Emily Varlas, LMSW, LGSW, MS Ed

About

Licensed Master Social Worker in Washington, DC. Works with ADHD, Anxiety and Trauma and PTSD. Sees clients online only. Works out of network for insurance. Accepting new clients.

Areas of expertise

• Anxiety
• Trauma and PTSD
• Depression
• Divorce
• Grief
• Life Transitions
• Parenting
• Relationship Issues
• School Issues
• Self Esteem
• Stress Management

Types of therapy

• Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)Helps people make room for difficult thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them, and commit to actions that fit what matters to them.
• 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.
• Compassion FocusedHelps people who are hard on themselves to build warmth and compassion toward themselves, as a counterweight to shame and self-criticism.
• Dialectical Behavior (DBT)A skills-based therapy grown out of CBT. Teaches ways to manage intense emotions, get through crises, stay present and handle relationships.
• Emotionally FocusedTreats emotions as a guide to change. Often used with couples, to understand patterns of conflict and rebuild a secure bond.
• Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)The main behavioral therapy for OCD: gradually facing feared situations or thoughts while resisting the urge to carry out compulsions.
• Family / MaritalTherapy with couples or families together, focused on communication, conflict and the patterns between people.
• FeministConsiders how gender, power and social context affect a person's life and well-being, and aims for an equal relationship between client and therapist.
• HumanisticA family of approaches, including person-centered and Gestalt therapy, that emphasize growth, self-awareness and a person's capacity to choose.
• Motivational InterviewingA collaborative style of conversation that helps people explore mixed feelings about a change and find their own reasons to make it.
• Person-CenteredA warm, non-directive approach: the therapist listens with empathy and without judgment, and trusts the person to find their own direction.
• Play TherapyUses play, toys and games to help children express feelings and work through problems in a way that suits their age.
• SandplayThe person builds scenes in a tray of sand with small figures, as a way to express what is hard to put into words. Used with children and adults.
• Strength-BasedFocuses on the strengths, skills and resources a person already has, and builds on them to meet challenges.
• Structural Family TherapyLooks at how a family is organized, its roles, rules and boundaries, and helps reshape patterns that cause problems.

More details

Sessions

Online only

Accepting new clients

Yes

Specialties

ADHD, Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD, Alcohol Use, Caregivers, Chronic Pain, Depression, Divorce, Education and Learning Disabilities, First Responders, Geriatric and Seniors, Grief, Life Transitions, Marital and Premarital, Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD), Parenting, Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum, Relationship Issues, School Issues, Self Esteem, Spirituality, Stress, Substance Use, Women's Issues

Insurance

Out of Network

Fees

Individual sessions $180, couple sessions $200; sliding scale available

Payment methods

ACH Bank transfer, American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa

Ages

Children (6 to 10), Preteen, Teen, Adults, Elders (65+)

Works with

Individuals, Couples, Family

Communities

Lesbian Allied, Non-Binary Allied, Queer Allied, Racial Justice Allied, Single Parent, Transgender Allied

Ethnicity

Black and African American, Hispanic and Latino

Languages

English

Gender

Female

Education

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Other offices

Kensington, 20895

Education & qualifications