Getting Help

“Once a person is determined to help themselves, there is nothing that can stop them” – Nelson Mandela

People seek help when something in their life isn’t working. Some are searching for a way to put an end to their emotional pain. Others want to feel like themselves again, find what’s missing from their lives, or stop patterns of behavior that feel out of their control. They’ve usually tried everything they could think of to do independently, perhaps even used strategies that have worked in the past. But they’re still feeling stuck.

Below are some common struggles that therapy can help you address:

Anger Management

Everyone has different ways of dealing with their anger. At Washington Psychological Wellness, we assist clients who have difficulties expressing their anger in a healthy, constructive manner. In therapy for anger management, you will explore your history of anger and when it became a problem and find alternative methods to soothe those aggressive tendencies.

Depression, Sadness, & Loneliness

Depression can range from a feeling of persistent sadness and a loss of interest in things one previously enjoyed to major depression, leading to lack of energy, low self-esteem, and other to physical and emotional ailments. At Washington Psychological Wellness, our therapists promote an integrative and holistic approach to treating depression and will work to tailor treatment to your unique goals and circumstances. Our therapists are passionate about helping you achieve your mental wellness goals and overcoming the obstacles in your life.

Anxiety, Fear, & OCD

Anxiety is a sense of fear and worry that something is wrong. At Washington Psychological Wellness, our therapists specialize in helping individuals overcome the underlying causes of their anxiety and, therefore, lead a more fulfilled and balanced life. Anxiety treatment focuses closely on listening to your body and learning how to recognize and address anxiety symptoms before they grow and escalate. Our therapists will work with you to ensure a safe, collaborative environment conducive to adaptive growth, acceptance, and change.

Addiction & Recovery

Substance abuse and addiction are characterized by having a brain disease that includes compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences. Examples of addiction are sex, pornography, food, drugs, alcohol, gambling, cell phones/devices, and social media. At Washington Psychological Wellness, our therapists treat relationship addiction and love addiction and help you overcome substance abuse, drug abuse, alcohol addiction, or mood disorders that correlate to an addiction.

Chronic & Terminal Illness

Chronic pain and illness can impact your physical and mental health. Therapy can help you deal with the complex emotions, fears, and stress that often accompany a chronic disease. Your therapist serves as a non-biased, objective supporter and advocates for your health, wellness, and overall life satisfaction. Treatment will typically include relaxation training techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises to help control your stress.

LGBTQ Specific Issues

Washington Psychological Wellness provides LGBTQ counseling for relationships, youth, and adults. Our therapists have a deep understanding of the unique challenges that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals and couples face. Working with a therapist can help you regarding your sexuality, self-judgment, or difficulty negotiating and defining your sexuality with friends and family.

Loss, Grief, & Bereavement

Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something important to you. However, the process of grieving varies depending on each individual. Grief counseling can help you cope with your loss and express your feelings.

Trauma & PTSD

Trauma typically develops from significant, shocking, and life-changing experiences. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a severe accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape, or other violent personal assault. Trauma therapists can help you understand how feelings of isolation, loneliness, shame, anxiety, or depression are often a result of the self-defensive, biological response to unrecognized and unprocessed trauma.

Life Transitions and Personal Growth

Common life transitions are going to college, moving, starting a new job, beginning or ending a relationship, welcoming a child, retiring, aging, and becoming an empty nester. A life transition may cause sleep changes, dietary changes, mood swings, and elevated emotional responses. Therapy can give you a safe, stable place to support the complex emotions arising from these life changes. Life transitions therapy will encourage you to think of transitions as an opportunity.

Self-esteem Building

Self-esteem determines how much we like ourselves, how confident we are, and how capable and valued we feel in general. Some causes of low self-esteem are childhood trauma, social media, societal norms/pressures, and parenting. Therapy for low self-esteem can help express your feelings and determine the underlying causes of your low self-esteem. Therapy will assist you in identifying and building a healthy self-esteem level tailored towards meeting your goals.

Family Difficulties

Families can experience significant stress because of work, school, or the personality differences of various family members. At Washington Psychological Wellness, our clinicians work with families and/or with a parent and a child to help them learn how to navigate transitions, communicate effectively, and develop an empathic, secure connection.

Body Image

Eating disorders often manifest from a need for control, family discord, genetic predispositions, societal pressures, illness, or other mental health issues. Eating disorder therapists can help you establish a healthier relationship with food, yourself, and your body. At Washington Psychological Wellness, our therapists value an integrative and holistic approach to care and collaborate with a reliable treatment team.

Overwhelming Emotions

Feeling overwhelmed with emotions may be hard to control and manage. Those who are often overly emotional or easily overwhelmed may be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Therapy for a Highly Sensitive Person can help you gain insight into the core tenants of your personality, learn to embrace your sensitivity, and develop the tools and strategies needed to live each day authentically and in accordance with your goals and values.

Have a personal question?

Washington Psychological Wellness is here to help you! Feel free to contact us for a complimentary 15-minute initial consultation to learn more about all of our mental health treatment options.

Multicultural Concerns

Multicultural concerns are related to many different topics and identities, including race, religion, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, or disability. Ethnocentrism is the mindset of evaluating other cultures based on the standards and customs of one’s own culture. Some people view their way of living as “normal” and judge others who deviate from their lifestyle, such as following a different religion. At Washington Psychological Wellness, our therapists strive to understand how cultural differences affect the therapeutic dynamic.