I had a neuropsychological evaluation with Dr. Kayleigh Hale at Hope+Wellness as an adult, and the…read moreexperience was genuinely validating and life changing. As an adult who had previously been dismissed and denied evaluation as a teenager, I sought out Dr. Hale specifically because of her expertise evaluating adults and women. My decision to pursue evaluation was prompted after a family member received an ADHD diagnosis, which made me realize I needed an expert who could carefully differentiate overlapping symptoms. From my very first interaction with Dr. Hale, I felt listened to and taken seriously. The process itself was both professional and compassionate. Dr. Hale created a calm, comfortable environment and had clearly reviewed my extensive history in advance. The testing was thorough, well structured, and handled with care throughout. Based on a comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation, I received an adult diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The diagnosis was clearly grounded in detailed testing and careful history review and reflected a modern, nuanced understanding of how autism can present, particularly in adults and women who've been masking their whole lives. What stood out most was Dr. Hale's skill with differential diagnosis. She thoughtfully navigated overlapping symptoms seen in conditions such as autism, ADHD, BPD, CPTSD, etc. Her thorough approach ruled out several major possibilities and clarified my diagnostic profile, including long-standing co-occurring issues. Since my experience, I have referred two people to Dr. Hale, both of whom went through the same careful evaluation process and reported positive experiences. I highly recommend Dr. Hale and Hope+Wellness to anyone seeking a thoughtful, evidence-based neuropsychological evaluation, especially those navigating the complexities of late diagnosis. I also want to note that the administrative staff who handled my initial intake call and scheduling were incredibly kind and compassionate, which made starting what can be a very difficult process that much easier.

Everything about my experience at Hope & Wellness has been positive. When I first reached out to…read morethem, I was SHOCKED when I got a response the next day. I'd often never hear back from offices when inquiring about their services. Ever since then, the admin side with scheduling and other needs were easy and efficient. I can't overstate how important this is when you're on a mental health journey. I've been going to H&W for several years, most recently working with Dr. Joi. Her name matches her -- she is joy. I always looked forward to our sessions, feeling safe to share and discuss pretty tough topics. I shared some pretty hard things that made me feel really vulnerable and she never showed judgement. She follows up on certain challenges to check-in and works with you to set goals, and talks through set-backs. So don't wait another minute if you need help! This practice could change your life like it did mine.

I love coming here and getting deep tissue massages with Jacob. He's so good and getting deep into…read moremy muscles. He was really good at explaining what he was doing, why it was important and gave me instructions after the massage to get better mobility in my back and legs. In addition, I saw that they recently added several new accommodations to their wellness clinic; sauna, showers, and new staff that really focus on making the moment you walk in the door and see the Corgi to when you leave memorable.

I had an excellent gua sha session with Jacob Gough--he has a strong techniques and went right to…read morethe points in my neck and upper back that needed the most attention. I found gua sha to be much more effective than a typical massage in terms of breaking down scar tissue, and Jacob is very deft with using his different tools to smooth everything out. I'd recommend Jacob and his techniques to anyone looking to rid themselves of long-term pain.

When I started seeing Johnny, I was overwhelmed, stressed & unhappy. In the short time I've been…read moreworking with her, she has taught me tools to deal with the reasons at the heart of my stress. I sleep better, I'm happier, and I have more energy. I have recommended Johnny to others before and would recommend her again in a heartbeat. When I use the tools I've learned, I prevent a huge amount of the stress I used to feel. When I do get worked up, I go back to the tools, I'm able to calm down, and I see a path through that I know I can manage. In our sessions, we talk through issues, look at tools I can use, and process negative events using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing). Using EMDR has been a huge help. I start out feeling worried and hurt, and during the EMDR, those feelings decrease and go away. Positive, healthy feelings rise up to replace them, and I end up feeling relaxed and worthy. Johnny has helped me build a life that I'm loving, and I heartily recommend her.

My experience with EMDR Therapy with Ms. Powell was extremely successful and rewarding. I believe…read morea significant factor in this success was the time Johnny took to properly educate and prepare me for this innovative and relatively new therapy. Part of the first appointment was spent defining the "rules" for both of us in terms of cancellations, insurance paperwork, etc. What I really appreciated about this was it set a level of respect that went both ways: what I needed to do as a client and what she needed to do as a therapist. The explanation of the EMDR therapy plus the time to get a solid foundation for the actual work was not at all rushed, which made the whole process that much more comfortable. For anyone not familiar with this particular therapy, it is intended to help victims of trauma. I was hesitant to enter this therapy because I would not have considered my problems to be trauma-based, but trauma is not necessarily a violent or accident/attack incident. If you find yourself "stuck" with the same recurring thought(s) about specific troubling incidents that you just can't seem to get beyond, you should consider trying this therapy. After some difficult but well-guided work, I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. Having reprocessed some very negative thoughts in to something much more constructive through EMDR Therapy, I sleep better, have more patience and concentration, and simply feel better overall. Johnny's style and approach to therapy are professional yet easy going, and a comfortable client has a greater chance of success. My time with Johnny was well spent with a very successful outcome.

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.