Abbie Shlesinger, a woman with blonde hair in a blue blouse, sitting on a white sofa, smiling in a bright room.

Hi, I’m Abbie!

I’m a warm, authentic mental health therapist who wouldn’t ask a client to do work I haven’t done myself.

At the heart of my practice is the belief that everyone, by virtue of their inherent dignity, has the power to cultivate a life aligned with their needs, goals, and values. My mission is to support that process by offering compassionate, trauma-informed care rooted in curiosity, respect, and collaboration.

I don’t see people as problems to be solved. Instead, I focus on building a safe, trusting relationship that allows for self-awareness, healing, and growth. My approach is flexible and responsive, and I draw from a range of evidence-based interventions tailored to client needs—including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Motivational Interviewing, Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and the Gottman Method. I also offer Child-Centered Play (CCPT) Therapy to support children in expressing and processing their inner experiences through play. Clients often share that they feel deeply seen, heard, and supported in our work together.

I work with clients across the lifespan—children, teens, adults, couples, and families—who are navigating anxiety, depression, complex family dynamics, grief, OCD, ADHD, Autism, substance use recovery, burnout, and life transitions. I also have a special interest in supporting parents and caregivers, as well as neurodivergent individuals seeking understanding and accommodations at school or work.

Before becoming a therapist, I studied History at Virginia Tech and spent over a decade working in nonprofit fundraising. While I loved many aspects of that work, I felt called to something more meaningful. After much reflection and hard work, I earned my Master of Social Work with a concentration in Children, Youth, and Families from George Mason University (GMU). My time at GMU, including participation in the CAP-BH fellowship program, deepened my clinical knowledge and reinforced my commitment to supporting individuals and families affected by trauma, substance use, and systemic barriers to care.

As a Supervisee in Social Work, I am accruing hours toward clinical licensure. I provide therapy to individuals and couples in person at Lindsey Hoskins & Associates in Sterling, VA, and virtually to clients across Virginia.

If you’re interested in working together—or connecting for a professional referral—I’d love to hear from you.

I provide therapy to individuals and couples in person at Lindsey Hoskins & Associates in Sterling, VA, and virtually to clients across Virginia. If you’re interested in working together—or connecting for a professional referral—I’d love to hear from you.