About Us

Matthew Rich, Licensed Master Social Worker

“Worrying means you suffer twice.” - Newt Scamander

Growing up as a major nerd of all things mystical and fantastical, I have always wanted a life full of adventure and magic. Unfortunately, life isn’t always full of unicorns and rainbows. Rather, it is filled with monsters and thorns that attempt to stop us or slow our personal journeys and quests in life. However, despite these real-life obstacles, I have found truth and guidance from some of the wisest individuals through literature, music, and art. While we are constantly faced with trials and obstacles that impact our ability to function and cause us to worry about our futures and what it holds for us, spending our time and energy worrying about them causes more suffering than needed.

I have found this approach of accepting what we cannot control and focusing our efforts to the areas of life we can control to be an effective way of creating a life worth living and fighting for, regardless of what monsters my patients may face, whether they be anxiety, depression, trauma, or eating disorders. My goal as a therapist is to create a safe space for the patient by validating the patient’s experiences and helping them to develop the skills necessary to face their own monsters head on with confidence in their ability to overcome those trials. In my practice, I utilize therapeutic interventions from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and a Health at Every Size approach for patients with eating disorders.

I earned my Masters of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, and became a resident in Social Work in 2018. During my time as a resident in Ohio, and now in Virginia, I have worked with a wide range of populations across several settings, including residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient. I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults providing individual, group, and family therapy. Many of my patients would describe my therapeutic approach as supportive, encouraging, and humorous, while still being able to challenge and push them to reach their fullest potentials in life. Most of my patients experience a decrease in the severity of the symptoms that they experience and an increase in their confidence to be able to manage any future challenges.

I am currently accepting new clients during the morning hours in an individual or family capacity, and will work with you to create a plan for your treatment that focuses on the issues that you want and need to address. It is my pleasure and honor to join you on your therapeutic journey as you learn to fight your own monsters and become the hero of your own story.

Direct Line: 703-349-7960 or 703-485-4058 x 103