The Counseling Center Group
Presents:
Counseling Center of
Washington, DC
Call Today: (888) 604-6776
Evidence-Based Therapy
We are the Counseling Center of Washington, DC®. We specialize in providing evidence-based therapy to help improve your quality of life and mental health! Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or grief; our team will provide new insights that enable change at all levels.
Our Washington, DC Therapy Specialties and Services:
The Counseling Center Group® is a practice dedicated to providing professional counseling therapy services. Our skilled therapists bring many years of experience from a wide variety of specialty areas.
It is our philosophy that many clients can benefit from specific tools and then use those tools in their everyday life. Therefore, we do our best to empower you to live your life without the need for prolonged therapy.
The process is shorter than traditional therapy and is very effective in resolving trauma. The therapist guides the client through a series of eye movements that help to release the emotional impact of the trauma. The therapist also helps the client to reframe the event so that it no longer has the same emotional charge.
In DBT-PE, clients initially work with the therapist to establish safety and gain the skills needed to cope with addressing trauma. While continuing in all modes of standard DBT, DBT-PE then addresses memories and beliefs related to the client’s trauma history.
The Gottman Method is a form of couples therapy that was developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman based on over 40 years of research on what makes relationships work. It focuses on emotionally supportive communication and understanding each partner’s needs in order to foster a healthy relationship.
ART draws from several existing therapeutic approaches in order to reprogram how our brain stores upsetting memories or images to reduce the severity of distressing reactions. It combines elements of traditional talk therapy with creative activities to help us process difficult experiences and learn healthier coping skills. ART focuses on the connection between our thoughts, feelings, behavior, and body sensations.
We Can Help.
If you or a loved one can benefit from Therapy in greater Washington, DC Area
we are here to help.
Our Therapists in Washington, DC
EMILY RIZZO
CLINICAL DIRECTOR WASHINGTON DC
To book an appointment with
EMILY RIZZO
Gender Identity Therapy, LGBTQ Counseling, Relationship Therapy
For the last ten years, Emily has worked with teenagers, adults, and families as a counselor/therapist. During her career, Emily has worked with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, people of color, and helped clients with depression, anxiety, self-motivation, trauma, self-harm, grief, familial relations, gender identity, sexual identity, sexual/relationship needs, communication in relationships, understanding their identity, and self-integration.
Along with individual therapy, Emily provides couples and family therapy and has experience working with families who have been through the foster care system, adoption, and with parents of teens in a wilderness/partial hospitalization/intensive out-patient program. Emily began her journey in extensively learning DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and incorporates this skill-work into her sessions.
A certified yoga teacher from Skyhouse Yoga Studio in Silver Spring, Emily believes in incorporating healing movement and breath work into sessions. Emily is a proud member of Maker’s Lab DC (founded by Lee Livingston Perine) which builds and supports queer communities by creating spaces that celebrate life, art, and queer culture.
Counseling is helpful during a hard time and can be something we come back to when we need support or a tune-up. Self-care is a daily act and Emily’s belief is that counseling can help jump start our self-care routine. We all deserve to be heard, to understand our feelings, and to speak our truth.
NICOLE FAYARD
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NICOLE FAYARD
Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Individual Therapy
Nicole is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and board approved supervisor with a post master’s in Clinical Community Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. Nicole is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC), voluntarily meeting national standards for the general practice of counseling. She is fully licensed to work with clients in Washington, DC, Maryland Virginia, and North Carolina.
Nicole has nearly 20 years of experience working with a variety of clients in treatment of mental illnesses in inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization program settings. She has extensive experience working with a wide range of diagnoses including mood disorder, major depression, bipolar, anxiety/panic disorders, schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), suicidal thoughts and/or recent suicide attempts, as well as skills in crisis intervention. Nicole has completed Dialectical Behavior Therapy Intensive Training (The Linehan Institute) and currently sits on a comprehensive DBT team. She also has training in the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). She incorporates these methods into most of her sessions.
Prior to joining CCM, Nicole directed an adult partial-hospitalization program ensuring evidence-based treatment for her patients, as well as the patients of the multitude of therapists she supervised. She provided clinical treatment services such as clinical assessments, treatment planning, and individual/family/group counseling to patients stepping down from an inpatient stay or those in need of more intense treatment.
Nicole takes an eclectic approach to counseling, however, she follows her basic foundation of meeting the client wherever he/she is emotionally. While working with clients, Nicole weaves in various treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT,) and mindfulness to support clients as they move toward a sense of control in their lives. Nicole’s passion is helping clients incorporate their goals in therapy into their everyday living as they continue their journey toward wholeness. She believes the choice to enter into therapy exhibits bravery and self-compassion.
Nicole received her BS in Psychology from Towson University and her MS in Clinical Community Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. She is also a member of the American Counseling Association. Nicole has also completed a multitude of continuing education courses to support her skills in CBT, DBT, and working with mood disorders. She currently resides in Montgomery County, MD, where she enjoys being close to family and raising her two children.
JEANILY CRUZ
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JEANILY CRUZ
Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy
Jeanily is a trauma-informed therapist who is deeply passionate about working with communities of color, those in the LGBTQ community and other marginalized individuals. She regularly helps clients who are struggling with anxiety, relational issues, self esteem, boundaries, or mental health stigmas in various cultures. If you find yourself stuck, shrinking, or sometimes unable to use your voice- she is here to help gently guide you back to your authentic self by creating a safe space to process and make meaning of your experiences. Healing is a birth right. No matter what you’ve experienced and gone through-you deserve joy!
Jeanily takes a strengths-based approach to empower her clients to use the skills they already hold to heal and support their overall mental wellness. Jeanily uses a trauma-informed lens along with modalities such as CBT, DBT and mindfulness to help clients explore the root of their experiences, shift negative thinking and empower them to embrace a fuller life.
BROOKE SHAFER
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BROOKE SHAFER
Brooke Shafer joins the Counseling Center Group bringing with her experience working in Washington, DC and Boston, MA. She has spent time in her career working in Elementary and Middle Schools and in mental health crisis situations, specializing in working with children, families, and young adults. Her clients have come from diverse backgrounds and have presented with difficulties managing anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm, suicidal ideation, gender identity, sexual identity, and social difficulties. She also has experience working with children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum or who have been diagnosed with other developmental and educational disabilities.
Brooke’s primary counseling philosophy is the understanding that meeting the client where they are at is the best way to heal or progress. What works for one client one day may not be helpful for the next client, or even the next day for the same person. Allowing clients the space to both experience their feelings and problem solve in a given situation ensures that their personal therapeutic goals are within reach.
Brooke offers each client unconditional positive regard and acceptance. Therapy will be individualized to each person, couple, or family to move towards their specific therapeutic goals, including the option to utilize teletherapy or in-person therapy. Clients can expect to be treated with respect and dignity throughout the therapeutic process.
Brooke has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from Indiana University and a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from Boston University and holds clinical licenses in both DC and Maryland. She is a DMV native and lives with her partner and one cat.
SAPNA SINGH
SHE/HER/HERS
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SAPNA SINGH
Individual Therapy | Couples Therapy | Family Therapy
In addition to her MSW, Sapna has two Bachelor’s degrees (Political Science and Philosophy) from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, and an additional Master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University. She holds clinical licenses in both DC and Maryland.
By leaning on your strengths & providing guidance, accountability, and support, Sapna will work along with you towards a healthier and happier tomorrow.
MELISSA MELENDEZ
To book an appointment with
MELISSA MELENDEZ
Individual Therapy | Family Therapy
Melissa is a licensed social worker in Maryland and Washington, DC. Melissa is passionate
about providing individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, and young adults
experiencing trauma, anxiety, and depressive disorders. Melissa has experience working with
clients struggling with grieving, suicidal ideations, self-esteem, social skills, boundaries, and
relationship issues.
Melissa is a trauma-informed therapist who prioritizes providing clients with a collaborative,
empathetic, and non-judgmental space to meet their therapeutic goals. Melissa specializes in
providing a variety of interventions, including psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(CBT), play therapy, sand tray therapy, and mindfulness.
As a bilingual therapist (English & Spanish), Melissa strives to provide culturally competent
therapy to clients from diverse backgrounds experiencing issues impacting their emotional well-
being. Melissa believes providing psychotherapy and preventative services to clients from
diverse backgrounds who may be unaware of potential warning signs and risk factors
associated with mental health disorders is crucial.
Melissa received her Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social
Work and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Penn State. Melissa is a Licensed Master
Social Worker (LMSW) in Maryland and a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) in
Washington, DC.
