Judith Brazen, LCSW-C

Practice Philosophy:

Judith Brazen is a licensed clinical social worker dedicated to supporting adults at every stage of life. Clients value Judy’s supportive, compassionate, and engaging style, as she helps them understand their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and translates that understanding into meaningful change. She creates a compassionate environment where clients feel safe, respected, and understood. Judy works with individuals navigating major life transitions, evolving family dynamics, aging-related stressors, relationship changes, grief and bereavement, and the pressures of daily life. Whether clients find themselves stuck in unhelpful patterns or overwhelmed by difficult circumstances, Judy partners with them to find greater meaning and address their most important goals.

Blending practical problem-solving strategies and coping tools with deeper insight into longstanding patterns, Judy helps clients recognize how past experiences may be shaping current emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Known for her calm presence and wise perspective, she helps clients explore new ways to approach situations, shift stuck dynamics, and strengthen their capacity to meet challenges with self-compassion and confidence.

Areas of Expertise:

Judy specializes in supporting adults experiencing life transitions and changing roles, grief and loss, anxiety, chronic stress, depression, relationship challenges, caregiving stress, and questions of identity. Drawing from evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills, psychodynamic and insight-oriented therapy, mindfulness strategies, and strength-based approaches, she tailors each treatment plan to meet the needs of her clients. Clients learn to balance practical skills with deeper emotional understanding, finding greater peace and acceptance as situations arise.

Experience and Training:

Judy earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She was ordained in Rabbinic Studies at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, and her therapeutic work is enriched by years of experience as a rabbi and
chaplain in pastoral care. This unique background, where she worked with patients and families across religious and cultural backgrounds, brings depth and sensitivity to her practice, especially when addressing issues of meaning, spirituality, and the human experience. She has received extensive training in grief, bereavement, and spiritually informed care. Judy draws on her intuition, training, and extensive life experience to build meaningful relationships with patients, fostering the connection needed for growth, change, and greater fulfillment.

Judy sees clients in the Washington, DC office, and offers remote therapy to residents of Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland.