Katy Gustafson, MS, LCPC
About me
I was raised in a small town in rural Nebraska. Growing up in the country instilled a love of nature and taught me to value simplicity in life. In 2015, I completed my bachelor of arts in psychology from Doane University in Crete, Nebraska. Next, I transplanted myself half way across the United States to Arlington, Virginia. Here, I began my Master of Science in Clinical Psychology at Divine Mercy University (DMU). DMU is a Catholic-Christian graduate school dedicated to studying the psychology, philosophy, and theology of the human person. This is where my desire to understand human psychology grew and soon I transferred to DMU's Psy.D doctorate program. I began my dissertation work in 2016, which centered on Ignatian discernment, clinical depression and the spiritual life. As I poured myself into my writing, research, and clinical training I ended up earning my master degree in May of 2018.
As with most roads in life, twists and turns happen. As I continued in my doctorate program I learned that my interests were not in psychological assessment, such as personality and intelligence testing. Rather, I found myself thriving when I was working with people face-to-face in an interpersonal and therapeutic manner. In July of 2019, despite loving my dissertation work, I decided to leave my doctorate program and pursue work as a counselor where my full time job would consist of working with people. In October of 2019, I earned my LGPC license and in June of 2022 I earned my full LCPC license in Maryland. Today, I find myself working with unique individuals from all walks of life. I am truly enjoying every minute of being a therapist by helping my clients find joy in life! In my spare time, I love to knit, eat Thai food, and enjoy spending time outdoors with my husband.
Professional Bio
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, (LCPC) in the state of Maryland, proudly serving the DC Metro area. I've had the privilege of working with a diverse range of community members in settings such as, outpatient community centers, substance use clinics, partial hospitalization programs for adults and adolescents, as well as a psychological testing center for children and adolescents.
During my time at these facilities, I've gained experience in psycho-educational group counseling, process group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, emotion focused therapy, couples and marital therapy, communication skills and executive function training. I have worked with complex trauma and family dynamics. Currently, I specialize in working with trauma, family relationships, and interpersonal struggles in adult individuals.
