Lee R. Chase, Ph.D.

Lee Chase, Ph.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with adolescents, young adults, and adults.  Prior to joining the Growth & Recovery Center, Dr. Chase earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where her research focus was on the psychological impact of sexual abuse and trauma. She completed her internship at The Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, a highly-regarded psychoanalytic training and treatment facility in New York.  Dr. Chase has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including hospital inpatient psychiatric units (children, adolescents, and adults), child development medical centers, community mental health, and private group settings.

Services

Dr. Chase specializes in working with adolescents and college-age students struggling with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and problems with academic and social functioning.  In this capacity, she provides individual psychotherapy aimed at furthering the development of self-identity, emotional regulation and coping skills, effectively navigating both the social and academic demands of school, and transitioning to college and beyond.  To help ensure generalization of therapeutic gains to everyday life, adjunct services may include working with parents, and consultation with other relevant professionals.

Dr. Chase also provides psychotherapy for adults of all ages who may be struggling with chronic depression, anxiety, the effects of trauma, or loss.  Dr. Chase specializes in helping adult clients manage the demands often created by different, and sometimes conflicting, life roles (such as work, dating, marriage, parenthood, and relationships with friends or family members), as well as issues related to life stage transitions.

Treatment Philosophy

Understanding that the relationship between therapist and client is vitally important to the success of the treatment, emphasis is always placed on creating a supportive and interactive therapeutic environment that encourages self-exploration while promoting trust and safety.  In this way, Dr. Chase carefully balances both the need to listen to and understand her clients’ experience and concerns, as well as to help them to move past and master their problems through careful guidance and practical instruction in emotional regulation, problem-solving, and coping strategies.  Emphasis is also placed on identifying and emphasizing strengths and deepening competencies, thereby empowering clients to clarify their own perspectives and pursue what is ultimately important to them and in their own best long-term interests.

Dr. Chase also understands that our mental and emotional well-being can be impacted by numerous factors beyond our immediate control – be they medical, physiological, environmental, and situational in nature.  Thus, where appropriate, and with her client’s consent, Dr. Chase values collaboration with other relevant individuals involved in her client’s welfare, including other therapists, physicians, psychiatrists, family members, and school officials.

Dr. Chase has had extensive experience working with diverse groups of individuals throughout the years.  As such, she is able to meet the particular needs of each of her clients by drawing upon numerous therapeutic styles and techniques (be they supportive, psychodynamic, interpersonal, and/or cognitive-behavioral in nature).  She combines compassion, strong attunement, and a sense of humor in her work.

Memberships

  • American Psychological Association
  • APA, Division 56: Trauma Psychology
  • Virginia Psychological Association
  • Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists
  • Northern Virginia Society of Clinical Psychologists

Contact Information

Dr. Chase has office locations in Fairfax, VA and Rockville, MD.  She can be reached by phone at 703-591-5912 ext. 2, or by email at lchase@hushmail.com.

For more information, please visit her website at http://www.drleechase.com.