Individual therapy
Inclusive, affirming, culturally-responsive therapy for adults, college students, and graduate students.
Inclusive, affirming, culturally-responsive therapy
Psychologist in Fairfax, VA for adults ready to stop shrinking themselves
You were never too much.
You were just in the wrong room.
Rachel W. Friendly, Ph.D. helps adults who have historically felt silenced develop greater self-compassion, build healthier relationships, and embrace their truest selves.
Schedule your free consultationWho this is for
From the outside, life may look fine, successful even. Inside, something may feel missing, lonely, self-critical, or smaller than it should be.
Rachel works with adults who have learned to become quieter, more agreeable, less visible, or less demanding in order to be accepted.
Care areas
Support for the places where identity, relationships, and self-trust meet.
Self-compassion and self-trust
For self-criticism, people-pleasing, self-silencing, feeling both too much and not enough, and learning to trust your own voice.
Relationships, family roles, and boundaries
Work around relationship patterns, family roles, emotional safety, healthier boundaries, and taking up space without guilt.
LGBTQ+ affirming therapy
Affirming care for queer adults, trans and gender expansive folks, and clients exploring identity, shame, self-doubt, and self-love.
Gender affirming work
Gender-affirming therapy and single-session evaluations for Gender Affirming Surgery letters of support.
College, graduate, and international students
Rachel brings 13 years of university counseling center experience, including work with students, graduate students, and international student services.
Rachel's approach
Warm, collaborative, affirming, and active.
Rachel describes therapy as a partnership. She will not simply sit back and nod, and she will not tell you what you should do. The work is collaborative, compassionate, and culturally-responsive.
I know a great deal about healing. You know a great deal about you. Both matter.
Therapy makes room for identity, power, oppression, relationships, patterns, self-compassion, survival strategies, and the therapeutic relationship itself.
Practical details
Fees, format, and getting started.
Session rhythmSessions are typically weekly or every other week depending on need and availability.
Session lengthStandard sessions are 45 minutes. Longer 60, 75, or 90 minute sessions may be available by request and are pro-rated.
Fee$250 for a 45-minute psychotherapy session.
InsuranceFriendly Psychology is out-of-network and does not bill insurance directly. Monthly paperwork may be available for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
PaymentPayment is processed through a secure client portal by credit card, debit card, or FSA card.
ConsultationA free 15-minute phone consultation is available to explore fit and next steps.
Starting therapyIf both agree to move forward, clients complete online paperwork and begin with a 45-minute intake appointment.
Gender Affirming Surgery lettersSingle-session evaluations use an economic justice pricing model, sliding from $325 to $0.
Where sessions happen
In person in North Springfield. Teletherapy in VA, CA, MA, and DC.
In-person therapy is available one day a week at 8001 Forbes Place, Suite 211, North Springfield, VA 22151. Remote therapy is available when the client is located in Virginia, California, Massachusetts, or Washington, DC at the time of session.
Teletherapy uses doxy.me, a confidential, encrypted video platform. Clients receive a link after scheduling and use the same link for future sessions.
Service areas
Virginia: Fairfax, Arlington, Annandale, Alexandria, Harrisonburg, Fairfax County, and beyond.
California: San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura County, Los Angeles County, and beyond.
Massachusetts: Boston, Dartmouth, Framingham, Springfield, Suffolk County, Berkshire County, and beyond.
Washington, DC
Policies and safety
Confidentiality
Once someone becomes a client, personal information is confidential. Rachel cannot acknowledge whether she is working with a client without a signed release, except where safety or legal requirements apply.
Secure portal
Clients receive access to a secure portal for confidential forms, messaging, and payment rather than using email for sensitive information.
Paperwork and forms
Before therapy begins, clients complete consent to treatment, acknowledgment of privacy policies, intake form, and emergency contact form through the online portal.
Cancellation policy
Cancel at least 24 hours in advance to avoid a fee. Cancellations 12 to 24 hours before session are charged half the session rate. Less than 12 hours or missed appointments are charged the full session fee.
Letters and forms
General forms or letters requiring less than 15 minutes are provided free of charge. More involved requests are billed in 15-minute increments at Rachel's $330 hourly rate.
Emergency and privacy note
Email, voicemail, and the public contact form are not secure and are not continuously monitored. Do not include clinically sensitive information. For a mental health emergency, call 9-1-1, call or text 988 in the U.S., contact a local crisis center, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Licensed psychologist serving multiple states.
Virginia License #: 810004656California License #: 27922Massachusetts License #: 11340Washington DC License #: PSY200001476
You do not have to hold it all together alone.
Use Rachel's contact page to ask about a free 15-minute consultation. Keep the first note brief and avoid clinically sensitive details.
Go to Rachel's contact page