Melanie Ricaurte, PsyD

About

Psychologist in Washington, DC. Works with Relationship Issues, Sex Therapy and Sex-Positive & Kink Friendly. Sees clients in person and online. Works out of network for insurance. Accepting new clients.

Areas of expertise

• Relationship Issues
• Anxiety
• Bisexual
• Depression
• Divorce
• Family Conflict
• Lesbian
• Life Transitions
• Peer Relationships
• Racial Identity
• Self Esteem

Types of therapy

• Attachment-basedLooks at early bonds with caregivers and how they shape relationships and emotions now, and works toward a greater sense of safety and connection.
• Clinical Supervision and Licensed SupervisorsNot a therapy for clients: this therapist supervises other clinicians, for example those working toward their license.
• Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)A structured, practical therapy that looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions affect each other, and teaches skills for changing unhelpful thinking and habits.
• Emotionally FocusedTreats emotions as a guide to change. Often used with couples, to understand patterns of conflict and rebuild a secure bond.
• Family SystemsSees a person as part of their family as a whole, and explores roles, patterns and communication across the family rather than one person's problems alone.
• Gottman MethodA couples therapy built on research into what makes relationships last. Works on friendship, handling conflict and shared meaning.
• HypnotherapyUses guided relaxation and focused attention (hypnosis) to help with things such as anxiety, pain, sleep or habits like smoking.
• IntegrativeCombines more than one therapy approach, fitted to the person's needs.
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)Sees the mind as made of different 'parts', and helps people understand and care for them from a calm, compassionate core 'Self'.
• NarrativeHelps people separate themselves from their problems and retell the stories they hold about their lives in ways that feel truer and more helpful.
• Person-CenteredA warm, non-directive approach: the therapist listens with empathy and without judgment, and trusts the person to find their own direction.
• PsychodynamicExplores how past experiences, relationships and feelings outside awareness shape how a person thinks and acts today.
• Schema Therapy
• Trauma FocusedTherapy for people affected by trauma. Puts safety and pacing first, and helps process painful memories so they have less hold on daily life.

More details

Sessions

Both in-person and online

Accepting new clients

Yes

Specialties

Relationship Issues, Sex Therapy, Sex-Positive & Kink Friendly, Anxiety, Bisexual, Depression, Divorce, Family Conflict, Infidelity, Lesbian, LGBTQ+, Life Transitions, Marital and Premarital, Men's Issues, Mood Disorders, Peer Relationships, Polyamory & ENM, Racial Identity, Self Esteem, Spirituality, Transgender, Women's Issues

Insurance

Out of Network

Fees

Individual sessions $215; sliding scale available

Payment methods

American Express, Check, Discover, Mastercard, Venmo, Visa

Ages

Adults, Elders (65+)

Works with

Individuals, Couples

Communities

Bisexual Allied, Gay Allied, HIV / AIDS Allied, Intersex Allied, Lesbian Allied, Non-Binary Allied, Queer Allied, Racial Justice Allied, Sex Worker Allied, Single Parent, Transgender Allied

Ethnicity

Hispanic and Latino

Religion

Secular and Non-Religious

Languages

English

Gender

Female

Education

Widener University

Years in practice

19

Other offices

50 West Montgomery Avenue, Rockville, 20850

Education & qualifications