Dr. Raven Harris, PsyD
Therapist & Testing Psychologist
Gender: Female | Office Location: Old Town, Telehealth | States Licensed In: Virginia |
Languages: English
Services Offered: Therapy, Testing | Credentials: Psychologist | Age Group: Ages 14+
About Me
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist with approximately six years of experience providing therapy and psychological assessment to children, adolescents, and adults. I earned my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and have worked in private practice, community mental health, school, and hospital settings. I was drawn to this work by a genuine interest in understanding how people think, feel, and relate to the world around them, and I especially enjoy helping clients better understand themselves while building practical tools for meaningful change.
I especially enjoy working with adolescents, young adults, college students, parents, and families. I have particular experience supporting neurodivergent clients, including people with ADHD and autism, as they navigate executive functioning, identity, relationships, school, and life transitions. I also work with anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and parenting stress and have a strong interest in supporting Black clients with identity development, self-understanding, and the impact of cultural and systemic experiences on mental health.
I am a Christian, and my faith is an important part of who I am personally. At the same time, I am committed to respecting and supporting each client’s individual beliefs, values, and worldview.
My Approach to Therapy
Therapy with me is conversational, collaborative, and often more natural than highly structured. I draw primarily from psychodynamic therapy, person-centered therapy, and DBT, which means we may explore how past experiences, relationships, and patterns continue to affect you today while also focusing on what you want to change now.
I tend to be direct, use humor when appropriate, and want you to feel understood without avoiding difficult conversations. Together, we’ll identify goals, look more closely at the patterns behind what you’re experiencing, and develop practical skills for emotional regulation, communication, coping, and relationships. My goal is to help you understand yourself more deeply while also giving you tools you can actually use outside of therapy.
What to Expect When Working With Me
Many of my clients come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, or stuck in repeating patterns. You may be struggling to manage your emotions, relationships, responsibilities, or sense of identity. You may also have spent years masking parts of yourself to fit in, meet expectations, or avoid judgment and feel exhausted from constantly trying to appear “fine” or function in ways that don’t feel natural to you.
During our first appointment, we’ll spend time getting to know each other and talking about what brought you to therapy, what’s happening in your life, and what you hope to get from our work together. I’ll ask questions about your current concerns, relationships, background, and past experiences, but I want the conversation to feel natural rather than like an interview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with clients with ADHD and autism?
Yes. I have particular experience working with neurodivergent clients, including people with ADHD and autism. Therapy may focus on executive functioning, identity, relationships, school or work, life transitions, or the exhaustion that can come from spending years masking or trying to meet expectations that don’t feel natural to you.
What does therapy with you actually feel like?
My sessions tend to be conversational and collaborative rather than highly structured. I’m an active therapist—I ask questions, offer feedback, use humor when appropriate, and am willing to have difficult conversations with you. We’ll also identify specific goals and develop practical skills you can use in your everyday life.
Do we focus on my past or what’s happening in my life now?
Usually both. I believe understanding past experiences, relationships, and patterns can help us make sense of what’s happening today. At the same time, therapy isn’t only about understanding the past. We’ll also focus on what you want to change now and build practical strategies that can help you move forward.
What if I’m nervous about starting therapy?
It’s completely normal to feel nervous, especially if you’re not used to talking openly about yourself or you’ve had experiences where you didn’t feel fully understood. My goal is for you to gradually feel comfortable enough to be honest, ask questions, use humor, and show up as yourself without feeling like you have to perform or have everything figured out.
How do I know if you’re the right psychologist for me?
We may be a good fit if you’re looking for someone who is warm, conversational, direct, and willing to use humor when appropriate. You may also appreciate my style if you want a therapist who will support you without simply agreeing with everything you say and who is comfortable gently challenging you when needed.
If this sounds like the kind of approach you’re looking for, I encourage you to schedule a first session so we can talk about what you’re hoping for from therapy and see whether working together feels like a good fit.
Dr. Harris provides in-person appointments at our Old Town Alexandria office, as well as telehealth services for clients who prefer to meet virtually.