Demarest Crawl, DSW, LCSW-C, LICSW

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You Can Be Strong And Still Need Support​

Maybe you are the person everyone counts on. You solve problems, care for other people, keep the family moving, and find a way to function even when you are overwhelmed. From the outside, you may look fine. Inside, you may feel anxious, exhausted, disconnected, hurt, or unsure how much longer you can keep carrying everything.

 

I am Dr. Demarest Crawl - pronounced Dee-mair-rest - and you can call me Dr. Dee-Dee. I help adults understand the patterns beneath their pain, heal from experiences that still have a hold on them, and make changes that feel honest and sustainable.

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What We May Work On Together

• Anxiety, overthinking, and emotional overwhelm

• Trauma and experiences that continue to affect the present

• Emotional abuse, betrayal, breakups, and relationship loss

• Self-worth, boundaries, and the pressure to be "the strong one"

• Relationship concerns, communication patterns, trust, betrayal, affair recovery, separation, and difficult decisions within individual therapy

• Life transitions, grief, identity, and questions about what comes next

• Faith and spirituality, when you want them included

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What Therapy Is Like With Me

My style is warm, active, direct, and compassionate. I will listen carefully, and I will also help you notice patterns, consider new perspectives, practice skills, and take meaningful action. Therapy is not about blaming you for what happened. It is about helping you understand what is happening now and expanding your choices.

 

Depending on your goals and clinical needs, our work may draw from EMDR, trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral strategies, strengths-based approaches, solution-focused therapy, and practical relationship-focused strategies adapted for individual therapy.

 

Culture & Faith

As a Black woman and therapist, I understand why many Black clients want care that does not treat race, culture, family, or faith as side notes. I will never assume that my identity means I automatically know your experience. I will ask, listen, and make room for the parts of your story that matter to you.

 

If faith is a source of meaning, conflict, comfort, or healing, we can include it. Faith integration is always guided by your preferences.

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Progress Without Pressure

Therapy can bring relief, insight, skill, and meaningful change, but progress is not always a straight line. We will regularly discuss what is helping, what is not, and whether our work is moving toward the goals that matter to you.

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Credentials

• ​Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Simmons University 

• Master of Social Work (MSW) The Catholic University of America 

• Master of Arts in Communication (MA) Regent University 

• Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (BS) University of Maryland University College 

• Bachelor of Arts in Communication (BA) Oakwood University 

• Certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) 

• Maryland Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical (LCSW-C) 22389

• Washington DC Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) LC50082263

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You do not have to have the perfect words before you begin. Start with what hurts, what is not working, or what you want to be different. We can begin there.