Claudia Salazar, Psy.D

Owner and Clinical Director  CEPS

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when? Rabbi Hillel

Psychotherapist in Washington, DC

Dr. Salazar is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She enjoys working in clients who are highly motivated to pursue in-depth therapy to get to the root of their suffering. 

Therapy Specialties 

Dr. Salazar specializes in providing in-depth, intensive, time-effective psychotherapy for a wide range of concerns. Her approach is informed by modern psychodynamic therapy, integrating tools and interventions from body-based (somatic/sensorimotor) and IFS therapy modalities.

She has extensive experience working with high-achieving professionals in the humanitarian and international development fields to help them address personal and work related stress and trauma.

She also enjoys working with professional women who struggle to integrate or feel conflicted between their professional identities and their desire (more accurately ambivalence) about becoming mothers. Fears of losing themselves to role that may be less fulfilling than their professional achievements, conflicts regarding gender-roles, impact on their bodies, postpartum depression, and anxiety, are often concerns that bring these clients to therapy. 

Therapy with Dr. Salazar

My style as a therapist is active and down to earth. One of the traits that my clients appreciate about me is that I have a compassionate approach to truth-telling, and the way in which I hold each of my client’s stories in my mind. When I’m with my clients, I’m 100% present with them. Paying attention closely to what unfolds in the moment. I keep my caseload small intentionally, so that I can continue to provide my clients with my full presence, intellectual, and emotional capacity.

I work collaboratively with you to create a relationship that provides a sense of safety and connection so that curiosity and exploration can happen. Our work together will have an optimal level of challenge so that change can take place. 

About Me

Originally from Colombia, Dr. Salazar moved to the US in 1999. She has has over 15 years of clinical experience working as a psychodynamic psychotherapist. Her approach to therapy has evolved to include modalities of psychotherapy that integrate body and mind in a very intentional, focused manner. Most recently, she has been pursuing training to become an IFS-informed therapist. 

Since 2016 she has been providing psychotherapy and psychoeducational services to teams and individuals working in the international development and humanitarian fields. 

Training

Dr. Salazar graduated with a Psychology Degree from the Universidad de Los Andes in 1996 (Bogota, Colombia) and started a small private practice in Bogota, Colombia. Her life-long love for psychodynamic theory, motivated her to further her clinical training in Clinical Psychology. With that goal in mind, she moved to the U.S. in 1999. 

She started her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychologist at the George Washington University, PsyD. program in 2002, and graduated in 2007. 

She holds a certificate in ISTDP- Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy- which is an in-depth therapy model that integrates neuroscience, psychodynamic principles, attachment theory, and mindfulness/body-centered techniques, designed to bring about psychological change in the shortest time possible (as compared to classic psychodynamic therapies). This modality of work, is very effective with clients with long-standing, and treatment resistant symptoms.

She has completed the following trainings aimed at helping clients who struggle with trauma induced symptoms.  

• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma, LEVEL 1: Affect Regulation, Attachment, and Trauma.
• Brainspotting Phase 1 and Phase 2. 

Dr. Salazar is a DC licensed Clinical Psychologist. She has been granted authority to practice telepsychology through:  PSYPACT. Date issued: 3/28/22. APIT #:10868.
Florida Department of Health: Florida telehealth provider registration number is TPPY1941. Date issued: 11/21/2022

Speaking Opportunities

As an organizational consultant, I often give talks and trainings in the topics of burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma, particularly for professionals in the medical and legal field, or for those who work in organizations serving vulnerable populations.