Joanna Ehat, JD, LCSW, LICSW

703-801-8768
joanna@virginiapsychotherapy.com

Joanna is a licensed clinical social worker providing psychotherapy to adults of every age, adolescents, and families. Her practice focuses on strengthening the well-being of clients through evidence-based treatments that are specifically tailored to address client needs. Joanna’s approach is warm and compassionate, and she is deeply committed to providing treatment that is holistic and client centered.

Joanna is a strong believer in a team approach and works closely with psychiatrists and other professionals such as psychologists, counselors, and teachers as needed.

Joanna practices through an integrative approach informed by psychodynamic theory, attachment theory, mentalization based treatment (MBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Joanna is dedicated to participating in ongoing professional training in order to stay up to date and informed on the latest treatments.

In addition to private practice, Joanna has worked in a drug addiction clinic counseling people struggling with addiction, a college counseling center counseling college students, and a foster care setting counseling children, adolescents and foster parents. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Joanna spent ten years practicing law in the District of Columbia.

TREATMENT SPECIALTIES
Anxiety
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Trauma
Attachment issues
Family of Origin Issues
Life Transitions
Adolescent behavior and development
Parenting issues including communication and relationship enhancement
Risk behaviors including self harm and suicide assessment
Social Anxiety
Self-esteem issues
Interpersonal relationships

EDUCATION
Master of Social Work, The Catholic University of America, National School of Social Service, Washington, DC
Juris Doctor, The George Washington University School of Law, Washington, DC

PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS
CAMS Suicidality Assessment and Treatment
Trauma
Trauma-Focused Integrated Play Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Adults
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Adolescents
CBT (Beck Institute)
Child Centered Play Therapy
Neurobiology
Attachment Based Family Therapy
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Behavior Therapy Training Institute)
General Psychiatric Management for Borderline Personality Disorder (McLean Hospital, Boston, Ma)
Mentalization Based Treatment for Adolescents (Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families)
Mentalization Based Treatment for Families (Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families)

LICENSES AND MEMBERSHIPS:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Virginia (LCSW)
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the District of Columbia (LICSW)
Member, National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Member, International OCD Foundation