Kourtney Harris

I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Washington, DC, with a rich background supporting individuals across school and community mental health settings. My work as a middle school counselor has given me a deep, firsthand understanding of how systems — educational, social, and institutional — can either lift people up or make things harder. I bring that broad, real-world perspective into my private practice, along with genuine warmth and curiosity. I work primarily with adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, and the weight of everyday pressure — and I believe strongly that quality mental health care should be accessible to everyone.

I am a licensed mental health counselor with experience supporting adolescents and adults through a range of mental health concerns and life experiences. My approach to therapy is culturally responsive, compassionate, collaborative, and trauma-informed. I believe that each person brings their own unique strengths, experiences, culture, and perspective into the therapeutic relationship, and I strive to co-create a space where clients feel heard, respected, and understood.

My clinical experience includes working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral concerns, neurodivergence, men’s issues, identity, life transitions, and LGBTQ+ issues. I have a particular interest in supporting adults and helping them develop emotional awareness, coping skills, healthy relationships, and confidence. I incorporate evidence-based approaches into my work while adapting treatment to meet each client's individual needs and developmental level. My therapeutic work is eclectic in nature to better suit my client’s needs, but is grounded in psychodynamics.

I also value the importance of cultural humility and recognize how identity, family, community, social support, and systemic experiences can influence mental health. My goal is to partner with clients as they navigate challenges, build on their existing strengths, and work toward meaningful and sustainable change.

I view therapy as a collaborative process, and I am committed to creating a welcoming environment where clients can explore their experiences at their own pace while developing the tools that can grow alongside them.

What to Expect in Our First Session

Starting therapy can feel like a big step, and you don’t need to have everything figured out before we begin. Our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another, talk about what brings you to therapy, and begin identifying what you hope to gain from the process.

I’ll invite you to share your experiences, concerns, relationships, and any challenges you may be navigating at a pace that feels comfortable for you. We may also explore your background, identity, culture, strengths, and the experiences that have shaped how you understand yourself and the world around you.

Rather than approaching therapy as an individual, my aim is to approach therapy as a team. I believe in developing treatment collaboratively. Together, we’ll begin identifying goals and considering approaches that fit your individual needs, experiences, and preferences. You are not expected to disclose everything in the first session, and there is no pressure to have the “right” answers.

I hope that you leave our first session feeling heard, respected, and understood, with a clearer sense of where we can begin. Therapy is a collaborative process, and we’ll work together to create a space where you can explore your experiences, build on your strengths, and develop meaningful tools for moving forward.