Dr. Nadia Locey

My therapeutic style is warm and genuine and I like to use humor when appropriate. I am a big proponent of using therapeutic techniques that have good research evidence demonstrating their effectiveness. I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for adolescents and adults.

CBT teaches clients coping skills to manage their emotions and behaviors. It also changes clients' emotions by helping them change their thoughts and behaviors. I provide CBT to address the following presenting problems: depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and difficulties adjusting to major life changes.

DBT is an adaption of CBT that was developed to help clients with multiple problems in multiple areas who struggle with chronically dysregulated emotions. These clients may also have suicidal behaviors, self-harm behaviors, impulsive behaviors, difficulties in their interpersonal relationships, and/or Borderline Personality Disorder. I also have specialty training in the DBT Prolonged Exposure protocol for individuals with comorbid Borderline Personality Disorder and PTSD.

In terms of my education and experience, I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Stony Brook University in 2014. I then participated in my first postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington with Dr. Marsha Linehan, the developer of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Afterwards, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Jacqueline Pistorello at the University of Nevada, Reno, focusing on providing clinical services to college students and conducting research on evidence-based treatments for suicidal behaviors. As a faculty member at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, I taught medical students, psychiatry residents, and child psychiatry fellows about psychology, therapeutic techniques, and how to interact with patients. I opened my private practice in 2017 in Reno, Nevada and recently moved to Virginia.