All behavior is purposeful. It must be viewed and understood in context. I believe that each individual has the right to their own story and feelings. I believe that acknowledging the truth about your thoughts, feelings and desires is the soul's filtration system. I believe that change begins with thinking and you have the power to be the master of your thoughts.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a credentialed Play Therapist and EMDR-trained therapist with over 15 years of experience working with adults, children and adolescents.
Douglas Gotel, LICSW, RPT-S (he/his)
Founder and Therapist
Accepts Self Pay
Men’s Issues, Anxiety/Life Transitions, Trauma, Grief & Loss, Children and Adolescents
I’m a country boy at heart. Originally from Georgia, I moved to Washington, DC to purse a graduate degree in social work after I found my passion for helping people when my first career in marketing failed to inspire me. I became a therapist to honor the suffering of one of my relatives who lost two young children and could not get adequate mental health care in the small town where we grew up.
I own my intersections. I am a man, I am black, I am gay, I am a partner, I am a son, I am a brother, I am a mentor, I am a project manager, I am a business owner, I am a social worker and a play therapist and a trauma specialist. These parts of me help create a safe and relatable space for you.
Using a what I call Thrive Alchemy™ (a mix of symbol work, art, mindfulness, thinking strategies and a touch of “real”), I help queer and heterosexual men of color, women of color, and youth of diverse backgrounds to show up in their lives as the best version of themselves.
In all life domains that are the focus of our work together, I will help you or your child(ren) to gain new insights, bolster your strengths and abilities and build adaptive strategies to cope with life’s challenges and changes.
EDUCATION
Howard University - Master of Social Work
Georgia State University - BA, Journalism
LICENSURE:
District of Columbia - Licensed Clinical Social Worker #LC-50078782
Maryland - Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical #17816
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (S2052) - Association for Play Therapy
Sandtray Therapy Certification
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Experiencing Chronic Stress (SPARCS)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Trauma in Schools (CBITS)
The Zones of Regulation
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Association for Play Therapy