I recently had the pleasure of spending a weekend with a dear friend of mine who I didn’t know if I’d ever have the chance to see again- not only because she lives far away in France, but because last year, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer with a very small chance of surviving it. After two ...READ MORE »
Many students are in their first few days or weeks of school in the Washington, DC metro area. As a family therapist who also works with couples and parents, I’m often meeting with parents this time of year and reminding them how they can support themselves as they help transition their children back into school routines. I’m also a ...READ MORE »
Dr. Sibley shares her personal reflections on grief in the second of this two-part series. I’m writing this blog as Part II to a previously posted blog, Clearly Grieving, in which I reflected on how doing my own emotional work prepared me for losing my father. I’m a therapist in Washington DC and nearby Bethesda, MD who believes in the ...READ MORE »
Dr. Sibley shares her personal reflections on grief in this two-part series. The first part, below, was written just a few days prior to her father passing away. I’m writing tonight to advocate for the power of grief work–or even more so, for the power of doing your emotional work before you grieve. As a family therapist in Washington DC, ...READ MORE »
I recently went to see the documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? the story of Mr. Rogers. I was brought to tears multiple times during the movie. Those tears, and the messages of Mr. Rogers, left me with some reflections about my own journey as a parent and my clinical work as a child and family therapist in Washington, DC. Children ...READ MORE »
As a therapist who provides EMDR to clients in the Washington, DC area, I often get questions about this form of treatment, how it works, and who it can help. While EMDR is widely known in the therapy community, I’d like to help empower clients to know how they can benefit from EMDR. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is ...READ MORE »
How often have you found you and your partner having “the same old fight?” As a couples therapist in Washington DC, I help couples try to communicate differently both in and out of our sessions rather than repeating that “same old fight. ” Picture this: you and your partner return home after your stressful days at work. Your partner asks, ...READ MORE »
As a family and teen therapist in Washington DC, who often helps parents and teens navigate a better relationship, I’m writing to offer some impressions about how parents can go beyond just policing their teen to parenting them in a manner that feels more effective and more rewarding. We are all afraid of the police. Let’s be honest. An almost ...READ MORE »
Spring is here and the school year is finally winding down. Summer is just around the corner, and for many kids this is a fun time of year – a time to enjoy the nicer weather, look forward to summer vacations, and wrap up a successful academic year. However, for many families, this time of year can be a real ...READ MORE »
As an adolescent and family therapist in Washington DC, I support a lot of parents and teens who are working through conflicts at home or with peers. Managing conflict can be a challenge at any age, and doing so effectively is crucial in our relationships. Disagreements can bring up intense emotions, resulting in reactive and aggressive behavior; yet avoiding a ...READ MORE »
