Therapy Group of DC
Dr. Regan Mayo, Ph.D.
When life hasn't gone as planned — understanding the deeper why
Hear directly from Regan
In this brief introduction, Dr. Mayo shares what she loves most about being a therapist, what people are most curious about when they first reach out, and what originally drew her to this work.
“I'm fascinated by people's experience of themselves and the world around them.”
— Regan Mayo, Ph.D., Therapist DCAbout Dr. Mayo
If you’re carrying something that feels heavier than it should — a loss you can’t shake, a career that no longer fits, a relationship pattern you keep repeating — I want to help you understand why. Not just what’s happening on the surface, but what’s driving it underneath. That’s where the real work begins.
My approach starts with curiosity. I want to understand how you’ve learned to cope with the ups and downs of your life, and how your past experiences — even ones that feel long resolved — might still be shaping your present. Together, we’ll build that understanding, and from there, we’ll work toward something different.
“I don’t think therapy is about fixing what’s broken. I think it’s about finally seeing the full picture — and choosing what comes next with that clarity.”
Regan Mayo, Ph.D., Therapist DC
My Approach
I’m trained as a psychodynamic therapist, which means I’m interested in patterns — the ones you can see and the ones that operate quietly in the background. How do your thoughts, emotions, and actions connect to one another? How do the relationships and experiences from your past show up in how you navigate the present? These are the kinds of questions we’ll explore together.
In our sessions, I lean toward exploration over quick fixes. I’ll be collaborative and supportive, but I’m also willing to sit with you in the harder moments — the grief that hasn’t resolved, the career crossroads that feels paralyzing, the identity questions that don’t have easy answers. I believe that’s where the most meaningful insight happens.
Interested in working with Dr. Mayo?
Take the first step — we’ll help you get started.
As Director of Training at Therapy Group of DC, I supervise the clinical development of postdoctoral fellows and work closely with graduate students in psychology. Teaching keeps my clinical thinking sharp and my approach evolving — it’s a role that deepens my work with every client I see.
I’ve worked with people across a wide range of experiences — anxiety and depression, grief and loss, major life transitions, work and career struggles, cultural identity, and questions about sexuality and intimacy. What connects all of it is the belief that understanding yourself more fully is what creates lasting change. Not just symptom relief, but a genuine shift in how you move through the world.
If you’re looking for someone who’ll help you go deeper — who won’t rush past the hard stuff to get to a solution — I’m here for that work.
Educational Background
Common Questions
In the beginning, we’ll focus on what’s bringing you in right now — what feels urgent, what’s been weighing on you. I’ll ask questions about your current life, but I’ll also start getting curious about your history and how it might be connected to what you’re experiencing in this moment. We’ll explore how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are impacting your life and relationships. There’s no pressure to have it all figured out. The first session is really about starting to build a relationship where you feel safe enough to be honest.
Psychodynamic therapy is about understanding patterns — especially the ones you might not be fully aware of. We look at how your past experiences, relationships, and coping strategies shape how you show up today. It’s not about lying on a couch and talking about your childhood for years (though we might talk about your childhood). It’s about building real insight into why you do what you do, so you can make more intentional choices going forward. I find that people who are drawn to this work tend to want more than just strategies — they want to understand themselves.
Yes, grief is one of the areas I work with most. And I think it’s important to say that grief isn’t just about death — it can be the loss of a relationship, a career path, an identity, a version of your life that didn’t happen. Whatever form it takes, grief deserves space. I won’t rush you through stages or tell you when you should be “over it.” We’ll sit with it together and understand what that loss means to you, which is how it starts to become something you can carry rather than something that’s carrying you.
Yes — I see clients both in-person at the Dupont Circle office and via secure telehealth throughout DC. Some people find that telehealth fits better with their schedule, while others prefer being in the room. Either way works well for the kind of depth-oriented work I do, and we can talk about what makes the most sense for you.
Ready — or still deciding?
Either way, we’ll make it easy. Get started with Dr. Mayo directly, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll help you find the right fit. Takes a few minutes — no commitment.
Transparent Pricing & Insurance Support
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