As an extrovert, my behaviors and style of communication affirm my belief in establishing rapport and creating trust with clients. I consider helping others in the area of mental health my passion and purpose.

I provide a warm and inviting atmosphere for my clients to feel comfortable, accepted, and safe to talk to me and feel confident enough to explore.

From years of experience, I can help my clients see what they cannot see. Light bulbs go off and clients open up to new possibilities, self discovery, and hope. I use both short term and longer term psychotherapy in order to provide more choice for my clients. I see children and adults up to age 85. I do therapy with parents and children, adolescents, individuals with depression or anxiety, and especially people going through stressful transitions. I focus on good relationships within families and within individuals (ie. How we relate to ourselves). When someone comes to see me they can expect that I will listen deeply to what they say and feel, to what they want to work on, and then work together to find solutions. I currently offer telemental health services only. I prefer phone, but Zoom and Facetime are optional.

Our approach is first and foremost to offer acceptance and understanding. Our clinicians have a variety of theoretical orientations and approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy, attachment-based therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and interpersonal therapy. All of us have training and experience with a family systems approach to therapy and are able to integrate this into our work.

I provide individual therapy (in person andor virtually) for late adolescents and adults in the greater Washington, DC area and I am PsyPact licensed so can see people in participating PsyPact states. I also provide comprehensive ADHD assessments. I have a particular passion for working with young adults who are figuring out and navigating their next "chapter" of life. I aim to help individuals capitalize on their strengths and work with their limitations, change their responses to interpersonal problems, and help them form new and improved healthy relationships and ways of relating to their world that does not repeat previously unhealthy patterns. By bringing support, encouragement, humor, and a nonjudgmental perspective to our work together, I meet clients where they are, whether they have been to therapy before or are exploring therapy for the first time. Knowing how important the therapy relationship is, my primary goal is to make my clients feel heard, understood, and hopeful. I adapt my approach and style, as needed, to work with my clients' unique needs. I am always happy to jump on the phone for a brief consultation to determine if we may be a good fit to work together.

Feeling stuck in your relationship? Grieving a loss that others don’t seem to understand? Or struggling with anxiety that’s quietly hijacking your day-to-day life? You don’t have to face it alone. I help individuals and couples navigate anxiety, grief, and relationship conflict with compassion, clarity, and direction. My approach is rooted in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and systems-based counseling, which means I don’t just look at symptoms, I help you identify strengths, shift patterns, and build new ways forward. Whether you're in the middle of a crisis or just feeling numb and disconnected, therapy can be a space to reset. I use evidence-based techniques, paired with a healthy dose of empathy and occasional humor, to help clients feel both seen and supported. I believe healing happens when we feel safe enough to be real, and I create an environment that allows just that. Clients often come to me when they’re overwhelmed by relationship tension, family challenges, personal loss, or internal pressure to "keep it all together." Together, let's explore what’s working, what’s not, and what new choices are available to you. I’m licensed in Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and Connecticut, and I offer virtual therapy for busy professionals and couples who want expert support without commuting or rearranging their lives. If you’re ready to move from surviving to thriving, whether in your relationship, your grief, or your inner world, let’s work together to build connection, clarity, and healing. Book a free consultation or visit my website to learn more.

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, personalized care to adult clients in Virginia. She began her health care 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 health challenges in many churches. She also has a mission to reduce the stigma of psychiatric conditions by educating clients, families, and the community about mental health.

Therapy is a journey that gives us the opportunity to find our genuine selves and ultimately become the best person we can be. Through therapy, profound and lasting change and growth can occur. I am a doctor of psychology as well as a licensed independent clinical social worker. I have deep expertise in working with addiction and recovery issues, alcoholism, as well as family, relationship, and couples issues. I have spent more than 20 years in the psychotherapy field. I work with adolescents and adults in individual, family, and couple modalities. As a therapist, my approach to therapy is to meet you at your current place in life and to support you to advance toward your objectives, work past obstacles, and attain supreme growth. I utilize various therapeutic approaches, comprising psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and strength-based techniques.

I help people change through developing a greater awareness for all of themselves, which allows them greater resources to deal with the struggles that they are experiencing. As clients develop greater awareness of themselves, including their wants, needs, emotions, and ways of relating to others, they tend to develop a wider range of choices in their lives. They learn to recognize what they do that keeps them from being their best selves. They also learn to tap into and use their own internal wisdom to help guide their choices, developing a greater authenticity in their lives. In relationships, couples and families develop greater intimacy and ability to use conflict to further their relationship through their greater awareness of themselves and their other family members. People I work with also learn with guidance and coaching to experiment with new ways of being with themselves and others in the world, which furthers their growth and development into more happy, fulfilled human beings. As an experienced psychotherapist and former graduate psychology professor, I have developed a wide range of expertise in helping others. I am honored and humbled by the courage and spirit of the people I work with and the struggles they face. I feel privileged to help people come to terms with pain, face challenges, and change their lives.

I have a deep regard and respect for a person who is on a healing journey. I look at each person individually. You come with your own unique life experiences and health goals. Through assessment and goal setting, we come up with your own unique treatment plan. My belief is we are total system and my approach is to support you in a Holistic matter; Body, Mind, and Spirit; using powerful tools, skill building, and compassion. My goal is to be a partner for you to achieve well-being.

I offer a safe space, without judgment, and without pressure. I’m informal, friendly, kind, approachable, caring, competent, and compassionate. My number one goal is to help you feel relief, and more connected to the real you. Every day I help my clients cope with issues like: Overwhelming stress Anxiety and depression Infertility, pregnancy loss, and prenatal & postpartum mood disorders LGBTQ relationships and family building Bereavement Creating and maintaining healthy relationships Learning to be okay with being vulnerable Many of my clients have never seen a therapist before. In therapy, you get to talk about whatever is on your mind. It’s a freeing experience. You can be you, unfiltered. I’ll ask you questions. We’ll find some options.

At A Balanced Perspective LLC, we believe healing happens through consistent, ethical, and compassionate care. We serve adolescents, teens, youth, and adults through virtual and in-person services, offering integrated behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment grounded in trauma-informed practice. As a CARF-accredited provider, our work reflects established standards of quality, safety, and accountability. We support individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use challenges, major life transitions, as well as other behavioral health concerns. Additionally, we support those who are highly capable, driven, and accustomed to putting others first. Our clinicians understand that people are shaped not only by symptoms, but by systems, families, communities, responsibilities, and lived experiences. By integrating community-based care with clinical treatment, we help clients move toward sustainable healing and improved functioning. Reaching out for support can feel daunting. Our role is to provide a steady, respectful space where change can unfold at a pace that feels manageable and supported.