About Our Practice
A multidisciplinary team dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families
build healthier relationships, navigate change, and thrive.
Glory Fox Dierker, Ph.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Clinical Psychologist
parenting coordinator
Glory Fox Dierker, PhD, is the Founder and Executive Director of The Family Center. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist with more than five decades of experience, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals, couples, and families build healthier relationships, navigate life's challenges, and strengthen emotional well-being.
Dr. Dierker provides individual psychotherapy for adults and adolescents, couples therapy, marital counseling, group therapy, and parenting consultation. Her clinical work is informed by a lifelong interest in the ways relationships shape human development and emotional health across the lifespan.
A recognized expert in family relationships, attachment, and parenting, Dr. Dierker's professional interests focus on adult intimacy, parent-child attachment, family dynamics, psychological trauma, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. Her work has been guided by the belief that strong, secure relationships provide the foundation for resilience, growth, and emotional well-being.
Since beginning her work with families in Northern Virginia in 1971, Dr. Dierker has played a pioneering role in developing innovative programs that support parents, children, and families. She began her career as a social worker and child development specialist with the Alexandria Department of Social Services and later developed and directed the Center for Women and Families, a highly regarded parent education and support program serving the Northern Virginia community throughout the 1980s.
Committed to making evidence-based parenting education accessible to families, Dr. Dierker later founded The Parenting Project, a program devoted to parental guidance, education, and support. She is also a Virginia Supreme Court Certified provider of the parent education seminar required for divorcing parents with minor children.
Drawing upon decades of clinical experience and attachment research, Dr. Dierker authored Parenting Together, Living Apart, an educational parenting guide and companion course designed to help parents support their children's well-being during times of family transition. Her work has helped countless parents better understand child development, strengthen parent-child relationships, and create healthier family environments.
Throughout her career, Dr. Dierker has been known for her warmth, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping individuals and families thrive. Her leadership, clinical expertise, and dedication to community service have made a lasting impact on generations of Northern Virginia families. Email: gfoxdierker@thefamilycenter.com
Gus Nava, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
parenting coordinator
Dr. Gus Nava is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has been a valued member of The Family Center since 1993. For more than three decades, he has helped adolescents, adults, couples, and families navigate life's challenges with greater resilience, insight, and emotional well-being.
Dr. Nava provides individual psychotherapy, couples therapy, group therapy, parent guidance, and parenting coordination services. His areas of clinical focus include depression, anxiety, psychological trauma, grief and loss, interpersonal and relationship difficulties, and family conflict.
A central aspect of Dr. Nava's work is helping clients identify and implement meaningful "Therapeutic Life Changes" (TLCs)—practical, sustainable changes that can enhance emotional health and overall quality of life. Whether through strengthening relationships, increasing physical activity, engaging in community service, or developing healthier coping strategies, he believes lasting growth often occurs through small but intentional steps.
Dr. Nava earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Virginia and his Master's and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to graduate training, he served as an undergraduate research volunteer with the National Institute of Mental Health. During his doctoral studies, he was awarded a Graduate Fellowship and worked as both a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant.
His professional experience spans a variety of clinical settings, including community mental health centers, rehabilitation hospitals, and St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he completed his predoctoral internship. He also worked with the Metropolitan Police Department's Employee Assistance Program, providing support and critical incident debriefing services to law enforcement officers.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Nava completed specialized training in Parenting Coordination for High-Conflict Families and serves as a volunteer clinician with Give an Hour, a national organization dedicated to providing mental health services to military service members, veterans, and their families affected by post-9/11 conflicts.
Known for his warmth, practicality, and collaborative approach, Dr. Nava works closely with clients to help them build on their strengths, overcome obstacles, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Emily George, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Emily George is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at The Family Center who specializes in working with adolescents, adults, and couples navigating a wide range of emotional, relational, and life challenges.
Her clinical interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, relationship concerns, and major life transitions. Emily is particularly passionate about helping clients develop greater self-understanding, strengthen their relationships, and build the tools needed to navigate life's challenges with resilience and confidence.
In her work with couples, Dr. George helps partners deepen emotional connection, improve communication, rebuild trust, navigate conflict more effectively, and foster greater intimacy and understanding. She works collaboratively with couples to identify recurring patterns, strengthen emotional bonds, and create healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
Dr. George earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado Denver and her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. She completed her predoctoral internship at Southeast Human Service Center in Fargo, North Dakota, where she provided individual therapy, group therapy, and psychological assessment services to children, adolescents, and adults.
Emily believes that a strong therapeutic relationship provides the foundation for meaningful growth and change. Known for her warm, thoughtful, and compassionate approach, she strives to create a safe, accepting environment where clients feel understood, supported, and empowered to explore challenges, build on their strengths, and move toward lasting positive change. Email: EGeorge@thefamilycenter.com
Johnathan duff, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Jonathan Duff is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at The Family Center who works with children, adolescents, and adults navigating a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and life challenges. His clinical interests include anxiety, depression, life transitions, stress management, adjustment to medical illness, attention and concentration difficulties, and psychological well-being.
Dr. Duff specializes in individual psychotherapy with adolescents and adults and also provides psychological testing and assessment services, including evaluations for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He works collaboratively with clients to help them better understand their experiences, develop effective coping strategies, and build greater resilience in the face of life's challenges.
Dr. Duff earned his bachelor's degree from Boston College, his master's degree in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Denver, and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami. He completed his internship in Clinical Health Psychology at The Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center.
Throughout his training and professional career, Dr. Duff has worked with diverse populations in a variety of settings, including veterans receiving care through the Veterans Administration, children and adolescents in pediatric healthcare settings, individuals coping with medical illness, and high-performing athletes seeking to enhance performance and overall well-being.
His therapeutic approach is integrative and evidence-based, drawing from person-centered therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based interventions, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He tailors treatment to each client's unique needs, strengths, and goals while fostering a supportive and collaborative therapeutic relationship.
Known for his thoughtful, approachable, and compassionate style, Dr. Duff strives to create an environment where clients feel understood, empowered, and equipped to make meaningful and lasting changes in their lives.
Daniel Roefaro, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Daniel J. Roefaro is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at The Family Center who specializes in working with adults experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorders, emotional regulation difficulties, and other complex mental health concerns.
Dr. Roefaro is committed to helping clients develop practical skills, gain deeper insight into their experiences, and create meaningful, lasting change. His therapeutic style is collaborative, supportive, and goal-oriented, emphasizing both personal growth and the development of effective strategies for managing life's challenges. He strives to cultivate an open, honest, and nonjudgmental therapeutic environment where clients feel empowered to build upon their strengths and celebrate progress along the way.
Dr. Roefaro has advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and experience utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), integrating evidence-based approaches to help clients improve emotional regulation, strengthen coping skills, and foster greater resilience.
After graduating magna cum laude from Rutgers University, Dr. Roefaro earned both his Master’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree in Clinical Psychology from William Paterson University. During his graduate training, he served as Co-Coordinator of the Neuropsychology, Cognitive, and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory, where his research focused on the relationship between anxiety, facial emotion recognition, and motor functioning.
Prior to joining The Family Center, Dr. Roefaro gained experience in private practice, community mental health, and university counseling settings. His training includes work at Arlington/DC Behavior Therapy Institute, WellSpan Philhaven, Kind Mind Psychology, Drew University's Counseling and Psychological Services, and Milestones Psychology, where he provided treatment to individuals with a wide range of clinical concerns.
Known for his thoughtful, direct, and encouraging approach, Dr. Roefaro works collaboratively with clients to help them better understand their challenges, build confidence in their abilities, and move toward healthier, more fulfilling lives. Email: DRoefaro@thefamilycenter.com
Lisa Patrizia, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Lisa Patrizia, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in individual and family therapy with children, adolescents, and adults, as well as parent consultation and support. She works collaboratively with clients and families to navigate emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges while fostering greater understanding, resilience, and connection.
Lisa has extensive experience providing mental health services in both community-based and school settings, where she has worked with a diverse range of children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her clinical interests include child and adolescent behavioral concerns, family conflict, parenting challenges, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, and relationship difficulties.
Lisa earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia and her Master of Arts and Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degrees in Community Counseling from James Madison University.
Her clinical approach is informed by relational, family systems, object relations, attachment-based, and trauma-focused perspectives. Lisa believes that each individual and family possesses unique strengths and resources that can serve as a foundation for healing and greater well-being. She works closely with clients to increase self-awareness, strengthen communication, deepen relationships, and develop practical skills for managing life's challenges.
Known for her warm, thoughtful, and collaborative style, Lisa strives to create a supportive environment where clients feel understood, respected, and empowered to navigate difficult experiences with greater confidence and clarity. Email: lpatrizia@thefamilycenter.com
Robert A. Dierker, M.S.
Resident in Counseling
Robert ("Bo") Dierker is a Resident in Counseling at The Family Center who works with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults experiencing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and life challenges. His clinical interests include anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, ADHD, anger and impulse-control concerns, family dysfunction, interpersonal conflict, and life transitions.
Bo earned his Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University and is currently completing the supervised clinical experience required for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor. During his graduate training, he completed his internship at Counseling and Advocacy Associates in the Richmond area, where he provided counseling services to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. He also developed and facilitated a hybrid psychotherapy and support group for parents, caregivers, and family members of individuals with ASD.
Bo has experience working with individuals across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, adults, seniors, and individuals living with chronic medical conditions. He is committed to creating an inclusive, affirming, and respectful therapeutic environment for people from diverse backgrounds and identities, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
His therapeutic approach is grounded in existential and humanistic principles and influenced by person-centered, multicultural, and strengths-based perspectives. Bo believes that every individual possesses inherent worth, resilience, and the capacity for growth. He works collaboratively with clients to help them better understand themselves, identify their strengths, navigate life's challenges, and develop a greater sense of purpose, confidence, and self-direction.
Known for his thoughtful, compassionate, and genuine style, Bo strives to create a supportive therapeutic relationship where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered as they work toward meaningful and lasting change. Email: rdierker@thefamilycenter.com
Jessica Lincoln, MSW
Clinical Social Work Resident
Jessica Lincoln, MSW is a Resident in Clinical Social Work at The Family Center who specializes in supporting adolescents, young adults, and adults navigating grief and loss, trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, identity development, and life transitions.
Before earning her Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, Jess spent more than a decade mentoring, educating, and supporting children and families as the owner and operator of an academic enrichment center in Northern Virginia. Her extensive experience working with young people continues to inform her compassionate, strengths-based approach to clinical practice.
Following the loss of her brother in 2016, Jess became actively involved with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). She serves as a Healing Conversations volunteer and previously served as Development Chair for the National Capital Area Chapter. She has also received specialized training in facilitating peer support groups for individuals affected by suicide loss and currently leads SB4T (Suicide Bereavement for Teens), a monthly support group for adolescents ages 14–19 who are grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide.
Jess is committed to providing a supportive, affirming, and collaborative therapeutic environment where clients feel safe exploring difficult experiences and emotions. Her clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed, person-centered care and incorporates elements of parts work, emotionally focused therapy, and other evidence-based approaches tailored to each client's unique needs and goals.
Known for her warmth, authenticity, and deep empathy, Jess works collaboratively with clients to help them build resilience, strengthen relationships, process loss and trauma, and create meaningful, lasting change that aligns with their values and aspirations.
Email: jlincoln@thefamilycenter.com
Kayla Timbinaris
Clinical Mental Health Resident
Kayla Timbinaris is a Resident in Counseling at The Family Center who works with children, adolescents, adults, and couples navigating a variety of emotional, relational, and life challenges. Her clinical interests include anxiety, depression, trauma and post-traumatic stress, grief and loss, family conflict, and life transitions.
Kayla earned her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University and is currently completing the supervised clinical experience required for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Kayla approaches therapy from a person-centered perspective, viewing the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative partnership built on trust, respect, and authenticity. She believes that each client is the expert in their own life and strives to create a supportive environment where individuals feel safe, heard, and empowered to explore their experiences and work toward meaningful change.
Drawing from evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Kayla tailors treatment to each client's unique needs, strengths, and goals. She recognizes that no two individuals are alike and works collaboratively with clients to develop practical skills, increase self-awareness, and build resilience in the face of life's challenges.
Known for her empathetic, open, and welcoming style, Kayla is committed to helping clients navigate difficult experiences, strengthen relationships, and create lasting positive change.
.. Email: ktimbinaris@thefamilycenter.com
Maggie Fox Dierker, JD, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Parenting Coordinator
Director of Mediation Services
Maggie Fox Dierker, JD, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist, Board-Approved Clinical Supervisor for Social Work, Parenting Coordinator, Virginia Supreme Court Certified Mediator, and Director of Mediation Services at The Family Center. For more than two decades, Maggie has helped individuals, couples, and families create healthier relationships, navigate life's challenges, and achieve meaningful personal and relational growth.
Maggie’s unique combination of training in psychology, law, and conflict resolution allows her to bring a thoughtful, relational, and practical perspective to her work. Known for her warm, collaborative, and engaging style, she works with adults, adolescents, couples, and families impacted by anxiety, depression, emotional regulation difficulties, complex trauma, relationship and communication challenges, grief and loss, life transitions, caregiving responsibilities, aging, and other significant stressors. Drawing upon her expertise in child development, attachment, and family systems, she has extensive experience working with individuals from diverse spiritual, cultural, and ideological backgrounds.
Maggie's clinical work is grounded in evidence-based practice and informed by psychodynamic, attachment-based, family systems, cognitive-behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed approaches. She recognizes that every client brings a unique history, personality, strengths, and life circumstances to therapy and believes that no single therapeutic approach is right for everyone. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model, she thoughtfully customizes treatment to each client's individual needs, strengths, and goals. Her therapeutic style balances warmth and empathy with honest feedback, practical guidance, and thoughtful insight.
She believes that a strong therapeutic relationship provides the foundation for meaningful change, and strives to create a safe, supportive environment where clients feel understood, challenged, and empowered as they work toward deeper self-understanding, stronger emotional regulation, healthier communication, and lasting growth. She is particularly passionate about the transformative process of helping clients better understand themselves, strengthen their relationships, and build more balanced and fulfilling lives. In her mediation and parenting coordination practice, she helps individuals and families navigate difficult conversations, resolve conflict, and make informed decisions during periods of significant transition. Drawing upon her background in both mental health and law, she assists mediation clients in crafting thoughtful and durable agreements—including marital separation agreements and parenting plans—that address both the practical and relational needs of the families with whom she works.
Maggie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia, her Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, and her Master of Social Work from The Catholic University of America, where she specialized in military social work and complex PTSD. She also completed a comparative law program at the University of Vienna, Austria, and pursued advanced study in neuropsychology at Georgetown University.
Jennifer Marceron Glienke, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Jennifer Marceron is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at The Family Center who specializes in helping adolescents, young adults, and adults navigate life's challenges with greater confidence, resilience, and self-understanding.
Dr. Marceron graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia, where she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology, and went on to earn her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
She completed her APA-accredited predoctoral internship at the University of Denver Health and Counseling Center, where she provided individual and group therapy to college-aged adults within an integrated healthcare setting. Throughout her career, Dr. Marceron has worked in a variety of clinical environments, including community mental health centers, university counseling centers, and outpatient medical settings, giving her broad experience working with diverse populations and presenting concerns.
Dr. Marceron's clinical interests include eating disorders, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, disability-related challenges, and chronic illness. She is committed to creating a supportive, collaborative therapeutic environment where clients feel understood, empowered, and equipped to make meaningful changes in their lives.
Her approach is client-centered, compassionate, and evidence-based. Drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), she tailors treatment to each client's unique needs, strengths, and goals, helping them build practical skills while fostering lasting personal growth. Email: jmarceronphd@thefamilycenter.com
Alyssa Poblete, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Alyssa Poblete is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at The Family Center who specializes in helping adolescents, young adults, and adults navigate life's challenges with greater self-understanding, resilience, and connection.
Dr. Poblete graduated with high distinction from the University of Virginia, earning her bachelor's degree in Psychology. Prior to pursuing graduate studies, she served as a project coordinator for a large federally funded research study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill focused on depression and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescent girls. She later earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University, where her research explored co-parenting relationships and parental self-efficacy in ethnically diverse families.
She completed her APA-accredited predoctoral internship at the American University Counseling Center, providing individual therapy, group therapy, and crisis intervention services to a diverse university population. Dr. Poblete has worked with children, adolescents, and adults across a variety of clinical settings throughout the Washington, D.C. region, including community mental health centers, university counseling centers, and medical research institutions.
Dr. Poblete's clinical interests include anxiety, depression, grief and loss, identity development, relationship concerns, and life transitions. She is particularly passionate about supporting adolescents and young adults as they navigate periods of growth, change, and self-discovery. She also has a strong interest in couples therapy and group therapy.
As an integrative clinician, Dr. Poblete draws from relational and evidence-based approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Her therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, and compassionate. She believes that meaningful change occurs within the context of a strong therapeutic relationship and works closely with clients to better understand their experiences, build on their strengths, and create lasting, positive change.
Johanna Williams, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Johanna Williams is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at The Family Center who works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families navigating a wide range of emotional, relational, and life challenges. Her clinical interests include mood disorders, trauma, family dynamics, identity development, life transitions, and the impact of cultural, social, and systemic factors on mental health and well-being.
Dr. Williams has provided psychotherapy and consultation services in a variety of clinical, academic, and community settings throughout the Washington metropolitan area, including Johns Hopkins, Sheppard Pratt Hospital, the D.C. Superior Courts, the Howard University Counseling Center, and the Baylor University Counseling Center. Her experience working across diverse settings has given her extensive expertise in supporting individuals from a wide range of cultural, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
A psychodynamically trained clinician, Dr. Williams is a member of the Brooklyn Seminars for Modern Psychoanalysis and a former Psychoanalytic Fellow at the Washington Center for Psychoanalysis. Her advanced training helps her understand the deeper emotional patterns, relational dynamics, and life experiences that contribute to persistent distress and recurring challenges. She works collaboratively with clients to increase self-awareness, foster emotional growth, and create meaningful and lasting change.
Dr. Williams has extensive multicultural training and experience working with individuals facing concerns related to cultural identity, gender and sexual identity, aging, disability, military service, community violence, family relationships, and cultural attitudes toward mental health. She believes that effective therapy requires both clinical expertise and a deep appreciation for the unique experiences, values, and perspectives each client brings to the therapeutic relationship.
In addition to her psychotherapy work, Dr. Williams has training in psychological and neuropsychological assessment, which informs her comprehensive and thoughtful approach to understanding clients' concerns. She has also presented at professional conferences on a variety of topics, including family trauma, severe mental illness, psychology training, media influences, and community systems.
Known for her insightful, thoughtful, and culturally responsive approach, Dr. Williams strives to create a safe and supportive environment where clients feel understood, respected, and empowered as they work toward greater self-understanding, healthier relationships, and emotional well-being.
Dr. Williams earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Stevenson University, her Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Long Island University, and her Ph.D. in Psychology from Howard University.
Dana Deleanu, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Dana Deleanu, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor at The Family Center with more than a decade of experience providing individual and group therapy to adolescents and adults. She works with clients navigating a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and life challenges, helping them develop greater self-understanding, resilience, and confidence in managing life's complexities.
Dana earned her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from George Mason University and has extensive experience working with diverse populations and presenting concerns. Her clinical interests include anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, emotional regulation difficulties, relationship concerns, negative thought patterns, and life transitions.
Dana believes that meaningful and lasting change occurs through a combination of insight, self-awareness, and practical action. She strives to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their experiences, identifying personal goals, and developing effective strategies for growth and healing.
Her therapeutic approach is integrative and individualized, drawing primarily from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and solution-focused interventions. Recognizing that every client brings unique strengths, challenges, and life experiences to therapy, Dana tailors treatment to meet each individual's specific needs and goals.
Known for her warm, approachable, and collaborative style, Dana works alongside clients to help them better understand themselves, strengthen coping skills, improve emotional well-being, and create meaningful, lasting change. Email: DDeleanu@thefamilycenter.com
Tessa Smith, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Tessa Smith, PsyD, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at The Family Center who works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Her clinical interests include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), trauma-related disorders, mood disorders, family systems, and life transitions.
Dr. Smith has extensive experience working in multidisciplinary settings, providing assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and consultation in collaboration with schools, healthcare providers, and families. She has particular expertise supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families through parent education, coaching, and psychoeducational programming.
Her professional experience includes working with individuals affected by trauma, OCD, personality disorders, domestic violence, and relationship challenges, as well as families navigating conflict and transition. She completed her clinical internship with the D.C. Superior Court, where she conducted forensic and psychoeducational assessments, facilitated trauma-informed groups, and provided therapy to adolescents.
Dr. Smith has specialized training in numerous evidence-based approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), the Gottman Method, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), parent coaching, sex therapy, and divorce coaching.
Her therapeutic approach is person-centered, collaborative, and informed by a systems perspective. She believes that each individual is the expert on their own experience and works closely with clients to develop personalized treatment plans that reflect their unique strengths, goals, and circumstances.
Before entering the field of psychology, Dr. Smith spent more than fifteen years in the corporate sector leading teams and supporting employee development. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in American Ethnic Studies, from the University of Washington and her Master's and Doctoral degrees in Counseling Psychology from Northwest University, with advanced training in systems theory, forensic assessment, and neuropsychological evaluation.
Known for her energetic, authentic, and collaborative style, Dr. Smith strives to create a supportive environment where clients feel empowered to better understand themselves, strengthen relationships, and navigate life's challenges with confidence and self-awareness.
Email: TSmith@thefamilycenter.com
Jules R. Jernigan, M.S.W.
Clinical Social Work Resident
Julie R. Jernigan, MSW ("Jules") is a Resident in Clinical Social Work at The Family Center who works with individuals, couples, and families navigating anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, relationship concerns, and life transitions.
Before earning her Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, Jules enjoyed a successful career in nonprofit marketing and communications, where she spent many years helping organizations build meaningful connections and support their communities. Her professional background continues to inform her thoughtful, relationship-centered approach to clinical practice.
Jules is committed to providing personalized, affirming, and compassionate care that recognizes the unique strengths, experiences, and goals of each client. She believes that healing and growth occur within the context of a strong therapeutic relationship and strives to create a safe, supportive environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered.
Using a collaborative, strengths-based approach, Jules helps clients identify and cultivate their existing abilities, coping resources, and resilience. She works alongside clients to explore challenges, gain new perspectives, develop practical strategies, and create meaningful, lasting change aligned with their values and goals.
Known for her warmth, empathy, and authenticity, Jules is dedicated to helping clients build greater self-understanding, navigate life's difficulties with confidence, and move toward greater well-being and fulfillment. Email: JJernigan@thefamilycenter.com
Lama Abu-Odeh, MA
Resident in Mental Health Counseling
Lama Abu-Odeh, MA, is a Resident in Mental Health Counseling at The Family Center who works with adults navigating relationship challenges, life transitions, identity development, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, and questions of meaning, purpose, and personal fulfillment.
Lama brings a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective to her clinical work, drawing upon decades of experience as a scholar, attorney, educator, and advocate. Her professional background spans law, philosophy, international development, higher education, and psychoanalytic counseling, providing her with a deep appreciation for the ways personal experiences are shaped by family relationships, culture, history, and social systems.
She is currently completing advanced training in Psychoanalytic Counseling at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, where her studies have included psychodynamic theory, human development, group dynamics, cultural issues in counseling, psychopathology, and therapeutic practice. Her therapeutic approach is informed by psychoanalytic, relational, and psychodynamic perspectives, with a focus on helping clients better understand themselves, their relationships, and the patterns that shape their emotional lives.
Throughout her career, Lama has worked extensively with individuals from diverse cultural, religious, ethnic, and national backgrounds. She is particularly interested in helping clients explore issues related to identity, belonging, family relationships, cultural expectations, and personal development within an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Before entering the counseling profession, Lama served as a Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center and held academic appointments at Stanford Law School, Harvard Law School, the American University in Cairo, and the American University of Beirut. Her scholarship and teaching have focused on family, gender, culture, law, and social change, experiences that continue to inform her thoughtful and nuanced approach to working with clients.
Known for her insightful, compassionate, and reflective style, Lama strives to create a supportive therapeutic environment where clients feel understood, respected, and empowered to explore life's challenges with greater self-awareness, clarity, and authenticity.
Languages: English and Arabic
Rob Bamberger, MSW
Clinical Social Work Resident
Rob Bamberger, MSW is a Resident in Clinical Social Work at The Family Center who works primarily with adults navigating depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship concerns, caregiving responsibilities, aging-related challenges, and questions of meaning, identity, and personal growth.
Before entering the field of social work, Rob enjoyed a distinguished career with the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress. He later earned his Master of Social Work degree from George Mason University and also holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in History from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
A significant focus of Rob's clinical work involves supporting older adults and their families as they navigate the complexities of aging, caregiving, loss, and life transitions. Since 2013, he has facilitated caregiver support groups through IONA Senior Services and co-leads a psychotherapy group for adults in their seventies and eighties. He also serves on the Steering Committee and Faculty of the Center for the Study of Aging and Clinical Applications (CSACA) at the New Washington School of Psychiatry.
Rob is a graduate of the National Group Psychotherapy Institute and an active member of the Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society (MAGPS). His clinical approach is informed by psychodynamic and self-psychology traditions, with a particular focus on helping clients develop greater self-understanding, emotional integration, and resilience.
Known for his thoughtful, reflective, and empathetic style, Rob creates a supportive therapeutic environment where clients feel heard, understood, and respected. Clients often appreciate his attentive listening and his ability to help them explore the deeper meaning behind their experiences, relationships, and emotional challenges.