Compassionate, evidence-based therapy and psychological assessment in Northern, VA.
Helping children, families, and adults build lasting well-being through personalized care and a collaborative team approach.
We believe therapy should help you move forward.
Therapy is about transforming your quality of life through collaborative care tailored to you. Your care isn’t left to chance. It’s built thoughtfully, supported by a team, and always focused on helping you and those you care about through every stage of life.
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Personalized care for all ages
We offer evidence-based treatment for all ages. As your life changes, your support can grow and adapt with you, all within the same trusted practice. Whether you're facing life transitions, anxiety, school stress, or parenting challenges, we create a supportive, welcoming space where healing and growth can happen.
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A team of skilled clinicians
Our clinicians receive high levels of continuing education and benefit from ongoing supervision and case consultation so that your care is thorough and up to date.
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Therapy focused on progress
Therapy should help you find clarity and focus on improving your life. Our work is client-centered, outcome-driven, practical, goal-oriented, and designed to help you build skills and gain insights you can use to create lasting changes in your life.
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Professional approachable support
We know reaching out for mental health support can feel daunting. That’s why we’ve built a practice culture, and physical spaces that exude a calm, respectful and spaces that are calm, welcoming, and professional.
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Community collaboration and connections
Our extensive, 20-year history of relationships with referral partners such as pediatricians, psychiatrists, primary care physicians, schools and coaches allow us to provide interconnected care. This ensures our clients receive comprehensive support, seamlessly connected within our clinic, and across our external community.
About our practice.
We are a mental health outpatient private practice with two office locations in Alexandria and Falls Church, Virginia.
Expand Psychology was founded in 2005 by Dr. Katie O’Meara as The Center for Cognitive Therapy and Assessment (CCTA) to provide high-quality, evidence-based mental health care to Northern Virginia.
The practice has continued to expand its offerings over the years, welcoming a team of experienced, compassionate, collaborative and culturally-competent therapists who provide comprehensive treatment for all types of mood and behavior disorders in children, adolescents, and adults.
Meet our team.
We’re a diverse and experienced team of psychologists, therapists, and assessment specialists who bring curiosity, compassion, and clinical excellence to every client relationship.
What makes us unique is our collaborative care model—each clinician is supported by regular supervision and consultation with peers and senior providers. That means our clients benefit not just from one provider’s insight, but from the collective expertise of our entire team without sacrificing the confidentiality of your care.
We come from a variety of professional backgrounds and therapeutic specialties, and we share a common goal: to help clients improve their quality of life through personalized, evidence-based care.
Rooted in service. Guided by learning. Built on community.
Expand Psychology was founded by Dr. Katie O’Meara, a licensed clinical psychologist whose personal and professional journey is deeply grounded in the values of service, learning, and community.
Raised in a multigenerational Irish household in New Jersey, Dr. O’Meara grew up surrounded by examples of lifelong dedication—to others and to personal growth. With a father who dedicated his life to service in the U.S. Army and a mother who worked as a school counselor, the importance of education, curiosity, and community care were instilled early and often.
These values led Dr. O’Meara to pursue a Jesuit education and, ultimately, a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Even from her earliest training, she resisted narrowing her focus to a single population or therapeutic approach. Instead, she was drawn to the full spectrum of human experience—and sought to learn from as many modalities and perspectives as possible.
That spirit of openness, curiosity, and collaboration became the foundation of Expand Psychology.
A practice that reflects a journey
What began as a focused CBT and testing practice has grown, organically and intentionally, into a vibrant, multidisciplinary mental health practice. Expand Psychology now offers a wide range of evidence-based therapies, from play therapy and trauma work to couples therapy, autism evaluations, and psychodynamic approaches.
Under Dr. O’Meara’s leadership, Expand Psychology is more than a center for therapy and testing. It’s a community of clinicians who are passionate about helping people improve their quality of life—with humility, skill, and heart.
While our clinical offerings have expanded, our core values remain unchanged:
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Service
A commitment to meeting clients where they are, and extending care—including low-fee and pro bono services—when possible.
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Learning
A culture of constant growth, with regular continuing education and training that keeps the team inspired and informed.
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Community
A collaborative environment internally and externally with providers and educational communities, where clinicians work together across disciplines, generations, and specializations to provide well-rounded care for individuals and families alike.
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Cultural Humility
An ongoing commitment to recognizing and honoring the diverse identities, backgrounds, and experiences of every client we serve. We approach each therapeutic relationship with openness and curiosity and our clinicians strive to understand each client’s unique context and adapt their work to ensure that care is respectful, relevant, and responsive.
FAQs
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We changed our name to better reflect who we are today, and where we’re headed. Our original name, The Center for Cognitive Therapy and Assessment (CCTA), was rooted in a specific therapeutic approach and a narrower age focus. In response to our community’s growing need for specialized mental health services, we’ve expanded our practice with a team of experts dedicated to meeting those needs.
We now offer a wide range of evidence-based services for both children and adults across Northern Virginia. The new name captures the warmth, professionalism, and collaborative care we’re known for, while signaling our expanded scope. It reflects our commitment to helping people of all ages improve their quality of life: not just through therapy, but through a coordinated, compassionate, and goal-oriented approach to mental health.
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We have two offices to serve the community in the Northern Virginia region, located in Old Town, Alexandria and Falls Church. View our locations for more information.
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Yes, telehealth appointments are available for anyone in Virginia, DC, Maryland and 39 additional states. We understand telehealth provides flexibility that is critical to many people inside and beyond our community. The states we serve include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and South Dakota.
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Office Hours
Monday –Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM
Saturday–Sunday: ClosedAppointment Hours
Monday –Friday: 8 AM – 8 PM
Saturday: By appointment only.
Sunday: ClosedOur therapists have flexible hours to accommodate varying schedules. While we prioritize seeing people after school and work hours, it is important to note that these hours can be limited, and we encourage individuals and families to consider flexibility in scheduling.
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We are an out-of-network provider, which means you pay our practice directly but can seek reimbursement from your insurance company. We provide a Superbill with the exact medical billing codes you need to make it easy for you to submit a claim to your insurance company. We recommend checking with your insurance provider to determine your individual coverage and encourage reaching out to our administrative team with questions about the out-of-network reimbursement process.
Download our Patient Insurance Worksheet, which includes questions and information to help you understand your out-of-network benefits when contacting your insurance provider.
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Pricing varies depending on the type of service and therapist. For specific pricing information, please contact our intake coordinator who can provide you with more information.
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Our therapists work with a wide range of individuals, including children & adolescents, adults, parents & families.
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We offer many testing services. Please see our psychological testing page for detailed information of our psych evaluation services.
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No. Our clinicians are not able to prescribe medication. However, we work closely with trusted psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners in our community and are happy to provide referrals to ensure our clients’ needs are being met.
Have more questions? Call us (703) 618-0900 or request an appointment.