About Us
Lily Sutherland, LCSW (Pronouns: She/Ella)
Role: Founder: Power of Mind, LLC
Speciality: Trauma/Attachment
Population: Children/Adolescent/ Family/ First Responders/ Military/ Systems Involvment
Language(s): Spanish/English
College: Master in Social Work, Catholic University of America
About me:
I’m Lily- wife, mom, trauma therapist, dog lover, and the founder of Power of Mind, LLC. Bilingual in English and Spanish, I bring a global perspective from my work with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and a deep commitment to serving diverse communities.
I’m certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and I’m proud to be an EMDRIA-approved consultant. My background in Justice, Public Policy, and Conflict Analysis and Resolution fuels my passion for advocacy , social justice, and healing.
Before becoming a therapist, I considered law school, but every day in this work reaffirms that helping youth and advocating for disadvantaged groups is exactly where I’m meant to be.
With years of experience in therapeutic group homes and Community Service Board settings, I’ve learned that:
- Trauma treatment requires specialized knowledge and experience.
- Children heal more effectively when supported by family and community.
- Healing doesn’t happen alone. It requires support, connection, and the strength of a herd.
- Quality therapy should be accessible to all.
I opened Power of Mind, LLC, in 2019 with a clear goal: to bring my experience, skills, and principles into one place a place where individuals receive care that breaks through the misinformation, stigma, and stereotypes often associated with therapy.
On behalf of everyone at Power of Mind, I want to sincerely thank you for trusting us and allowing us to be part of your healing and journey.
— Lily Sutherland
Kristen Guiod, LCSW (Pronouns: She, her, hers)
Role: Director of Assessments
Speciality: Substance Use, Crisis Management, Depression, Anxiety
Population: Adults/Adolescents
Language(s): English
College: Master in Social Work, Catholic University of America
Meet Kristen! Kristen has vast clinical experience from completing psychiatric assessments (adults, adolescent, and children) in a medical hospital setting, to working with military population (both active duty and retirees.) She further has experience working with active duty service members diagnosed with a substance use disorder. Kristen has international experience working with refugees in the Philippines after post-graduate school. In 2022, she received an Outstanding Award for Civilian Service for her work with Afghan evacuees from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Kristen's strength include assessing, case conceptualization, diagnosing, crisis management skills, and explaining what kids/adults need. When Kristen isn’t being a therapist she’s watching cooking shows, traveling, kickboxing, and playing with her dog/cats. If she wasn’t practicing therapy she would raise or work with therapy dogs. Kristen believes that going to therapy empowers an individual.
A. Monique Laguerre, LCSW (Pronouns, She/Her)
Role: Therapist
Speciality: Trauma/Attachment
Population: Children, Adolescent, Family, Adults
Language(s): French/English
College: Masters in Social Work, Rhode Island College
Monique is an experienced Youth Trauma Therapist. She describes herself as honest, silly, calm bodied, heart-historian who believes that therapy should be half work and half fun. She generally see ages 8-30, but teens are her favorite. She believes firmly that youth should be treated in collaboration of parent partnership(s.) Monique grew up in New England and studied literature and journalism before discovering her gift for therapy while teaching at a behavior middle school for boys. Monique's passion and specialization is in trauma and genuinely enjoys working with individual/families with complex issues. When she not geeking-out on therapy stuff, she is riding her scooter, speaking French, or cooking soup.
Monique's therapy philosophies are as follows,
-Therapy is a place to figure out what you’d like to be better at.
-Therapy has a beginning and end.
-Change with children starts with the family.
Jackie Washington , LCSW (Pronouns: She, her, hers)
Role: Therapist
Speciality: Anxiety, Depression, Foster Care Youth; Youth experiencing homelessness, System involvement.
Population: Adolescent, Family/Caregiver, Young Adults
Language(s): English
College: Masters in Social Work, George Mason University
Meet Jackie, who comes with many bells and whistles! Born in East California, but raised by a military family living in different states, Jackie eventually settled in Virginia . She did exceptional work for several years in the child welfare industry helping kids of complex families secure safety and stability. She actively works in Alexandria City Public Schools as the Homeless Education and Foster Care liaison for youth/families who are displaced. Prior to this, Jackie had extensive experience working DCHS Child Welfare for nine years as a foster care worker. Her approach includes a trauma-informed lens and teens are her favorite population.
When she's not defending social justice issues such as racial inequality, homelessness, and poverty, she's cycling, making crafts, and enjoying being a mother of biracial daughters.
Nayna Rizk, LCSW (Pronouns, She/her)
Role: Therapist
Speciality: Anxiety, Depression, Foster Care youth, Domestic Violence, System Involvement
Population: Adolescents/Adults
Language(s): English
College: Virginia Commonwealth University
About Nayna:
Nayna has nearly a decade of experience as a child, adolescent and family social worker. A South Asian immigrant to the U.S., Nayna first worked in communications before embarking on a social work career. She spent seven years as a child welfare worker in the city of Alexandria focusing on the foster system. Since 2023, she has worked as a school social worker at Alexandria City High School.
By taking a holistic approach, Nayna is able to offer therapy that engages with the whole person and reflects the context of their life, the challenges and changes they are facing. She strives to be race and social equity aligned in her approach. She works with diverse populations and has experience counseling children, adolescents, adults; survivors of domestic violence and individuals facing family separation, grief and loss.
Joao Perosa Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, Resident in Counseling.
Role: Therapist
Speciality: Anxiety, Depression,
Population: Adolescents/Adults
Language(s): Português/Spanish/English
College: Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Sân Paulo, Doutorado Psicologia de Educação.
Meet Joao
Joao is a Brazilian-trained psychologist with over 20 years of experience supporting teens, adults, and families through life’s challenges. His approach blends clinical expertise with compassion, shaped by years of practice, academic teaching, and deep connection with the people he serves.
Before moving to the U.S. in 2018, Joao worked as a professor in the psychology department at Brazil’s top-ranked university. Since relocating, he has continued his work in community mental health, serving individuals from all walks of life in the City of Alexandria.
Joao’s therapeutic style is warm, grounded, curious, and holistic. He is trained in TF-CBT.
Joao is currently a Resident in Counseling, licensed by the Virginia Board of Counseling, and provides services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.