The Work of Soul

+ working with dr. fae

• Therapy with me is collaborative, challenging, and compassionate. I don’t do therapy at you — I walk with you. I’ll ask questions, reflect patterns, share insight, and point out where you may be stuck… but I’ll also meet you with curiosity, humor, and deep respect.

• I won’t pretend to know what’s best for you. But I will help you learn to listen to the part of you that does. Research shows that our “fit” or how we interact together matters more than what you or I say or do. Good therapy will actually transform us both. If you want to read more about this or how to interview me in our first meeting, check out this article.

• I’m a queer cisgender white woman (she/her) committed to social justice and ongoing antiracism work. I believe in honoring the full complexity of each person’s identity — including how privilege and marginalization shape our lives.

• My practice is informed by intersectionality and a deep respect for the messy, beautiful ambiguity of human experience. I create a space where all parts of you — your identities, stories, and struggles — are welcome and can be explored safely. No topic is off limits here: politics, sexuality, religion, kinks, race, dreams, secrets - we can talk about all of it. You may have been judged in the past for these things, but in our space there will be curiousity and care.

+ clinical specialties

• Existential Crises & Spiritual Disorientation You don’t need to be religious (or not religious) for this to be real. I work with folks whose worldview is shifting — who’ve left belief systems, relationships, or careers, and feel like they no longer recognize the person in the mirror. You may not have words for it yet, but if existing is hard - that's what I'm talking about.

• Challenging Cultural Narratives Many of us have been shaped by stories that were never truly ours. Whether it's the pressure to be the good girl, the strong man, the model minority, or the emotionally detached white person, these roles can become cages.

  • I support clients in questioning and rewriting these inherited roles — from women who feel trapped in helper or submissive dynamics, to men cut off from emotional expression, to anyone navigating the layered impacts of race, class, sexuality, or culture.

  • Society oppresses us all differently — but we all carry stories that deserve examination. Together, we’ll explore how both marginalization and privilege shape your inner world, your relationships, and your sense of self. You can read more about my thoughts on therapy with men HERE.

+ who is a good fit?

• Almost all my clients are Foreign Service (FS) Officers or their spouses who are overseas. Most of my folks are facing a shift — or the sense that one is coming. Sometimes it looks like midlife malaise, sometimes like spiritual disorientation, sometimes like burnout, grief, or existential confusion. What once worked… no longer does.

If you’re struggling with questions like:

• “Is this really my life?”
• “Why can’t I just be happy?”
• “Who even am I anymore?”

Then you’re probably in the right place. This is especially true if you…

• Are thoughtful, sensitive, or skeptical & want direct feedback
• Are tired of surface-level “fixes” and want something deeper
• Use sarcasm, dark humor, or irreverence to survive (me too)
• Want to work with someone who honors all your identities — gender, race, religion, sexuality, ability, class — and understands how they shape your story
• Have been in therapy before and are ready to go deeper
• Are a former gifted kid or current perfectionist (recovering or otherwise)

My practice is trauma-informed, soul-centered, and rooted in intersectional social justice. I’ve worked in inpatient settings and with severe trauma — so you don’t have to protect me from the hard stuff. I can hold it. I’m ready to hear your story.

Want to see if we might be a GREAT fit? As I mentioned, the only way for us to truly know is to have a chat. I promise I don’t bite. I mean, I can’t, it’s online. Get Started

If you want more information you can read this.

+ who is NOT a good fit?

• Couples

• Families

• Children (under 18)

• Individuals who need a high level of emergency care (this is simply not possible in a tele-health setting)

• Individuals who are at a moderate/high risk for suicide

• Individuals who are actively struggling with psychosis (if your psychosis symptoms are well controlled or in remission, let’s talk about if I’m a good fit for you)

• Individuals whose main concerns are addiction related and that addiction is not yet manageable.

I help who I can, but I'm just one lady. If I can't be helpful to you, check out my referral page for people I trust! If you want more information about how to start therapy or find a therapist, I highly recommend this guide. I also link to several resources including therapy directories for specific groups and concerns on my Resources page.

+ the logistical basics

• My hours are Tuesday-Thursday 8am-4pm (UTC +2).

• Our relationship is the foundation for change. And that requires consistency. I require weekly sessions until your primary concern has significantly shifted. I promise this is what delivers the best results.

• Four “free” misses per year are built in (not including holidays I take, which are typically 4–6 weeks in both summer and winter). After that missed sessions (and all late cancel/no shows) incur my full fee ($260).

• Therapy is a space for depth, and that takes time. Usually my folks see significant improvement in 6 months and then everyone’s path is different. Some take a break, others continue, others still increase sessions to dive deeper. We’ll discuss what’s right for you when the time comes.

• For more information on each of these points as well as questions about security/medical clearances, insurance, technical requirements, or therapy in general - please visit my FAQ page.

+ dr. fae's theoretical orientation

• My theoretical orientation gives me a framework for what’s important to people and how they heal. I use several theories and techniques to provide the highest quality care that is unique to each individual’s experience. This is called an “eclectic” theoretical orientation.

• I like to use the following universe metaphor to explain how theories work together. Existential theory is my sun, everything else is illuminated and guided by it. My orbiting planets are Narrative, Solution Focused, Psychodynamic/Object relations, and Cognitive Behavioral theories, and Humanistic theories. All of these are suspended in the gravity of social justice, culturally sensitive and feminist meta theories. These are called meta theories because they don’t have specific interventions, but they are important for the context of the system and they exist everywhere.

• If you want to read A LOT more about my theoretical orientation, you can do so HERE.

+ the boring details of dr. fae

• dr. fae frederick has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. Her professional interests center around community and connection. She uses her knowledge of interpersonal, organizational, and cultural/political systems to assist individuals, groups, and agencies in achieving their highest potential and in reconnecting to their mission through intentional interactions and increased understanding of self and others.

• dr. fae is from the United States of America and received her Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Counseling Psychology from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA), an accredited program through the American Psychological Association. She completed her internship at Aurora Mental Health Center in Aurora, Colorado, an accredited internship program through the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). She received her Master’s (M.A.) in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College (Boston, Massachusetts, USA). She is currently licensed in the District of Columbia, USA. Her research areas have included: program design and development, defining social justice, interdisciplinary university-community partnerships, and risky behaviors in rural LGBTQ+ communities.

• dr. fae previously worked in settings such as: private group practice abroad (Vietnam), community mental health, refugee center, integrated care (within a primary care office), juvenile justice services, domestic violence and sexual assault services, and a high security state hospital. She also has experience in adult and child assessment, teaching at the university level, grant writing, and supervision of other therapists. She is trained to work with all age groups and diagnoses, however her specialties are working with adults to resolve existential crises, finding/making meaning, and challenging societal/cultural narratives.