James (Jay) Bachmann LGC ABFT-II (He/Him)

Schedule with jay
Picture of Jay Bachmann, psychotherapist in Fairfax City Virginia. He works with teenagers and families.

“ I want therapy to be a place where you feel heard and understood, while also pushing your comfort zone and challenging yourself to  become your authentic self.”

Therapy with Me

I believe that working through the challenges we face can be helped by understanding where they come from. Rather than simply trying to eliminate behaviors or feelings that are causing distress, I enjoy exploring how those behaviors may have once helped protect you. Together, we can understand what those behaviors are trying to accomplish and find new ways of meeting those needs that allow you to grow rather than remain stuck.

I believe therapy works best when it is a collaborative process.

I am an integrative therapist with a background in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

I also have experience utilizing Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

I meet you where you are and draw from these different approaches based on what will best support your goals as defined by you. Therapy does not and should not look the same for everyone.

My goal is to help you process and validate the experiences you have been through. while building the confidence, skills, and sense of autonomy needed to reclaim your life.

If this sounds good to you, we can have a 20 minute consultation to see if we seem like a good fit. There isn’t any charge for this time and there isn’t any commitment implied.

Specializations & Expertise:

  • Finding freedom from self-destructive patterns

  • Navigating adolescence as a family

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Teenagers & tweens

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Body images issues

  • Disordered eating and eating disorders

  • Perfectionism

  • Self-criticism

  • Anxiety & stress management

  • Life Transitions

Image of therapist Jay Bachmann enjoying his mental health while hiking amidst tent rocks.
Work with Jay

I am currently offering in-person psychotherapy in Fairfax City, Virginia, as well as online counseling across VA.

Reach out for a no-cost, no-commitment video consultation to see if we’re a good fit!

Schedule free consultation

Training & Education

Before becoming a licensed clinical professional counselor, I studied Psychology at the University of Richmond. I entered my undergraduate studies with a strong interest in understanding the human experience and helping people in need. That interest was shaped in part by early experiences supporting friends who were struggling with their mental health, as well as by my own personal experiences.

During my undergraduate education, I became particularly interested in the impact of community, the brain, and the connection between our bodies, minds, and emotions. I also worked closely with my university to help develop an outreach program designed to help fellow students feel heard, supported, and seen.

My first internship was with EveryMind in Maryland, where I worked with individuals experiencing moments of crisis. The experience helped solidify my desire to pursue a career centered around supporting people through some of the most difficult periods of their lives.

I received my Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.

During my graduate training, I completed two internships. One was through GW's Community Counseling Services Center (CCSC), and the other was with Newport Healthcare's Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), where I worked closely with a range of populations experiencing significant mental health concerns.

My clinical training included approaches for working with complex trauma, mind-body approaches to anxiety and depression, and advanced training in DBT, CBT, and EMDR.

Prior to joining Monarch, I worked with Newport Healthcare in a Residential Treatment Center (RTC) setting, supporting individuals who require a higher level of care and 24/7 support.

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with a wide range of individuals and experiences including teens, young adults, individuals with neurodiversity such as ADHD, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.


Schedule Free Consultation

Choosing a therapist is important. We offer a 20 minute consultation with no cost and no commitment.

Schedule a Consultation

Reach Out

reachout@monarchwellness.com
(202) 656-3681

2 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 710
Chevy Chase MD 20815