Therapy Group of DC
Dr. Rose Medcalf, Psy.D.
How the world shaped you — and what you want to do about it
About Dr. Medcalf
If you’re carrying something that feels too big to name — grief that hasn’t resolved, a relationship pattern you can’t seem to break, or the weight of experiences you’ve never fully processed — I want you to know that makes sense. My work is about helping you understand why you are the way you are, and what you want to do about it.
I’m drawn to the deeper questions. Not just “what’s wrong” but how the world shaped you — the systems, relationships, and experiences that made you who you are today. I bring a feminist and psychodynamic lens to that exploration, which means I pay attention to power, context, and the cultural forces that influence how you move through the world. I also believe you’re the expert on your own life. My job is to help you access what you already know.
“I don’t think therapy should feel like an assignment. I want our sessions to be engaging, sometimes playful, and always honest — a space where every part of you is welcome.”
Rose Medcalf, Psy.D., Therapist DC
My Approach
I draw on psychodynamic, feminist, and person-centered approaches — but what that looks like in practice is pretty straightforward. We’ll explore the patterns beneath the surface: the beliefs you absorbed growing up, the relational dynamics you keep recreating, and the ways you’ve learned to protect yourself that may no longer be serving you. I’m interested in the past not for its own sake, but because understanding where something started helps you choose what comes next.
In our sessions, I’m direct and engaged. I’ll ask questions that go deeper than small talk, and I’m comfortable sitting with hard feelings when they come up. I also bring warmth and a sense of humor — I don’t believe therapy has to be heavy to be meaningful. I want you to feel like you can show up as your full self, not a polished version.
Interested in working with Dr. Medcalf?
Take the first step — we’ll help you get started.
Before I became a therapist, I studied English literature — and I think that background still shapes how I listen. I’m attuned to the stories people tell about themselves, the narratives that got handed to them, and the ones they want to rewrite. My clinical training at VA medical centers and community mental health settings gave me experience working with trauma survivors, veterans, and people navigating serious life disruptions. I’ve spent years researching the ways trauma shapes intimate relationships — particularly for survivors of sexual abuse and marginalized communities.
I see individuals and couples. In couples work, I help partners understand the deeper dynamics driving their conflict — the cultural expectations, family-of-origin patterns, and unspoken needs that show up in the space between two people. Whether you’re coming in alone or with a partner, I’m here for the kind of work that doesn’t just manage symptoms but changes how you understand yourself.
Educational Background
Common Questions
I’ll start by getting to know you — not just what brought you to therapy, but who you are. I want to understand your world, what matters to you, and what you’re hoping will be different. First sessions with me tend to feel more like a real conversation than an intake interview. I’ll ask about your history, your relationships, and what’s been weighing on you, and we’ll start to map out where we want to go together. My intention is to help you feel heard from the very first meeting, and to give you a sense of what our work together could look like.
It doesn’t mean therapy is only for women — I work with people of all genders. Feminist therapy means I pay attention to how power, culture, and social systems affect your mental health. It means I’m curious about the messages you internalized growing up about who you should be, and how those messages might be creating the distress you’re experiencing now. In practice, it shows up as a collaborative, egalitarian relationship where I treat you as the expert on your own experience.
Yes — trauma is one of my core areas. I’ve trained at VA medical centers working with combat veterans and survivors of military sexual trauma, and my doctoral research focused on how sexual abuse survivors navigate intimate relationships afterward. I approach trauma work with care and at your pace. I’m not going to push you to revisit painful memories before you’re ready, but I will help you understand how past experiences are showing up in your present life.
I do. I bring a feminist and psychodynamic lens to couples work, which means I help partners look at the deeper forces shaping their relationship — cultural expectations, family patterns, power dynamics, and the ways each person’s history shows up in the space between them. I work with couples navigating communication breakdowns, conflict, premarital questions, intimacy concerns, and major life transitions. My couples sessions are 50 minutes.
Yes — I see clients both in-person at our Dupont Circle office and via secure telehealth. Many of my clients do a mix of both depending on their schedule and what feels right for a given week.
Ready — or still deciding?
Either way, we’ll make it easy. Get started with Dr. Medcalf 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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