Claudia Salazar, Psy.D
I have extensive experience working with high-achieving professionals in legal, medical, humanitarian, and international development fields, helping to address personal difficulties, including family of origin stories that may continue to have an impact on all aspects of life. I can also help with work-related stress and trauma. In addition to psychotherapy, I offer well-being check-ins to help stay on track with mental health needs and to build psychological resilience.
Often clients reach out to me with the hope that they can find relief of their symptoms (depression, anxiety), or when their relationships have become a source of pain. These highly motivated clients are ready to dive deep into the root causes of their suffering, and their hard work in therapy brings many rewards.
Whatever form that pain and suffering takes, it occupies a huge space in people’s life and mind. It often robes them of peace, joy, and opportunities to feel connected to themselves and others. The relief of a symptom, often brings unexpected, yet welcomed surprises.
In addition, I have a deep appreciation for the challenges of working moms who grapple with the integration or conflict between their professional identities and their ambivalence about motherhood. Often in their psychotherapy journey they share their fears of losing themselves in what they fear can be a potentially less fulfilling role; they confront the impact of pregnancy on their bodies; heal from debilitating symptoms related to postpartum depression and anxiety.
If this resonated with you…
I want to invite you to explore the opportunity to schedule a first 90-minute intake session. Or as I like to call this first encounter, “a trial therapy session.” My intention is that even if you and I meet for only this time, you can leave feeling that you have some clarity about what may be happening in your system that is creating, or contributing to the suffering you’re currently experiencing.
The goal of this first meeting is to get clarity about your goals for therapy, and to get to work right away so that you and I can have a sense of how it feels to work together towards identifying and releasing the limitations, burdens, and constraints that may be contributing to your current difficulties.
I work primarily from an approach called Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. I appreciate that this model allows me and my clients to create a container in which deep exploration can happen, free of judgment and guided by principles of courage and curiosity. I also find IFS to be even more effective when integrated with tools from body centered modalities and my extensive training as an experiential psychodynamic clinician.
Some of my background…
I have been in private practice since 2007. In addition to my role as a psychotherapist, I worked as a psychological consultant at the World Bank Counseling Unit, and are actively engaged with The Konterra Group in their mission to support the emotional resilience of the employees working for international development and humanitarian organizations.
I obtained my Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University. I hold a certificate in ISTDP (Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy), a comprehensive therapy model that integrates neuroscience, psychodynamic principles, attachment theory, and mindfulness/body-centered techniques. This approach is particularly effective in bringing about psychological change in the shortest time possible as compared to traditional psychodynamic therapy, making it beneficial for clients with long-standing or treatment-resistant symptoms.
My interest in helping my clients to get relief from their suffering has led me to pursue training in trauma-informed modalities to treat the impact of relational and attachment trauma. I completed the Level 1 of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma, and have been actively engaged in IFS training and supervision opportunities and have completed the IFS Level 1.
Let’s team up!
Welcome to the Center for Effective Psychological Services (CEPS). I’m so glad you’re here.
You’re in the right place to change your life!
All you have to do is reach out. We would love to schedule a free consultation to talk more about how we can help: (202) 556-0953.