Brendan O'Connell, Licensed Master Social Worker

You feel caught in cycles that no longer serve you, but after so long, you don’t know any other way. In the quiet moments, you might find yourself wondering, “What is wrong with me?” That stress often feels like a spring winding tighter in your chest: a constant state of waiting for the other shoe to drop, or a quiet numbing of your own feelings and boundaries just to get through the day. I want to offer you a different perspective: What if nothing is actually wrong with you? You aren’t malfunctioning; you are adapting. You are experiencing the exhaustion of a system that has worked overtime to help you survive. As an Internal Family Systems (IFS) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapist, I offer therapy for clients in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Together, we build a relationship with protective parts and gently process how trauma is held in the body and nervous system, at a pace that feels safe and supportive.