About Me

I firmly believe that people are inherently resilient and are capable of making positive and lasting changes in their lives; sometimes, we just need a little help and support to make those changes. With nearly ten years of clinical experience, I have seen up close how therapy can be a powerful tool in helping people face and navigate life’s challenges and complexities, and ultimately reach their personal goals.

I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is the foundation for meaningful change in therapy. I spend time truly getting to know my clients so that we can build a strong, collaborative, and safe therapeutic relationship. Clients have described me as empathic, warm, direct, supportive, and funny.

I work with young adult and adult clients experiencing a wide range of issues — including anxiety, OCD, depression, life transitions, relationship difficulties, and self-esteem issues — and specialize in treating anxiety and OCD.

Utilizing an integrative approach to therapy, I incorporate various evidence-based treatment modalities depending on a client’s presenting issues, needs, and goals for therapy. Some treatment modalities that I tend to pull from include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a type of CBT called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), mindfulness, and relational therapies.

I have worked in various settings, including elementary and high schools, a college counseling center, and private practice.

I am licensed to practice as a clinical social worker in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Sophie Bauer, LICSW

Education and Training

I received my Bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College and my Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from The Catholic University of America. During my Master’s program, I completed internships at The Pathways School and The Catholic University Counseling Center.

After receiving my MSW from Catholic University, I worked as a school counselor at a private girls school in D.C. for four years. I then transitioned into working for a group psychotherapy practice in D.C., where I remained for over five years.

I am deeply committed to continuing my professional growth and regularly seek out professional development opportunities to ensure that I am up-to-date on a wide range of evidence-based practices. I have advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for anxiety, and I am a graduate of The International OCD Foundation’s Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI).