Therapist in Chevy Chase, Maryland Ana Carolina Santana, Therapist

Ana Carolina Santana, LGPC helps Maryland residents transform distress into insight and forward momentum. At LifeStance Health, she collaborates with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults—guiding each client to understand the “why” behind painful feelings and behaviors, then equipping them with practical skills for lasting change. Families seeking compassionate care for ADHD‑related school struggles, anxious teens navigating social pressures, or adults wrestling with depression and life transitions find in her a steady, culturally attuned partner on the road to well‑being. Drawing on years of clinical work in both community and private‑practice settings, Ana Carolina tailors treatment to the unique developmental stage and cultural context of every client. She weaves evidence‑based methods such as, mindfulness training, and family therapy into sessions that feel both structured and warmly human. Bilingual in Portuguese, she welcomes Maryland’s vibrant immigrant and bilingual communities, fostering a therapeutic space where language and identity are honored. Ana Carolina’s deepest professional passion lies in three interconnected specialties: long‑term psychoanalytic psychotherapy, anxiety and mood disorders, and trauma‑informed care. Whether a client is grappling with complex grief, post‑traumatic stress, or the pervasive self‑criticism often seen in depression, she uses a depth‑oriented lens to illuminate hidden patterns and a trauma‑sensitive stance to restore a sense of safety. This dual focus—insight plus stabilization—allows clients not only to alleviate symptoms but to reshape their self‑story in profound ways. Beyond the office, Ana Carolina recharges by watching Brazilian documentaries and films, reading contemporary psychoanalytic literature, and taking short runs that refresh both mind and body. These pursuits mirror her clinical style: curious, reflective, and grounded in the belief that small, steady steps create meaningful transformation.