Sonja Williams, LCMFT, M Div
Sonja Williams, LCMFT, M Div
Verified
Telehealth Available
Professions: Life Coach, Marriage & Family Therapist, Pastoral Counselor
License Status: I'm a licensed professional.
Primary Credential: LCMFT
Telephone: 202-899-7791
Billing and Insurance:
I am an in-network provider for:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
- Care1st
- Cigna
Free Initial Consultation
What's My Approach to Therapy?
I began working in this field almost 30 years ago because I wanted to make a tangible difference in people's lives. Over the years, I have worked with countless individuals, couples, families, and groups to help them improve their quality of life. Through my experience, I have learned that:
Although many may appear to be similar demographically in terms of age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, etc., everyone brings hisher own individual histories to therapy -- histories that distinguish each client as a unique individual.
As a result, I welcome all clients, and I recognize that each client will bring hisher own history and values to therapy. I commit to working within each individual's system of values as I try to help the individual draw from hisher history to improve hisher quality of life. My two primary metrics are: a) tangible improvements in an individual's life, and b) the individual's feelings and understanding regarding change and the process of change. Like physical therapists and coaches who are willing to challenge their athletes to perform at full potential, I am willing to challenge my clients to reach their full potential in life. But my guiding philosophy is: "challenge by choice" -- I will only as far and as fast as my clients are comfortable.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
I am particularly good at helping clients implement and maintain sustainable change in their lives. Of course, meaningful change is the result of a process that involves a shared commitment from the clients and the clinician. I begin by developing an understanding of where the client is situationally, emotionally, environmentally, relationally, etc. I have found that I work well at the intersections of a client's tangible situation and hisher feelings and expectations about the situation. I work with clients to develop realistic goals, plans, timelines, and milestones related to meeting those goals. I then help clients to implement plans, measure progress and celebrate success. I also help clients recognize the longer term changes that may be needed in order to maintain the improvements once therapy has concluded. Many of these longer term changes tend to involve patterns of thinking; the type, quality, and availability of family and peer support; practical methods to escape challenging situations; etc. In the end, my clients are able to implement and maintain positive change and personal healing that lead to an improved quality of life.
Change is a choice. A great therapist helps clients identify and implement the choices that create the lives they want to live given their unique circumstances.
Call today and let's get started on the best pathway for your life.
What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist
Many times clients reach out to me because they are stuck (emotionally, professionally, in a particular phase of life, or regarding patterns of thinking or behavior that they want to change) -- and more often than not, the clients are justifiably concerned and losing hope. I really enjoy helping people to find appreciable, tangible hope -- hope that is an outgrowth of practical processes and choices that lead to real change. I value the fact that clients that "graduate" are able to sustain the positive improvements over time on their own, are able to serve as examples and inspiration to others in their homes and communities, and can often inspire a measure of hope in others. I simply enjoy being a part of the success stories that therapy allows.
Therapy Services & Specialties
Client Age Groups I Work With
- Children
- Teens
- Adults
- Elders
Languages
- English
Groups I Work With
- Our individual coaching sessions are designed to help you organize your thoughts, feelings, and choices in a way that allows you to identify your best options. Our goal is to equip you with the tools you need to overcome your challenges and move forward with the best pathway for your life. In the same way that babies go through developmental stages and become toddlers, adolescents, then adults, relationships grow through developmental phases. People grow and change over time and so do thoughts, beliefs, feelings and relationships. Our approach incorporates systemic and developmental theory when helping couples navigate through the varied stages and changes in love and life over time.
Industries & Communities Served
- BIPOC
- Military/Law Enforcement
- Union First
Client Challenges & Concerns I Address
- Abandonment
- Abortion / Post Abortion Issues
- Academic Concerns
- Adjusting to Change / Life Transitions
- Aggression and Violence
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Attachment Issues
- Blended Family Issues
- Body Image
- Career Choice
- Caregiver Issues / Stress
- Child and/or Adolescent Issues
- Codependency / Dependency
- Communication Problems
- Compulsive Spending / Shopping
- Control Issues
- Creative Blocks
- Depression
- Developmental Conditions (Autism, Aspergers, etc.)
- Divorce / Divorce Adjustment
- Domestic Violence
- Emotional Abuse
- Emotional Intelligence
- Emotional Overwhelm
- Emptiness
- Family of Origin Issues
- Family Problems
- Fear
- Fertility Issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief, Loss, and Bereavement
- Habits
- Health / Illness / Medical Issues
- Helplessness / Victimhood
- Identity Issues
- Inadequacy
- Inattention, Impulsivity, and Hyperactivity (ADHD)
- Individuation
- Infidelity / Affair Recovery
- Internet Addiction
- Irritability
- Isolation
- Life Purpose / Meaning / Inner-Guidance
- Men's Issues
- Mood Swings / Mood Disturbance
- Multicultural Concerns
- Obsessions and Compulsions (OCD)
- Oppositional and Defiant Behavior in Children and Teen
- Panic
- Parenting
- Phobias
- Post Partum Depression
- Posttraumatic Stress / Trauma
- Pre-Marital Counseling
- Pregnancy and Birthing
- Prejudice / Discrimination
- Relationships and Marriage
- Religious Issues
- Self-Care
- Self-Confidence
- Self-Criticism
- Self-Doubt
- Self-Esteem
- Self-Love
- Sensitivity to Criticism
- Sexual Assault / Abuse
- Sexuality / Sex Therapy
- Shame
- Social Anxiety / Phobia
- Spirituality
- Stress
- Suspiciousness / Paranoia
- Trust Issues
- Values Clarification
- Women's Issues
- Workplace Issues
- Worry
- Worthlessness
- Young Adult Issues
Therapeutic Approaches & Evidence-Based Methods
- Anger Management
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Conflict Resolution Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Therapy
- Family Systems Therapy
- Feminist Therapy
- Filial Therapy
- Gestalt Therapy
- Gottman Method
- Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Journal Therapy
- Narrative Therapy
- Object Relations
- Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy)
- Play Therapy
- Relationship Enhancement Therapy
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
- Systems Theory /Therapy
See other therapists in Upper Marlboro, MD.