Less Perfection.
More Authenticity.
Integrative Psychotherapy for Challenging Times
Licensed in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Find balance in the midst of uncertainty
Life is hard. Right now, that feels truer than ever.
The world has always been complex and unpredictable, but in the DC area we are living that reality on a daily basis. And just because the world is in turmoil, doesn’t mean that our personal problems can be put on hold. Work stress, relationship problems, family of origin challenges - all of these issues (and others, for sure!) get magnified in times likes these.
When there’s so much going on, it’s easy for us to become disconnected from ourselves. I believe that therapy offers a space to slow down and reconnect. Therapy allows us to unravel all the stories our culture and families have told us about who and what we should be. Many of my clients have never before asked themselves what it is that they truly want and need.
I call the therapy I do holistic, because I draw from many approaches and modalities. I draw on psychodynamic psychotherapy, which helps us understand how our early relationships shape our current experience. I have training in Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - both body-centered modalities that help regulate our nervous systems, especially when trauma is in the picture.
When the world feels out of control, going inward and learning to trust yourself is what provides true grounding. I’d love to partner with you as you discover this.
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How I Can Help
You look successful on the outside, but inside you're struggling. Maybe you find yourself in the same painful relationship patterns over and over. Or you feel constantly on edge, never quite able to relax. Perhaps you're disconnected from your own feelings and needs, always accommodating others while your resentment builds.
These aren't character flaws—they're survival strategies. When we grow up in environments where it wasn't safe to be fully ourselves, our nervous systems adapt. We learn to scan for danger, to please others at our own expense, to shut down our feelings, or to stay in constant motion. These patterns helped us survive then, but they're limiting us now.
I specialize in helping adults heal from developmental and relational trauma—the wounds that come not from single dramatic events, but from the ways our early relationships shaped how we see ourselves and others. This includes:
Growing up with parents who were emotionally unavailable, critical, or unpredictable
Learning that your feelings, needs, or authentic self weren't welcome
Carrying anxiety, hypervigilance, or a persistent sense that something bad is about to happen
Struggling with perfectionism, people-pleasing, or codependency
Finding yourself repeatedly in relationships where you're not truly seen or valued
My approach integrates psychodynamic therapy with trauma-informed, body-aware practice. Together, we'll understand how your past shaped your present, while also working with your nervous system to create new patterns of safety and connection. You'll gain insight into why you do what you do—and practical tools to shift those patterns.
Together we can unravel the messages that keep you hustling for other people’s approval and uncover what you truly want for yourself.
In working with me, you can:
Overcome Anxiety
Recover from Codependency
Move Beyond Trauma
Lisa Zimmerman, LCSW-C
I'm not like the therapists you've seen on TV. I don't sit back and remain silent while you wonder what I'm thinking. I roll up my sleeves and engage actively. I bring warmth and energy to my work and build strong connections with my clients.
With over 25 years of experience as a psychotherapist, I've had the privilege of walking alongside hundreds of people as they've healed from trauma, transformed their relationships, and discovered who they truly are beneath their survival strategies. I spent many years working in agency settings before opening my private practice in 2022, which means I've worked with people across the full spectrum of human experience—and I've seen what truly creates lasting change.
My training reflects my commitment to depth and integration. I'm grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy, which helps us understand how early relationships shape our current experience. I hold an advanced certificate in trauma-informed care and have completed extensive training in Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy—body-centered approaches that work directly with the nervous system to heal trauma at its roots.
I specialize in developmental and relational trauma—the kind that doesn't always look like "trauma" from the outside. My clients are often high-functioning adults who appear successful but carry deep wounds from childhood experiences of emotional neglect, criticism, unpredictability, or having to be someone other than themselves to stay safe and connected.
I don't believe in cookie-cutter therapy. Even people with similar challenges may need different approaches, so I strive to be creative and flexible in my work. I aim to balance insight-oriented therapy with practicality—my clients gain self-awareness as well as concrete tools for nervous system regulation and boundary-setting. Both are essential for growth.
I'm licensed to practice in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and I offer both in-person and telehealth sessions to fit your needs.
When you're ready to break the patterns that keep you stuck and discover what's possible when you finally put yourself in the picture, I'd love to connect. Click the button below to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. We'll talk about what changes you're seeking and, if it feels like a good fit, we'll schedule your first session.
Let’s Connect
If you’re ready to break the patterns that keep you stuck, give me a call. Click on the button below and set up a free 15-minute consultation. We’ll chat about what changes you’re seeking and, if it feels like a good fit, we’ll schedule your first session.