Dawn Johnson, PsyD

Written By Kristie Plantinga
dr. dawn johnson therapist

Areas of specialization

  • Anxiety

  • Disordered eating/body image

  • Relationships 

  • Life transitions

  • Stress, career and work-life balance

  • Depression

If you feel anxious, sad, overwhelmed or stuck, if you are frustrated by your family or relationships, navigating a challenging life transition or are worn out by disordered eating, I may be a good fit for you. My therapy style is collaborative, warm, and nonjudgmental, with room for humor. Together, we will work to improve your symptoms, gain a deeper understanding of your concerns and bring about lasting change.

I have extensive experience with college students, young adults and established professionals, with a particular focus on individuals navigating life transitions such as college and graduation, young adulthood, relationship changes, pregnancy and parenthood. I also have expertise in the treatment of disordered eating, particularly binge eating disorder, and “body focused repetitive behaviors” such as hair pulling and skin picking. Having previously worked in global talent management, I work well with clients who feel stuck professionally, struggle with work/life balance, or are considering a career change. I am also an experienced clinical supervisor, providing training and oversight to other doctoral level therapists.

I welcome and am actively affirming of individuals of all sexual orientations, gender identities and cultural backgrounds, and frequently work with clients who are exploring various aspects of their identity.

Practice Director and Licensed Psychologist
PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Currently offering sessions via telehealth to clients based in:
DC, Virginia, Maryland and all 40+ PSYPACT participating states.

 

Our providers

Featured
Ashley Alderette, PsyD
Ashley Alderette, PsyD

Ashley’s approach emphasizes the use of specific tools and strategies to help adolescents and adults reduce distress, develop more flexible thinking, feel more connected in relationships, and address tendencies towards perfectionism and rigidity. She has a warm, collaborative and empowering therapeutic style, with expertise in anxiety, depression, relationships, life transitions, work/life balance, perfectionism and eating disorders.

Catherine Corey, MA
Catherine Corey, MA

Catherine has a warm and collaborative style, creating a space where you feel supported, yet gently challenged. Her approach prioritizes understanding you as a whole person, and incorporating your unique experiences, needs, values, and strengths into treatment. Catherine specializes in working with college students, professionals and executives struggling with depression, anxiety, confidence/self-esteem, career concerns, life transitions and trauma. She finds particular joy in untangling personal questions from systemic challenges and inequities.

Dawn Johnson, PsyD
Dawn Johnson, PsyD

Dawn is the founder of our practice and has an engaging, interactive therapy style. Her approach blends concrete behavior change with a deep curiosity around the origins of your concerns so that we can understand how they developed and actively craft healthier patterns going forward. She has particular expertise in anxiety, disordered eating, career/academic stress, healthy relationship boundaries, and life transitions.

Sydney Rosen, PsyD
Sydney Rosen, PsyD

Sydney works from an attachment perspective, helping clients to better understand themselves and their relationships. She combines insight-oriented approaches with CBT/DBT skills, and has expertise in anxiety and depression, life transitions, family of origin conflict, identity development, body image, self-esteem and relationships, including non-monogamy.

Sharon Schonteich, PhD
Sharon Schonteich, PhD

Sharon combines solutions-focused and insight-oriented approaches. She strives for clients to feel heard and supported as they develop a sense of personal agency and self acceptance. Sharon specializes in anxiety, depression, infertility and perinatal concerns, family and relationships, life transitions, somatic concerns/chronic illness, and work/life stress.

Mandy Thompson, PsyD
Mandy Thompson, PsyD

Mandy provides individual therapy to adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, perfectionism and OCD, as well as parent coaching, Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) for the parents of children who are struggling with anxiety, behavior challenges, ADHD and ASD. Mandy can help develop a plan for you or your family using evidence-based therapies, while providing supportive, positive coaching as you work to bring about change. She can demystify the therapy process, guide you through options, and craft an individualized therapeutic approach that helps you live a meaningful life on your terms.

Shally Vaid, MA, LPC
Shally Vaid, MA, LPC

Shally creates a collaborative, safe and inclusive space for you to connect again with joy, hope, empowerment, and a sense of inner calm. She specializes in anxiety, depression, infertility and the perinatal period, parenting, self-esteem and trauma. An experienced cognitive-behavioral therapist, Shally also incorporates mindfulness, solutions focused, attachment and multicultural approaches to craft a treatment best suited to your needs.

Kristie Plantinga

Kristie Plantinga is the founder of TherapieSEO, an SEO and content marketing agency specializing in the therapy and coaching industries. Kristie has been featured on Holding Space for Therapists, Private Practice Skills, the Entrepreneurial Therapist, The Private Practice Pro, Holdspace Creative, and Mind Money Balance. When she’s not working on her clients’ websites, Kristie can be found snuggling her terrier Winston and watching true crime.

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