Rachel Scharf, MSW, LGSW
Rachel brings both passion and experience to working with children, adolescents, and families to work as a Play Therapist at The Sibley Group. She has diverse training experiences including approaches in trauma, attachment, parent-child relationship engagement, and play-based techniques. Rachel has worked in various settings including schools, outpatient community clinics, and play therapy centers. Rachel believes in the power of the therapeutic relationship to facilitate change, growth, and insight.
Good therapy occurs in a trusting, accepting, warm therapeutic relationship. Rachel goes above and beyond to nurture strong working relationships with both children and their parents. She develops a safe play space where clients feel supported and grow in their skills in sharing their inner thoughts and feelings. Rachel creates strong connections with her clients and their families.
Rachel works with children and adolescents who have behavioral concerns, trauma, anxiety, ADHD, grief and loss, social skill deficits, depression, low self-esteem, and other issues. Through a relational and supportive approach, she incorporates directive play therapy, child-centered play therapy, expressive arts, sand tray, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and filial therapy. She has worked in public school settings and outpatient mental health clinics providing individual and group therapy, parenting workshops, and crisis intervention and safety planning.
Rachel is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) in the District of Columbia and Maryland. She received her BA in Psychology at Binghamton University and her MSW at Catholic University.
