About Our Practice | District Counseling and Psychotherapy | Washington DC

About District Counseling and Psychotherapy

District Counseling and Psychotherapy at Joseph LaFleur and Associates is a group psychotherapy practice led by Joseph LaFleur, LICSW, SEP, CPTAP — Clinical Director and licensed independent clinical social worker with more than 20 years of clinical experience. The practice brings together a team of associate clinicians whose work spans men's mental health, trauma recovery, LGBTQ+ affirming care, somatic therapy, and psychedelic integration.

We work with adults across Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. Clinical services are delivered primarily via secure telehealth, with limited in-person availability at our Washington DC office.

Our practice operates from a trauma-informed, somatic, and relational framework. We meet clients where they are — not where the intake form assumes they should be.

What We Treat

Men's Mental Health

Anxiety and chronic stress
Depression and mood disorders
Loneliness and social isolation
Identity and masculine role strain
Anger and emotional regulation
Self-worth and confidence

Trauma & PTSD

Complex and developmental trauma
Childhood trauma recovery
Combat and military trauma
Workplace trauma and harassment
Medical and accident trauma
Somatic trauma responses

LGBTQ+ Affirming Care

Sexual orientation and identity
Gender identity exploration
Coming out support
Relationship and intimacy issues
Minority stress and stigma

Relationships & Life Transitions

Relationship conflict and communication
Intimacy and connection challenges
Divorce and separation
Career and professional transitions
Fatherhood and parenting
Midlife and identity shifts

Psychedelic Integration

Pre-experience preparation
Post-experience integration
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
Psilocybin-assisted therapy support
Spiritual emergence and difficult experiences

Depression & Mood

Major depressive disorder
Persistent depressive symptoms
Seasonal depression
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Grief and loss

Clinical Services

Individual Psychotherapy

One-on-one sessions with Joseph LaFleur or an associate clinician
55-minute sessions, weekly or bi-weekly
Trauma-informed, somatic, and relational approaches
Treatment tailored to your history, goals, and pace

Somatic Experiencing

Body-based trauma resolution
Nervous system regulation
Delivered by a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP)
Integrated with talk therapy as clinically appropriate

Psychedelic-Assisted & Integration Therapy

Preparation and integration for psychedelic experiences
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
Delivered by a Certified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider (CPTAP)
Clinically supervised, ethically grounded

Relationship Therapy

Individual therapy focused on relationship dynamics
Communication, intimacy, and conflict resolution
Support through separation, divorce, and rebuilding

Group Therapy

Facilitated groups for men's mental health
Shared experience with professional guidance
Community and accountability in a structured setting

Clinical Supervision

Individual supervision for licensed clinicians
Specialization in trauma-informed and somatic practice
Psychedelic-assisted therapy supervision available

How We Work

Telehealth — Primary Service Delivery

Secure, HIPAA-compliant video sessions from wherever you are
Available across DC, Maryland, Virginia, New York, and New Jersey
Same clinical quality as in-person care — with greater privacy and convenience
Evening and weekend availability to accommodate your schedule

Limited In-Person Sessions

Available on a limited basis by arrangement
2001 L Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036
Metro-accessible in downtown Washington DC

Scheduling

New clients are currently being accepted
Same-week appointments are often available
Initial intake: 60–90 minutes
Ongoing sessions: 55 minutes, weekly or bi-weekly

Credentials & Clinical Team

Joseph LaFleur, LICSW, SEP, CPTAP — Clinical Director

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker — DC, MD, VA, NJ, NY
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEI, 2020)
Certified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider (Integrative Psychiatry Institute, 2023)
Daring Way Trained Facilitator (Brené Brown Education and Research Group)
Certificate in Modern Perspectives in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (Washington Center for Psychoanalysis, 2010)
Master of Social Work, Tulane University
MBA, Trinity University
Member, National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

DC LC3000819 MD 27085 VA 0904013135 NJ 44SC06054400 NY 092948

Associate Clinical Team

Licensed clinicians credentialed across DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Specialized training in trauma-informed, somatic, and relational approaches
LGBTQ+ affirming care provided by all team members
Diverse specialties available — see individual therapist profiles for modality detail

Insurance & Payment

Insurance Accepted

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield — NCA and NCAS network plans (in-network)
UnitedHealthcare and Optum plans (in-network)
Most major PPO plans accepted
We recommend verifying your specific plan and benefits prior to scheduling, as coverage varies

Sliding Scale & Access

Sliding scale fees are available for clients who qualify
Out-of-network superbills provided upon request for reimbursement-eligible plans

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to give my name to reach out?

No. Our Confidential Inquiry system allows you to make first contact without providing your name, email address, or any identifying information. You receive a temporary Alias ID. You decide when — and if — you share your identity.

Is therapy effective for men?

Yes — and research consistently supports this. Our practice is specifically designed around how men engage with the therapeutic process. You don't need to arrive knowing what to say or how to start. That's what the first session is for.

How long does therapy take?

It depends on what you're bringing in and what you want to achieve. Some clients see meaningful shifts within a few sessions. Others benefit from longer-term work. Your clinician will check in with you regularly on progress and adjust accordingly.

Is everything I share confidential?

Yes. All clinical sessions are strictly confidential, with narrow legal exceptions — such as imminent risk of harm to yourself or others — required by law. Confidentiality is explained fully in your informed consent documentation before treatment begins.

Can I do therapy remotely?

Yes — telehealth is our primary service delivery model. Secure video sessions are available across all five states where we are licensed. Remote therapy is clinically equivalent to in-person care for most presentations and offers greater privacy and scheduling flexibility.

Do you offer psychedelic-assisted therapy?

Joseph LaFleur is a Certified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider (CPTAP). The practice offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy as well as preparation and integration services for clients pursuing psychedelic-assisted healing through other legal pathways. All services are clinically supervised and ethically grounded.

Begin Your Confidential Inquiry

YOUR PRIVACY IS PROTECTED FROM THE FIRST WORD

At District Counseling and Psychotherapy, confidentiality doesn't begin at your first session — it begins before you ever share your name. Our Confidential Inquiry system is the sole intake pathway for new clients. No personal information is required to make first contact.

Step 1

Submit your question anonymously. You receive a temporary Alias ID. No name, email, or IP address is collected.

Step 2

Receive a secure response. Use your Alias ID to check for our reply — no inbox required.

Step 3

You decide when — and if — to share your identity. Identity verification happens only through a HIPAA-compliant encrypted portal.

Begin Confidential Inquiry →

Why District Counseling

Specialized Clinical Focus

Men's mental health as a primary specialty, not an afterthought
Somatic and trauma-informed care integrated throughout
One of a small number of practices offering certified psychedelic-assisted therapy