Alexis Washam (she/her)

My Background and Approach

I came to this work after a prior career in publishing, where I spent years listening closely to language and meaning. That background still shapes how I practice. I’m attentive to nuance, to patterns that repeat, and to the ways people try to explain themselves—sometimes with great insight, but without relief. I draw from a number of evidence-based approaches, integrating practical skill-building with deeper exploration. I’m especially interested in the tension between competence and struggle—the experience of being capable, thoughtful, even high-functioning, while privately feeling anxious, rigid, self-critical, or exhausted. In our work, we’ll look at both present-day strategies and the emotional or relational patterns underneath them, including how your nervous system responds under stress and how certain protective habits may have outlived their usefulness. I aim to offer a steady, collaborative space where insight and change happen together.

More About the People I Treat

I have extensive training in Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT), an approach designed specifically for people who are high-achieving and overcontrolled—those who value responsibility and competence but may struggle with rigidity, emotional inhibition, or loneliness beneath the surface. This framework can be especially helpful for adults who feel chronically “on,” who have difficulty relaxing their guard, or who want to build more openness and connection in their relationships. I also work with adults who find that new relationships, parenting challenges, or shifts within family dynamics begin to change how they see themselves. These moments can be disorienting and clarifying at the same time. Across concerns, my focus is on helping you move from managing symptoms alone to building a life that feels more flexible, connected, and sustainable.