Licensed Psychologist in Maryland, Washington DC, and California
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Pre-Teens, Adolescents, and Adults
Persistent feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, or loneliness are often a sign that something in our relationships has gone awry. By the time we consider starting psychotherapy, changing longstanding ways of relating to ourselves and others can feel difficult or impossible to navigate alone. As a psychodynamic therapist, I’m interested in how early relationships have shaped your personality, worldview, attachment patterns, and ways of coping. Through compassion, challenge, and sometimes humor, I aim to help my patients gain insight, develop new ways of relating to themselves and others, and make meaningful changes in their lives.
I specialize in young adult issues such as anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationships, and identity. I have postdoctoral psychoanalytic education and have testified as an expert witness on parent-child relationships following divorce. My training and study have also focused extensively on working with survivors of sexual abuse and complex trauma.
I work to provide a supportive environment for you to process negative emotions and experiences, self-reflect without judgment, explore ambivalence to change, and commit to caring for yourself and others in healthier ways. I look forward to supporting you on the journey of learning about yourself in order to live a more authentic and meaningful life.
Dr. Stephanie Helwig (she/her) is a licensed psychologist providing individual in-person psychotherapy in Bethesda, MD, as well as telehealth across Maryland, Washington, D.C., California, and PSYPACT-participating states to pre-teens, adolescents, and adults. She earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University where she pursued the child and adolescent track. She has also gained advanced postdoctoral training through the Psychoanalytic Studies Program at the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis. Prior to her graduate work, she earned her B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from University of Maryland, College Park where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the Honors College. Dr. Helwig has experience working in community mental health centers, child assessment centers, public schools, and group practices. She serves on the board of The Stroud Foundation for Children with Learning Differences and is a member of the San Diego Psychoanalytic Center and the Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis.
Let’s connect.
Beginning therapy can be exciting and sometimes intimidating. I am happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have about the process.