You can live your most authentic life
Hi, I’m Dr. Elana Hoffman
I am a clinical psychologist providing individual and couples therapy throughout DC and Maryland (and all participating Psypact states) via telehealth. I also am available for coaching from anywhere in the world.
I am from Maryland originally and have completed the majority of my training in the DC area. I received both my B.A. and my Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park, where I studied addiction, impulsivity, and personality disorders. I then went to California to complete my pre-doctoral internship at the VA San Diego, where I specialized in treating Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Mood Disorders. After finishing my internship and graduating with my Ph.D., I returned to DC where I completed my postdoctoral training in the Trauma Services Program at the Washington DC VA Medical Center.
Following my postdoctoral fellowship, I joined a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) team as Licensed Clinical Psychologist. I received extensive training in DBT and participated in the comprehensive model. I now use a lot of the DBT principles in my work. I also received training in Emotion Focused Couple’s Therapy (EFT) and discovered my passion of working with couples, and approach this with a variety of Evidence-Based Practices as well as my own tailored approach.
In my current practice, I focus on adults of dysfunctional childhoods, couples, and relationship issues (sex, divorce, infidelity, etc), as well as parenting, anxiety, depression, and trauma. I am a sex-positive therapist, and I welcome the opportunity to work with clients from all sexual orientations and gender identities, in addition to all racial, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. I also love working with a range of neurodiversity (including ADHD and Autism), and I work especially well with couple’s who might be on different ends of that spectrum.
I also practice discernment counseling, which means that I help couples figure out if their current relationship is in alignment with what they want, or if they might be happier apart. Couple’s who end their relationship during the course of treatment find this to be incredibly valuable, though difficult.
In my free time, I am exploring DC with my kiddo, spending time with friends and family, learning new interior design techniques for my new home, sometimes navigating the DC dating scene, watching trashy reality TV, and practicing yoga.
MY APPROACH
I have extensive experience and training using evidence-based treatments including Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Couple’s Therapy. I also use insight-oriented approaches, as I believe present patterns cannot be understood without delving into the past. Though these approaches all provide a good framework and I rely on empirical support; everyone is unique and my approach is tailored to each individual and couple accordingly.
My approach is direct, warm, and empathetic, with space for personality and humour where it supports the work. I draw on extensive professional experience with diverse clients, as well as lived experience of being a child of divorce, navigating divorce, solo parenting, dating, neurodivergence, and parenting a neurodivergent child. I challenge clients to think about things differently and gently nudge toward change; I know it is hard to deviate from current patterns of behavior, but things are unlikely to improve if we don’t leave our comfort zone. Our mental and physical health is heavily correlated with healthy relationships (of all kinds), so I encourage putting in the work to improve them. This requires authenticity and vulnerability, and that can be tough! I promise to support and encourage you along the way. Let me help you work toward a rich and fulfilling life- whatever that might look like.
Let’s see if we are a good fit! I LOVE what I do and would be honored to work with you!
MY VALUES
ACCEPTANCE
Many of my clients think something is wrong with them. People just wanted to be loved and accepted for who they are. I work with people to harness their strengths and focus on what makes them authentic, and accept themselves for who they are.
UNDERSTANDING
My goal in therapy is to help clients understand themselves and their behavior at a deeper level, as this insight is necessary for self-acceptance and ultimetly long-term change.
CHANGE
Although a level of understanding patterns and behaviors is paramount, I also know that you are struggling HERE AND NOW, and want help to change current patterns and behavior. I'm with you every step of the way.
GROWTH
Growth to me means recognizing your challenges and your own contributions to the issues you are struggling with. Everything is an interaction, and we are all responsible for our own side of the street. Growth to me is recognizing and owning that piece of things - wanting to introspect and understand!
Resources for Relationships
So, Your Wife Left You…Now What?
Dr. Elana’s Book
This book is a must-have for anyone going through a divorce, particularly men. It is a no-nonsense look at what I see as a couple’s therapist go awry in relationships, as well as practical advice (on co-parenting, parenting, dating, sex) for moving forward and finding your next chapter. Divorce IS an opportunity for learning, and this book will help you see that!
Talk Relationship To Me
Dr. Elana’s Podcast
Solo or with a guest, through Dr. Elana’s lens as a therapist combined with her lived experience, she covers all you wanted to know about what makes relationships work (and fall apart).
You deserve to live your best life.
If you’re ready — we’re here to help.
