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my story
Dr. Ajita Robinson
Online only (due to Covid) in Bethesda, MD and online across Maryland, Virginia, DC.
I’m Dr. Ajita Robinson, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. I am a grief and trauma therapist trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused CBT(TF-CBT) and Brainspotting (BSP). I primarily work with adults who have cumulative trauma and grief as well as those who are navigating life as a public figure, and/or first-generation trauma and poverty disruptors. My goal is to help you stop the guilt of “making it” and help you figure out how to take up space in your own life.
Educational Background
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Board-approved supervisor, and a nationally certified counselor with extensive training in grief and trauma. I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. I completed a Masters of Arts-Research in Counseling & Human Development from Saint Louis University. I initially moved to D.C. to finish a degree in Law but ultimately decided to pursue a Doctorate in Counselor Education at the George Washington University. While obtaining the Ph.D., I completed a post-Masters certification in Grief and Loss, and a fellowship in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities at Children’s National Medical Center. I am the Past-President of the Maryland Counseling Association and am a faculty member in the School Counseling Department at the University of Southern California.
As Featured On
My Journey To Becoming a Therapist
My own journey of healing through trauma and grief allowed me to become a better therapist for my clients.
It’s not a coincidence that I became a grief and trauma therapist. I became who I needed. By the time I was 9, I had an ACE score of 8 out of 10 and a long list of people who had decided who and what I couldn’t be…I had learned really well that I would be responsible for keeping myself safe. With the help of therapy, my faith, and amazing people along the way, I was able to disrupt the cycle of trauma and poverty.
Helping People Is A Gift To Others, But Also MyselfBeing a therapist is rewarding. I love having the privilege to bear witness to clients reclaiming joy despite all they may have endured and watching them transform their lives. The most rewarding thing about being a therapist is seeing a person walk away lighter, freer, and excited about their life.
I am committed to partnering with you to create healing and transformation. I Have a deep rooted belief that people are the experts in their lives. I am a companion on the journey.
I bring hope, empathy and unconditional support to this healing space.
I have a natural ability to:
- Help people identify what they are feeling
- Be flexible on the path of discovering what’s going on
- Accept people for who they are and in their current life circumstances
- Help clients heal their past and manage the present
People who know me often say that I am a good listener who can sit with people at their worst and hear them when they are in that space.
Our Sessions Are Focused On You
Sessions will provide you with the space to let go of the weight and take off the armor. . . a space where you can feel safe and comfortable, you’ll be able to have a space that is just for you to take care of your needs.
It’s important to me that I collaborate with clients and empower them to be in charge of their journey. There isn’t a “one size fits all” approach to counseling. Our sessions will fit your specific needs and concerns.
- I believe that you are worthy of love and care
- I believe that there is no shame in asking for help
- I believe that we only heal if we take care of ourselves
- I believe that emotions heal when they are witnessed and validated
- I believe that therapy should address the person as a whole – their mind, body, and spirit
Let’s Discover How I Can Help
Many of my clients to come work with me to:
- Start letting go of the expectations that others have for them.
- Learn to allow people to show up in their life the way they show up for others and to deal with the pain that exists from not having those people in their corner.
- Release the trauma they’ve experienced, reconnect with their bodies and carve out a life that is not burdened by the past.
Schedule your first appointment where you can share what’s going on for you and we can explore how I can help.
Email me today at using the contact form below. I look forward to meeting you.
Credentials and Specializations
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor in the state of Maryland and is a National Certified Counselor. Although I work with individuals and families who experience a myriad of mental health concerns, she specializes in grief, loss and life transitions, and neuro-developmental disabilities.
Selected Presentations
Robinson, A.M. & Wright-Cunningham, K. (November 2016). Understanding the intersection of race and trauma response among urban African American youth. Maryland Counseling Association Annual conference. Baltimore, MD
Randolph-Alvarez, T., Ford, D., Joe, J.R., and Robinson, A.M. (October 2016). Disaster Mental Health: A Model of Multiculturalism and Social Justice in Response Efforts. Southern Association of Counselors, Educators, and Supervisors Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.
Robinson, A.M. & Alston, S. (July 2016). Black Youth Where Art Thou: Understanding Help Seeking Behaviors. American Mental Health Counseling Association Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA
Robinson, A.M. (May 2016). Do they trust us? Understanding help seeking behaviors among urban African American youth in public housing. National Board of Certified Counselors Symposium. Reston, VA.
Robinson, A.M. (May 2015). Creating Pathways for Transition-Age Youth’s Engagement in Mental Health Counseling. National Board of Certified Counselors Foundation Symposium. Raleigh, NC.
Robinson, A.M. (May 2015). Overcoming barriers to Minority Mental Health Treatment and Services. National Board of Certified Counselors Foundation Symposium. Raleigh, NC.
Robinson, A.M., Alston, S., Nebbitt, V.E. (December 2014). Promotive factors of well-being among trauma exposure urban African American youth. Minority Health and Health Disparities Grantees’ Conference. National Harbor, MD.
Robinson, A.M., Nebbitt, V.E., & Alston, S. (2013). Measuring well-being among urban African American youth. Educational and Symposia for Research and Innovation: The George Washington University.
Selected Publications
Nebbitt, V.E., & Robinson, A.M. (2015). Chapter 5: Modeling Latent Profiles of Efficacious Beliefs and Attitudes toward Deviance in Context Matters: Columbia University Press.
Nebbitt, V.E. & Robinson, A.M. (2011). Factor Structure and Expression of Depressive Symptoms in a Community Sample of African American Adolescents living in urban housing in the Handbook of African American Health: Social and Behavioral Interventions
Also the Author Of
THE GIFT OF GRIEF: A PRACTICAL GUIDE ON GRIEF AND LOSS
Although grief is a universal experience our grieving process is unique to each of us. We encounter a variety of losses that often leave us feeling unanchored and uncertain on how to move forward. This guide is intended to help guide you through understanding what grief is, the different types of losses that might trigger the grief response, how to talk to kids about grief and loss (related to death, dying and divorce), how social media influences our grief and most importantly, tips on how to recover and create meaning and purpose after loss.