Hope+Wellness
Stella Assefa, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Hi there, I’m Stella :)
Stella Assefa, LCSW
fully Licensed in: Virginia
Locations: Washington DC; Falls church, va; teletherapy
I’m proud of you for being here. Taking the first step toward healing can be uncomfortable and scary for many reasons, including fear of failure, of the unknown, of the unfamiliar, of hurt and vulnerability, of feeling what has been tucked away (intentionally or unintentionally), and so much more. At the same time, taking this first step can also feel exciting, liberating, or inspiring. I’m here to tell you that all of these feelings are normal and valid. Whether you are here in spite of how you feel or because of it, what matters is that you are here.
My goal is to support you as you continue taking that next step toward healing, and to make the first step you took worth it. I want to instill hope and show you that there is a light at the end of this long, dark tunnel, and that you won’t walk toward it alone. I will be there with a flashlight every step of the way.
Over the years, the people who have taken this step and begun this work with me have continually affirmed why I do what I do. To hold space for someone and be trusted to witness the good, the bad, the complicated—all the parts that make us human—is a true privilege. My hope is to help remove the shame that can come with those parts, and to offer you a safe space for your vulnerability and pain.
Getting to the other side of pain and suffering can feel nearly impossible, and can lead to people staying stuck in it until it begins to feel like their normal and only option - and I am here to show you that it does not have to be.
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in work with young adults and adults navigating trauma, ADHD, anxiety, attachment patterns, relationship challenges, and life transitions. I also work closely with many couples who find themselves caught in painful communication patterns and recurring cycles that feel difficult to shift.
My approach is trauma-informed and grounded in evidence-based modalities, including DBT, CBT and mindfulness with a focus on creating meaningful, lasting change. I have extensive experience across the lifespan, working with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults, from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and clinical backgrounds, in settings ranging from community-based and in-home care to private practice.
I received my bachelors of science in Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University, and earned my Masters of Social Work at George Mason University.
Philosophy
My work is centered on the understanding of the complexity of human relationships and the various ways past experiences shape present-day patterns of behavior and emotions. Using a person-centered, and psychodynamic approach to therapy, I continue to help both individuals and couples navigate and begin to dismantle the barriers to their healing by addressing the cause of their pain and distress, not just treating the symptoms.
I use an integrative approach by incorporating aspects of several evidence-based interventions including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and attachment-based therapy, curating treatment to the client's unique needs. I am also passionate about providing therapy that is not only empathic and compassionate, but culturally sensitive, client centered and trauma informed. I firmly believe that meaningful progress can be achieved when a client feels emotionally safe and when a clinician has an understanding of how the client’s background, values and beliefs can shape their experiences. My goal is to meet my clients where they are by tailoring how I approach sessions to their unique needs and preferences. For some, this may look like a more structured approach; for others, a more flexible one, but it will always be collaborative.
Specialty Areas
Anxiety & depression in teens
I specialize in working with teens ages 15 and older experiencing anxiety and depression. Teens may struggle with overwhelming stress, persistent worry, low mood, irritability, low self-esteem, academic pressure, and difficulty managing emotions or motivation.
I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space to help teens better understand their thoughts and feelings while developing healthy coping skills, improving emotional regulation, and building confidence. The focus is on reducing symptoms and strengthening resilience so they can better navigate school, relationships, and daily life.
adhd & neurodivergence
I help young adults and adults with ADHD better understand how their brain operates and implement strategies that support focus, time-management, emotional regulation, and day to day functioning. I also address feelings of shame, guilt and insecurity while helping clients process these emotions and move towards self-compassion.
ADHD & neurodivergence in Women
I specialize in working with women with ADHD, many of whom have spent years struggling with overwhelm, anxiety, perfectionism, or low self-esteem without understanding why. Because ADHD often presents differently in women, symptoms are frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed, leading many women to receive a diagnosis later in life.
I provide a supportive, collaborative space to help women better understand how ADHD impacts their daily lives, relationships, work, and emotional well-being while developing practical strategies to improve focus, organization, confidence, and overall functioning.
young adulthood, relationships, identity, & life transitions
I help clients navigate difficult periods of change and uncertainty, including identity exploration, evolving relationships, and decisions surrounding their career. My goal is to help clients work towards building confidence, gaining clarity, developing a stronger sense of direction and managing the stress they may experience along the way.
Relational trauma & attachment issues
I specialize in working with individuals healing from relational trauma, including childhood attachment wounds and past toxic or abusive relationships. Many of my clients struggle with repeated patterns of unhealthy relationships, difficulty trusting others, fears of abandonment, codependency, people-pleasing, low self-worth, or challenges with intimacy and attachment.
Together, we explore how past experiences shape current relationship patterns, identify barriers to healthy connection, and build the self-awareness, boundaries, and self-worth needed to create more secure, healthy and fulfilling relationships. Breaking the pattern is possible and this is the first step.
couples therapy
I support couples who are navigating difficult patterns in their relationships that often can feel like never ending cycles leaving them feeling hopeless or disconnected. Our work will focus on learning skills that facilitate healthy communication, setting boundaries, resolving conflict, and creating more fulfilling and balanced connections with people in their life.
adults of immigrant parents, first-generation Americans
I specialize in working with first-generation American adults and others who may not identify as first-generation Americans, who are navigating the intersection of multiple cultures where they may find themselves not fully belonging in either world. Growing up between different cultural norms, expectations, and beliefs—especially around family roles and mental health—can have a lasting impact on self-worth, identity, and relationships. You may find yourself struggling with guilt, people-pleasing, boundary-setting, self-love, perfectionism, communication, expressing or sitting with emotions, or feeling caught between who you are and who you were expected to be. Our work together will offer a space to unpack these experiences, make sense of your story, and move toward a more grounded and self-defined way of living.
Additional Areas of Expertise
Adjusting to Life Transitions
Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety
General Stress of Being Human
Generational Trauma
Life Stress
Life Transitions
Low Self Esteem
Personal Growth
Relationship and Communication Difficulties
Self-Care
Self-Criticism
Self-Esteem
Stress Management
Quarter-Life Crisis
Young Adults
more about ME
hobbies + what I like to do for fun
In my free time you will either see me sketching or painting people and animals (especially dogs!), spending intentional time with my friends and family, enjoying live music, hanging out with my cats or taking long walks in nature trails while listening to “coffee shop music” (think Norah Jones).
why I became a therapist
I wanted to become a therapist to show people that there is hope, and that suffering or feeling stuck no longer has to be someone’s normal. My goal is to show people that the long term peace is worth the short term discomfort and that they are not alone. Mental health makes up so much of what makes us human, and even though the understanding of it is not universal, the need for it is.
favorite QUOTES
“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted.”
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, and how you can still come out of it.”
“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.”
