Therapy that meets you where you are.
Therapy provides a supportive space to understand what you are experiencing, build practical skills, and work toward meaningful change.
What is Therapy?
Therapy is a structured conversation with a licensed clinician, held regularly and in private. You talk about what is happening in your life; your therapist helps you understand the patterns underneath it and build practical ways to respond differently. It is not advice-giving, and it is not reserved for people in crisis.
Most people meet with a therapist weekly or every other week, for 45 to 55 minutes. Early sessions focus on understanding your history and what you want to be different. From there, you and your therapist agree on what to work on and revisit that as things change. How long people stay in therapy varies widely; some come for a few months around a specific difficulty, others longer.
Who this may help
- You feel persistently low, anxious, irritable, or numb, and it is affecting work, school, or relationships.
- Something happened, such as a loss, a diagnosis, an assault, or a separation, and you have not been the same since.
- You are managing substance use, in recovery, or unsure whether your use has become a problem.
- You keep repeating a pattern in relationships or at work that you can see but cannot seem to interrupt.
- You are already taking medication for a mental health condition and want support alongside it.
- Nothing is acutely wrong, but you want a regular space to think clearly and make decisions deliberately.
Therapy Services
Therapy FAQs
Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy?
Not necessarily. Many people reach out because something is affecting daily life, mood, relationships, functioning, substance use, or recovery.
Is therapy available for children and adults?
In Washington, DC, Starfish serves children and adults. Specific service availability may vary by program and clinical appropriateness.
Is therapy available in person or by telehealth?
In Washington, DC, Starfish offers in-person and telehealth care.
Can therapy help with substance use?
Therapy can be part of substance use treatment and recovery-focused care.
Insurance & Payment
We accept Medicaid, Medicare, and several major insurance plans.
