Licensed Clinical Psychologist Offering
Individual and Couples Therapy in Washington, D.C.

Portrait of a smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a black top and dark blazer, outdoors near a river with autumn-colored trees in the background.
“No one has grave difficulties in living if [they] have a very good grasp of what is happening.”
— Henry Stack Sullivan

Dr. Meghan K. Hanlon

My Approach

My work is grounded in contemporary psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) therapy and body-oriented, mindfulness-based techniques. Psychodynamic therapy allows us to explore how past experiences shape present patterns, including those we aren’t fully aware of. These approaches inform my understanding of how people function in their relationships, both with themselves and with others.

Every person’s situation is different, so I tailor treatment to your unique challenges and strengths. My goal is to help you live with greater intention and authenticity, and provide tools for you to use outside the therapy hour.

Warmth, humor, and compassion are central to how I work. When we’re comfortable, we can explore our vulnerabilities and take the kinds of risks that lead to meaningful change.

How We’d Work Together

Therapy works best with active participation from both of us. It can be challenging at times, and I’m committed to helping you recognize the patterns and strategies that may have helped you cope in earlier environments but are no longer serving you today. We’ll work together to explore the barriers and defenses standing in your way.

What to Expect When Starting Therapy

Step 1: 15-Minute Phone Consultation
To start, I offer a complimentary, 15-minute phone call to talk about what brings you to therapy and whether I’m the right therapist for your needs. I’ll also explain my fees, since I am an out-of-network provider. If either of us feels that another therapist may be a better fit, I’ll provide a referral.

Step 2: Hour-Long First Session
The first session is 60 minutes. We’ll review your medical, psychological, social, educational, work, and family history. This session helps me get an comprehensive understanding of your needs and discuss the treatment options that might work for you.

Step 3: Deciding to Work Together
Once we’ve gotten to get to know each other, we’ll check in about how things are going and make a decision together about whether working together makes sense. As you start your therapy journey, I strongly encourage weekly, 45-minute sessions.

Specializations

  • Individual Therapy for Adults

    I work with a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, stress, life transitions, and difficulties in relationships. As a former competitive athlete and a trauma-trained therapist, I pay close attention to the mind-body connection.

    At minimum, we will look to schedule weekly, 45-minute sessions. Longer-term treatment is encouraged.

  • Couples Therapy

    Every relationship can benefit from a closer look, whether you’ve been together for a few months or many years. Couples therapy offers both partners a non-judgmental space to meet, understand each other more deeply, and build a stronger bond. Together, we can repair old wounds, improve how you communicate, and identify the patterns that keep you stuck. The aim is to interrupt those patterns and develop new ways of relating to each other through focused, dynamic psychotherapy. I draw on integrative psychoanalytic couple therapy to help partners communicate more openly, make sense of recurring conflicts, and reconnect.

    Certification from the Integrative Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy Program in Chicago

  • LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy

    I specialize in concerns related to sexual orientation and gender identity. Clients can expect a non-judgmental space to talk about their experiences, including those involving discrimination, marginalization, and abuse. This is true whether the experience was one of being harmed or of causing harm, and clients are welcome to bring either experience to the therapy room.

  • Trauma-Informed Care

    Trauma can shape how and when we feel safe, trust others, and relate to our own bodies, often long after the experience itself has passed. My work is informed by trauma training and certification in Level I Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, an approach that pays attention to how the body holds experience alongside the mind. We move at a pace that feels manageable for you. You are always in charge of what you share and when. Together, we can explore how past experiences show up in the present and build a greater sense of safety and choice in your life.

Professional Experience & Training

  • Integrative Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy, Certificate Program, Chicago, IL

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, Level 1 Certificate, Washington, D.C.

  • The Ross Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders, Washington, D.C.

  • Georgetown University Counseling and Psychiatric Services, Washington, D.C.

  • Post-Doctoral Residency, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

  • APA-Accredited Pre-Doctoral Internship, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

    • Concentration in Coalition for Overcoming Problem Eating/Exercise (COPE)​

  • Advanced Psychotherapy Externship, Chicago Women's Health Center, Chicago, IL

  • Fellowship, Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis, Chicago, IL

Education

  • Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL

  • M.A., Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL

  • B.A., Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 

Credentials

Before opening my private practice in Washington, D.C., in 2018, I spent several years providing counseling to college students at Georgetown University, George Washington University, and Indiana University. I also trained with anxiety disorder specialists at The Ross Center.

My ongoing professional development includes long-term consultation groups, regular participation in local and national psychoanalytic trainings, and certifications in Level I Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Integrative Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy.

Licensure

Washington, D.C. License Number: PSY1001232

With PSYPACT E.Passport/APIT certification, from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), I am authorized to practice inter-jurisdictional tele-psychology via HIPAA-compliant platforms for clients who live in participating jurisdictions.

PSYPACT logo

Professional Affiliations

  • Associate Director of Member Relations, Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis (ICP&P)

  • National Group Psychotherapy Institute (NGPI)

  • International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology (IAPSP)

  • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute (SPI)

  • American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA)

Where I Practice

A close-up of a small gold-colored Buddha statue sitting on a decorative base, placed on a table with blurred colorful stones in the foreground.

Get in Touch

 

  • 1634 Eye Street, NW, Suite 1200

    Washington, D.C. 20006

  • 202-568-8996

    Please note I use a confidential voicemail system through Google Voice. When calling, you will be prompted to state your name to be connected or leave a voicemail.

  • dr@MegHanlonPsyD.com