdom and intuition that enable her to connect with them."Karen Miller, LICSW
Washington, DC Office
📍 1350 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 1030, Washington, DC 20036
🕐 Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
📞 (202) 894-9307
📱 Direct: 202-759-5363
✉️ admin@fullselfpsychotherapy.com
Learn more about the DC officeVirtual therapy: from wherever you are
I offer secure, HIPAA-compliant video sessions across DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Many clients find it easier to open up from a familiar space, free from commuting and the lobby.
Washington, DC
Telehealth
Virginia
Telehealth
Maryland
Telehealth
Ready to feel different about your stuck places?
Book a free 20-minute consult. We'll talk about what's heavy right now and outline a plan that fits your season of life.
Schedule a free consultationAlso on Psychology Today
Full Self Psychotherapy
Full Self Psychotherapy is a trauma-focused group practice in Washington, DC, offering in-person therapy at our Dupont Circle office and telehealth sessions throughout Virginia and Maryland. Our team specializes in EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Therapy Intensives for adults and teens. We are committed to culturally inclusive, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-affirming care.
Full Self Psychotherapy does not provide crisis services. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.
Molly Michael
LMSW · DC · VA · MD
she / her / hers
You understand yourself. You can name the patterns. And you're still stuck. Let's work on that, in your mind and your body.
Curious about people. Committed to helping them.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent two decades in public service as an intelligence analyst, studying complex systems to serve the greater good. Over time I realized the skills that made me effective there: curiosity, pattern-spotting, deep listening. They belong in the therapy room, one person at a time.
I earned my MSW at The Catholic University of America, counseled college students for two years, then pursued post-graduate training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR to support the kind of durable, body-mind change that actually holds.
I also receive regular clinical supervision from Margot Lamson, LICSW, a trauma-focused psychotherapist with 15 years of clinical experience. When you work with me, you are also drawing on that depth of expertise.
I strive to create a safe, compassionate, and collaborative space where every person feels seen, understood, and empowered. All of you is welcome here, even the parts that feel confusing, protective, or hard to understand.
"There is nothing as whole as a broken heart."
A teaching from the Jewish tradition that guides my work
I carry this as an attitude, not an agenda. Compassion and dignity for every part of you, and a genuine welcome for clients of all identities and backgrounds. The places that feel most tender are not defects to erase. They are doorways into wholeness.
You understand yourself. The patterns aren't moving.
That's a sign your nervous system needs a different kind of help than talking alone can offer. I work with young professionals and motivated adults navigating anxiety, trauma, attachment wounds, and life transitions. Together we move from "I understand why I do this" to something you can actually feel change in your body, in real moments.
A space forClinical experience
MSW, The Catholic University of America
Clinical social work concentration. Two years counseling college students before transitioning to trauma-focused private practice.
LMSW: DC, Virginia & Maryland
Licensed Master Social Worker across all three jurisdictions, with ongoing supervision from Margot Lamson, LICSW.
IFS Level 1, IFS Institute
IFS Institute Level 1 Training Program (1311) in Internal Family Systems Therapy. 91 hours. Online in Real Time, January to May 2026.
EMDR Training & Consultation
EMDR training with ongoing consultation under Margot Lamson, LICSW.
20 Years as an Intelligence Analyst
Before entering the mental health field, I spent two decades in public service studying complex systems. That career shaped how I listen, how I notice patterns, and how I hold complexity without rushing toward conclusions. Those habits travel with me into every session.
What we build together
Untangle the pattern
Map what pushes, protects, or shuts down, and what it's been guarding. Understanding at a felt level: body and mind together.
Build nervous system safety
When your system feels steadier, new choices become possible. We create that foundation before going anywhere deep.
Turn awareness into practice
Tiny, repeatable shifts you can use at your desk, in a hard conversation, when anxiety spikes. Practice, not homework.
Therapy approaches I use
I work primarily with IFS and EMDR because they reach the body and nervous system alongside the mind, where much of what keeps people stuck actually lives.
EMDR Therapy
Overwhelming experiences can stay "stuck," carrying the same images, sensations, and beliefs from when they happened. EMDR helps your brain finish processing so those memories move into the past, freeing up the present with less reactivity and more choice. We go at the pace of your system.
Learn more about EMDR →Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Instead of treating perfectionism, people-pleasing, or shutdown as flaws, we meet them as protective parts that helped you survive earlier seasons. When those parts feel respected, they can relax. Your steadier, compassionate core gets to lead.
Learn more about IFS →Therapy Intensives
Standard weekly sessions can feel like opening something significant and closing it before there's time to move through it. Intensives give us extended blocks, 90 minutes to a full day, to go deeper and farther in less time overall.
Learn more about intensives →Who tends to do the most meaningful work with me
Who's a good fit
- Self-aware but unable to shift patterns alone. You want change you can feel, not just insight you can describe.
- Navigating anxiety, trauma, or attachment wounds that talk therapy hasn't fully reached.
- Balancing high demands at work or school alongside complicated relationship dynamics.
- A veteran, military professional, or first responder (police, fire, or emergency services) navigating transition, trauma, or reintegration.
- Drawn to body-based approaches because you sense the work needs to go beyond thinking.
- Previous therapy gave you insight. You're ready for something that also creates relief.
If you're not sure, a free consultation is the best way to find out.
Who's not a good fit
- Looking for a structured, step-by-step approach without space for exploration.
- Currently in active crisis or needing intensive psychiatric care (referrals available).
- Unwilling to notice what's happening in the body alongside the mind.
- Preferring a therapist focused only on surface-level coping skills.
What change can look like
A steadier body: less bracing, easier breath, even under pressure
Decisions with less second-guessing and more trust in yourself
Boundaries that hold: clear and kind, without the aftermath of guilt
Self-talk that fuels effort rather than feeding shame
More clarity and confidence in how you move through the world
A different relationship with the hard parts: less at war with yourself
What colleagues say
"I cannot say enough good things about Molly Michael! She is an exceptional clinician and colleague, demonstrating a sincere investment in her clients' wellbeing and consistently showing up with empathy, presence, and deep care for those she serves. Molly has a natural intuition that helps her tune into what each client needs and thoughtfully adjust her approach in a way that feels both skillful and compassionate."Angelyn Wollen, LGSW
"Molly has a good balance between supporting her clients with tremendous empathy and challenging them to think differently about their situations. She came to this profession thoughtfully and with life experiences that have given her a sophisticated ability to think critically about clients and a wisdom and intuition that enable her to connect with them."Karen Miller, LICSW
Washington, DC Office
📍 1350 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 1030, Washington, DC 20036
🕐 Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
📞 (202) 894-9307
📱 Direct: 202-759-5363
✉️ admin@fullselfpsychotherapy.com
Learn more about the DC officeVirtual therapy: from wherever you are
I offer secure, HIPAA-compliant video sessions across DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Many clients find it easier to open up from a familiar space, free from commuting and the lobby.
Washington, DC
Telehealth
Virginia
Telehealth
Maryland
Telehealth
Ready to feel different about your stuck places?
Book a free 20-minute consult. We'll talk about what's heavy right now and outline a plan that fits your season of life.
Schedule a free consultationAlso on Psychology Today
Full Self Psychotherapy
Full Self Psychotherapy is a trauma-focused group practice in Washington, DC, offering in-person therapy at our Dupont Circle office and telehealth sessions throughout Virginia and Maryland. Our team specializes in EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Therapy Intensives for adults and teens. We are committed to culturally inclusive, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-affirming care.
Full Self Psychotherapy does not provide crisis services. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.