Hope+Wellness
Stella Assefa, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Hi there, I’m Stella :)
Stella Assefa, LCSW
fully Licensed in: Virginia
Locations: Washington DC; Falls church, va; teletherapy
Let me start by saying I’m so proud of you for being here. Taking the first step toward healing can be uncomfortable and scary for many reasons, including the fear of failure, the fear of the unknown, the fear of the unfamiliar, the fear of vulnerability, the fear of hurt, the fear of feeling what has been tucked away (intentionally or unintentionally), and so much more. At the same time, taking this first step can also feel exciting, liberating, or inspiring. I’m here to tell you that all of these feelings are normal and valid. Whether you are here in spite of how you feel or because of it, what matters is that you are here.
My goal is to support you as you continue taking that next step toward healing, and to make the first step you took worth it. I want to instill hope and show you that there is a light at the end of this long, dark tunnel, and that you won’t walk toward it alone. I will be there with a flashlight every step of the way.
Over the years, the people who have taken this step and begun this work with me have continually affirmed why I do what I do. To hold space for someone and be trusted to witness the good, the bad, the complicated—all the parts that make us human—is a true privilege. My hope is to help remove the shame that can come with those parts, and to offer you a safe space for your vulnerability and pain.
Getting to the other side of pain and suffering can feel nearly impossible, and can lead to people staying stuck in it until it begins to feel like their normal and only option - and I am here to show you that it does not have to be.
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in working with young adults and adults who struggle with trauma, ADHD, anxiety, attachment issues, relationship issues, and life transitions. I’m also passionate about working with couples who struggle with communication and find themselves stuck in the same harmful cycles that seem nearly impossible to break.
I have extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults and older adults from diverse cultural, socioeconomic and clinical backgrounds, across various settings including community-based, in-home, and private practice. I’m also passionate about providing trauma-informed care and provide evidence based therapies including DBT, CBT and mindfulness.
Philosophy
My work is centered on the understanding of the complexity of human relationships and the various ways past experiences shape present-day patterns of behavior and emotions. Using a person-centered, and psychodynamic approach to therapy, I continue to help both individuals and couples navigate and begin to dismantle the barriers to their healing by addressing the cause of their pain and distress, not just treating the symptoms.
I use an integrative approach by incorporating aspects of several evidence-based interventions including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and attachment-based therapy, curating treatment to the client's unique needs. I am also passionate about providing therapy that is not only empathic and compassionate, but culturally sensitive, client centered and trauma informed. I firmly believe that meaningful progress can be achieved when a client feels emotionally safe and when a clinician has an understanding of how the client’s background, values and beliefs can shape their experiences. My goal is to meet my clients where they are by tailoring how I approach sessions to their unique needs and preferences. For some, this may look like a more structured approach; for others, a more flexible one, but it will always be collaborative.
Specialty Areas
childhood/attachment trauma
Do you find yourself in the exact same dysfunctional, unhealthy relationships? Are you afraid of intimacy, rejection or abandonment? Do you struggle with low self-worth, often feeling both “not enough” and “too much”? Do you consider yourself a people pleaser who struggles with setting boundaries? Are you finding it difficult to regulate your emotions and self-sooth? If any of these apply to you, you are not alone. These questions illustrate some of the various ways our past can show up in our present. I help clients understand how their childhood and early relationships, primarily with their caregivers, shape the way they experience trust, safety, and connection with others in the present day. Together, we work to identify and process past wounds, develop the ability to manage triggers, build emotional security, and develop healthier patterns in relationships.
challenging relationship dynamics
I support clients in navigating difficult patterns in their relationships that often can feel like never ending cycles leaving them feeling hopeless or disconnected. Our work will focus on learning skills that facilitate healthy communication, setting boundaries, resolving conflict, and creating more fulfilling and balanced connections with people in their life.
adhd
I help adults with ADHD better understand how their brain operates and implement strategies that support focus, time-management, emotional regulation, and day to day functioning. I also address feelings of shame, guilt and insecurity while helping clients process these emotions and move towards self-compassion.
young adulthood and life transitions
I help clients navigate difficult periods of change and uncertainty, including identity exploration, evolving relationships, and decisions surrounding their career. My goal is to help clients work towards building confidence, gaining clarity, developing a stronger sense of direction and managing the stress they may experience along the way.
Additional Areas of Expertise
Adjusting to Life Transitions
Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety
General Stress of Being Human
Generational Trauma
Life Stress
Life Transitions
Low Self Esteem
Personal Growth
Relationship and Communication Difficulties
Self-Care
Self-Criticism
Self-Esteem
Stress Management
Quarter-Life Crisis
Young Adults
more about ME
hobbies + what I like to do for fun
In my free time you will either see me sketching or painting people and animals (especially dogs!), spending intentional time with my friends and family, enjoying live music, hanging out with my cats or taking long walks in nature trails while listening to “coffee shop music” (think Norah Jones).
why I became a therapist
I wanted to become a therapist to show people that there is hope, and that suffering or feeling stuck no longer has to be someone’s normal. My goal is to show people that the long term peace is worth the short term discomfort and that they are not alone. Mental health makes up so much of what makes us human, and even though the understanding of it is not universal, the need for it is.
favorite QUOTES
“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted.”
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, and how you can still come out of it.”
“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.”
