Dr. Simona Efanov is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia who works with adults, couples and parents of children with anxiety. Dr. Efanov specializes in providing psychotherapy, neuropsychological assessments as well as specialized assessments such as bariatric evaluation and other medical based evaluations, PTSD evaluations, prospective adoptive parents evaluation and fitness for duty evaluations. Dr. Efanov’s professional experience includes many years of treating adults struggling with a variety of mental health challenges. She has worked in various settings, including private practices, healthcare settings, inpatient units, and specialized eating disorder units and programs.

Dr. Efanov specialties include treating individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma and complex PTSD, relationship challenges, emotion dysregulation, and personality disorders as well as comorbid conditions. Dr. Efanov also has extensive experience working with individuals who have been exposed to a variety of traumatic experiences, including relational abuse, physical traumas (TBI, injuries), assault, as well as individuals who have been exposed to crise- based situations as part of their work, such as law enforcement, military personnel, first responders, as well as humanitarian workers. Dr. Efanov also welcomes individuals with difficult family histories who want to better themselves and improve current and past relationships.

In her work, Dr. Efanov adopts a combination of CBT and other evidence-based modalities. Dr. Efanov is a Level 2 Gottman and Level 1 EFT couples’ therapist. She can also offer specialized treatment modalities, including DBT, EMDR, IFS, ERP, SPACE and CBT-I. In her work with individuals and couples, she utilizes integrative and collaborative approaches that best fit the needs of each client. She aims to help individuals and couples learn to use evidence-based tools, build stronger emotional connection with and intimacy and heal from past hurts.

Dr. Efanov earned a a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from The American School of Professional Psychology, as well as a Master in Clinical Psychology. Prior to her work in clinical psychology, Dr. Efanov obtained a Master of Science and Medicine in Bioethics from University of Montreal and Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from McGill University, in Montreal. Prior to her work in clinical psychology, Dr. Efanov conducted research with the Montreal Neuroimaging Institute working on studying the effects of chronic stress in individuals with eating disorders and college students.

Dr. Efanov is a member of PSYPACT, an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries.