About Me

Elaine Klionsky, J.D., Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist specializing in individual, couples and group psychotherapy. She maintains a private practice in Bethesda, MD as well as Washington, D.C.

Dr. Klionsky was trained as an attorney and gained experience working at a legal aid clinic, a private law firm, a government agency and a Congressional Committee. She left the law and earned a Master's Degree (MA) in Counseling with a cognitive behavioral emphasis followed by a Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology with a psychoanalytic orientation. After completing her doctoral degree, she was chosen for a two year post-doctoral fellowship in group psychotherapy at the D.C. Commission for Mental Health Services. After her fellowship, she continued on to complete the group psychotherapy training program at the Washington School for Psychiatry and became a Certified Group Psychotherapist.
Dr. Klionsky greatly values her education and experience in law although her passion is to work as a psychologist.

In addition to being named one Washington's Best Therapists by the Washingtonian Magazine, she has served on the American Academy of Psychotherapy's Ethics Committee, the Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society's Outreach and Training Committee and the Washington School for Psychiatry's Movie Program as well as presenting at regional and national AAP conferences.

Dr. Klionsky is an interactive, relational therapist with an existential, humanistic philosophy. She believes that therapy can helpful in:

*gaining satisfaction from life
*attaining long-term goals
*enjoying challenges
*taking pleasure in accomplishments
*utilizing talents and abilities
*gaining contentment in life's activities
*gaining empathy for others
*learning interpersonal assertiveness
*attaining the ability to hear and benefit from emotionally painful information
*resolving past painful experiences
(SWAP-200; Shedler & Westen, 2007)

Education
B.A. Cornell University, College of Arts & Sciences; J.D. American University; M.A. University of Maryland, College Park; Ph.D. The George Washington University


License, Certifications & Awards


DC Bar Member

PsyPact Telehealth Licensed

Licensed Psychologist: Maryland, Washington, DC & Virginia

National Register of Health Care Providers

***BEST THERAPIST: WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE***

Additional Training & Memberships

Member- Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society (past co-ordinator of outreach & training); American Group Psychotherapy Association; American Academy of Psychotherapists (past member of the Ethics Committee); Washington School for Psychiatry (Past Coordinator for the Film Series); The American Psychological Association, The Maryland Psychological Association

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