Therapy Group of DC
Kevin Malley, MS, LPC, NCC
Anxiety, purpose & finding what matters — ages 14 and up
About Kevin
If you’re carrying more than you let on — pushing through anxiety, questioning your direction, or feeling stuck in a life that looks fine on paper but doesn’t feel right — I want you to know that makes sense. I help people slow down enough to hear what’s actually going on underneath, and then do something about it.
My work is rooted in the belief that most suffering isn’t random — it’s a signal. Something about how you’re living isn’t lined up with what actually matters to you, and your mind and body are trying to get your attention. I’m here to help you listen, make sense of it, and start building a life that fits.
“I don’t think emotions are problems to solve. I think they’re signals worth listening to — and therapy is where we learn to hear them clearly.”
Kevin Malley, MS, LPC, NCC, Therapy Group of DC
My Approach
I draw on existential and relational therapy — which, in plain language, means I care about the big questions (What do I want? Why do I feel lost? What am I afraid of?) and I believe the relationship between us is where the real work happens. I also use CBT, DBT, and emotionally focused techniques when they’re the right tool — especially for managing anxiety, building distress tolerance, or getting unstuck from thought patterns that aren’t serving you.
I’m direct without being pushy, and I’m comfortable sitting with hard feelings. I won’t rush you past the uncomfortable stuff, but I also won’t let you stay stuck in it. Expect me to ask good questions, challenge you when it’s useful, and be honest with you — always respectfully.
Interested in working with Kevin?
Take the first step — we’ll help you get started.
Before I became a therapist, I was an athlete and a coach — and what I learned in both roles is that people do their best work when they feel genuinely seen, not evaluated. I bring that same energy to the therapy room. I’ve spent eight years working across the full spectrum of mental health care — from inpatient psychiatry at Western Psychiatric Hospital, where I worked with children as young as three and adults navigating psychotic disorders, to private practice. That range gives me a steadiness that clients notice. Very little catches me off guard.
I work with teens 14 and up, adults, and couples. Whether you’re a young person trying to figure out who you are under all the expectations, or someone further along who’s realizing the life you built doesn’t quite fit — I’m here for that work. You don’t have to have it figured out. You just have to be willing to show up.
Educational Background
Common Questions
The first session is really about getting to know each other. I’ll ask about what brought you to therapy, what’s been weighing on you, and what you’re hoping to get out of our work together. But it’s not an interrogation — it’s a conversation. I want to understand your world, not just your symptoms. By the end, you should have a sense of whether we’re a good fit, and I’ll share some initial thoughts on how we might work together. There’s no pressure to dive into the deep end right away.
It means I care about the bigger picture — not just your symptoms, but what’s driving them. A lot of the anxiety and sadness people bring into therapy is connected to questions about meaning, purpose, identity, and freedom. Existential therapy helps you face those questions honestly instead of avoiding them. In practice, that looks like real conversation — we explore what matters to you, where you feel stuck, and what kind of life you actually want to be living. It’s grounded and practical, not abstract or philosophical for its own sake.
I do — I see clients as young as 14. I spent years working with children and adolescents at Western Psychiatric Hospital, and that experience shaped how I show up with younger clients. I take teens seriously, meet them where they are, and don’t talk down to them. Whether it’s anxiety, identity questions, family pressure, or just feeling overwhelmed, I create a space where they can figure things out on their own terms.
Yes — I see clients both in-person at the Dupont Circle office and via secure telehealth throughout DC. Some people prefer the consistency of one format, and others mix it up depending on the week. Either way, the quality of the work stays the same.
Ready — or still deciding?
Either way, we’ll make it easy. Get started with Kevin directly, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll connect you with the right therapist. Takes a few minutes — no commitment.
Transparent Pricing & Insurance Support
Life in DC can be complicated. Insurance paperwork shouldn’t be. We handle the paperwork to make reimbursement simple.