A Full Spectrum of Psychological Services. Our doctors and clinicians offer a wealth of experience in treating individuals who have incurred psychological trauma, suffer from depression & mood disorders, anxiety, bereavement & grief-related issues, eating disorders, medical illness, sexual and/or physical abuse and neglect, multicultural psychology and diversity, LGBT issues, and persons dealing with dual diagnoses.
Individual Psychotherapy
Individual Psychotherapy is a collaborative treatment based on the relationship between an individual and psychologist. Grounded in dialogue, psychotherapy provides a supportive environment to talk openly with an objective neutral and nonjudgmental professional, who is fluent in applying scientifically validated procedures to help individuals in developing healthier, more effective habits. Psychotherapists at The Family Center apply various clinical approaches such as existential-phenomenological, Freudian, Jungian, Gestalt, cognitive behavioral (CBT) or other methods, as appropriate based on the individual.
Play therapy (For Children)
Play Therapy is effective for children (approximately 2½-years to 11-years old), as traditional individual psychotherapy can be for older children, teenagers and adults. Typically, children in this age group can express themselves verbally, to varying degrees; however, are not yet able to translate abstract and emotional concepts into words. Play therapy allows children a safe and comfortable venue to express their thoughts and feelings. It is termed "play therapy" because play is the predominant way in which children communicate and express themselves. The term "play" should not be used to diminish the legitimacy of what a child is feeling, thinking, or trying to sort out in his or her world.
Our specialists are trained to observe and interact with children, who are able to play in an environment that's comfortable to them, while gaining understanding of and insight into each individual child. Through play therapy, our therapists help children and their parents make sense of specific behaviors. Our play therapists meet regularly with each child, as well as with each child's parent(s)— for the purposes of input and guidance. Results include enhanced self-awareness, self-control, and a more rewarding child-parent relationship.
Couples Counseling and Marriage Therapy
Couples Counseling and Marriage Therapy are designed to facilitate couples in better understanding and enjoying their relationship while increasing mutual empathy and respect, such that each individual within the couple experiences a deeper satisfaction within their relationship. Increasingly, couples are turning to psychotherapy prior to marriage. Benefits of pre-marital counseling can include improved communication and conflict resolution skills, space to calmly discuss difficult topics such as financial planning, expectations of children, work-life balance, in-laws, intimacy, and/or (in)fidelity issues. Many couples also find it helpful to process together in a professional setting various “family of origin" issues, to help define individual and shared expectations for the future.
Psychological Testing & Assessment
The Family Center provides on site psychological assessments utilizing testing instruments such as the
following:
Cognitive/Intelligence Neuropsychological Personality
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Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS III)
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Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC IV)
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Wechsler Pre & Primary School Scale of Intelligence III (WPPS III)
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Woodcock-Johnson III Test of Achievement & Test of Cognitive Abilities (WJ III)
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Asperger's Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (ASDS)
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Continuous Performance Test II (CPT II)
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Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS)
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Minnesota Multi-Phasic Inventory II (MMPI II)
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Minnesota Multi-Phasic Inventory –Adolescents (MMPI-A)
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Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
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Rorschach Inkblot Test (Rorschach)
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Beck Depression Inventory (BDI I)
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Child Behavior Check List (CBCL)
Coaching (Executive, Life, Divorce Coaching)
Mediation is an effective alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process, ideal for individuals who require some assistance in resolving one or more conflict between them. Mediation involves a third party neutral (mediator) who helps parties sort through their areas of conflict and reach their own mutually satisfying solutions. Our Virginia Supreme Court Certified family and divorce mediators offer full-service divorce mediation, as an affordable and civil alternative to traditional divorce litigation.
Is coaching right for me?
Coaching continues to grow in popularity as an extremely effective means to improving one’s ability to enjoy life and increase productivity. Coaching is recognized as a powerful way to address all sorts of topics, including relatively existential questions such life enjoyment, fulfillment and spirituality to practical topics such as career change, improved personal and professional relationships, exercise and weight loss, and navigating through divorce and remarriage with blended families.
Coaching sessions can be done in person, or on the phone.
The purpose of coaching involves supporting individuals to understand what is getting in their way of achieving one or more of goals, such that they may then resolve the obstacle(s) and move forward. By creating clarity (meaning different things to different people in different situations) new and previously unseen paths forward become readily accessible.
Coaching philosophy maintains that individuals already hold the answers to what is holding them back. Your coach’s job is to help you uncover them. Clients must be willing to engage in a process of introspection, which often includes posing difficult questions inward. Coaching is not something that can be passively received. At its core, coaching is a partnership. Coaching is built on openness and trust.
If you have identified one or more life circumstances, which you would like to improve or learn to approach differently, ask yourself how important it is to you. It should score at least 7 or 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 to be ideal for coaching. Even better, it scores a 9 or 10. The higher levels of motivation enhance an individual’s ability to fully engage in and get the most out of the coaching process. For more information, call to leave a confidential voice message at (703) 998-5606 ext. 302.
Parenting Coordination
Parenting Coordination is an effective alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process, ideal for individuals whose conflict cannot be resolved through mediation. Instead having a third party parenting coordinator (PC), who must be court appointed, hear both parties' sides, will make a legally binding decision for the parties.
Parenting Together, Living Apart is a 4-hour course that satisfies the Commonwealth of Virginia’s legal requirement of parents with contested custody issues. Upon completion, participants receive a
copy of the popular written manual, Parenting Together, Living Apart, by Dr. Glory Fox Dierker, and a court-approved certificate of completion.
Children thrive when parents, even living under separate roofs, collaborate in providing safe and secure environments for them. Co-parents can work together to ensure that their children grow up feeling securely attached to both parents. Children who grow up securely attached, become happy, healthy, self-reliant, and empathic adults able to experience rich and fulfilling lives. The rewards of raising securely attached children last a lifetime.
This course is unique in that it was developed and is taught by experts in both psychology and law. Please inquire about parent education on additional topics, as well as group purchase of Parenting Together, Living Apart, the manual.
Family Psychotherapy
Family Psychotherapy is designed to help family members improve communication and resolve conflicts. A family is a unique social system with its own structure and patterns of communication. Goals include increased mutual empathy and respect, such that each family member is able to experience a deeper satisfaction within his or her family. Typically, it is recommended that Family Psychotherapy is supported, and even initiated, by participation by the individual family members in Individual Psychotherapy.
Conjoint Couples Therapy
The Family Center has focused more than two decades to developing and refining the unique approach of Conjoint Couples Therapy (CCT). CCT is similar to Couples Counseling and Marriage Therapy, with the added benefit of two psychotherapists, instead of one, per couple. Added benefits include enhanced therapeutic balance (gender, etc.), and a more thorough understanding of both individuals as they exist within the relationship, informed by the combined expertise and focused collaboration of two clinical psychologists, both witnessing firsthand a relationship's dynamics.
Group therapy
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy, in which one or more therapists treat a small group of clients together as a group. Enhanced understanding of oneself, in relationship with others, is the primary goal. Participants report new ways of understanding how they had previously struggled to establish and maintain satisfying connections with others. Themes may include loneliness, difficulties expressing emotions (negative or positive), worries about acceptance by and perceptions of others, and more.
Our approach emphasizes mindfulness. We focus on understanding group members' thoughts and feelings, as members interact with one another. Group therapy provides a unique opportunity to slow down the interactions one has with others— and learn to more effectively process and respond. Group Therapy provides a safe space for individuals to analyze their own behavior, as well as “try out” new ways of interacting with others. Through both giving and receiving feedback, participants learn about their impact on others, as well as how others impact them.
The role of the group leader is to foster safety and trust within the group, facilitate discussions, and help members develop trust in their ability to sustain healthy relationships with others. This learning and potential transformation can be a gradual process. Accordingly, group therapy requires commitment from participants to attend consistently over time. Most individuals find that group therapy greatly supports their Individual Psychotherapy.
Supporting and enhancing the lives of individuals and families
throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region from our offices in Falls Church, Virginia.
