Licensed Telehealth Psychologist for Maryland & Washington, DC
Call Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst at (301) 578-8760 to schedule your MD & DC telehealth session.
If you’re seeking therapy in Maryland or Washington, DC, I offer secure, online sessions grounded in evidence-based therapeutic approaches in MD and DC. I’m Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping adults, couples, and families navigate emotional challenges, trauma, and relational distress.
I use a range of therapeutic approaches in MD and DC to meet the unique needs of each client. My work is rooted in two primary models, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and supported by decades of research in neuroscience, attachment theory, and developmental psychology.
IFS is a powerful, non-pathologizing model developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz. It views the mind as a system of “parts,” each with its own perspective, emotion, and role. Some parts protect us from pain, while others carry burdens from past experiences.
In IFS therapy, we work to:
- Identify and understand your internal parts
- Build trust with protective parts that may cause reactivity or avoidance
- Gently unburden wounded parts that carry shame, fear, or sadness
- Strengthen your core Self, the calm, compassionate leader within
IFS is especially effective for clients dealing with trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, and emotional overwhelm. It fosters deep self-awareness and long-term emotional integration.
EFT, developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, is a structured, evidence-based model that helps individuals and couples process emotional pain and build secure attachment bonds. It is grounded in the belief that emotional safety is essential for healing and connection.
In EFT, we focus on:
- Identifying emotional needs and unmet attachment longings
- Healing relational injuries and trust ruptures
- Disrupting negative interaction cycles
- Building empathy, responsiveness, and secure connection
EFT is especially effective for couples, but also supports individuals navigating grief, identity, or relational trauma.
While IFS and EFT are my primary modalities, I also integrate:
- Developmental Psychology: Understanding how early experiences shape emotional and relational patterns
- Family Systems Theory: Exploring how family dynamics influence behavior and identity
- Trauma-Informed Care: Creating safety and pacing therapy to avoid retraumatization
- Executive Functioning Support: Helping clients with ADHD or learning differences manage structure, focus, and emotional regulation
- Collaborative Practice and Mediation: Supporting families through transitions such as divorce or co-parenting
This integrative approach allows me to tailor therapy to your unique needs, goals, and emotional readiness.
Both Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the therapeutic approaches I offer in MD and DC, are backed by neuroscience and attachment theory. These evidence-based methods go beyond surface-level symptom relief, guiding clients to explore and heal the deeper roots of emotional and relational challenges.
With IFS, clients learn to understand the different parts of themselves—often shaped by past experiences or protective roles, and to lead with clarity, confidence, and compassion from their core “Self.” This internal transformation fosters emotional regulation, resilience, and long-term healing.
EFT, meanwhile, is especially effective for couples and families. It helps people build secure emotional bonds by identifying negative interaction cycles, expressing unmet needs, and fostering trust and connection. EFT strengthens both interpersonal relationships and a client’s connection to their own emotions.
These therapeutic approaches in MD and DC support clients in:
Moving beyond symptom management to address root causes
Developing emotional regulation and internal self-leadership
Healing from trauma, attachment injuries, and relational wounds
Building secure, compassionate relationships both within and with others
Whether you’re seeking individual, couples, or family therapy, I draw from diverse therapeutic approaches in MD and DC. IFS and EFT are particularly helpful for those seeking lasting change, greater self-understanding, and a more grounded, connected way of living.
Schedule a Virtual Therapy Session
I offer HIPAA-compliant virtual sessions with my therapeutic approaches in MD and DC:
- Maryland: Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Germantown, Rockville, Potomac, Gaithersburg
- Washington, DC: Capitol Hill, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Navy Yard, Northwest DC
Online therapy offers flexibility, privacy, and consistent access to care, especially helpful for clients managing busy schedules, emotional vulnerability, or geographic limitations.
The therapeutic approaches in MD and DC that I use are grounded in research, empathy, and clinical expertise. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. If you’re ready to explore your emotional landscape with care, structure, and clinical insight, I’m here to support you.