LGBT therapists in Arlington, VA

As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia, I have worked in the mental health field for over 10 years. Currently, I provide individual and family therapy services to teenagers and adults experiencing mood disorders, anxiety, and trauma, as well as with LBGTQ+ and trans/gender non-conforming (TGNC) folks seeking supportive and affirming care.

Hello, and welcome! I'm Sakura Pate, MSW, a trauma-informed therapist dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered. I became a social worker in 2013, supporting individuals through a variety of life challenges across community and behavioral health settings. After earning my Master of Social Work in 2023, I expanded my practice to provide individual and couples counseling, bringing together years of social work experience with evidence-based, trauma-informed care.

I work with adults and couples navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, attachment wounds, emotional regulation difficulties, stress, and self-esteem concerns. I also have experience providing LGBTQIA+ affirming care and am committed to creating an inclusive environment where every client feels respected, valued, and safe to show up as their authentic self.

I believe healing happens through connection, self-awareness, and compassion. Whether you're seeking support for yourself or your relationship, I'm honored to walk alongside you as you build resilience, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Hi there! I'm Dr Esmie, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and PhD, Research Psychologist with more than three decades of professional and lived experience. I've lived much of my life in England and California and now currently reside in the DMV state of Virginia. I bring a broad multicultural perspective to my work.serving individuals, couples, and families from diverse cultural, social, and spiritual backgrounds.

My clinical practice integrates evidence-based approaches, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and strengths-based interventions. I have worked extensively with clients navigating trauma, life transitions, relational conflict, stress, and emotional challenges, helping them move toward healing and personal growth.

I believe meaningful change occurs when people feel genuinely seen, heard, and respected. I strive to create a safe, supportive therapeutic environment where clients can explore their experiences without judgment. Through collaboration, practical tools, and compassionate guidance, I help clients develop insight, strengthen resilience, and build healthier patterns of thinking, feeling, and behavior.

Above all, I value human dignity and authentic connection. I believe credentials may open doors, but character, empathy, and genuine care sustain lasting transformation.

I’ve been working in the mental health field for nearly a decade and bring a deep commitment to helping individuals heal, grow, and thrive. I hold a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington, DC and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. These academic foundations, combined with years of hands-on experience, have shaped my compassionate, informed, and client-centered approach to therapy.

Most recently I was serving as a Licensed Clinical Therapist where I provided individual and group therapy in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for adults facing complex mental health and substance use challenges. I am currently working at a small group practice treating adults with stress, anxiety, depression, ptsd, and more. I hold sessions on the weekend and in the morning one a week.

At the heart of my practice is a belief in the power of authentic connection. I strive to create a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space where clients feel empowered to explore difficult emotions, build insight, and take meaningful steps toward lasting change.

I help people heal from trauma, with a special focus on sexual trauma, and I’ve been honored to support a wide range of individuals — including women, men, military veterans, and LGBTQIA clients — as they work through their experiences and take meaningful steps toward healing. I also enjoy helping people work through challenging life transitions (e.g., parenthood, divorce, etc.) and identity-specific concerns (e.g., men's issues, women's issues, gender identity exploration). In addition to individual therapy, I also provide relationship therapy for monogamous, non-monogamous, and open relationships as well as psychological assessment (e.g., ADHD, dementia, learning disorder, mental health) for adults.

I am excited to provide compassionate & competent care for transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive adults, and other LGBTQIA+ identities. In addition, I enthusiastically affirm asexuality and aromaticism, intersex folks, and all who experience marginalization, erasure, and/or invisibility within the broader LGBTQIA+ community. Anyone “questioning” is welcome!

Smart Duru is psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 10 years of combined healthcare experience. He attended University of Derby, England for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and a master’s in psychiatric mental health nursing with Distinction. Smart Duru obtained a Master of Science Degree with specialization in Psychiatry mental health Nurse Practitioner. He has extensive experience in Mental health, Primary care, Sub/Post-Acute Care, Long Term Care, Correctional Medicine, and Family Medicine.

I work with adolescents and adults from diverse cultural backgrounds who are navigating life's challenges and seeking meaningful, lasting change. My clients may be experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, relationship difficulties, life transitions, grief, emotional overwhelm, or feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve them. I also have extensive experience supporting individuals in crisis, first responders, and other professionals facing unique career or personal challenges. I view therapy as a collaborative process that builds on your existing strengths and resilience.