Sarah Bennett, Ph.D.

I collaborate with individuals and families in a non-judgmental, open and compassionate manner. I draw upon my knowledge of evidence-based practices to provide treatment that is well matched to an individual's strengths.

I specialize in the treatment of:

• Anxiety Disorders
• Generalized anxiety and excessive worry
• Separation anxiety and fears
• Specific phobias
• Social anxiety
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge eating
• Restriction, binging, purging, excessive exercise
• Selective Eating
• Vomiting and choking phobias
• Anxiety associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety associated with Pervasive Developmental Disabilities (Asperger's and Autism)
• Poor body image
• Difficulties associated with transition to adolescence

I provide the following treatments:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Family Based Therapy (FBT) for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
• Adolescent Focused Individual Therapy
• Behavioral Therapy
• Cognitive Remediational Therapy (CRT)

I am excited to be practicing in Washington, DC. Using evidence-based treatments, I strive to promote positive mental health in individuals and their families.

Throughout my training I pursued clinical experiences that provided me with a solid foundation in understanding, assessing and treating individuals and families. I have worked with infants, children, adolescents and adults coping with diverse challenges. While pursuing my PhD, I treated young children with developmental delays, school aged children with learning disabilities and ADHD, adolescents struggling with eating disorders, young adults struggling with anxiety, depression and relationships, and families experiencing conflict. Based on these experiences, I decided to pursue advanced clinical training working with children and adolescents. During my predoctoral internship I treated children and adolescents on an inpatient eating disorder unit. I also provided consultation and liaison services for a medically fragile pediatric inpatient population and treated children experiencing anxiety, behavior problems and school difficulties. During my postdoctoral fellowship I implemented the most up to date evidence-based practices for diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents struggling with anxiety, eating disorders, and pervasive developmental disabilities. I completed certification through the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders to provide Family Based Therapy (FBT) for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

My clinical work has directly shaped my research interests. My research explores adolescent health behaviors, including examination of predictors of adolescent males´ drive for muscularity and binge eating among ethnic minority women. In addition to my private practice, I provide clinical supervision to doctoral students as an adjunct clinical faculty member at The George Washington University.

If you have further questions please contact me at (202) 630-4714.

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License Information:

District of Columbia: PSY1000686
Maryland: 04962
California: PSY23753

Education and Training:

Postdoctoral Pediatric Fellowship
Anxiety Disorders Clinic, Eating Disorders Clinic, and Developmental Disabilities Clinic
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine
Palo Alto, CA

Predoctoral Clinical Internship
Lucile Packard Children´s Hospital at Stanford & The Children´s Health Council
Palo Alto, CA

Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology
The George Washington University
Washington, DC

Clinical Training:

Children´s National Medical Center, Department of Adolescent Medicine, Eating Disorders Clinic
Greenbelt CARES, Family Therapy Clinic
Inova Kellar Center, Attention and Learning Disorders Clinic
Georgetown University Department of Child and Human Development
Meltzer Psychological Services Center, The George Washington University

Certifications and Professional Associations:

Certified in Family Based Therapy (FBT) for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders
American Psychological Association
Academy for Eating Disorders

When do you expect payment?
Payment by check, cash, or credit card is expected at time of service.

Do you accept insurance?
I am not contracted with any insurance companies; however, many health insurance policies will provide some coverage for "out of network" mental health treatment. This usually occurs as reimbursement for fees you have already paid for clinical services. I will provide you with any information and receipts you may need to receive these benefits. Because not all clinical services are covered by every insurance provider, it is important that you find out exactly what mental health services your insurance policy covers at the outset of therapy. I recommend you contact your insurance company prior to the onset of treatment so that you are aware of what services will be reimbursed. When contacting your insurance company, consider asking the following:

• What are my mental health benefits?
• How much of the cost is covered for an out-of-network provider?
• What is my deductible and has it been met?
• What is the coverage amount per session and is there a limit per session?
• How many psychotherapy sessions per calendar year are covered by my plan?
• Is there a limit on frequency of sessions covered per day or per week (i.e. if more than 1 session is scheduled during a week)?
• Is a referral required from a primary care provider?
• Do I need pre-authorization and if so, how do I obtain it?

What is your cancelation policy?
If you wish to change a scheduled appointment, it is important that you provide at least 48 hours notice, in order to avoid being billed for the session. Exceptions to this are physical illness or any unanticipated circumstance that could reasonably be called an "emergency". Unless a session is cancelled 48 hours in advance, you will be charged for the missed appointment. It is important to note that most insurance carriers do not reimburse for missed sessions.

Forms, coming soon

What are evidence-based practices?
According to the American Psychological Association (2006), evidence-based practice is defined as the "integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences".¹ Evidence-based practices have scientific support for their effectiveness. As a clinician offering evidence-based practices, I will use my clinical expertise to provide a well-supported intervention that is well matched to a client´s specific needs.

What is Family Based Treatment (FBT/Maudsley)?
FBT, sometimes referred to as Maudsley, is an outpatient treatment that involves the whole family in helping an individual recover from an eating disorder. Parents and siblings play an active role in helping their loved one restore their weight, establish healthy eating behaviors, and return to healthy, age appropriate behaviors. Research supports FBT as an effective treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa, especially for individuals under age 18 who have been ill for less than 3 years.² Given the chronic nature of eating disorders these findings are very encouraging and show that recovery is possible. Please call me to learn more about FBT or visit www.maudsleyparents.org .

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¹APA Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice. (2006). Evidence based practice in psychology. American Psychologist, 61, 271-285.

²Eisler, I., Dare, C., Russell, G., Szmukler, G., Le Grange, D., & Dodge, E. (1997). A five-year follow-up of a controlled trial of family therapy in severe eating disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 54, 1025-1030.