Dr. Pearson is a clinical psychologist in Washington, DC who works with adults navigating stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, and disconnection—often parents and professionals balancing intense responsibilities while quietly carrying a great deal. Her work focuses on helping clients find steadier ground and respond to life’s uncertainty with clarity, strength, and self-compassion.

She earned her BA and MA in psychology from the University of Amsterdam and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, followed by an internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. Over the years, she has supported individuals through complex challenges using well-researched, evidence-based approaches, including Exposure Therapy (Prolonged Exposure and Exposure and Response Prevention), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), CBT for Chronic Pain, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Her therapy is tailored to each person’s needs, ensuring effective treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, and health-related concerns.

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License & Telehealth

Dr. Pearson provides therapy exclusively via secure telehealth, making sessions accessible to clients in Washington, DC and in many other states through the PSYPACT compact. This agreement allows licensed psychologists to offer online therapy across participating states while fully meeting licensing requirements.

Currently, PSYPACT includes more than 40 states, including nearby states such as Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as many others such as Illinois, Texas, and Colorado. You can see the most up-to-date map of participating states here.

Research Interests

Dr. Pearson is both a scientist and a clinician, and her research directly shapes her approach to therapy. She studies how depression and trauma affect daily life and how innovative, evidence-based treatments can be scaled to reach more people in need. A central focus of her work is exploring how technology can expand access to care and improve outcomes for individuals facing significant stressors.

Within the VA health care system, Dr. Pearson investigates the interplay between depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with particular attention to how trauma influences parenting and family well-being. She is the recipient of multiple grant awards supporting this research, reflecting her commitment to advancing mental health treatment in ways that are both effective and practical.

Current funded projects include:

• Improving depression and functional outcomes in Veterans (NIH RePORTER)

• Examining the efficacy of a trauma-informed parenting treatment for Veterans (ClinicalTrials.gov)

For a complete list of academic publications, visit Dr. Pearson’s Google Scholar profile.