Patrick Streifel

Hi! My name's Pat (he/him). I'm a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor practicing in DC, Maryland, and Vermont under the supervision of Desiree Ducharme. Before earning my Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Hood College, I worked as a software engineer and volunteered for a crisis counseling hotline for several years. Some of my clinical interests include multicultural couples, internet/technology addiction, and neuroscience-informed counseling. In my free time, I like to cook, go on walks (often with dogs), draw, and occasionally go down rabbit holes learning new things. 

Who I Work With: 

I work with couples and adults of all ages. Many of my clients are neurodivergent and/or LGBTQIA+. Common concerns I see in individual therapy include anxiety, depression, ADHD, loneliness, self-esteem, relationship stress, political and economic stress, trauma, grief, and identity exploration. Couples therapy concerns I've worked with include communication, empathy, intimacy, teamwork, extended family dynamics, financial stress, and planning for the future. 

How I Approach Therapy: 

My approach is integrative, rooted in person-centered and trauma-informed principles. I draw mostly from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), narrative therapy, and some "parts work" (e.g. IFS and Gestalt). 

The hurried pace of today's world makes it difficult to step back and reflect. Even when we do, it's easy to get lost in our own inner world, and nothing changes. That's why my role is to provide both space for reflection and a therapeutic relationship that offers safety, structure, and new perspectives to help you reach your goals. 

In our work together, you can expect me to: 

• Listen, validate, and care. Everyone comes to therapy with a unique story. I want to hear and understand the parts of your story that are important to you. This is how we start to create a map of where you are, and eventually, where you want to go. 

• Facilitate insight and acceptance. At a safe pace, we'll bring nonjudgmental awareness to events, thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, beliefs, and values. When we look at things with curiosity and acceptance, we can gain insight that empowers you with new choices and motivation. 

• Support you in making changes. We'll work together to transform insight and motivation into action. This could include learning new skills, coming up with a plan, or confronting things you normally avoid. I may also gently challenge you to experiment with alternative ways of relating to your thoughts, emotions, or others. 

• Check in with you. Therapy works best when it's collaborative. It's important to me to know how you are feeling about the work. I'll check in and ask for your feedback from time to time, and I always encourage you to let me know when something isn't landing or I miss the mark. 

Couples therapy with me is similar, while also being informed by the Gottman Method. My emphasis with most couples is strengthening empathy, appreciation, emotionally intelligent communication, teamwork, and shared values. 

If my background seems like a good fit, please reach out for a free consultation call. I'm happy to connect, answer any questions, and talk through what you're looking for. In the meantime, take care and be kind to yourself.