One-on-one counseling
For individuals tired of running into the same struggles. With your therapist, you'll find what's driving them and start to change the pattern.
Request a free intro callIn person in McLean
Virtual anywhere in Virginia
Most people start in one week or less
People come to us for all kinds of reasons. A few we hear often:
“My mind won't stop racing, even at night.”
“Nothing I used to enjoy feels good anymore.”
“I'm still burdened by what happened.”
“I lost someone, and the grief isn't lifting.”
“I'm drinking, or using, more than I want.”
“Food and my body feel like a constant fight.”
“I can't stop checking, counting, or second-guessing.”
“I keep ending up in the same relationships.”
Your reason doesn't have to be on this list. If you can't quite name what's going on, you're welcome here too.
We treat nearly all of this in our outpatient setting. If you need more support, like an intensive outpatient or residential program, we'll help you find the right one.
Change rarely flips on like a light switch. It comes more like a sunrise, starting small. A miserable day is only kind of miserable. You keep your cool a few seconds longer. An old memory stings instead of flattening you. Then the changes grow. You find the courage to try something new. You say something hard to someone you love, and the relationship holds. One day you look up, not sure when it happened, and the sun is up.
Your therapist's first job is to get to know you: your story, your relationships, and what you've been carrying, maybe for years. You set the pace. Trust takes time, and the real work depends on it.
Over time, your therapist will start to notice things: what keeps you stuck, beliefs that work against you, habits you may not see, patterns you play a part in. They'll hold up a mirror, kindly and honestly, so the two of you can get curious together. That's how you start to see what you've never seen before, and decide how you want to respond.
The anxiety, the drinking, or the low mood is often where the trouble shows, not where it starts. So we look at both: what you're feeling now and what's driving it.
Your therapist draws on well-researched approaches, chosen to fit you.
EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)
Helps your brain reprocess painful memories that still feel present. While you briefly hold a memory in mind, your therapist guides you through back-and-forth eye movements or taps. You don't have to describe every detail out loud.
Somatic approaches
Working with what your body holds, like tension, breath, and the physical side of stress and trauma, not just your thoughts.
CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
How your thoughts, feelings, and actions feed each other, plus practical skills to break the cycle.
DBT (dialectical behavior therapy)
Skills for riding out intense emotions and keeping relationships steady.
ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy)
Learning to make room for hard thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them, so you can move toward what matters to you.
Motivational interviewing
A collaborative conversation that helps you sort through mixed feelings about a change and find your own reasons to make it.
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
Getting to know the parts of you in conflict, like the part that wants to change and the part that's afraid to.
EFIT (Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy)
Grounded in attachment science, it helps you understand your emotions and how they shape your closest relationships.
Psychodynamic therapy
Exploring how early experiences and feelings you may not be aware of still shape how you think, feel, and relate today.
Interpersonal neurobiology
How relationships shape the brain, and how a steady, trusting one, including the one with your therapist, can help old patterns change.
Each clinician's bio lists the methods they use.
It's just you and your therapist. Sessions run 50 minutes, usually weekly or every other week, and you'll decide together what fits. Come to our office in McLean, or meet by video anywhere in Virginia.
Looking for help for your teen?
See Children & teens →Meet the clinicians who work with adults. Each bio shares their training, their approach, and the methods they use.
Not sure who fits? That's what the intro call is for.
Request a free intro call Meet the whole team →Sessions range from $210 to $285, depending on your clinician.
Need a lower fee? Our Institute's supervised Clinical Interns see clients for $50 a session, or as little as $10 based on household size and income, and our staff clinicians can see a limited number of clients at a reduced rate.
What happens on the intro call?
It's a free, 30-minute call with the clinician we think fits you best, based on your request. You'll talk about what's bringing you in and what you're hoping for, plus the practical stuff: fees, scheduling, and in person or virtual. It's also a chance for both of you to sense the fit. If someone else on our team is a better match, they'll make the introduction. You decide what's next.
How do I choose a therapist?
You don't have to figure it out alone. You're welcome to browse our team and ask for someone by name. Or leave it to us. We'll match you based on what you're facing, your schedule, and any preferences you share. The intro call confirms the fit.
Can I use my insurance?
Often, yes. We're an out-of-network provider, and many of our clients get part of the cost of each session reimbursed. Here's how it works: you pay at the time of your session, and we give you a superbill, a detailed receipt you submit to your insurance company. A quick call to your insurer can tell you what your plan covers. You can also pay with an HSA or FSA card.
How long does therapy usually take?
There's no set length. It depends on what you're working on and what you want from it. Some concerns ease in a focused stretch; deeper patterns take longer. Your therapist will talk about this with you early and check in as you go. You set the pace.
Send a short form. It takes about two minutes. Tell us who you're looking for help for and what's going on. A sentence or two is plenty.
Talk with a clinician. The clinician we think fits you best, based on your request, calls you for a free, 30-minute intro call. You'll talk through what you're looking for, fees, and format, and make sure it's the right fit.
Book your first session. We'll send you a link to schedule. Most people start in one week or less.
There's no commitment on the call. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you, and help you find who is.
Request a free intro callIn crisis? Call or text 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.
