Hayley O'Brien, LPC
202-540-0278
Psychodynamic Therapy for Individuals, Couples, and Families
We are shaped in relationship.
So much of what we carry whether that be shame, emotional disconnection, difficulty accessing desire and intimacy often began as intelligent ways of surviving.
Many of us learned early to disconnect from our bodies, emotions, needs, instincts, or relational truth in order to maintain safety, attachment, belonging, or control.
Therapy can become a space to slow down, develop greater safety in the body and relationships, reconnect with disowned parts of the self, and move toward a more authentic and emotionally alive way of living.
Together, we will explore both your current experiences and the deeper emotional and relational dynamics underneath them. This includes unconscious patterns, defenses, attachment wounds, internal conflicts, emotional repetitions, and the ways past experiences may still be living in the present.
My work is also strongly relational and embodiment-oriented. What this means is you can expect me to pay close attention to what emerges emotionally within the therapeutic relationship itself, as well as the ways emotions, trauma, and attachment experiences are carried in the body and nervous system
The therapeutic relationship is essential in our healing journey
We might be a good fit if you're seeking support around:
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barriers to intimacy
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attachment trauma and adverse childhood experiences
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eating disorders and body image concerns
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emotional disconnection and shame
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anxiety and perfectionism
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relationship and intimacy difficulties
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sexuality and desire
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emotional and sexual anorexia
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consensual non-monogamy and polyamory
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identity exploration and individuation
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dissociation and self-protection patterns
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conflict and communication struggles
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family disconnection and repair
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life transitions and relational change
EATING DISORDERS & EMBODIMENT
My clinical background began in eating disorder treatment, and this remains an important and meaningful part of my work.
I understand eating disorders not simply as struggles with food or body image, but as deeply intelligent adaptations connected to attachment, shame, emotional regulation, perfectionism, control, identity, dissociation, and survival.
I work with clients struggling with restriction, bingeing, purging, compulsive exercise, body shame, and disconnection from the body.
Alongside symptom support, we explore the deeper emotional and relational patterns beneath these experiences while building greater embodiment, self-trust, emotional awareness, and safety.
SEXUALITY & RELATIONSHIP DIVERSITY
Sexuality is often deeply intertwined with attachment, embodiment, shame, vulnerability, longing, power, identity, and relational safety. I have a special interest in working with individuals and couples exploring sexuality, desire, intimacy, kink, BDSM, tantra, consensual non-monogamy, polyamory, and alternative relationship structures.
This work may include:
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sexual shame or disconnection
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difficulty accessing desire or pleasure
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emotional or sexual anorexia
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intimacy fears
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power dynamics
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jealousy and insecurity
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opening relationships
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navigating non-monogamy
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communication around needs and boundaries
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embodiment and erotic expression
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integrating sexuality with emotional intimacy
I view sexuality not simply through the lens of functioning, but as an important pathway into self-understanding, vitality, connection, embodiment, and authentic relational life.
Services
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy offers a space to explore your relationship with yourself, your body, your emotions, your sexuality, and your relational patterns.
I often work with clients who feel disconnected from themselves, stuck in cycles of shame or self-protection, overwhelmed by relational dynamics, or uncertain how to access their own needs, vitality, and authenticity.
This work may include attachment trauma, eating disorders, anxiety, perfectionism, emotional shutdown, sexuality, body image, identity development, relational conflict, or difficulty feeling safe in the body and relationships.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy helps partners develop greater emotional honesty, intimacy, communication, repair, and relational resilience.
Together, we explore attachment dynamics, conflict cycles, desire discrepancies, emotional reactivity, trust, vulnerability, autonomy, sexuality, power dynamics, and the deeper emotional patterns underneath recurring struggles.
I welcome couples in both traditional and nontraditional relationship structures, including consensual non monogamy, polyamory, and kink positive relationships.
Family Therapy
Family work can help strengthen emotional communication, increase relational safety, and support families through conflict, transition, disconnection, eating disorders, or crisis.
I help families better understand the patterns keeping them stuck while building greater attunement, honesty, emotional flexibility, and connection.
A Little About Me
I believe healing happens within authentic relationship.
My path as a therapist began in the world of eating disorder treatment, where I spent many years helping people navigate complex relationships with food, body image, shame, perfectionism, control, and desire.
Over time, I became increasingly interested not only in symptoms themselves, but in the deeper emotional and relational patterns underneath them, and the ways early attachment experiences shape our relationship to ourselves, our bodies, our emotions, our sexuality, and others.
Alongside my clinical work, I have been deeply influenced by yoga, mindfulness, embodiment practices, psychodynamic therapy, Jungian thought, attachment theory, and contemplative traditions.
Today, my work integrates these threads into a relational, depth oriented, attachment informed approach to healing.
I help patients understand how they learned to survive — through disconnection, self-protection, pleasing, perfectionism, emotional shutdown, control, or dissociation — and how they might begin reconnecting with greater authenticity, vitality, emotional freedom, intimacy, and self-trust.
Therapy with me is collaborative, emotionally engaged, grounded, and deeply human. While we may explore difficult emotional terrain together, I also believe warmth, humor, playfulness, curiosity, and genuine connection are essential parts of healing.
I strive to create a space where people feel safe enough to bring more of their full selves into the room. Healing is not about becoming someone entirely different. It is about reclaiming the parts of yourself that never had enough space to fully exist.
I see patients in D.C, Maryland, and Virginia both in person and virtually.
Office Location - Dupont Circle
Whole Healing Psychotherapy, PLLC
1350 Connecticut Avenue
Suite 602
Washington, D.C 22201
Get in Touch
Think we might be a good fit? Don't hesitate to reach out today for a free 15 minute phone consultation.
202-540-0278
