Warning: My experience with The Sterling Group in March 2025 consisted of misleading claims and…read moreunprofessional conduct that borders on an ethics breach. I saw this practice's name as one of the few providers in DC of in-person group therapy which I was looking for, so I scheduled a consultation call. I was called by the leader of the group, Shelby Allen, LSGW who asked me some questions about what I am looking for, said that it sounds like I would be a great fit for the group and could benefit greatly from it, and then told me I could not join because the group was full. I was disappointed as this seemed like something to bring up before wasting my time but I was somewhat pleased that Shelby suggested I do personal therapy with her until finding a group, even though I was specifically looking for a group, that seemed like a reasonable compromise for what seemed like misleading and unprofessional communication regarding the group. During my individual intake session at the office, I was asked all the basic questions about what I was looking for and I said that if I was going to do individual instead of group, I would prefer something other than cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). She said that she and the practice typically do CBT and I responded that I had not done one-on-one talk therapy in a while and would be willing to try it out and go from there. She then encouraged me to talk about my reasons for seeking therapy, i.e. my trauma, my insecurities, and even - in her words, my "experiences with grief and losing loved ones" which she explicitly asked me to share. Towards the end of the session, she told me that she would not be able to offer me therapy because it was "not a good fit." Feeling gut-punched, I asked why it wasn't a good fit and she said because of two things I mentioned AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION: That I had a preference for methods besides CBT and that I had been diagnosed with OCD. If that was the case, then it is grossly unprofessional at best and a breach of ethics at worse that she encouraged me to share some of my most sensitive and personal, private information under false pretenses. I never would have shared most of what I did with her if I had known what she knew; that we would not be working together in therapy. My experience was grossly unprofessional at best, and an ethics breach, predatory negligence at worst.

Finding The Sterling Group has honestly been a turning point for me. I had been nervous to start…read moretherapy again because past experiences felt either too clinical or like the therapist wasn't really listening. With The Sterling Group it's been the complete opposite. My sessions feel collaborative -- some days it's about untangling the big picture, other days it's about what's right in front of me, and both feel equally valuable. What I appreciate most is that I never feel rushed or judged. There's a genuine sense of care, and I've been able to open up in ways I didn't expect. Even outside of sessions, I notice myself handling stress and relationships differently, which is a huge change for me. The office itself has such a calm vibe, but it's really the people who make it feel safe.

Dr. Turer is amazing. First of all, she makes talking to a psychologist actually fun. I didn't…read morethink that was possible. She probes and poses hypotheses only after asking your permission, but her insight is quite often spot on and always thoughtful and thought-provoking. I have felt so much security and greater peace since working with her on a weekly basis for the past few months. This is despite turmoil, anxiety relating to a health diagnosis/disorder, and general upheaval in my current life! Dr. Turer helps to keep me calm, focused, and feeling positive as well as self-aware -- not mutually exclusive qualities, as it turns out. I have nothing but praise, appreciation, and thanks to her. I am grateful for her unwavering support and counsel. I highly recommend her. As an added bonus for those who might find this appealing: she is downright hilarious. All in all, a talented, well-meaning, and terrific psychologist.

Does not return messages…read more Obviously, she is either filled with too many clients or she just doesn't care When looking up best therapist psychotherapist, clinical social workers, my webpage went to yelp. The fact of the matter is, I have not received any message back, so obviously I would never ever seek her for a mental health treatment. If she cannot message back, think about her having the time to give you quality care

I have not encountered a human being more kind, insightful or intentional. Sara has been an…read moreabsolute gift to me personally as well as to my marriage. She is a bright light in the midst of the confusing, painful parts of life. She has helped my husband and I time and time again when we have struggled to communicate, heal wounds, or align our priorities. Our sessions with Sara always leave us with so much more to talk about and learn from each other - the value does not stop when the session ends. We would not be the couple we are without Sara's support, and we would wholeheartedly recommend her to any couple looking to strengthen their bond and have a happier, more intentional relationship. She will work wonders for you.

Sara is an absolute gem, and an amazing life coach. She is the best at what she does…read more I started seeing Sara for help with my career development, but the coaching that she has provided has ended up improving almost every aspect of my life. Sara is kind, caring and a wonderful human being. She makes you feel completely comfortable from the very beginning. She's also extremely motivating, and a fantastic listener. Her coaching fosters productivity, and she promotes introspection that's truly life changing. Sara will provide you with real, practical tools and strategies that you can use to make the improvements in your life that you're aspiring to make. If you need a life coach, look no further. After just 10 minutes of your first appointment you'll clearly see the value that she can bring to your life.

I couldn't recommend D.C. Talk Therapy more to anyone seeking individual or couples therapy,…read moreespecially those in their 20s or early 30s. I have been seeing David Sternberg, the founder of the practice, every other week for more than a year and also recently participated in a couples therapy session with Barbara Donesky. I always look forward to seeing David every other week and was happy with my first visit with Barbara. David feels like an old friend, one who truly knows me, genuinely cares for me and offers expert advice. When I asked for a recommendation of a couples counselor, David provided several names of his area colleagues, including Barbara, who is a member of his own practice. Because I trust him so much, and because I like to support the businesses of good people, I was happy to take David's recommendation to meet with Barbara for a couples session. She was kind and shrewd, quickly identifying some core issues in my relationship with my boyfriend. She asked all the right questions and I was impressed with her insight after only meeting with us for minutes. I originally chose to work with David because D.C. Talk Therapy specializes in working with twentysomethings, and he agrees, as I do, that our age group is posed with a unique set of challenges to overcome and opportunities to seize. His guidance has undoubtedly helped me know myself better and trust that I'm navigating these challenges the best way possible. I view my sessions with David as a necessity, not a luxury, and don't mind making his reasonable fee a priority in my monthly budgeting. As someone who always reads reviews before working with a new doctor, I would not write one without first deeming them worthy of my dearest friend. David and D.C. Talk Therapy have passed the test. Regardless of whether you need serious help, or are just a typical 25-year-old trying to tackle all the major decisions of the decade, like me, I recommend D.C. Talk Therapy.

David and the team at DC Talk Therapy are wonderful providers and I would highly recommend them. I…read moream a Dietitian in the area and refer clients to them knowing they will be in good hands. They are supportive, knowledgeable and offer many valuable services for a range of client needs.

I can't speak to any of the psychotherapists as I see a psychologist at my university for weekly…read moretherapy. However, my psychiatrist is AWESOME! I have meet with and worked with several psychiatrists in DC but never in my three years of seeing one, have I used the word "awesome." Until I met Dr. Melissa Monson, that is. Dr. Monson is warm, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, easy to talk to, and even funny (when appropriate, of course!). I've seen her twice now and both times I've felt like I'm talking to a friend rather than a psychiatrist. She's definitely not the quiet, sit back and listen type, which isn't my style in a mental health care provider. She's old enough to have more life experience than I do, yet young enough to relate to my issues. In fact, young adults is one of her specialties! She even is excited about my journey to apply to medical school, which was the complete opposite with my last psychiatrist. Before my first appointment ended, I knew she was the psychiatrist I wanted to work with--and I had met with another one the day before. Usually, I would say "let me get back to you as I'm meeting with some other psychiatrists." Not the case for me with Dr. Monson! She returns calls promptly and always encourages me to call if I have issues with my medications. Also, she's good about making sure we meet regularly as I've been on a lot of medication changes. On a side note, Dr. Monson is the first psychiatrist I've seen with office staff. Everyone I've communicated with by phone, email or in person has been super nice and professional. Like most psychiatrists, she doesn't take insurance but she gives me a receipt to submit to my insurance company. Also, her fees are less expensive compared to my last psychiatrist, which is a plus. My only complaint is that I did not find her when I first moved to DC. DC really needs more amazing psychiatrists like her!

Our experience with one therapist who allegedly specialized in child therapy in particular was…read morehorrible. The only explanation for the way Sharon Thomas behaved during therapy with my child is if she herself is experiencing burn out. It was appalling the way she spoke with my child and labeled him, and the way she spoke to us as parents. I would describe Sharon Thomas as dysregulated, impatient, accusatory, shaming, and combative -- and this all over regarding my child's school work. These are not qualities you would want in a therapist, and it makes me question how well the Ross Center's therapists are being vetted and trained. Therapists like Sharon Thomas could do more damage to a patient's mental health and irreparable damage to a child's openness to therapy services for future purposes. This is even more disappointing since the reason why my child wanted to work with her is because she is also a person of color and had credentials regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in her bio. Having a therapist who has the patience, professional skills, and smarts to draw you out, be a safe place for children in need, and believes the best about you is so important to seeing healthy outcomes from therapy. We very much regret the time and money we invested in the Ross Center and Sharon Thomas in particular. Our kids deserve better.

I cannot recommend Natalie highly enough. From the very first session, she created a space that…read morefelt safe, supportive and completely judgment-free. Natalie listens with genuine care and asks thoughtful questions that really helped me reflect and grow. What I appreciate most is her ability to balance professionalism with warmth. She doesn't just listen -- she provides practical tools, perspectives and strategies that I've been able to use in my daily life. I've noticed meaningful improvements in how I manage stress, communicate and understand myself. Scheduling has always been smooth, sessions start on time and she is consistently respectful of my goals and pace. Therapy can be intimidating, but Natalie makes the process approachable and empowering. If you are considering therapy and want someone who is compassionate, insightful and truly invested in helping her clients succeed, I would absolutely recommend Natalie Setliff.

I can't say enough about how incredible Natalie has been as my therapist. Through some of the…read morebiggest transitions in my life--moving to DC, getting married, and recently losing my beloved dog, Molly--she has been a steady, compassionate presence. Natalie creates a space that is safe, supportive, and free of judgment. She listens with warmth and wisdom, helping me navigate challenges with clarity and confidence. There have been days when I walked into our sessions feeling completely lost, but I always left feeling understood, grounded, and more capable of facing whatever was ahead. If you're looking for a therapist who truly cares, who helps you make sense of life's ups and downs, and who empowers you to grow, I highly recommend Natalie. She has been a life-changing support, and I am beyond grateful for her guidance.

I have been seeing Hannah for over a decade for CPTSD, and it's difficult to put into words what an…read moreincredible impact our sessions have had on my life and mental health. I'm so impressed with how skillfully Hannah incorporates several therapeutic approaches into our work. Also how well she balances so many aspects of therapy, like guiding the patient vs following the patient's lead; and fostering a close connection while maintaining healthy professional boundaries. I always feel seen, heard, and understood, and I feel so lucky to have her help managing trauma but also with "smaller" things like connection and boundaries, confidence, and emotional resilience.

Hannah Braunstein is an excellent therapist. She is kind, considerate, trusting, and honest: all…read morethings you want your therapist to be. At the beginning, we had a little trouble clicking, but that had more to do with my stubbornness than anything else. She was patient throughout and gave me the opportunity to come to terms with some of the things that I was struggling. She was positive and helpful throughout. After working together for some time, our sessions established a rhythm and she helped me a great deal in understanding some of the issues with which I was struggling. I never felt that I was being kept in therapy to work on issues that I didn't have. Hannah always explained that the goal was self-care and everything we did was working toward me feeling emotionally healthy on my own, trusting myself and being able to take care of myself. Hannah always makes sure you know that she cares about you as a person (not just a client), and that she is working with you.

I attended their Natural Self-Care Approaches. I was shocked at how unwelcome I felt upon entering…read morethe room!!!! There were a few staff members just standing right in front of me awkward and they stared at me as if I didn't belong there. I'm surprised I didn't leave immediately after I sensed the negative disrespectful energy. During the event, one woman tried to approach me but there were no handouts or anything so the whole event was confusing.... I don't know how one can come here and feel welcomed! I sure will stay away from this place!!!!

You are a transaction and a transaction only for them. Truly disappointed by how they operate - you…read moreare ultimately a paycheck and not a human. After working with one of their therapists, it became clear to me that they do did not care about me but only about my money, so please be careful.

I have been seeing Dr. Chase as a client for a little less than 2 months now and she has been…read morephenomenal to work with! She understands me and my needs, ask me questions I didn't even think to ask myself, and pushes me in ways i need to be pushed. I already feel myself improving and I'm looking forward to continuing to see her.

Dr Chase is an amazing therapist She is anointed,…read moreprofessional and outstanding at her craft. She is committed to doing the Lords work as wise counsel. She is such a brilliant mind. She is humble and relatable. Her accountability is second to none

Mapping Out Sucess…read more Before scheduling my appointment with Montrella Cowan I was super nervous about therapy. I knew I needed professional help to manage my life, relationships, and other life-stress factors but I wasn't sure on how to start working on myself. My first session with Montrella was EVERYTHING I needed. She encouraged me to take notes from our session and apply them to my daily life tasks. Among many life-accomplishments that she led me to conquer, I want to focus this review on my career path. I became stagnant in my previous position and I did not identify myself as being stuck until I sat on Montrella's couch. I didn't like my job but it paid the bills so I remained. Through her therapy sessions, one of my 1st exercises consisted of me mapping out what my "perfect" career/job would look like. We did not turn this into an action plan it was more so of a checklist for the future. A future, I thought was so far away. Rewind a few months into my, stagnant work-life, I was placed in a situation beyond my control and lost my job. I met with Montrella and she reminded me to pull my journal out. I dusted the book off and started applying to positions that fit my checklist. Two months later, I am proud to say, I have a wonderful job that aligns perfectly with my educational goals and past and future career accomplishments. Work no longer feels like a task as I enjoy what I do.

Montrella was truly amazing. She helped myself and my mother in therapy. I learned a lot about…read moremyself and how to cope and deal with things that I encounter with stress, mental health, and etc. I had homework assignments which helped me and allowed me to use these in my everyday life. The meditation was helpful as I still implement it into my everyday life outside of therapy season. It helps me calm down and relax. She is personable, has empathy, and professional. She really understands her clients and cares about their well being. I high recommend her.