Our therapists offer DBT / dialectical behavior therapy in Alexandria, VA

Elena Papathanassiou is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia who is practiced in providing therapeutic care to teens and adults seeking help with depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidality, and the LGBTQIA+ community. She strives to maintain a high level of cultural competency while working with diverse groups of people and sensitivity to the unique struggles of those with intersecting identities. She completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Pittsburgh and her Master of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Elena utilizes strengths-based and person-in-environment theories while collaborating with the client to ensure their unique needs are met. These inform her usage of solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral, and dialectical-behavioral techniques to provide evidence-based therapy that is flexible, responsive, and tailored to the individual.

Elena seeks to provide a warm, supportive therapeutic relationship with her clients that invites openness and insight to achieve your goals. Through collaboration and building on your strengths, she will assist you in developing a meaningful life in accordance with your values.

Kristi Gannon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) currently offers tele-health sessions in Virginia specializing in offering treatment to adults and seniors who are faced with the negative effects of anxiety, depression, anger, relationship issues, ADHD, poor coping skills, gender identity issues, stress, trauma, PTSD, women’s issues, and more. 

Kristi understands that no single approach to therapy works for every individual, and therefore integrates a variety of therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral (CBT), person-centered therapies, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness techniques to help clients achieve their desired goals.

Kristi is passionate about the work she does with her clients and uses a collaborative approach to empower clients in taking control of their own recovery. She offers an empathic, non-judgmental, and safe atmosphere that promotes growth and healing.

Dee Jacobi-Edwards is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Virginia and a Licensed Independent Social Worker-Clinical Practice (LISW-CP) in South Carolina who has helped individuals, couples, and families for over 20 years. Dee works with clients 18 to 99 years old. Her clients have presented with issues including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and relationship difficulties. Dee has also helped clients who have experienced fear or isolation caused by COVID-19. She understands that grief, loss, and bereavement do not only occur when someone dies, but also when a job is lost, or poor health occurs. Having been a hospice social worker, Dee has also counseled individuals and family members after a loved one has been given a terminal diagnosis.

Dee completed her Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) at the University of Texas at Arlington and her Master of Education (MEd) in Rehabilitation Counseling at Springfield College. Utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, clients develop an understanding of the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and are encouraged to cultivate flexibility in the process, leading to change in automatic problem-solving responses. Other techniques used include mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation techniques. Dee is also an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider.

Using a conversational style, Dee collaborates with her clients, whether an individual, a couple, or family members, to identify areas of concern. Together, she and her client analyze what the perceived difficulties are and identify achievable goals. In a supportive and nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship, Dee encourages open communication to resolve conflicts from misunderstandings.

Maclovia Butler is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the states of Virginia and Georgia, and a National Certified Counselor with the National Board of Certified Counselors. Maclovia has over 25 years of experience in the mental health field and more than 12 years as an LPC. She has worked with adults, children, and families in private to non-profit settings, specializing in clientele dealing with depression, anxiety, and trauma. 

Maclovia completed her Master's in Counseling at Regent University. Her therapeutic approach involves modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR, and positive psychology. She has a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and for the uniqueness of the human race. 

Maclovia has traveled abroad extensively and has worked with patients from the Americas, Asia, and Africa. She believes that when one is frequently exposed to diversity, one develops a greater sensitivity towards another's life story. She is also proficient in Brazilian and Continental Portuguese.

Lydia Sharp is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practioner (PMHNP-BC) from Virginia, with 5 years of experience assisting children, adolescents, and adults with such issues as anxiety, depression, ADHD, mood disorders, anger problems, and other complex psychiatric conditions.

Lydia earned her Master's degree in Nursing Education. She previously served over 26 years in the military in a variety of patient settings such as Medical-Surgical Nursing and Perioperative Nursing (Walter Reed Army Hospital), and as a Nurse Administrator serving in Army Combat Support Hospitals located in California and Fort Bragg, and much more. She also gained direct psychiatric experience and knowledge by working in a Behavioral Health Service Community Health Clinic, which was also part of a behavioral school for troubled youths.

Lydia will prescribe and manage medications, diagnose and assess psychiatric problems, identify health goals, record symptoms and problems, provide therapeutic treatment, and educate clients and their families about mental health. Partner with Lydia to find the treatment methods that work best for you.

Rolando Liyim is a Supervisee in Social Work and a Certified Financial Social Worker with 9 years of experience in the mental health field. He works with teens and adults who are facing a wide range of mental health challenges. Rolando specializes in depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship issues, financial challenges, and major life transitions.

Rolando completed his Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) at the University of Pennsylvania and certification at the Center for Financial Social Work. In former roles, he has worked with individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Rolando uses evidence-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), internal family systems (IFS), and person-centered therapy (PCT).

Life presents us with various challenges that we must navigate. With unwavering assurance, Rolando stands ready to accompany you on your quest for fresh insights and effective strategies, empowering you to overcome any obstacles you might be facing. If you're prepared to embark on this transformative journey, seize the moment and arrange an appointment with him today.

Shirley Hudson is a dual board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) who is passionate about providing evidence-based and personalized care to adult clients. She began her health career treating patients in various settings including spinal cord injury, intensive care, hematology, oncology, and medical-surgical units. As a Christian, Shirley understands there is still a stigma attached to mental illness in many churches. She also has a mission to reduce the stigma of psychiatric disorders by educating clients, families, and the community about mental health disorders.

After years as a registered nurse, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing at Old Dominion University. Through her years at the hospital bedside and clinic, Shirley saw a need for more psychiatric care providers. To help increase access to mental health services, she earned her Post-Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification.

Shirley believes that the best patient outcomes are built on the foundation of a strong and authentic patient/provider partnership. She values the client as an integral part of the treatment team and works diligently to provide education about all aspects of the mutually agreed-upon treatment plan.

Jessica Lee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 3 years of experience working with children, adults, and families who are seeking help in coping with depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and life transitions.

Jessica earned her Master's degree in Social Work from George Mason University. Her approach is collaborative and interactive, with a trauma-informed and person-centered approach. She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and applies a multi-modality approach, drawing upon psychodynamic, reality therapy, and solution-focused therapy techniques. 

Opening yourself up to the unknown can feel very vulnerable and scary—but Jessica knows that therapy can be a great place to find more adaptive ways of living and enjoying life. She is committed to creating a therapeutic environment for all clients and customizes her sessions to meet the needs of every unique individual.  

Bridget U. Famogun is a compassionate Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She holds a Master of Science degree as a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) PMHNP, and she is Board Certified. Before becoming PMHNP, Bridget was a Psychiatric Registered Nurse for eight years with a history of working in the hospital & clinical Trial care setting. Bridget completed her Master's in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Walden University and graduated with honors. 

Bridget earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, in 2010, and has worked in the nursing field since then.

Bridget is skilled in Psychiatric Assessment, Psychiatric Diagnoses and Medication Management, Health Promotion, Crisis Intervention, Clinical Supervision, and Healthcare Management.

Bridget has a passion for working with vulnerable populations. She is a firm believer in a holistic approach to treating disturbances in mental health that can involve medication management, psychotherapy, and alternative treatment modalities. Additionally, Bridget is interested in working with patients with eating disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, and talk therapy. Moreover, she is proficient in working with adult ADD, psychotic, mood, self-esteem, stress management, anger management, and anxiety disorders.

Bridget's main goal and focus as a PMHNP at Thriveworks is to grow and connect her knowledge and understanding of the brain's biology and interconnections, with the neuropathology of psychiatric illnesses and psychotherapy and prescriptive practice.

Adaku Anike is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She works with clients aged 14 and above with various mental issues including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia using evidence-based practices to create an individualized mental health care plan to meet their needs and achieve a positive outcome.

Adaku cares for her clients by actively listening to their needs, offering empathy, and creating an individualized care plan tailored to their needs because every client's need is different. Her specialty is psychiatry and she offers mental health care that is evidence-based.

As a person who has suffered from depression, Adaku understands how debilitating and isolating mental health issues can be. The stigma associated with mental illness can cause one to hesitate in asking for help. She wants you to know that you can reach out to her if you have any issues.

Chinyere is a board-certified Licensed Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with 12 years of experience as a psychiatric nurse and 10 years of experience as a nurse practitioner providing psychiatric evaluation, treatment, and medication management to patients with varying degrees of mental illness. She has expertise in treating adult patients, and lately adolescent patients. She treats patients with disorders such as anxiety, depression, personality disorder, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. She is professional, caring, and respectful and strives to offer personalized mental health services.

Chinyere’s approach to care is straightforward and clear. She always lends a listening ear and is empathetic to her patients. She has a BSN degree from Shenandoah University, an MSN degree from the University of Cincinnati, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from Chatham University.

Chinyere’s mission is to provide every patient with the highest quality care while empowering them to live a successful, fulfilled life while staying in control of their mental health.