Chrysalis Therapists

Joanne Irving, Ph.D. is a psychologist and cofounder of The Chrysalis Group Inc. For the past three decades, she has had a thriving private practice helping people become more fulfilled with all aspects of their life. She works with individuals to help them overcome personal obstacles and specializes in working with couples, helping them develop and maintain a passionate best friendship with each other. Joanne’s clients describe her as an intelligent, energetic therapist who listens intently and approaches their goals with respect, honesty, pragmatism, caring and sometimes, with humor.

In addition, Joanne is the founder of Insight to Action Advisory a coaching and consulting firm. There she provides consulting and advisory services to senior leaders at mid and large size organizations to improve the performance, productivity and profitability of their organizations as well as the quality of life for themselves and those around them. She helps them create powerful stakeholder relationships, inspire innovation, increase collaboration, lead through organizational change and develop the next generation of leaders. For biographical information regarding Joanne Irving’s Business Transformation work at the Chrysalis Group, click here. Or see her website at www.i2aa.com

Joanne earned her PhD in psychology in 1983. She is certified in EMDR, Imago Relationship therapy, and Emotional Intelligence (EQ-i) and Leadership Agility assessments. She is a member of the Maryland Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association, International Coaching Federation, the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Imago Therapists.

To reach Joanne: (301) 943-3074
For clincial services: Joanne@TheChrysalisGroupInc.com
For consulting and coaching: Joanne@i2aa.com

Jude Setian Marston, LCSW-C. A founding partner of The Chrysalis Group, Jude has devoted over 30 years to counseling and coaching adults and adolescents in creating and sustaining fulfilling and authentic lives. In a world that’s become increasingly complex, her mission is simple: to guide people who want to transform — in their work lives, in relationships, or within — bringing more of their best to every present moment. Jude particularly enjoys helping people discover ways to break out of limiting patterns that cause unnecessary pain. By aligning insight with action, her clients find concrete yet mindful ways to create personal freedom and lasting changes.

Jude is a licensed clinical social worker and is certified in EMDR, the Enneagram system of personality types, Hogan Assessments, and in Cultural Transformational Tools®. Jude is a member of the International Coaching Federation and Greater Washington Clinical Social Work Society. She earned a BA and a BS from George Mason University, and a graduate degree from The Catholic University of America, where she was a part-time faculty member at the NCSSS graduate program.

For biographical information regarding Jude Setian Marston’s Business Transformation work, click here.

To reach Jude: (301) 943-3029
Jude@TheChrysalisGroupInc.com

Judy Wendkos Liss, LCSW-C is a managing partner at The Chrysalis Group. She has been providing psychotherapy to tweens, teens, and adults for over 20 years. Clients seek her expertise with a variety of issues such as life transitions, depression, anxiety, trauma, anger management, social pressures and issues, and identity development. Judy’s clients appreciate her attentiveness to details and her warm and nurturing personality. She encourages a collaborative process in therapy to identify the stressors and behaviors that cause distress in her clients’ lives. Drawing on their personal strengths, clients learn to creatively solve problems and build successful and supportive relationships.

Judy has special expertise in individuals coping with food allergies and Celiac Disease. She uses her vast clinical and personal experience to provide therapy not only to youth coping with food allergies and Celiac but also to many parents seeking a therapist who understands the stresses and nuances of raising a child with food allergies and/or Celiac Disease.

In addition, she is an EMDR trained psychotherapist. EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization, and Reprocessing) therapy is a psychotherapy often used to address trauma and PTSD symptoms, but also effective in addressing areas of emotional distress related to early disturbing experiences. To learn more www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/

Judy earned her MSW from the Smith College School for Social Work and has participated in extensive post-graduate training. She has worked in a wide variety of settings including schools, residential treatment facilities, and community mental health centers. Judy graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis where she majored in Spanish and International Studies. She is a member of the Greater Washington Clinical Social Work Society and the Clinical Social Work Association.

To reach Judy: (703) 967-7575
Judy@TheChrysalisGroupInc.com

Nidhi Sampath, LCPC is a licensed clinical professional counselor who provides psychotherapy to adults, teens, and families. She sees her role as a therapist as an opportunity to help individuals find personal fulfillment by living authentically through self reflection and self understanding. Clients appreciate her kind personality and her ability to create a supportive and empowering therapeutic environment.

Nidhi specializes in working with addiction and recovery. She provides a safe and nurturing environment for clients to explore unhealthy patterns of coping, while reflecting on how substances have affected their relationships and sense of inner strength. Nidhi has the ability to support her clients while simultaneously challenging their patterns in order to help them strive toward a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle.

Clients seek Nidhi’s expertise in learning healthy coping skills to manage stressors, gaining support through life transitions, and creatively identifying ways to strengthen relationships. She especially enjoys working with adolescents and families going through conflict. Nidhi uses strength-based interventions and tailors treatment based on each family’s unique qualities.

Nidhi spent several years working in New York City’s mental health system, providing individual and group psychotherapy, addiction treatment, and family counseling. She has a diverse background having worked in schools, hospitals, homes, and treatment centers. She earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Maryland in College Park, and her MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University.

To reach Nidhi: (240) 426-3253
Nidhi@TheChrysalisGroupInc.com

Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC, NCC is a licensed clinical professional counselor, a nationally certified school counselor, and a parent coach. She has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and families in both the private practice and school setting. Phyllis is deeply dedicated to helping her clients gain self-awareness, sound problem-solving skills, a sense of resiliency, and a positive self-concept. Her approach is warm, caring, collaborative, and respectful.

In addition to her work with clients at the Chrysalis Group Inc., Phyllis is also the consulting counselor at the Landon School, an independent K-12 school in Bethesda, MD. Prior to her work at Landon, Phyllis worked for Sheridan School and Montgomery County Public Schools. She also is an educational consultant at various other schools in the Washington DC area. She has a special interest in teaching mindfulness, instilling a growth mindset, and tackling school-related anxiety. She has conducted group therapy in a variety of areas, including divorce, friendship, and stress management. Phyllis is the author of “Middle School Matters,” and a frequent contributor to the Washington Post and many other national publications. Her ideas have been shared in outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Edutopia, Mindshiftand NPR, and she currently is working on her next book, “Middle School Superpowers, Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times” (Hachette, August ’23).

Phyllis earned her BA cum laude from Dartmouth College, her MSJ from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, and her MS from Johns Hopkins University.

To reach Phyllis: (301) 213-3997
Phyllis@TheChrysalisGroupInc.com

Lee Tomkin-Stern, LCPC, CPCC is a skilled therapist who helps her clients break unproductive behavior patterns or thoughts that may be getting in the way of finding the inner peace and strength to live a truly fulfilling life. If clients are struggling to find joy in life, are dissatisfied with how things are going at work, school, or home, or are struggling in relationships, or they simply want to understand themselves better, Lee can help. She is trained in various therapeutic approaches, including CBT, DBT, ACT and solution focused therapy. She is a dedicated, kind, and compassionate therapist known for creating a warm and nurturing environment that encourages growth and change.

Lee has extensive experience working with adolescents, adults, and families and she excels at fostering a safe space where clients feel heard and valued. Lee balances her supportive approach with a commitment to accountability, helping clients build self-esteem to achieve their goals. She feels honored to hold this sacred space for her clients, allowing them to grow and reshape their lives into ones they are proud and happy to have created. Her authenticity combined with the best approach for each client ensures that every individual can thrive and make meaningful progress in their personal development journey.

Prior to joining The Chrysalis Group, Lee was a school counselor in the Montgomery County public schools. She is also a certified life coach through the International Coaching Federation. In addition to her Master of Science in Counseling from Johns Hopkins University, she received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Syracuse University.

To reach Lee: (202) 309-5909
Lee@TheChrysalisGroupInc.com

Emily McClinton, LGPC is a professional counselor who enjoys working with adolescents and adults. Emily believes that therapy begins with the therapeutic relationship and offers a safe and nurturing environment for her clients to begin the self-exploration process. Working with Emily, clients can learn to replace thought and behavior patterns that may be driven by fear, expectations, or the opinions of others, with thoughts and behaviors more closely aligning with their authentic self and sense of purpose. She is skilled at helping clients develop positive coping mechanisms and a peaceful frame of mind in a stressful world. Emily enjoys helping clients build resilience as they face life’s difficult challenges and forge their path to more meaningful lives. Mindful of the connection between one’s emotional, physical and mental well-being, Emily weaves this holistic perspective into her therapeutic work.

After earning a Master’s in Counseling at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Emily worked as a school counselor. Emily earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art. Outside of work, Emily draws strength and inspiration from nature, music, art, family and friends. Clients consider Emily trustworthy, safe, empathetic, patient, and funny. She places great value on human connection and considers it an honor to work with her clients.

To reach Emily: (202) 302-8848
Emily@TheChrysalisGroupInc.com

Sara Gordon, LMSW is a clinical social worker dedicated to guiding and supporting clients in their efforts to solve personal and relational problems. Her psychotherapeutic style is holistic—Sara considers her clients’ environment, family, community, nutrition, exercise and sleep to best understand how each contributes to one’s situation. She combines different approaches, such as Psychodynamic, CBT and ACT, remaining flexible to each client’s evolving needs. Sara comes to her work with great optimism, good humor and warmth for her clients.

Sara enjoys working with tweens, teens, and adults. She is a trained labor and delivery doula and volunteered for ten years in a prenatal clinic in Washington, DC. Sara enjoys working with expectant and new mothers as they navigate a different role in a changing family system. She also helps support Chrysalis’ food allergy practice.

During the first part of her career, Sara worked at the organizational level developing, implementing, and evaluating public health programs addressing issues such as teenage pregnancy, childhood obesity, and smoking prevention and cessation. For several years, she focused on the area of child and family mental health — assessing screening practices, referral processes, and the role primary care providers play in promoting mental health among children and families. Her broad background in mental health and wellness gives her a unique perspective on the many societal challenges clients face. Sara believes strongly that individuals can harness their strengths to effect positive change and emerge from a difficult period with a sense of triumph and better equipped to face their next challenge.

Sara earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont where she majored in Political Science and received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania.

To reach Sara: (202) 431-0909
Sara@TheChrysalisGroupInc.com