I like to create an easy-going space for my clients. Therapy can look however you need it to. No judgment.

My name is Emilee Smith and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Virginia, working with clients state-wide via telehealth. I have experience working with many populations including children, adolescents, adults, and families. I have experience helping people with anxiety, depression, and parent-child relationships. I utilize cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and dialectical behavior therapy techniques to help clients feel better, communicate effectively, and have healthy relationships. These evidence-based approaches involve developing healthy ways of thinking and healthy coping skills while validating the client's feelings and experiences. The client and I work together as a team to reach their therapeutic goals.

"We are only as needy as our unmet needs" - John Bowlby At Matters of the Heart Counseling, we specialize in working with families parenting children from hard places (adoptionfoster care). We have a team of people ready to assess and provide a fully developed plan for working with your family. We utilize individual, family and couples therapy and also incorporate Neurofeedback as appropriate Matters of the Heart Counseling was established out of Karen's desire to provide, teach, and cultivate quality mental health counseling with an attachment focus to those specifically desiring a Christian faith-based perspective. All of our counselors have experience and specialized training to work with trauma and specifically, adoption. Many of our therapists can support a Christian perspective. Karen’s primary focus is to supervise and work with the team of therapists at Matters of the Heart Counseling to ensure quality services and therapy for all who enter our practice. Karen is specially trained in EMDR (through EMDRIA approved trainer), and Level II Certified Internal Family Systems therapist. Karen additionally utilizes the creative arts in her therapy through the use of art, sand tray, and other creative outlets as it is often difficult to find words for the experiences one has endured. Karen is a trained Neurofeedback technician, incorporating it into sessions. Karen closely supervises the clinicians on staff to impart her experience and cultivate their growth. Karen also enjoys being a speaker at conferences & has spoken on topics of adoption, self-injury, compassion fatigue, and trauma, Please contact Karen for her speaking fees.

I believe that therapy is most helpful when it is an experience and not just talking about thoughts. As a relational psychodynamic therapist, I think there is a lot to be gained from having more insight and clarity into ourselves and the ways we function in the world and our relationships. As a somatically informed therapist, I think building awareness of our bodies and what they are telling us opens up even more avenues for healing, especially when insight doesn't feel like it is enough. I work holistically and from a trauma-informed lens to combine the two in a way that is uniquely right for you and your needs. To this end, I have completed foundational training in Sensorimotor Therapy for trauma, a somatic psychotherapy, as well as a three-year training in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, a modality which combines psychoanalytic insight and depth with a focus on our bodies and emotions. The style of therapy I practice is active and collaborative, focusing not only on intellectual insight but also on helping you to have a new, meaningful experience. I believe a good therapy relationship, like any good relationship, allows us to feel seen, heard, and compassionately challenged to grow and create the change we want in our lives.

Taking the step to find the right therapist is a powerful act of self-care. Whether you’re dealing with everyday stress, adjusting to life changes, or working through anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship challenges, you don’t have to face it alone. At Dynamic Health Partners, we believe mental health care should reflect the uniqueness of each individual. Serving adults across the District of Columbia metropolitan area and Arizona, our diverse team of highly trained clinicians provides compassionate, culturally responsive care tailored to your needs and experiences. We offer individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy, and specialized treatment for more complex mental health conditions, such as mood-related challenges and posttraumatic stress (PTSD). With flexible in-person and virtual options, we aim to make high-quality care both accessible and convenient, wherever you are in your journey. Your story matters. Your healing matters. And you’re not alone. Let’s take the next step together.

Therapy is a journey into a space where your feelings are welcomed and understood. Imagine a calm environment with soft light, warm air, and the gentle scent of lavender. This atmosphere provides comfort and ease, allowing you to settle more deeply into yourself. At the center is a mirror, not an ordinary mirror, but one that reflects your authentic self: vulnerable, radiant, and whole. In this supportive space, you are invited to recognize and accept all aspects of who you are, including your strengths, challenges, and areas of growth. Therapy becomes a process of healing and self-discovery, where you learn to embrace yourself with compassion and openness. With each passing moment, you feel yourself softening, embracing this mirror as it shows you who you truly are. And as you stand there, something shifts. You begin to uncover the pieces that make you whole, cherishing them, nurturing them, letting them grow. The journey of therapy is not just about healing; it is about discovering and embracing the profound beauty within you, piece by piece, moment by moment. In our first session, we will review essential consent forms and complete an intake questionnaire. This allows me to gather vital information about your unique experiences and needs, ensuring that our work together is tailored specifically to you. In subsequent sessions, we will collaboratively create a personalized plan aimed at helping you achieve your goals, fostering growth and healing every step of the way. You are not alone on this journey. I am here to support you in navigating the complexities of your life with compassion and understanding.

You may be used to showing up for everyone else while feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of what you need. I offer a space where you can speak openly, feel heard, and begin making sense of what you are experiencing. My approach is warm, collaborative, and practical. I work with adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), grief, relationship challenges, and life transitions. I have a particular interest in supporting women of color as they work through burnout, family expectations, identity, and the pressure to remain strong. Together, we will explore how your experiences, thoughts, and relationships influence your daily life. I draw from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and emotional regulation skills, tailoring our work to your goals and needs. We may focus on strengthening boundaries, improving communication, understanding emotional patterns, or finding manageable ways to cope. I value your perspective and welcome honest feedback about what is helping and what needs to change. You do not need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. We can begin with what feels most important to you and move at a pace that supports both trust and growth.

If there is one thing I hope you take away from an encounter with me, it is this: you are precious and valuable. That belief is at the heart of what I call Treasure Therapy. I believe every person has inherent dignity and worth, even when life, relationships, failure, shame, conflict, or loss have made it difficult to feel that way. My passion is engaging people in deeper therapeutic encounters that lead toward hope, meaning, connection, growth, and healing. I am especially passionate about helping people understand the deeper patterns shaping their lives and relationships. Rather than focusing only on symptoms or surface-level solutions, I work from a whole-person perspective that considers your emotions, relationships, history, body, beliefs, values, sexuality, spirituality, and the systems you are part of. Couples therapy is one of my primary specialties, and it has been for more than 15 years. With a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy, I am trained to understand not only each partner individually, but also the relational system they create together: the patterns of attachment, conflict, intimacy, communication, and protection that can keep even loving couples stuck. My role is not to decide who is right or wrong. It is to understand the relationship itself, help each partner feel heard, identify the cycle underneath the conflict, and help you create a healthier, more connected way of relating. I work with couples dealing with recurring conflict, emotional disconnection, communication difficulties, trust injuries, sexual and intimacy concerns, differences in desire, parenting stress, life transitions, attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) and neurodivergence within relationships, and questions about whether or how the relationship can move forward. I also enjoy working with couples who are not in crisis, but want greater closeness, emotional safety, intimacy, and depth. I also work with individuals around relationships, ADHD and neurodivergence, self-worth, anxiety, depression, sexuality, intimacy, identity, spiritual questions, life transitions, and the challenge of integrating the different parts of ourselves into a more satisfying life. I have been counseling individuals, couples, families, and groups since 2007. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Maryland, Washington, DC, and California, and I am approved by Maryland to provide clinical supervision to therapists in training. My approach is evidence-based, but I also believe therapy should feel human. You should not feel like a diagnosis, a checklist, or a problem to be fixed. Good therapy should involve curiosity, honesty, compassion, challenge, and real engagement. I want to understand not only what is happening in your life, but also what it means to you, and what kind of life and relationships you want to create. Because I am also a former pastor, I can integrate faith and spirituality into therapy for clients who want that. For some people, faith is a central source of meaning, hope, identity, and strength. For others, religion may be complicated, painful, or not important at all. You do not need to share my beliefs, or hold any religious beliefs, to feel welcome here. I work with people of many faiths, backgrounds, identities, cultures, relationship experiences, and life choices. My goal is not to impose my worldview on you, but to understand yours and help you live more fully in alignment with what matters to you. Outside the therapy room, I have been married for nearly two decades, and I am the father of two boys. I understand personally that relationships do not happen in a laboratory. Marriage, parenting, work, stress, health, sex, money, faith, family history, and ordinary exhaustion all interact in real life. If you are looking for a therapist who will go deeper than surface-level advice, who understands the complexity of relationships, and who will engage you with warmth, honesty, and respect, I would be glad to work with you. Whether you are trying to repair a relationship, deepen one that is already good, rediscover intimacy, understand yourself better, heal from something painful, or simply become more fully who you are, I believe there are treasures within you worth discovering.

I believe a strong, trusting relationship with your therapist is the foundation for meaningful growth and change. In our work together, I meet you where you are, with empathy, compassion, and without judgment. My holistic approach focuses on your mind, body, and spirit, and I integrate both traditional and alternative therapies to support your overall well-being.

We offer medication management, therapy, or both depending on what you need. Led by a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), we provide what most practices can't: comprehensive psychiatric support under one roof from someone who sees the whole picture. No bouncing between providers. No repeating your history. No gaps in your care. Our approach is simple: we listen first. A successful treatment plan requires a true understanding of your history, your goals, and what hasn't worked before—so we can build a plan that actually moves you forward.

Feeling overwhelmed by life? Stress feels unmanageable, relationships are strained, and moving forward seems impossible. The constant weight of overwhelm can leave you physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. You long to make peace with a painful past but feel stuck. Unmanaged stress affects every aspect of your life—work, health, and relationships. You recognize the need for change, and starting therapy is a courageous, proactive step toward well-being. I'm here to provide a compassionate, validating space where your thoughts and feelings are heard. Together, we'll work toward healing and a more balanced, fulfilling life. I help individuals and couples navigate emotional regulation, stress, and relationship challenges through evidence-based methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and somatic therapy. Specializing in mood conditions, trauma, and attachment, I focus on fostering resilience and balance. Using biofeedback, I strengthen the mind-body connection to support lasting healing. Life’s challenges can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face them alone. Whether you’re seeking emotional balance, healing from past wounds, or strengthening your relationships, I’m here to support you. Together, we’ll create a compassionate, non-judgmental space to explore your goals and build the life you deserve. Reach out—I’m ready to help.

I have over 20 years of experience as a therapist, and I want to get to know you as a whole person and in the context of your relationships, your interests, how you make a living, and your beliefs. For couples, this also applies, as well as my POV on seeing the relationship as the client and taking a non-blaming approach. I use a combination of listening, support, validation, education, teaching skills, and providing eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and all of these can be dialed up or back based on what you need and prefer. My style is open and direct, and you can ask me about any part of the process.