Robyn Brickel
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
“We are a private practice specializing in the treatment of trauma and complex trauma (CPTSD), addictions, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and women's mental health, including postpartum and menopause.”
About Me
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 25+ years of experience providing psychotherapy, as well as the founder and clinical director of a private practice, Brickel and Associates, LLC in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. We bring a strengths-based, trauma-informed, systems approach to the treatment of individuals (older adolescents and adults), couples and families. We specialize in providing trauma-informed care and working with those who have experienced trauma (including attachment trauma). We also work with those who use dissociative mechanisms, such as: self-harm, eating disorders and addictions. We also approach the treatment of perinatal mental health and menopause from a trauma-informed lens.
I support clients and clinicians who wish to better understand the impact of trauma on mental health and relationships. I have a wide range of post graduate trauma and addictions education and am trained in numerous relational models of practice, including Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT), the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT), and Imago therapy. I am a trained Sensorimotor Psychotherapist and am a Certified, Senior Facilitator for Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), Certified EMDRIA therapist and Approved Consultant. Utilizing all of these tools, along with mindfulness and ego state work to provide the best care to our clients. I pride myself in always learning and expanding my knowledge about the intricacies of treating complex trauma, trauma’s impact on the person and body, including the impact on maternal mental health and perinatal distress, all to aid clients in healing and post traumatic growth.
Approach
When challenges like trauma, addiction, eating disorders or perinatal distress bring you in, therapy moves with careful pacing and clear steps so you can feel steady as we work. In my Alexandria office, in English, sessions balance focused inquiry with practical skill-building — we track patterns, practice grounding or relational tools, and use brief between‑session experiments to test what helps. I invite collaboration: you help set priorities and we adjust pace to your tolerance. This way of working tends to suit people wanting concrete change alongside gentle, safety‑first exploration.
Contact Robyn
Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.
Basic Information
Services
Individual (older adolescent and adult), couples, and family therapy is provided
Services Offered:
- •Counseling
- •Relationship Counseling
- •Psychotherapy
- •Therapy
Works With:
- •Adolescents
- •Adults
- •Couples
- •Families
- •Groups
- •Individuals
- •Parents
Area of Expertise
Scope of Practice:
- •Abuse
- •Addiction
- •Anxiety
- •Postnatal or Perinatal Depression
- •Eating Disorders
- •Family Issues
- •PTSD
- •Pregnancy & Fertility Issues
- •Relationship Issues
- •Trauma
Professional Title:
- •Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Qualifications
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Level 2)
CertificationSensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute
Year: 2012
EMDR Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant
EMDRIA
Year: 2002
Advanced Trauma Treatment Certification
Ferentz Institute
Year: 2009
Certified, Senior Facilitator - Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST)
Janina Fisher, PhD
Year: 2011
Registrations
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT); Licensed Virginia Therapist Licensed Washington DC Therapist EMDRIA
Licensed Marriage and Family therapist,Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Memberships
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
Clinical Fellow