ABOUT ME

My name is Kimberly Baker and I am a licensed therapist and certified coach dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life's complexities. I earned my M.Ed. in Couples and Family Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University, and hold licenses as a Licensed Graduate  Marriage and Family Therapist (LGMFT) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), alongside an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) certification. I offer services in both Virginia and Washington, D.C.

My clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed care, DBT, CBT, family systems theory, and attachment — all just a formal way of saying I've spent years learning how people work and what actually helps.

The Long Way Around

I came to the clinical field through a non-traditional path, which deeply informs my practice today. For 23 years, I taught high school and college English. That is two-plus decades of learning how to meet people where they are, read what someone isn't saying, and hold space for the particular chaos of human beings trying to figure themselves out.

Parents often feel reassured knowing I spent over two decades in classrooms with teenagers. The skills that made me an effective educator – truly listening, not taking things personally, knowing when to push and when to back off – are the same ones that make me an effective counselor. I'm also a spouse and a parent, which means I've lived some version of what many of my clients are navigating.

Telehealth & Global Practice

In 2025, I relocated to Costa Rica – a personal dream – and I continue to serve clients in Virginia and D.C. through a 100% telehealth practice. I also work directly with expats in Costa Rica through life coaching. (Yes, it's as good as it sounds, and no, it hasn't made me less serious about the work.)

Credentials

• Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist (LGMFT) — Virginia & Washington, D.C.

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) — Virginia & Washington, D.C.

• ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC)

Certifications

Complex PTSD | Trauma-Focused CBT | Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) | Telehealth Ethics | Mandated Reporting & Child Safety | Eating Disorder Recovery | Suicide Prevention

Clinical Approaches

DBT | CBT | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy | Compassion-Focused Therapy | Mindfulness | Family Systems Theory | Trauma-Informed Care | Positive Psychology

Professional Memberships

American Counseling Association | American Mental Health Counselors Association | Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling | International Association for Marriage and Family Therapy