Therapists for college students near Howard University

Hello! I am Dr. Nainan Thomas, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker – therapist/ Mental Health Consultant (MSW, LICSW)-with advanced degree (Ph.D.) in Developmental Psychology. I provide tele-mental health ( online or by phone) for the residents of the District of Columbia. My clients include school-age children (ages 6-18) with serious emotional disorder and their parents, youth. college students with serious emotional, academic, and/or adjustment problems, individuals with co-occurring mental health/ substance abuse problems and relationship problems as well as families with marital and parent-child relationship problems. I work with my clients in areas such as depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, panic disorder, school, college, academic- adjustment, relationship problems, grief and loss. My expertise also includes counselling children who are victims of abuse and neglect, including children and youth who carry child sexual abuse-related trauma and their families. Further, I counsel families where adoption occurs and where court-ordered child custody, visitation issues emerge in divorce situations. I can help my clients navigate through these and many other transitional and life’s emerging challenges. I believe that each individual has a unique story to tell and deserves a customized treatment approach. Upon reaching a therapeutic agreement with my clients, I and my clients would consider ourselves as partners in my clients’ therapeutic path. I will be a good listener, providing practical guidance, suggestions and support all the way. My approach is authentic. I develop trust through my interactions with my clients. My communications with my clients are free of judgement, creating a safe space for expressing their thoughts and feelings. My approach is positive, focused on uplifting my client’s mental wellness in the midst of challenging situations. My therapeutic sessions will be tailored to my client’s unique situations and needs. I value progress over perfection.. It is wonderful to meet you. You are welcome for a free 15 minutes consultation to determine our best fit for your situation: 240-426-4355

Hi! I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 8 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and families. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with individuals with a wide range of needs, including Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Intellectual Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mood Disorders, Self-Esteem challenges, School Refusal, and other complex concerns. I am especially passionate about working with neurodiverse individuals and take a strengths-based approach that empowers them to recognize their unique abilities while learning strategies to navigate challenges. I believe in creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment where clients feel understood and valued. In addition to my work with neurodiverse clients, I am committed to helping individuals and families manage stress, build coping skills, and improve overall well-being. My approach is trauma-informed, compassionate, and tailored to meet each client’s unique goals. My treatment modalities include solution-focused brief therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. I strive to equip clients not only with tools for today but also with long-term strategies that foster growth, resilience, and confidence.

Congratulations on taking the step to invest in your mental health. Together, we will tend to the wounds that have weighed heavy on you, gently unraveling things that no longer serve you. Through intentional skill building and healing, you will reconnect with the parts of yourself that have been forgotten, silenced, or sacrificed. As your therapist my goal is to guide you and walk with you through your journey of change. I will teach you the psychology of what you are experiencing, assist you with gaining and applying effective tools, hold you accountable to the goals you set, and provide you with an unbiased perspective to the situation you are facing.

Hi, I'm Simran, and I work with college students and young adults who are navigating the challenges that come with this stage of life. College can bring a lot of change, pressure, and uncertainty, and sometimes it helps to have a space where you can talk openly and feel supported. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, overthinking, relationship concerns, stress, self-esteem, life transitions, or feeling stuck, therapy can help you better understand yourself and develop tools to handle life's challenges. My approach is warm, collaborative, and down-to-earth. I strive to create a space where you feel comfortable being yourself and where we can work together toward your goals. You don't need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. If you're looking for support, insight, or a place to process what you're going through, I'd be happy to work with you.

I am a clinical social worker with over a decade of experience. I practice affirming, allied, feminist therapy rooted in empowerment and strengths perspectives. I believe sleep, calories, and movement form the foundation for coping. My style of therapy is based in the knowledge that you are the best expert on your life. Your feelings may be unreliable narrators and together we will question their perspectives. I use behavioral activation, psychodynamic, and solution focused approaches to empower you to achieve your goals and tolerate your reality. I also believe that gummy peaches are the superior candy, music creates an entry to feeling, and belly laughs are as essential as hugs. I am a left-handed elder millennial. I am originally from Maine, and after years of travel, now live in rural Virginia with my husband and three young children (and giant dog).

Hi there, I’m Kadija—welcome! We’re so glad you’re here. At Barrat Behavioral Health and Primary Care, we’re committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive care that supports your whole health—both body and mind. Whether you’re seeking mental health support, weight management services, or a blend of both, you’ve already taken an important step toward wellness, and we’re honored to walk this journey with you. Our mission is to make you feel heard, respected, and empowered from day one. You can expect a safe, supportive space where your care is tailored to your unique needs and goals. Thank you for choosing us. We look forward to helping you live a healthier, more fulfilling life. Find Out More: 📞 Call or text: 571-543-4880 📧 Email: info@barratbhandconsulting.com

Therapy is a space to untangle patterns, fears, and old narratives so you can decide what actually serves you. I'm a doctorally-trained, licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C) who works with adolescents and adults through depression, anxiety, trauma, OCD, life transitions and relationship struggles. Together we'll trace what's been keeping you stuck, work through experiences that still weigh on you, and build tools you can use in your daily life, so you feel steadier, clearer, and more yourself. Every process is shaped around your individual preferences and needs. I draw on evidence-based approaches with strong track records for lasting change, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD; which ones we lean on depends on what you're working toward. What stays steady through all of it is a grounded space where you set the pace, receive guidance shaped to your circumstances, learn to trust your own judgment again, and start living by your own design. I see clients in person at my Bethesda, MD office and online across Maryland, Virginia, Vermont, Colorado, and Washington, DC. If any of this resonates, please reach out. I'd be glad to hear what's on your mind and find out whether we're the right fit.

Hello! My name is Jasmine Lang and I am Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Building Beyond Therapy, inc. Thank you for considering me as your therapist! I have been providing clinical social work services to adolescents and adults since 2017. I received my MSW from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and my undergraduate degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. I specialize in providing mental health care to individuals and families navigating neurodivergence. This includes adolescents and adults who may suspect that they have autism, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental differences. This also includes parents, siblings, or family members supporting a loved one who is neurodivergent and who may need their own mental health support. I have the training, knowledge, and experience to help you wherever you are on that journey. I have also completed specialized training in Postpartum Mood Disorders to support both neurotypical and neurodivergent parents on their pregnancy and postpartum journeys. Lastly, I understand that trusting a stranger with your private life is not easy and it is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. I feel very blessed to work as a therapist and aim to foster a safe and supportive space where healing and growth can take place. I am in network with CareFirst/BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna/Evernorth, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare. I am also licensed in Maryland, DC, and Virginia.

Are you trying to manage conflicting feelings, difficulty with relationships, trauma, grief, or simply facing the daily challenges of life? Sometimes a relationship with a skilled therapist can be a great place to explore these challenges and figure out how you can improve your quality of your life. I work with children, adolescents, and young adults who face struggles; some small, some big. Whether you’re looking for a therapist for yourself or for your child, I will tailor our work together to fit your needs. I have worked with kids of various ages, ranging from elementary to college age, and I have experience working in both school settings and in private practice. I specialize in working with trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, and relationship and identity issues. Children and young adults face many challenges stemming from their family of origin, questioning their identity, figuring out their way to becoming fulfilled adults, and much more. Our work together centers around how to help my clients to better understand their feelings and the way they think about the world, and how this all impacts their everyday choices. My therapeutic approach is based on Internal Family Systems (also known as “Parts Work”). This work stems from the belief that we are all made up of a system of dynamic, caring, and capable parts. When we experience trauma, some facets of our parts have to adopt extreme roles to protect us. Later on, these parts may need help letting go of their past experiences so they don’t negatively impact us. IFS work gives you the space and tools you need to approach your parts with curiosity, gain insight into them and why they were formed, understand what roles they play in your beliefs, actions, and relationships, and ultimately be able to heal yourself. In this work, I also use elements of Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Relational Therapy, and Mindfulness. For my younger or creatively-inclined clients, I include play and art therapy techniques to keep the sessions engaging and give clients creative modalities through which they can better express themselves. My success in treating clients lies in my ability to build trusting relationships with them. My goal is to create a warm, accepting, and encouraging therapeutic environment. I incorporate creativity and fun into my sessions while balancing the hard work that it takes to make meaningful life changes.

Online Counseling for teens & adults in Washington, DC & Virginia I work with adolescents and adults with concerns such as anxiety, stress, perfectionism, depression, self-esteem, relationship issues (peer, spousal, dating, breakups), life transitions, academic and athletic pressures. My approach is based on my belief in the importance of the therapeutic relationship and having a safe, supportive, non-judgmental space where clients can feel understood, accepted, connected, can share and explore their experiences, strengthen and expand upon coping skills, and develop insights. I use a collaborative approach that includes working with clients in a compassionate and non-judgmental manner, utilizing evidence based practices that have scientific support for their effectiveness. I provide treatment that is compatible with my client’s strengths and goals in order to provide healing, growth and reduction of symptoms. My client’s have described me as: “very easy to talk to”, genuine, thorough, “down to earth”. I firmly believe that things can and will begin to get better. Please reach out to me directly and I'd be happy to set up a time to connect further to learn more about how I can most be helpful, provide additional information on scheduling and answer any questions.

This process of being and becoming that we engage with as humans can simultaneously be both beautiful and incredibly challenging. The decision to take part in therapy can begin a transformative process that allows you to develop greater insight as well as ignite necessary behavioral changes. This can help promote greater well-being, vitality, healing, growth, resiliency, and self-actualization. There is perhaps no greater gift to give yourself than to invest in a process of self-exploration. Such exploration will better enable you to develop a deeper connection with your authentic self so that you may reach your optimal potential. Ultimately, engaging in therapy can be an empowered step toward claiming a life that feels more fulfilling, intentional and aligned with your goals. In turn, there is no greater honor for me than to get to share a part of your journey. I believe therapy to be a collaborative and relational process. You can expecte me to treat you with compassion and respect. I am a licensed psychologist in private practice after working in university counseling centers since 2003. Most recently, I served as the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at George Washington University since June 2020 after serving as Director of Counseling at Ursinus College since 2013. Prior to that I’ve worked in the counseling centers at Drexel, Columbia and Princeton University after completing my pre-doctoral internship at the counseling center at Johns Hopkins University and receiving my PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia in 2010. Prior to that, I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington and Lee University and my master’s degree in psychological counseling from Teacher’s College, Columbia University Collectively, these roles allowed me to identify my passion for providing quality mental health services to the adult and young adult population, particularly in helping the undergraduate and graduate students navigate through identity, relational and transitional concerns and stressors. In these roles, I both provided direct therapy to university students as well as oversight for the delivery of counseling services- including staff supervision and management, evaluation and assessment of services and programs, establishing best practices for the centers that met the needs of the campus community and supported student development objectives as well as the academic mission. I most enjoyed working directly with students to address both clinical and developmental issues and frequently experienced that through therapy, they could better realize their potential. I am very excited to be returning to a purely clinical role to dedicate my energy to providing direct therapy. I provide a warm, compassionate, supportive and empowering environment in which I meet individuals where they are and help them to feel seen, heard, and affirmed in order to heal, learn and grow. I believe that each client must be understood as an individual whose sense of self has been informed through many social, cultural and relational interactions.

Starting college or graduate school —or navigating your way through them—can be both exciting and overwhelming. Many students find themselves facing stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, identity questions, academic pressure, or major life transitions, often for the first time. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. I specialize in working with college students and young adults, and I understand the unique pressures of university life—from managing expectations and finding your place, to coping with self-doubt, loneliness, or burnout. Whether you’re struggling or simply wanting to better understand yourself and grow, therapy can be a space where things begin to feel more manageable and more hopeful. My approach is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. I believe that meaningful change happens in a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship, where you feel safe to be yourself and explore what’s really going on beneath the surface. Together, we’ll work at your pace to better understand your experiences, build resilience, and develop tools that help you move forward with greater confidence and clarity. I have over 15 years of experience in the mental health field, including working in university counseling centers, where I supported students through many of the challenges you may be facing now. I’ve worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds and identities, and I am committed to creating an inclusive, affirming space where you feel seen and respected. I also have experience working with international students, students with disabilities and chronic health conditions, Deaf and hard of hearing students, and those navigating complex family or cultural dynamics. Reaching out for support can feel like a big step—but it can also be the beginning of feeling more like yourself again. You deserve support, understanding, and a space to grow. I would be honored to be part of that process with you.

Compassionate Therapy Center is a counseling center specializing in providing caring therapy for individuals and couples, high achieving professionals and students, gifted and highly sensitive individuals who are coping with issues such as anxiety, sadness, self-esteem, perfectionism, family/career concerns, and relationships. We currently offer psychotherapy services for adult individuals and couples located in DC, Virginia, and abroad. At Compassionate Therapy Center, we provide a warm, compassionate, and authentic therapeutic space for clients to explore meaning, cultivate acceptance, and recognize their own unique strengths, by embracing diverse identities and advocating for social justice. We are welcoming and affirming of clients of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, and religious/spiritual beliefs.

When people come to treatment with problems, it is important to remember that they are trying to cope with them in the best way they can. With that in mind, I offer a reflective and engaging partnership with my clients, working toward the goal of helping them to be autonomous, authentic and compassionate in a world that can be extremely stressful. Although my work is solidly grounded in psychodynamic, cognitive/learning, and systems theories, my approach is client-centered, practical and strengths-based. I bring honesty, warmth, and humor to the therapy relationship. I am LGBTQ affirmative and invested in doing cross-cultural therapy which is culturally sensitive. I have a dog, Bracket, who works with me, and I have been doing AAT since 2002. There is a growing body of research which suggests that AAT (Animal-Assisted Therapy) can be helpful with a range of diagnoses, including Depression, PTSD, and Autistic Spectrum. Many therapists know little about online games such as World of Warcraft and Second Life. They may dismiss it as unimportant, or assume it is a problem. I am a gamer-affirmative therapist, meaning I’m more interested in understanding your in-world experience and activity than pathologizing it.

Dr. Justin Leak is a 2016 graduate of the American School of Professional Psychology @ Argosy University (ASPP). He received his BA in Speech Communication and African & African American Studies from the Pennsylvania State University in 2002. Dr. Leak completed his MA at Lewis & Clark College in Counseling Psychology, with a specialization in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy (MCFT) in 2008. Dr. Leak completed his APA-accredited internship at The John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (JLG-RICA), where he continues to work full-time as the Director of the Evaluation Unit and Case Manager for the Facility for Children. His Clinical Research Project was entitled: The Pressure of Maintaining Excellence: The Impact and Challenges of Combining an Electronic Peer-Mentoring Program with University Sponsored Counseling Services to Support Low Income College Students. In between his studies, Dr. Leak has worked with students and families in a variety of educational and therapeutic settings. These include working in the offices of Multicultural Affairs, Academic Advising, Career Advising, and most notably, Residence Life. For fun, he enjoys playing tennis, swimming, travel, and entering cooking competitions. Dr. Leak's therapeutic style pulls from several approaches, including psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Family systems. He offers treatment for a variety of stressors including (but not limited to) mood, anxiety, self-esteem, relationship problems, and transitional life issues. He also specializes in psychological assessment, specifically diagnosing issues that impact behavior, mood, attention, and learning. He is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), American Counseling Association (ACA), and the National Register of Health Psychologists.

Are you anxious or overwhelmed? Do you find yourself constantly worried about the state of the world, searching for a sense of calm in uncertain times? I support individuals who are experiencing burnout, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and life transitions. Together, we will create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can slow down, process your experiences, and reconnect with yourself. My goal is to help you feel grounded, empowered, & equipped with tools to move forward with clarity and confidence. Navigate stress, reduce anxiety and depression, strengthen relationships, and thrive through life changes.

Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in patterns of people-pleasing or perfectionism? As a licensed anxiety therapist in Baltimore, I provide in-person and virtual therapy for women, teens, and college students across Maryland and DC. I specialize in anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, people-pleasing, and perfectionism, using CBT, ACT, and EMDR. Together, we’ll build tools for confidence, balance, and emotional well-being, helping you live a more authentic, fulfilling life.

Life is sometimes overwhelming and therapy can help create possibilities! I am here to support you in identifying what is making you feel stuck and work with you to become the best version of yourself. I offer a warm and compassionate place for clients to talk about their pain and feel understood. I work with college students and young adults experiencing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, family and personal relationship difficulties, and academic or occupational stress. I draw from a variety of theoretical frameworks to meet the needs of the person I am working with. I am a LGBTQIA+ affirming and fat-positive therapist. I strive to create an inclusive and safe space for all clients. Looking for a therapist is a great first step towards healing and growing! Feel free to email me and I will then let you know my availability and next steps to setting up an intake session for us to get to know each other better. I look forward to hearing from you!

College life can feel like a high-speed juggling act. Classes, relationships, deadlines, family expectations, and trying to take care of yourself all compete for your attention. It can be hard to slow down and make sense of everything you are carrying. I work with students who want to pause, understand what is creating stress or disconnection, and refocus on what truly matters. If you want a therapist who will be your biggest cheerleader and also someone who will call you in when you need it, you are in the right place. My approach is trauma informed and grounded in CBT. Together we work to understand patterns, build clarity, and create real and lasting change. Finding the right therapist matters, especially when you are balancing a full schedule. If you are considering therapy, I invite you to visit my website and schedule a free consultation. This is your chance to ask questions, explore your goals, and get a sense of whether we are a good match. I offer virtual counseling for students located in PA, VA, and DC.

Have you been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or like you're running on empty? Maybe you're anxious, down, or trying to heal from painful experiences that still echo into your present. Perhaps you’re struggling to find your rhythm in a fast-moving world, or questioning your direction altogether. Life can feel especially heavy when you’re carrying it alone. But here’s the thing—you don’t have to. It's okay to be unsure or even scared about starting this journey. What matters most is that you're here, looking for a new way forward. And we're here to walk alongside you. We provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and evidence-based therapy for adults navigating emotional and psychological challenges. We are a social justice oriented psychotherapy collective, committed to creating a safe, inclusive space for all clients to explore their lived experiences.