DCTT Celebrates 10 Years


To celebrate DC Talk Therapy's 10th anniversary, we're offering 50% OFF all initial visits for new clients for the entire month of March!

Call or text us at 202.588.1288 or email info@dctalktherapy.com to schedule your first session.
DCTT Welcomes a New Therapist
We’re proud to announce that we’ve added another therapist to our growing staff. Jessica Goodman, LPC, will start in late-April.
 
Jessica works with young adults (20s and 30s) experiencing anxiety, stress, depression, trauma and life transitions.
 
She offers daytime and evening appointments and will do all of her sessions remotely, using Zoom and Doxy.
 
Using a client-centered approach, Jessica employs a variety of theoretical orientations, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness.
 
A native of Greenville, S.C., Jessica received her master’s degree in counseling at UNC Greensboro and a bachelor’s degree at Emory University in Atlanta.
 
She is licensed to practice in Washington, D.C., Maryland and North Carolina.
 
To make an appointment with Jessica, please call 202-588-1288 or email us at info@dctalktherapy.com.
Helping Those Who Self Harm
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To honor Self-Harm Awareness Month, we’d like to provide some helpful tips.
 
But first, some sobering statistics:
  • Almost two million Americans engage in self-harm each year
  • About 17% of people will harm themselves during their lifetime
 
Self-harm, also known as self-injury, is defined as hurting yourself on purpose. It can take many forms -- from cutting your skin with a sharp object to burning yourself with a cigarette to hitting yourself to pulling out your hair.
 
There are a few myths about self-harm: It’s about getting attention and it’s a prelude to suicide.
 
Contrary to popular belief, people who self harm consider it private and usually try to keep it a secret. That may be why they harm themselves on parts of their bodies that are not so visible.
 
And even though some people who harm themselves are suicidal, many do it as a way to release painful emotions, often stemming from abuse, neglect or traumatic experiences. Or they do it to feel something physically, as they sometimes describe feeling “numb” or “dead”.
 
So, what can we do to help those who are struggling?
 
The best thing is to simply address the problem. Ask about it and then listen.
 
Self-harm is a sign of emotional distress. We all want to be seen and heard. When we acknowledge others’ acts of self-harm, we’re making space for them to talk about their difficult thoughts and feelings.

It should be done in a concerned but non-judgmental way. Here's an example: “I noticed you’ve got some marks on your arm. Can you tell me about it.” Statements like this may be the first time someone feels seen. And it may be the initial step toward healing and recovery.
 
Second, we can suggest speaking to a therapist, someone trained to listen attentively and compassionately, who can also teach healthier coping skills.
 
Other good resources include a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation, group therapy and a crisis hotline. (Text CONNECT 741741 to speak to someone on the national crisis hotline, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.)
 
Finally, it’s helpful to check in regularly with that person, even after the self harm has stopped or the person has started treatment. Beyond signaling that you're an ongoing source of comfort and support, it expresses an important understanding: while the crisis may be over, the pain may endure.
Tip of the Month
When speaking to someone who has just experienced a loss, particularly the loss of a loved one, don’t start any sentence with “at least”, as in “At least it was just a dog and not your child.” This kind of comment minimizes the other person’s pain.
 
No matter the loss, assume it’s significant and painful for the other person. A far better approach: “I’m so sorry. That’s got to be really hard.” People need to be heard following a loss, and this kind of comment allows space for them to open up.
Podcasts We're Listening To

Noted couples therapist Esther Perel, the author of The New York Times bestseller Mating In Captivity, turns her attention to work and workplace relationships, in the age of Covid-19.

In a single therapy session with real clients, Perel asks challenging, sometimes penetrating, questions and makes insightful interpretations. Each session is about 50 minutes.
 
Some recent episodes: One couple’s relationship struggles even as their bakery business thrives; and two fashion models deal with their conflicts about the industry and their own professional identities.
 
Available for free on Apple and Android.
Books We Like
Healing Through Yoga: Transform Loss into Empowerment, by Paul Denniston

In this book, published in January, Denniston offers more than 75 yoga poses and meditations.

He takes the reader through the stages of Awareness, Expression, Connection, Surrender and Evolution with clear instruction, poses, exercises and meditations.

Denniston notes that loss can be anything from the death of a loved one to breakups, divorce and betrayal. He says the book can help with new and old losses, as well as traumatic experiences that have gone unattended.

Denniston is the founder of Grief Yoga, a program he created with grief expert David Kessler dedicated to helping people use yoga to work through grief and loss.
 
Available on Amazon for $14.97.
Helping Ukraine
Since Russia waged war in Ukraine last month, thousands of Ukranians have gone without food and water. One way to help is to donate to the World Central Kitchen, a humanitarian organization providing hot meals to Ukranian citizens.
 
According to its website, World Central Kitchen (WCK) has already served one million meals across Ukraine, Romania, Moldova and Hungary.
 
WCK was started by Washington, D.C., chef and entrepreneur, Jose Andres, in 2010, following a devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Our Clinical Team
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