Meet our team

We’re experienced therapists, not stiff professionals. We’re proud of our experience and training—not many therapists are certified in EFT and EMDR trained. Beyond certifications and training, we are most proud of our authenticity and tenacity. We work hard and have big hearts. We don’t know how to do therapy without being transparent and real. Our couples know we’ll fight for them. We are pro-relationship, and we want you to succeed.

Therapy is personal. We don’t put up barriers between ourselves and clients—formal titles and impersonal communication limit our ability to help and they just aren’t our style. We’ll help you feel at ease in our space and with us personally. We believe it’s our most important job.

So, if you're looking for a therapist with experience and training, who also happens to be a person just like you, we might be the practice for you. You can read our individual bio’s, by scrolling down or clicking on the links below. We’re also happy to speak with you and answer any question you might have about practice, providers, or availability. Just fill out our contact form, and we’ll get back in touch. We’d love to hear from you!

our Providers

Melissa Peters, LCSw, Co-FoundeR

Jill Soyka, LCSW, Co-founder

Melissa Peters, LCSW

Co-founder and Certified EFT Therapist & Supervisor

How I work

I get to sit with extremely capable, hard-working, good folks who also happen to be in a lot of pain. We live in a high-achieving, fast-paced area, facing tremendous pressure to be the perfect couple, family, and partner. The simple act of sharing our real struggles with one another is powerful, but so few of us actually do - so many of us bear the weight on our own.  Every time a couple shares with me the hard and scary parts in their relationship, I’m honored.

My office can be a safe space for you to talk about what’s really happening between you. I am a gentle but very active guide who will help you work through the tough stuff without getting caught in the same old fight of who is right and who is wrong. When we have been stuck in conflict, we feel so unseen - instead of trying to change either of you, my first job is to really "get" each of you and then slowly help you to feel seen and gotten by one another again.

I will be transparent and authentic with both of you. I will let you know what we are doing and why; you will know where we are in the process and where we are headed. I will be in this with the two of you. We will work together on behalf of your relationship, maybe even laughing and crying a bit together along the way. 

I want to know your unique story, strengths, and stressors. But I also hope you will feel relieved to discover that you aren’t alone. Most of us have similar fear and struggles, and there is something quite beautiful in knowing that. 

About me

I love finding a binge worthy tv show for my husband and I to watch. I wish I loved to travel more, but I kinda love being at home. I am known for constantly moving plants around my yard, as well as the furniture in my house. If I wasn't a therapist, I probably would do some type of work with my hands, but I never get very far in figuring that one out because I will always be a therapist. I think dark chocolate and mint were made for one another, and I drink decaf coffee constantly. I find my opinions quickly, and change them rapidly, too. I'm a mom to two teenage girls who constantly humble me. They are a true reminder of how little I actually know. I really thought I would be so much wiser by now, but these days, that realization is starting to feel quite comforting. I love couples therapy because it keeps me on my toes, and I hit the professional jackpot when I met my business partner, Jill, 20 years ago. . 

Professional experience and training

• BA 1997

• MSW, Catholic University of America, 1999

• LCSW, Virginia, 2001-present

• Years of experience working in community mental health, psychiatric hospitals, and outpatient private practice

• Adjunct Professor, University of Phoenix, 1998-2012

• Advanced training in EFFT (Emotionally Focused Family Therapy)

• ICEEFT Certified EFT Therapist, 2014

• ICEEFT Certified EFT Supervisor, 2016

• Assistant Director of The Washington Baltimore Center for EFT (ICEEFT's training center in the DC Metro area), 2016-2018

• EMDR trained, 2022

Jill Soyka, LCSW

Co-founder and Certified EFT Therapist & Supervisor

How I work

I love working with individuals! Having the perspective of a trained relationship therapist in your individual therapy is a huge bonus to you. I’m always on your side, but I won’t just take your side (that’s your BFF’s job!). I won’t “diagnose” the people in your life. That would be wrong- I’ve never met them. I simply focus on the person in front of me, and that’s you.

Humans find their best solutions in collaboration with another caring human. I know a lot about relationships, patterns, mental health, and emotional processes, but I also know that YOU are the expert on YOU. 

Finding the best treatment plan to meet your needs is my first pressing goal, even if that plan does not ultimately include me or my services. I’m honest about the benefits and limitations of the services I provide. 

I’m pretty verbal in session. I ask questions, interrupt, redirect…my job is to keep us on track and focused. You have goals and hopes for change, and you don’t just want a quiet listener. I’m fun to chat with, but that’s not what you’re paying me for!  

A typical session starts with me asking if you have something on your agenda, or if we can go back to a relevant topic from our last session. I do my best to link our sessions as we progress, all in service of your goals. Session wrap up usually includes a summary of what we did and how it relates to the big picture. 

I am always happy to answer any questions about myself or the process of therapy, or the therapy models I use: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). 

About me

I collect psychology-focused books like my Grandma collected refrigerator magnets! Melissa and I spend hours nerding out about this stuff together.

I’m a Mom to 3 kids- post college, college and high school ages. My greatest challenge as a parent in this stage is when to lean in and when to leave it alone.

I’ve been married since 1998. A relative recently asked my husband and me if my training as a couples therapist has helped our marriage. Me: “Huh…I think so?” My husband: “YES!”

My parents divorced when I was 10. Both are remarried, so I know a thing or two about the complexities of family life. I’m my sister’s favorite sister! (also her only sibling, so she’s kinda stuck with me)

I love dogs! We currently have 3. Murphy the “old man” standard poodle is usually by my side. His tail sometimes makes an appearance on zoom calls. 

Professional training and experience BA in psychology, UVA, 1992

• Masters in Social Work, Child and Family Specialization, VCU, 1994

• License to practice as a Clinical Social Worker in VA (LCSW), 1997

• Clinical Supervisor since 1997

• Certification as an Emotionally Focused Therapist (EFT), 2016

• Certification as an EFT Supervisor, 2017

• EMDR trained, 2022

• Countless hours of training in substance abuse/addiction, couples and family therapy, adolescent therapy, ethics, providing supervision, and emotional regulation.

• Years of experience (prior to private practice) working with families in inpatient/residential, home-based, and community mental health outpatient services.