Trauma Therapist

About North Star Psychological Services

Established in 2021, North Star Psychological Services is a private psychotherapy practice in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC. We work with teens, adults, people from DC’s international and multicultural communities, government employees, parents, and families navigating a wide range of mental health concerns and life experiences. Our clinicians bring clinical depth, warmth, curiosity, and evidence-based care to their work. We value therapists who have an established clinical identity, can bring expertise without rigidity, and understand the importance of culture, identity, relationships, and context in psychotherapy.

We are committed to making psychotherapy accessible to a wider range of people. In keeping with this ethos, we offer a variety of service rates and intentionally keep our per-session rates toward the lower end of the DC market. We have grown the practice thoughtfully and sustainably, adding clinicians when the fit is right both culturally and clinically.

About the role

As a trauma therapist at North Star, you will primarily provide outpatient psychotherapy to older teens and adults, including young adults, who are navigating trauma-related concerns, PTSD, and complex trauma. You may also work with clients seeking care for other mental health concerns, based on your clinical interests and areas of expertise.

This is a full-time, 1099 independent contractor position with an expected schedule of approximately 20–25 hours per week. The role combines in-person work from our Dupont Circle office with virtual care when clinically appropriate. We prefer clinicians who can offer more of their hours in person; this is not a fully remote position.

What you can expect

North Star is designed for clinicians who want the independence and flexibility of private practice while still having administrative support, referrals, a collaborative clinical community, and an established practice structure around them.

• Administrative support so you can spend more time focused on clinical care and less time managing the logistics of private practice
• A steady stream of referrals aligned with your clinical interests to support a sustainable caseload
• Flexibility to provide a combination of in-person and virtual care when clinically appropriate
• A welcoming, light-filled office in Dupont Circle
• A collaborative team culture where consultation and thoughtful discussion of complex clinical work are valued
• Financial support to deepen your trauma specialty, including reimbursement of 50% of eligible certification costs, up to $500 annually
• A practice committed to evidence-based, culturally responsive, and inclusive care

What we are looking for

We are looking for a clinician with meaningful experience treating trauma and PTSD who can combine evidence-based treatment with careful case formulation, sound clinical judgment, and a thoughtful therapeutic relationship.

Required qualifications

• Independent licensure to provide psychotherapy in Washington, DC
• At least two years of direct private practice clinical experience
• Demonstrated experience treating PTSD and complex trauma
• Certification in at least one trauma treatment approach: EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Brainspotting, biofeedback, Internal Family Systems (IFS), or a somatic or polyvagal approach

Additional strengths and interests

• Experience maintaining timely and accurate clinical documentation
• Experience coordinating with psychiatrists, physicians, or other providers when clinically appropriate and authorized
• Interest in participating in Friday clinical group consultations
• A strong understanding of stabilization, pacing, risk assessment, and appropriate level-of-care decisions
• Strong clinical judgment, professional boundaries, documentation practices, and ethical decision-making
• Commitment to culturally responsive and identity-affirming trauma care
• Interest in community outreach, developing groups, launching assessment services, hosting trainings, or similar professional initiatives