We are a group of psychologists, clinical social workers and marriage and family therapists with a broad base of experience treating anxiety, depression, and stress related to relationships, work, infidelity and sexual problems. For assistance in selecting the best therapist for your situation, contact either:
Gwen Enfield Pearl at 202-363-9191; gwen@gpatherapy.com | Gail Guttman at 301-984-0322; gail@gpatherapy.com
As a therapist with more than 30 years of experience, Gail’s goals in therapy are to help clients live their lives, realize their potential and remain in positive, loving connection with their most important relationships. Most of her clients are searching to overcome their depression or anxiety in order to fully function and improve their self-esteem. Couples seek therapy to address a rupture in their connection and see if it is possible to restore, repair, heal and deepen that connection. Gail’s couples’ counseling helps each person be empowered to change their behavior in order to foster closeness. As a couples’ therapist, with a specialty in sex therapy, she offers the unique opportunity for clients to address their sexual concerns within the context of their relationship, addressing many factors that effect sexuality.
Gwen has been practicing psychotherapy for more than 30 years and is dedicated to helping people find meaning, purpose and vitality in life. Gwen works collaboratively with her clients to set treatment plans and goals that are personal and flexible, and helps clients identify small changes to work on between sessions. As an active therapist, Gwen’s aim is to provide an experience that is nonjudgmental, respectful and helpful. Clients are taught how to deal with painful thoughts and feelings, so that they have much less of an influence over them. Couples learn to be present and available to each other using a communications tool which creates safety, and teaches effective listening, deeper understanding and empathy. Therapy helps individuals and couples develop new skills to restore a sense of well-being and connection, guided by what is most important and meaningful to them.
Susan Goldart, DSW, has been a therapist working with individuals and couples for more than 30 years. She creates a trusting relationship for her clients through which they can heal from current and past experiences, and make changes to improve their lives.
With couples, Susan establishes an atmosphere in which partners feel safe, fostering empathy for one another, rather than judgment. She is keenly aware of the courage that each couple brings, and helps them to address their particular goals. Susan works with couples of all sexual orientations and at all stages of relationship, to enhance their emotional and sexual intimacy. She helps couples heal from betrayal when there has been a rupture due to infidelity. Susan guides couples that are separating, helping them create and maintain respectful relationships, in which the needs of their children are primary.
Emilie Gomart is a relationship and sex therapist with over 10 years’ experience in the USA and in The Netherlands. She specializes in working with couples who experience betrayal, dissatisfaction or conflict in their relationship and who want to improve their physical intimacy and/or their emotional connection. She collaborates with both partners to create a safe environment where each partner feels heard and respected and where they both can define the course and goals of therapy. Emilie is particularly attentive to connecting deeply and equally to each partner.
Lisa Topchik is a couples and individual therapist and has been with Guttman & Pearl Associates for the last 10 years. She specializes in sex therapy, couples therapy, and individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and the effects of trauma.
Lisa is nurturing, attentive, and accepting. Her top priority with her clients is to create a comfortable environment. She believes that when people feel cared for and respected, they are most able to grow and make positive changes. Within a supportive, caring therapeutic environment, Lisa encourages clients to explore new and sometimes difficult parts of themselves, and to ”stretch” beyond their comfort zones. That said, clients have the option to pass on a topic; they determine the pace. Clients, whether individuals or couples, usually leave sessions with homework assignments, created together with Lisa.
Leila Jarrahi, PhD, is a licensed psychologist with more than fifteen years of psychotherapy experience. She counsels individuals and couples who have relationship and sexual problems, as well as anxiety and depression. She has expertise working with couples who experience strain in their relationship, infidelity, and those who want to enhance their emotional and sexual intimacy.
Harry Rieckelman believes a good psychotherapist helps clients feel safe, create realistic hope for the future, with clear self-awareness, and feel more alive. Harry is an active therapist who gives honest feedback in a warm, constructive way. He sees the best in his clients and is curious and interested in their lives. Harry never minimizes or glosses over a person’s emotional pain. Instead, he encourages his clients to transform their pain, in order for them to live and work from a position of strength. He helps his clients integrate their inner thoughts, feelings and images with the reality of the external environment.
Sarah Gubits, LCSW-C is an individual, couples and sex therapist. When working with her clients, Sarah helps them find and build on their strengths rather than focusing on their weaknesses. She creates an atmosphere of warmth and empathy and encourages clients to take an active role in changing their lives and meeting their goals. With depressed and anxious clients, Sarah works with them to alleviate their suffering and craft a path towards more satisfaction and fulfillment. She welcomes LGBTQ individuals and couples.
As a therapist for 16 years, Erika has been refining her skills working with individual adults and couples. Erika focuses on helping her clients optimize their relationship, as she views trusting and connected relationships to be the cornerstones of strong mental strength and satisfaction in life. Erika’s therapy style is warm, witty, and down to earth- yet candid and direct. Her approach includes focusing on the problem at hand, as well as respectfully challenging her clients to grow and develop in new ways.
Thanks to a diverse clinical history of more than 20 years, Megan helps a wide range of clients and with presenting issues. She is comfortable with sex therapy and integrates sexual issues.
Megan provides a personalized approach and meets you wherever you might be on your journey.