Anxiety Therapy in Alexandria VA
Anxiety rarely announces itself. More often it shows up as a tight chest before a meeting, a night spent rehearsing a conversation that already happened, or a low hum of dread that never quite resolves. If that has become the background noise of your life, therapy can change it.
Life Enrichment Counseling Center has provided anxiety therapy in Alexandria, VA since 2005. Our Alexandria clinicians are licensed in Virginia and work with teenagers, young adults, and adults — in person near Old Town and by secure video across the Commonwealth.
Signs it may be time to talk to someone
Anxiety is worth treating long before it becomes a crisis. People usually reach out when they notice:
- Worry that runs on a loop and does not respond to reassurance
- Trouble falling asleep, or waking at 3am with a racing mind
- Physical symptoms — a pounding heart, shortness of breath, nausea, muscle tension
- Avoiding places, people, or conversations to keep the anxiety down
- Panic attacks that arrive without an obvious trigger
- Irritability or a short fuse that does not fit who you normally are
- Anxiety about work, school, health, or money that has started shaping your decisions
You do not need to be at your worst to justify an appointment. Earlier is easier.
How we treat anxiety
There is no single protocol that fits everyone, so we start by understanding what your anxiety actually does in your life, then choose the approach that fits. Our Alexandria clinicians work with:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — identifying the thought patterns that keep anxiety running and testing them against reality. This is the most researched treatment for anxiety and the most common starting point here.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills — practical distress-tolerance and emotion-regulation tools for anxiety that peaks fast and hard.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — changing your relationship to anxious thoughts rather than fighting them, so they stop dictating what you do.
- Mindfulness-based approaches — for the physical side of anxiety, and for people who live several steps ahead of the present moment.
- Motivational interviewing and psychodynamic work — where anxiety is tangled up with life transitions, relationships, or long-standing patterns.
Many clients notice a shift within the first several sessions. Longer-standing anxiety usually takes longer, and your therapist will be straight with you about that.
Your therapists in Alexandria
Six licensed clinicians see clients for anxiety at our Alexandria office. Each brings a different background, and we will help you find the fit.
- Mark A. Boothe, LICSW, LCSW — licensed in Virginia and the District of Columbia, with expertise in helping people overcome depression, anxiety, and anger problems. Works with young adults (16+) and adults using a person-centered approach grounded in CBT.
- Nelva Hernandez, MSW, LCSW — specializes in anxiety, depression, anger and stress management, relationship stressors, and life transitions. A native Spanish speaker who conducts sessions fluently in Spanish and English.
- Carole Thomas, MSW, LCSW — works with adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, depression, and life transitions. Trained in CBT, DBT, and ACT, as well as EMDR and mindfulness approaches.
- Bhavani R. Hamann, PH.D, MSW, LCSW — trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing, and provides therapy to adults, adolescents, and families. Conversant in Tamil, Hindi, Marathi, and Kannada.
- Jaimon Jefferson, MSW, Social Work Supervisee — supports adults navigating anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and brings nearly nine years of experience working with children.
- Malikkah Redden, M.Ed., LPC Resident — brings more than a decade of counseling experience and uses CBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, and ACT to help clients build resilience and coping skills.
You can read every clinician's full background on our therapists page, or see the whole Alexandria office.
Insurance and fees
Life Enrichment Counseling Center is a participating provider with all Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and HMO plans, including Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem, and CareFirst. Cigna, Aetna, and Optum are accepted by select therapists, so coverage can depend on which clinician you see — tell us your plan when you reach out and we will match you with someone in network.
Verifying benefits is ultimately the client’s responsibility, but our office staff will check them for you as a courtesy. Without insurance, sessions are $160 per hour and we provide a superbill you can submit to your carrier yourself. Sessions run 35 to 60 minutes.
Full details are on our costs and payments page.
Visit our Alexandria office
Our Alexandria office is located at 3307 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22314, a short drive from Old Town Alexandria, with parking on site. We also see clients from Falls Church, Springfield, Annandale, Arlington, Fairfax, and Washington, D.C.
Every clinician listed on this page also offers secure video sessions, so you can begin with telehealth and move to in-person visits later — or stay online entirely.
Phone: (703) 879-6947
Request an appointment online or send us a message and we will help you find the right therapist for what you are dealing with.
Frequently asked questions
How soon can I be seen for anxiety in Alexandria?
Availability changes week to week and varies by clinician. The fastest way to get a real answer is to request an appointment online or call the Alexandria office at (703) 879-6947 — we will tell you who has openings and how soon.
Do you offer anxiety therapy in Spanish?
Yes. Nelva Hernandez, LCSW is a native Spanish speaker and conducts full sessions in either Spanish or English. She has supported many clients working through acculturation stress alongside anxiety.
What kind of therapy works best for anxiety?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has the strongest research support for anxiety, and every clinician at our Alexandria office draws on it. In practice we tailor the approach — some clients respond better to mindfulness and acceptance-based work, others to skills training or a more exploratory, psychodynamic approach.
Is online anxiety therapy as effective as meeting in person?
For most people with anxiety, yes. All six Alexandria clinicians offer secure video sessions. If avoidance of leaving the house is part of what you are working on, your therapist may suggest moving to in-person visits as part of treatment.
Do I need a referral to start?
No referral is needed to book with us. Some insurance plans require one for reimbursement, so it is worth checking with your carrier — our team can help you work that out.
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