Tara Travia, PhD
Helping you find freedom from the past, meaning in the present, and the joy-filled future you deeply deserve.
Serving Florida, Virginia and beyond*
It’s Time to Stop the Struggle
You’ve worked hard to get where you are and your life looks picture perfect to others. In fact, others are often telling you how amazing you are and how grateful you must be for all you have. You ARE grateful, and your life IS incredible, but somehow, it doesn’t “FEEL” that way.
You can’t seem to consistently access the joy and meaning in your life, and despite your successes, you still feel stuck in the struggle. You know there are pieces of your history that have left some marks and, despite a lot of introspection and hard work, you can’t “just get over it.” Maybe you’ve told yourself “what I went through wasn’t so bad” or “it’s so long ago it shouldn’t matter.”
You’ve tried time and time again to feel confident and content, but instead end up feeling anxious and disconnected.
Does this sound familiar?
Your imposter syndrome is so honed, you could probably win an Oscar, but you’re afraid others will know you are “faking it” most of the time.
People think you have it all together, but you feel like your inner life is kept together with emotional duct tape and WD-40.
You recently thought about committing a petty crime just to get some relaxation in a jail cell - jail seems more calm than home and you wouldn’t have to work or cook for a while!
Sometimes you feel like your thoughts have a mind of their own and words come out of your mouth while your internal monologue screams “noooooo” in slow motion.
You could start a bookstore with the self-help books you have read and yet, none of the advice has led to the yogic serenity they promise.
Your anxiety is so intense sometimes, you don’t know how it would feel to be without it.
You’ve tried CBT and talk therapy, but you got tired of talking circles around your therapist and felt like you were conning them more than getting the help you craved.
We will focus on your unique strengths, needs, and struggles to transform the life you have into the life you imagine
I specialize in working with people who want to deeply understand their own minds, find concrete skills to change the way they approach the world, and experience more of what their lives have to offer.
I especially enjoy working with individuals who feel overwhelmed by the high stress of living in these demanding times either due to past trauma or current life challenges. I work with clients to break free of the past, increase their well-being, achieve goals that have real meaning, and better manage life's challenges.
I know you have the innate capacity to heal old wounds and manage new difficulties -and by working together, we can revive those innate skills and install fresh, and more effective ones. Healing comes from within, but sometimes is elusive. I see my job as providing direction, an objective ear, and compassion on the road to experiencing more freedom and joy in your life. I am here to collaborate with your best self and bring that version of yourself front-and-center.
My Style
Clients often describe me as warm and honest. They’ve expressed they are grateful for my being straightforward and never “fake.” I will always strive to bring compassion to any challenge, but don’t believe in B.S. – you don’t have time for that! I also won’t pathologize you. So many of the problematic coping strategies you are struggling with are absolutely normal. They may make you feel “crazy,” but they are usually the rational result of the crazy things you have survived. Our job together is to dismantle those strategies, keep what works, and transform them into more workable, efficient strategies that help you thrive. I will encourage you to become aware of your strengths and values which will make the harder parts of therapy more comfortable and effective.
I see my role as shining a flashlight into a darkened hallway. I can help to illuminate the doors and windows. But you choose which to enter and which to pass by until later. The work is ultimately yours and my role is to walk the path, guiding the process honestly and carefully, providing you with the skills and the means to bring more light overall.
Am I the right fit for your unique needs?
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Anxiety symptoms can range from annoying and uncomfortable to debilitating and terrifying. Whether you have no idea “why” you have been feeling such discomfort or you have a clear idea of how your past has an impact on your day-to-day functioning, I am here to help. Using ACT and EMDR methodologies (click here for more information), we can work together to heal the wounds keeping your thoughts and feelings “stuck” in overdrive and learn new skills to befriend the parts of you seem most unruly.ext goes here
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Executive functioning issues are often correlated with anxiety. For some, childhood issues with focus, attention, and disorganization lead to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. For those who are highly intelligent, this combination can be especially difficult. I use ACT, EMDR, and ADHD-related skill building to help you increase meaning-focused actions with greater efficiency and joy and a strong dose of humor whether these symptoms developed in chidlhood or emerged later in life.
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Individuals with very high IQ’s have very specific ways of thinking that often leave them feeling frustrated, isolated, and disappointed with others, and worse, themselves. I work with smart and driven individuals who need someone who understands the weird, wonderful, and sometimes frustrating ways their IQ impacts their mental health and how to use their IQ to their advantage.
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Having spent more than 10 years working in the DC Metro area, working with driven and successful clients is a passion. Success comes with many stressors and a greater need for support from someone who understands the unique nature of corporate culture,the creativity and risk associated with entrepreneurship, and the intensity that comes with a desire to succeed. Finding ways to increase meaning, focus, and satisfaction within the workspace and joy and contentment outside of work are common goals for my clients.
STEP 1: Consultation
We will set up a 20 minute phone call to see if my skills and style are a good fit for your needs and goals. If we are a good fit, we’ll find a time to schedule our initial therapy session online.
Next Steps
STEP 2: Intake
We will meet for about an hour and focus on your goals, where things feel “stuck,” and discuss some ways we can approach the work together.
STEP 3: The Plan
Before our initial session is over, we will have a plan to move forward and can arrange our next meeting. I tend to see clients weekly and assess progress collaboratively every few weeks.