Charly Volk, LCSW
OCD, Anxiety & Trauma Therapist
Gender: Female | Office Location: Telehealth Only | States Licensed In: Virginia, Maryland, Colorado
Languages: English | Services Offered: Therapy | Credentials: LCSW | Age Group: Ages 10+
About Me
I’m a warm, compassionate, and down-to-earth therapist who believes therapy should be a place where you can be fully yourself. I specialize in helping people with anxiety, OCD, trauma, relationship concerns, eating disorders and ARFID, and major life transitions. My goal is to help you better understand yourself, develop practical ways to cope with what you’re experiencing, and create meaningful, lasting change.
My Approach to Therapy
My approach is warm, collaborative, and practical. I want you to feel genuinely heard and understood, but I also want you to leave our sessions with a clearer sense of direction and tools you can use in your everyday life.
I’m conversational and personable, but I’m also active in therapy. I’ll ask thoughtful questions, provide honest feedback, help you set goals, and gently challenge you when it feels helpful. We may explore where certain patterns came from while also focusing on what you can change today.
Depending on your individual needs, I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. I also believe there can be room for warmth and humor, even when we’re working through difficult things.
Who I Work With
You may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or exhausted from constantly overthinking and trying to keep everything under control. Maybe you’re dealing with intrusive thoughts, compulsions, panic, health anxiety, perfectionism, self-doubt, difficult emotions, relationship challenges, or a major change in your life.
You might even look like you have everything together on the outside while feeling very different internally. Often, people reach out when they realize the strategies they’ve been using aren’t working anymore and they want help understanding what’s happening, feeling more in control, and making meaningful changes.
My areas of focus include:
- OCD and anxiety, including intrusive thoughts, compulsions, panic, health anxiety, and perfectionism
- Trauma and PTSD
- Relationship and interpersonal concerns, including communication, boundaries, attachment, and self-worth
- Eating disorders and ARFID, including concerns related to food, body image, anxiety, and eating
- Life transitions, stress, identity concerns, and emotional regulation
What to Expect in Your First Session
Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and talk about what brought you to therapy. We’ll discuss what you’ve been experiencing, what you’d like to change, and any patterns or concerns you’d like support with.
I’ll answer your questions about therapy, and we’ll begin developing a plan tailored to your needs and goals. Most importantly, there’s no pressure to arrive with everything figured out. We’ll take it one step at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I’m nervous about starting therapy?
It’s completely normal to feel nervous, especially when you’re considering opening up about things that feel difficult or vulnerable. You don’t need to know exactly what to say or have everything figured out before you begin. That’s something we can work through together.
We’ll move at a pace that feels right for you while working toward helping you feel more confident, understood, and in control.
How do I know if therapy will actually help me?
You don’t need to know the answer before you start. Many people come to therapy after trying to manage things on their own for a long time.
We’ll work together to understand what’s going on, identify what you want to change, and find approaches that feel helpful and realistic for you.
Do you treat OCD and intrusive thoughts?
Yes. OCD and anxiety are among my primary areas of focus. I work with concerns including intrusive thoughts, compulsions, panic, health anxiety, and perfectionism, with a strong focus on CBT and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Do you work with trauma and PTSD?
Yes. I help clients process past experiences and move toward healing using trauma-informed approaches, including EMDR when appropriate.
How do I know if you’re the right therapist for me?
Finding the right therapist is really about finding someone you feel comfortable being yourself with. I want you to feel like you can talk openly with me without worrying about being judged.
At the same time, I’m not going to just listen and send you on your way. I’ll offer guidance, honest feedback, and practical tools when they’re helpful. If you’re looking for a therapist who will genuinely get to know you and work alongside you toward the changes you want to make, we may be a good fit.
Ready to Begin?
If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy, I’d love to hear from you. Taking that first step can feel intimidating, but you don’t need to know exactly what to say or have everything figured out before reaching out.
We’ll start wherever you are, take things one step at a time, and see if we’re the right fit.
Charly conducts her sessions exclusively via telehealth, providing convenient and accessible virtual appointments.