Katarina Syed

Katarina is a Graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern at Washington Psychological Wellness. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Johns Hopkins University. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Cognitive Science from the University of Georgia, where her studies sparked a deep curiosity about the human mind and emotional development across the lifespan.

Katarina takes a thoughtful, creative, and compassionate approach to therapy, grounded in her belief in the power of imagination, connection, and self-expression in the healing process. Her experiences supporting children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder with skills acquisition, as well as volunteering at the Atlanta Children’s Shelter with children navigating housing instability, have shaped her passion for helping children build communication skills, emotional regulation, confidence, and self-esteem within a supportive and nurturing environment.

Guided by a warm and empathetic presence, Katarina is passionate about building strong therapeutic relationships rooted in trust, collaboration, and respect. Her clinical interests include play therapy, narrative therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). While she is particularly passionate about working with children, Katarina enjoys supporting individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and life experiences. She works with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, identity development, life transitions, stress, self-esteem, and relationship challenges, and strives to help clients feel emotionally safe, understood, and empowered to express themselves authentically throughout the therapeutic process.

Katarina believes therapy is a collaborative and empowering journey where clients and families can feel seen, heard, and supported. She is committed to creating a warm, welcoming environment where healing, self-discovery, and personal growth can naturally unfold.