LGBT therapists in District of Columbia

Charmaine is a christian woman that is warm and challenging. Charmaine enjoys getting to know the strength and character of her clients. She is strong yet compassionate and nonjudgmental.

I explore a patient's need for external validation and identify old, negative motivators used to inspire achievement-based goals. I teach self-care and self-regulating practices while modeling healthy attunement. Together, we explore conflict-avoidant behaviors and healthy dependency. Being a highly sensitive person is not a weakness but an empathic strength. I explore the guilt, shame, and fear that cause "analysis paralysis." I analyze unhealthy habits and teach clients to build trust and reconnect with a traumatic body that no longer trusts. You are the expert and I am your guide.

Great to meet you! I am Dr. Shannon D. Howard, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC, LPC) for the states of DC & MD, a Certified Life Coach, and an Author. I have been helping individuals, children, couples, and families navigate grief and loss, trauma, anxiety, adjustment, depression and more for over 24 years.

My educational background consists of a dual Master's in both Counseling and Clinical Psychology. I received my first Master's at Towson University in 2000, a second Masters and Doctorate in 2008 and 2010 from The American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. I minored in Philosophy as well as Women's Studies.

I possess specialized training in areas of trauma, specifically in the assessment and treatment of sex offenders and survivors of sexual assault. I have worked in an adult inpatient psychiatric hospital, a day program for adults with chronic and acute mental illness, as well as on an outpatient basis as a private practitioner and with a group practice. I worked with Parole and Probation to help clients maintain compliance and management while on the registry. As a Certified Life Coach, I help coaching clients discover what they truly desire. We collaborate to create a roadmap to move you forward and build a future that feels grounded and authentic to you.

At present, I offer a full range of services and am open to accepting new virtual clients.

I am LGBTQIA+allied, sex-positive, kink-friendly and nurturing to clients within this community. I also help clients navigate open relationships (ENM), polyamory, and non-traditional relationships.

**I CAN ONLY SEE CLIENTS WHO ARE IN THE STATES OF DC AND MD AT THE TIME OF THEIR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT.

*We offer a 10- minute grace period before logging off of the platform. Please reach out to reschedule your next appointment. There us a $150 fee for appointments no shows and for cancelations not made 24 hours in advance.

Born in Boston, MA, D’Wayne is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker passionate about mental health and community well-being. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Social Work from Adelphi University and is pursuing his doctoral studies at Howard University.

From the moment we begin working together, I invest in collaborating on a personalized therapeutic experience that allows clients to feel seen, understood, respected, and supported. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board-Certified Music Therapist, and Gottman and Emotion-Focused trained couple's therapist with over seven years of experience, I've learned how valuable relationships are for growth and change, including the relationship with your therapist that I work hard to nurture.

Many of the adults I work with are deeply thoughtful and self-aware. You may understand your story, your patterns, and even the roots of your pain; yet still feel disconnected, stuck, or unable to feel the relief you’re longing for. Knowing isn’t always the same as feeling, and that gap can be incredibly frustrating. My work centers on helping you reconnect with your inner world and build a more compassionate relationship with yourself. I support clients who carry the impact of childhood trauma, relational wounds, grief, and loss, as well as those who feel disconnected from their bodies or emotions.

Therapy with me is paced, relational, and grounded in somatic and trauma-informed care, allowing space for all parts of you to be seen and tended. I have extensive experience supporting adults who have survived childhood abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault, and I specialize in grief counseling for those navigating the complexities of loss. I also offer equine-assisted psychotherapy in Central Florida. This experiential approach is so meaningful for those who struggle to access their emotions through words alone. If something in you feels ready to be met with care and curiosity, I would be honored to walk alongside you toward more ease and connection.