CARA BURTON, LICSW
Psychotherapy
ABOUT ME
For the past 13 years, I have been working as a therapist in a variety of settings, primarily in community mental health and military medicine. For the past 8 years, I have been working as a therapist in the Washington D.C. area, providing individual and group psychotherapy and substance abuse services. I specialize in trauma-informed therapy and am an EMDR provider. My goal is to implement treatment that is compassionate, supportive and rooted in mindfulness for a holistic approach to therapy. I have received training and education in a variety of treatment modalities and trauma therapies, I have developed and adapted a group curriculum for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, I have worked collaboratively to develop and implement an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for the treatment of military sexual trauma (MST) and am a contributing author in Intimacy Post-Injury (Ritchie, 2017).
THE PROBLEM AS I SEE IT
If we’re honest with ourselves, many of us are regularly looking outside of ourselves for love, fulfillment, happiness and joy only to find ourselves deeply dissatisfied, lonely and separated from true connection and intimacy with others and with ourselves. Life can be difficult and is often filled with challenges and traumatic experiences that require our attention and care in order to heal. We are, however, skilled at temporarily silencing the aching inside through these and other familiar escape hatches: excessive shopping, over or under eating, using drugs or alcohol, sex, gambling, gaming, tv bingeing, etc. We use these behaviors to hide our pain and numb out. These, we know, are only temporary aids and not permanent solutions. Afterward, we may find ourselves even emptier, increasingly more shame filled and more painfully separated from ourselves and others than before.
SOLUTIONS THAT HOLD THEIR WEIGHT
Because we are extremely resilient and adaptable creatures with a brain that can, thankfully, be rewired, we can learn to process painful emotions and release stuck energies through therapy, physical activity and self-compassion through mindful awareness. Practicing a life without an escape hatch into unhelpful or destructive behaviors and relationships and choosing to live in reality can be terrifying prospects. This path is gripping, treacherous, requires an enormous amount of courage and help from outside ourselves and intrinsically includes occasional setbacks and discouragement. The rewards, however, of coming home to ourselves and realizing the love, approval, joy and comfort we have so desperately been seeking are already there—within.
ABOUT THE THERAPY
CORE ASSUMPTIONS
We are unique and each of us relates to ourselves and to the world in a variety of ways. Therefore, therapy is not one-size fits all.
We are equipped with everything we need in order to heal, to thrive, to access joy and to embrace connection through community. It may be buried beneath a false sense of self, addiction, trauma, loss or some combination, but it is there.
Accessing help and learning where we need support is a deep strength and never a sign of weakness.
Therapy is not a way out of pain but rather an avenue we can use to bear our pain skillfully and learn how to embrace it as another component of a full, rich and rewarding life.
Emotions are not good, bad, right or wrong. They are all valid and provide us with important information...and they may not be giving us all of the information. Practicing non-reactivity to our intense emotions is challenging and can feel impossible at times but it can also yield fantastic results.
The only way to heal is to feel—emotionally, spiritually and physically. Scientific research is revealing how our experiences are stored in our bodies as well as in our minds. Meditation, mindfulness and yoga are proven methods to help our bodies move through stuck emotions and trapped energy.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are your hours?
I have Thursday afternoon and evening appointments available between the hours of 2:00pm and 7:00pm.
Where are you located?
The office is a 2 minute walk south from the Dupont Circle (South) Metro station.
How long are therapy sessions?
Sessions are 50 minutes.
Do you provide couples or family counseling?
I am only seeing individuals at this time. The option for family and couples sessions can be discussed on a case by case basis.
How much does a session cost?
I provide a free 20 minute phone consultation to discuss if this therapy is a good fit prior to scheduling an initial session. During this call, pricing will be discussed. Pricing for sessions is fixed.
Do you take insurance?
I do not take insurance at this time.
What is your education and training?
I am a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) in the District of Columbia. I have two degrees from the University of South Florida and would be more than happy to provide a more detailed list of my trainings and certifications upon request.
HOW TO CONNECT
(202) 913-0047