In a world of noise, I provide a place of quiet, offering room to focus and think.

Startasha Dillard is a licensed professional counselor in Virginia and the District of Columbia. She has 16 years of experience in the behavioral health field. She has worked with individuals with both mental health and substance use disorders. She has worked with adults seeking help with addiction, anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, anger, and relationship issues. She creates a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to share, and she always maintains an open ear, flexibility, and awareness necessary to meet the unique needs of the individual.

I’m a Psychologist who uses a contemporary psychoanalytic approach that looks beneath the surface to understand patterns, emotions, and the deeper story shaping your life. My style is warm, curious, and collaborative. I don’t just listen; I help you connect the dots. Together, we make meaning of your struggles, fostering lasting change, healing, and a more authentic way of living.

WE CAN HELP HEAL YOUR RELATIONSHIP. "Why does my partner overreact?" "Why do I get so triggered?" "How come the punishment doesn't fit the crime?" “Why can’t he be more supportive?” “Is anything I do ever enough for her?” While you are feeling hurt, you have an added layer of confusion. You simultaneously love your partner and even hope to stay in this relationship to keep your love, family, and dreams intact. You are torn in a tug-of-war of emotions and desire to feel understood, accepted, and embraced by your partner. HEAL YOUR RELATIONSHIP AT ITS ROOT! Your dynamic is being driven by vulnerable and deep emotions. Those deep emotions are sensitive ‘raw spots' that are easily provoked and can cause you intolerable emotional discomfort- and leads to a “fight-or-flight” (anxious, angry, avoidant) response. This starts a negative cycle that creates more distance between you. CHANGE IS POSSIBLE! In therapy with us, you will learn strategies to respond differently and avoid slipping into old negative cycles of criticism, questioning, defensiveness, shutting down, and avoidance. We’ve helped HUNDREDS of people experience EMOTIONAL INTIMACY by learning how to effectively share and receive each other’s deeper emotions.

Ileana is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) who manages and treats a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, bipolar, insomnia, and other mental health issues that may be interfering with normal daily functioning. She is passionate about providing quality, compassionate, and comprehensive mental health services to adults. As a PMHNP, Ileana's view of mental health care is as a mutual partnership where she takes things at your pace. She prioritizes patient-focused care that is individually tailored to meet your needs.

Our world continues to change, with its weight sometimes growing overwhelming and crushing. You are not alone. Together we’ll explore your feelings & thoughts while comprehending patterns in your history and life experience that have shaped you up to this moment. We’ll find a new space that feels more authentic, free, and connected through this work. We’ll manage and reduce your feelings of anxiety, depression, and other distressing thoughts. It is never too late to take control and redefine yourself in a controlled, safe, and open place. Whether this is your first time or you've decided to return to therapy, this is a strong data-backed investment into yourself and your future. You’ve already taken the first step by searching for a therapist. While reaching out to me can be difficult and anxiety-provoking, it can also empower, potentially defining the next chapter of your life. After advanced psychoanalysis training in NYC, I moved to Washington, DC, where I've lived and worked for over eight years with a broad and diverse variety of patients just like you. Together we'll create a space in which you’re fully heard and seen, where we start the process of uncovering exactly how you show up in your life. Thank you for taking the time.

Guilhem Combet is a master’s-level clinician working toward licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). He is deeply committed to working with adolescents and adults to help them address the unique challenges they face and discover new ways to navigate life’s stressors. He specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQIA+ issues, and self-esteem. Guilhem completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology at Franklin & Marshall College and his Master of Arts (MA) in Mental Health Counseling at New York University.

My clients describe me as warm, accepting and non-judgmental. I believe that finding the right therapist for you is an important part of having a positive experience in therapy. I work collaboratively with my clients with the goal of helping them better understand themselves and lead a more balanced and fulfilled life. I help my clients to think about their problems and relationship in new ways by offering support and feedback about behavioral and relationship patterns. While I do not offer direct advice, I am active and participatory in each session with my clients.

Has the stress of everyday life become too overwhelming? Do you feel your emotions are running high and starting to negatively impact your relationships with others? Maybe you just don’t feel quite like yourself. Maybe you have tried to cope on your own, but nothing seems to make a meaningful, long-term impact. Now more than ever, people are feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about how they are supposed to care for their own needs while balancing relationships and busy schedules. Starting therapy can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! I believe finding a therapist who is the right fit is key to lasting change. After an initial consultation, we will start by taking the time to understand the challenges you are facing. We will explore your past and present experiences to better understand the patterns and emotions that have you feeling “stuck,” and we will collaborate on the best plan to help you push through the barriers keeping you in place. I offer a safe and supportive environment while providing a new perspective on issues you are encountering in order to guide you along your healing journey. Helping people live a more confident and empowered life is my passion. The road to growth, change, and healing can be a difficult one, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Call or email today for a consult, and together we can get started on your path to a better life!

I believe that our most important periods of growth come out of our most painful moments and circumstances. I have chosen this profession because I believe in the power of working though pain to a better end. I consider it a privilege and an honor to participate in your journey to wellness. I work to create a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore, in-depth, the reasons for unwanted emotions or circumstances, allowing you to overcome your challenges and to be able to better cope. I am truly a generalist, trained to help with a wide range of concerns. However, I do have a few particular specialties. I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, and disordered eating. I also specialize in couples therapy and in the treatment of children and adolescents. I am a certified Gottman couples therapist, and I use Play Therapy techniques when treating children. I am also trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Family Systems, Psychodynamic Treatment, and Trauma-Focused CBT. Please reach out to see if I might be the right therapist for you or your loved one.

My approach is integrative, intersectional, developmental, and contextual with a basic belief in the value of connection and the power of possibility. My work pulls from principles of Intersectionality and Liberation Practices, Attachment and Relational Science, Differentiation as a Developmental process in relationships, Contextual and Systems Theories, and the essential journey of Trauma Integration across the lifespan. I understand that we are heavily shaped by our relationships, family experiences, and positionality in the social world with regard to race, culture, gender identity, sexuality, etc. My practice is relationship and sexual intimacy focused, and I've deepened my lens to include Level 1 & 2 training in the Gottman Method; Advanced training in the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy, in addition to past experience with PACT & Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. I only work with couples or relationship structures at this time and I offer in person; telehealth; and a hybrid option. I also offer mini intensives (4 hour sessions), which compress the therapeutic work into a shorter period, offering a powerful and potentially transformative approach for clients seeking to revitalize their relationships, providing a focused and immersive environment for rapid change and deeper understanding. Because I see relationship clients from all across PA and DE, the mini intensive option works well for clients who really want an in person therapy experience, but can't make a weekly or even biweekly commute fit into their schedule.

Working with you, alongside you, and for YOU, to take care of the emotional wellbeing that defines YOU. Life can present some difficult challenges. With the right support, these can be an incredible opportunity to grow. I offer deep empathy and active listening skills. I meet you where you are, and assist you in developing strength based techniques that you can use in reaching your goals in a non judgmental environment. I am also offering group counseling and workshops online that will assist you in taking care of your mental health.