Since 2019 · McLean, Virginia

Our story

Why we started this practice in 2019, how it's grown, and what that means for you.

A note from Eric McClerren, co-founder

Eric McClerren Sarah McClerren

Eric and Sarah McClerren, co-founders

Therapy works best when three things come together: depth, honesty, and clinicians who are healthy and grounded themselves. We built The McClerren Group around all three, so the people who come to us can heal, grow, and live more connected lives.

How it started

Shortly after our first child was born, my wife, Sarah, and I moved to Northern Virginia, where she grew up, to be closer to family. In 2019, we opened a small practice in Vienna. We had a clear picture of what it could become:

The best of modern psychology, grounded in timeless wisdom and offered with real compassion.

A door open to every corner of the community, across backgrounds, beliefs, and budgets.

Along the way

2019

Sarah and I opened our doors in a single sublet office.

2020

We moved to McLean, into an office with room to grow.

2021

Our team grew beyond the two of us, with our first staff clinicians and our first Clinical Intern.

2022

We settled into our current offices on Elm Street.

2023

Our internship program kept growing, serving more interns and more clients. That year we gave it a name: The McClerren Group Institute.

Today

A team of 14: licensed clinicians, Residents in Counseling, and Clinical Interns.

What we hold to

Every person has dignity, and every story deserves to be heard. It's an honor to sit with whoever comes through our door.

Hard things take skill and compassion. Your therapist brings sharp clinical judgment and real warmth into the room. Complicated doesn't scare us.

Nobody here has arrived. We stay humble and curious, and we keep learning: from the latest research, from each other, and from you.

All of us is better than any of us

Therapists do their best work in community. So Sarah and I set out to build one.

We bring our toughest questions to each other, sharpen each other's thinking, and cheer each other on. We're willing to challenge each other, too. That's how good therapists keep getting better.

Some of us see a wide range of people; others have gone deep in a particular approach. Each of us sees through the training we've had. So when one of us wants a fresh look at what you're facing, we can borrow a colleague's.

And none of us outgrows supervision and consultation. Ours is led by Sarah, our Clinical Director and an NBCC Approved Clinical Supervisor, along with a team of Virginia board-approved supervisors.

When you sit down with any one of us, you get the expertise of all of us.

Beyond our walls

From the start, we wanted to reach every corner of the community. A few of the ways we're doing that:

The Institute. Everyone deserves access to quality care. Our supervised Clinical Interns see clients for $50 a session or less, so cost is less likely to stand in the way. Lower-cost care →

ParentLink. A free group for parents of children with special needs, led by one of our therapists. About ParentLink →

Cornerstone Schools of Washington, DC. A small K–12 school in Southeast DC that keeps a strong education within reach through generous scholarships. Each semester, our clinicians offer free individual and group counseling to its students.

Jill's House. A respite home for children with intellectual disabilities. Over the years, we've partnered with them to bring free support to their families and staff.

Our team also leads workshops and talks for churches and organizations. Workshops & speaking →

That's our story. We'd love to hear yours.

If you're ready for the next step, it's a free, 30-minute call with one of our clinicians. Either way, I'm glad you found us.

Eric McClerren

Eric McClerren, Co-founder and CEO

In crisis? Call or text 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.