Meet your therapist

Margot Lamson

LICSW, LCSW-C · DC · VA · MD

she / her / hers

I don't see clients as problems to fix. I see people who already have insight and strengths. We work together to understand what's getting in the way.

EMDRIA Certified Therapist
Sensorimotor SP L1 & L2
IFS Level 1 Trained
15+ Years

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Margot Lamson, LICSW, LCSW-C, trauma therapist at Full Self Psychotherapy in Washington, DC

15+ Years experience
3 States licensed
3 Core modalities

About Margot

Curious about people. Committed to helping them.

I've always been deeply curious about people: how we think, feel, and make sense of our experiences. I studied anthropology in college because I wanted to understand what shapes us, but I quickly realized I didn't just want to learn about people. I wanted to help them. That led me to social work and, eventually, to building a therapy practice that feels both meaningful and personal.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, compassionate, and focused on the whole person. I don't see clients as "problems to fix," but as people who already have insight and strengths. We work together to better understand what's getting in the way.

I'm trained in EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which means we don't just talk about what's going on. We also pay attention to how your body and nervous system have been impacted. This helps create deeper, longer-lasting change.

Trauma-Focused
Mind-Body Integrated
Neurodivergent-Affirming
LGBTQIA+ Affirming
Culturally Humble

What drives my work

When someone heals, it doesn't just change their life. It ripples outward. Therapy is one small but meaningful way to be part of that.

What really drives my work is the belief that when someone heals, it doesn't just change their life. It ripples outward. My Jewish background has shaped this perspective, especially the idea of tikkun olam, or repairing the world. I see therapy as one small but meaningful way to be part of that.

At the end of the day, therapy is a very human experience. You're trusting me with vulnerable parts of your life, and I don't take that lightly. My goal is to create a space where you feel understood, supported, and able to show up as your full self, without pressure or judgment.

Who I help

I work with people carrying things that talk therapy alone hasn't reached.

My clients often come in with a sense that something is off but can't quite name it. They're functioning, sometimes very well, but something underneath feels stuck. If any of these resonate, we might be a good fit.

Teens & Young Adults

Navigating identity, relationships, anxiety, and a world that can feel overwhelming. I create space where young people feel genuinely heard, not managed.
People with Anxiety & Perfectionism

Overthinking, people-pleasing, and high-achieving patterns that leave you exhausted. The same loops keep running no matter how hard you try to think your way out.
Adults Healing from Trauma

PTSD and C-PTSD from childhood experiences, relationships, or life events that still show up in your body and behavior long after they happened.
Neurodivergent Adults & Teens

ADHD, autism, and other forms of neurodivergence, especially where they intersect with anxiety, perfectionism, or a lifelong sense of not quite fitting in.
People for Whom Talk Therapy Hasn't Been Enough

You've done the work. You have the insight. But something still feels stuck. Body-based approaches like EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can reach what words alone can't.
Clients Ready for Deeper Work

Including those interested in therapy intensives: concentrated, extended sessions for people who want to move through stuck points more quickly than weekly therapy allows.

Schedule a Free Consultation

My approach to therapy

We don't just talk about what's going on.

Many people come to therapy already self-aware: they can name their emotions and understand their patterns. And yet, they still feel stuck. That's because healing isn't just a cognitive process. Trauma and anxiety live in the body just as much as in the mind. That's why I integrate three evidence-based, body-informed modalities.

EMDR Therapy

Using bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps your brain reprocess distressing memories so they lose their emotional charge. You don't have to relive what happened to heal from it.
Learn More About EMDR
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

A body-centered approach that works at the intersection of mind and body, helping you notice and work with physical sensations tied to past experiences.
Learn More About Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS helps you understand the parts of yourself that protect you: the perfectionist, the inner critic, the anxious part. We get to know these parts and heal the deeper wounds they carry.
Learn More About IFS

Therapy with me is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Some days you might feel reflective and ready to process; other days you might feel overwhelmed and not know where to start. Both are welcome. I provide a space that's inclusive for all people: all sizes, abilities, races, sexualities, genders, and religions.

How therapy with me is different

Grounded. Curious. Genuinely myself.

It's an honor to be a trusted part of people's healing. Therapy isn't easy, but it's worth it.

Clients tell me I am grounded, curious, and compassionate. I take therapy seriously, but I also bring my full, authentic self into the room. My clients often describe feeling joy, relief, and even laughter in our sessions.

I love working with deep thinkers and creative minds. As someone who is neurodivergent myself, I appreciate out-of-the-box thinking and nonlinear processing. If you've ever felt like your sensitivity or intensity was "too much" for others, you'll find no such judgment here.

Therapy with me isn't about making you less of who you are. It's about helping you show up more fully and freely as yourself.

Is this a good fit?

I work best with certain kinds of people.

Who's a good fit

Curious about yourself and open to exploring thoughts, emotions, and patterns.
Struggling with self-doubt but knowing deep down you're unique and capable.
Stuck in perfectionism, people-pleasing, or overachieving patterns.
Wanting to heal relational trauma and understand how the past still affects you.
A fast, creative, outside-the-box thinker (many clients relate to ADHD traits).
Compassionate and wanting to take better care of yourself.

Who's not a good fit

Looking for a structured, step-by-step approach without room for exploration.
Currently in active crisis or needing intensive psychiatric care (I can provide referrals).
Unwilling to engage in self-reflection or try new ways of relating to yourself.
Preferring a therapist who focuses only on surface-level coping skills.

Unsure? We can always chat in a consultation to see if we're the right match.

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Clinical experience

Training that goes where insight alone cannot.

15+ years of post-graduate clinical experience, advanced certifications, and active licenses across three jurisdictions, each linked to its verified document.

Education & Background
- MSW, Clinical Concentration, National Catholic School of Social Service (2012)
- Post-Graduate Certificate, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, Washington School of Psychiatry (2018 to 2020)
- Prior roles: school social worker, in-home family therapist, group practice clinician
Active Licensure
- Washington, DC: LICSW LC50080341, active through March 31, 2027 Verify View License
- Virginia: LCSW 0904014215, active through June 30, 2027 Verify View License
- Maryland: LCSW-C 33650, active and in good standing through October 31, 2027 Verify View License
EMDR Certifications
- EMDRIA Certified Therapist, granted February 2025, valid through February 2027 View Certificate
- EMDR Consulting Training Course, Toronto, August 2023 (50 hours) View Certificate
- EMDR Early Intervention Protocols, ScalingUp, May 2024 (14 EMDRIA CEUs) View Certificate
- IFS-Informed EMDR, Syzygy Institute, December 2025 (13 CEs) View Certificate
Sensorimotor & IFS
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1 (80+ hours) and Level 2 (150+ hours)
- Sensorimotor Level 2 Teaching Assistant, 120 hours delivered (2023)
- IFS Level 1, IFS Institute, completion letter from Richard Schwartz (January 2026) View Letter
- IFS Basics, Advanced, and Exiles Series with Bonnie Weiss (40+ hours)

Teaching & speaking

Giving back to the clinical community.

September 2024

CE Presenter, American University

Continuing education training for the AU Counseling Department staff on Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.
January 2023

Facilitator, Therapeutic Arts Training, Kenya

Presented on trauma, somatic regulation, and therapeutic arts as part of the Global Alliance for East Africa program.
2021 & 2023

Guest Lecturer, National Catholic School of Social Service

Graduate-level lectures on clinical social work and trauma.
2022 to 2023

Teaching Assistant, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 2

Assisted in delivering 120 hours of advanced trauma-informed somatic psychotherapy training.

Outside the office

Therapy is only one part of living a full life.

Outside of work, I intentionally make space for the things that keep me grounded: meaningful relationships, creativity, movement, and community. Whether I'm spending time with my husband, family, and friends, oil painting, playing the viola, traveling, taking long walks, or connecting with my synagogue community, these experiences help me stay connected to myself. I love helping clients rediscover the people, places, and parts of themselves that make life feel richer and more fully their own.

Peer endorsements

What colleagues say

I have known Margot for almost 15 years and have consistently been impressed by her compassion, clinical knowledge, and professionalism. She has mastered integrating evidence-based treatment modalities with her grounded, warm approach.

Allie Stefanelli, LICSW, LCSW, PMH-C

Riverview Psychotherapy
Margot Lamson has the tools to help you become the version of yourself you've always wanted to be. She really gets that therapy has to be tailored to the client in order to be effective. I cannot recommend Margot and her therapy intensives highly enough.

Dr. Shannon York

In Alignment Wellness
Margot is a very talented clinician. Her advanced training in somatic therapy and EMDR gives her a deep understanding of how to treat trauma. I highly recommend her as a therapist who has a well established track record of successfully treating trauma symptoms.

Lauren Blackwood, LICSW

Blackwood Psychotherapy

Common Questions

What are your fees?

These are my current session rates. Longer sessions and half-day or full-day intensives are available if you would like to go deeper, faster.

45-minute session: $265
60-minute session: $370
90-minute session: $580
2-hour session: $775
3-hour session (half day): $1,160
5-hour session (full day): $1,935

Sessions outside standard business hours (9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday) and weekend sessions incur a 25% surcharge. Full Self Psychotherapy does not accept insurance, but we are happy to provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement.

From the blog

Written by Margot

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Get in touch

Therapy may be one of the hardest things you do,

and it will also be one of the best. If you’re ready to take the first step, I’d love to walk alongside you on this journey. You can reach me at (202) 410-4378 or margot@fullselfpsychotherapy.com.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Find Margot online