Katy Gustafson, MS, LPC, LCPC

I am a licensed counselor (LPC & LCPC) in the states of Virginia and Maryland. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2015 from Doane University located in Lincoln, NE., and my Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology in 2018 from Divine Mercy University located in Sterling, VA. I have been a practicing counselor since 2019. In recent years I have focused my training on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and trauma interventions like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I provide both in-person and online appointments for therapy. I have expertise in Anxiety Disorders, Panic attacks, Social Anxiety, Depression, Grief & loss, Trauma, and integrating Christian Faith with mental health topics. I primarily work with college students and adults 18+ yrs old.

How we experience life matters. As a therapist, I believe everyone will face challenges, pain, and suffering at some point in life. It is human to feel pain and discouragement but is it also human to feel joy and excitement. In therapy I can’t promise your particular type of suffering will go away completely, but I can help you relate to your struggles and navigate them in a new way. I feel it is important to hold space for both joy and suffering as one strives to create a meaningful life. I aim to be a warm and gentle therapist, who will affirm your experiences, celebrate your successes, and challenge you to go outside your comfort zone. My hope is that therapy helps you access more compassion, courage, and joy. We can work together to meet your present-day challenges, learn new skills, and create space to process past wounds. Clinically, I aim to improve psychological flexibility and resilience and frequently draw from Cognitive Behavioral theories like Acceptance and Commitment therapy, Dialectical Behavioral therapy, and Mindfulness. I also incorporate trauma interventions and psycho-education as needed.