Yasmin Elkhair, LICSW

Yasmin Elkhair is a licensed independent clinical social worker with 25 years of practice in the Washington, DC area. She helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and relationship concerns. Her approach is conversational and practical, aimed at helping someone feel steadier day to day.

She blends several therapy methods to fit each person's needs rather than using a single fixed style. Sessions often include cognitive reframing, grounding or relaxation exercises, journaling prompts, and reality testing. These tools are used to change unhelpful thinking and to build calmer routines.

Yasmin emphasizes a client-centered process. That means the person in therapy helps guide what happens in sessions and sets the pace. The therapist’s role is to listen, offer ways to try new skills, and help make a clear plan together.

She also uses elements of mindfulness and solution-focused work to target immediate problems and reduce overwhelm. Over time psychodynamic ideas may be brought in to look at patterns that repeat in relationships or at work. The aim is practical change while also understanding deeper themes that affect daily life.

Many people come for help with communication problems, parenting strain, caregiving stress, addiction concerns, or life changes such as divorce and loss. Yasmin works with each person to set realistic goals and to track progress in ways that feel useful.

How her approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following your lead. The therapist creates space for you to say what matters and helps shape goals that feel right. This approach helps when someone wants to address relationship stress, grief, or low self-esteem.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behavior that keep problems going. It uses clear exercises like cognitive reframing and behavioral experiments to reduce anxiety and depression and to improve coping with life changes.

Mindfulness Therapy involves short practices that calm the body and increase awareness of thoughts and feelings. These techniques can be helpful for trauma, stress, and managing intense emotions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences, and day-to-day needs. That process can change as progress is made and priorities shift.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm current session options before booking since formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Therapists and licensed professionals often adapt exercises, worksheets, and mindfulness practices to the online setting so you can keep building skills between sessions.