Stephanie Benson, Psy.D.

Dr. Stephanie Benson is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides a calm, grounded, and deeply reflective space for healing. She utilizes a uniquely integrative approach, seamlessly blending the structured, evidence-based tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with a psychodynamic understanding of her clients. She believes that highly effective therapy doesn’t just manage surface-level symptoms; it helps you understand the root causes behind them while giving you the actionable skills you need to move forward.

Eating Disorders & Body Image

Treating an eating disorder requires looking beneath the surface while also changing daily behaviors. Dr. Benson helps clients explore the underlying emotional functions of their disordered eating—whether it is serving as a coping mechanism for anxiety or a response to relational stress. At the same time, she integrates CBT and ACT to help clients actively challenge rigid food rules, tolerate the discomfort of body image distress, and take practical steps toward rebuilding a flexible, joyful relationship with nourishment.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD can feel incredibly loud and chaotic. Dr. Benson offers a steady, anchoring presence to help clients navigate the intense anxiety and intrusive thoughts that drive the OCD cycle. She provides the gold-standard Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) in a compassionate, carefully paced manner. By pairing ERP with ACT, she helps clients safely build their tolerance for uncertainty, learn to let intrusive thoughts pass without fighting them, and unhook from their compulsions to regain control over their time and energy.

Relationship Dynamics & Attachment

Our earliest relational experiences often shape how we connect with others today. Dr. Benson has a special expertise in helping clients explore their relationship dynamics. Whether you find yourself repeating painful relational patterns, struggling with vulnerability, or navigating communication breakdowns, she helps illuminate your blind spots. Using a blend of deep relational exploration and ACT, she helps you heal attachment wounds and actively choose behaviors that build deeper, more secure, and fulfilling connections with the people you care about.

• Integrative Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)
• Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Dr. Benson received her B.A in psychology from Bates College. She earned her M. Psy. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University. Dr. Benson completed an APA-Accredited predoctoral internship at The Catholic University of America Counseling Center in Washington, DC. She has worked at the following sites:

• • The George Washington University Center Clinic

• • Woodrow Wilson High School

• • The Catholic University of America Counseling Center

• • The Mental Health Clinic at the Washington, DC VA Medical Center

First Session: $250

Follow-Ups: $235