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Ronald Shectman, Ph.D.

Psychotherapist818 18th St NW, Washington, DC

5.00

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.

Overall rating

5.00

Wait time

5.00

Bedside manner

4.92

Insurances accepted

99% of patients have successfully booked with these insurances

Aetna

UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare Oxford

Cigna

GEHA

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Ronald Shectman, Ph.D.

818 18th St NW, Lower 18, Washington, DC 20006

All provider availability

Today, Apr 2 – Wed, Apr 15

Insurances accepted

99% of patients have successfully booked with these insurances

Aetna

UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare Oxford

Cigna

GEHA

1 office location

Ronald Shectman, Ph.D.

818 18th St NW, Lower 18, Washington, DC 20006

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Ronald Shectman, Ph.D.

I bring a broad range of experience to my work as a clinical psychologist. While psychotherapy has always been at the heart of what I do, I’ve also spent many years teaching and supervising graduate students training to become therapists at several universities in the Washington, D.C. area. I’ve taught courses in cognitive-behavioral therapy and clinical interviewing, and have led workshops on journaling for self-understanding and personal control. I’ve also offered programs on listening more effectively, reducing fear and negativity, and managing runaway eating. My work in this area has included therapy groups focused on overeating and bulimia, along with a long-running support program for people coping with intense anxiety. THERAPEUTIC FOCUS I work primarily with individuals and couples. Many of the people I see struggle with anxiety, depression, or difficulty sustaining self-control. Overcoming these challenges often means learning to quiet—or at times disarm—a side of yourself that tends to take over but doesn’t actually serve you well. I also work with those who find themselves struggling within a relationship, or with relationships in general, and who want to improve how they connect and communicate. We might focus on building closeness, resolving conflict more cooperatively, speaking up when boundaries are crossed, or finding ways to express anger without escalating tension. It is often useful to reflect on conversations that turned contentious and to consider how to approach similar situations with greater poise and clarity. Dealing straightforwardly and fairly with another person may involve calmly noting aspects of their behavior that contributed to the difficulty, while also acknowledging—when relevant—missteps of your own. The challenge is to speak about provocative matters unprovokingly. VULNERABILITY AND GROWTH The ability to engage with another person openly and without defensiveness often depends on one’s relationship to vulnerability. Someone who is so frightened of being wrong that honestly addressing personal lapses feels impossible may begin to reverse this pattern by keeping in mind the strength it takes—and the strength that emerges—through the deliberate act of cutting against the grain of entrenched habit. APPREHENSION ABOUT STARTING THERAPY Meeting with a counselor isn’t always an easy decision. It can be hard to know what to expect, and it’s not uncommon to worry that therapy might not live up to your hopes. When life already feels difficult, the last thing anyone wants is another disappointment. My role is to create a safe and supportive environment where you can talk about what’s painful or confusing without fear of being judged, shamed, or rejected. As you discuss different aspects of your life, I listen closely—attuned to the thoughts and feelings beneath the surface, including those that may be harder to see. I offer my understanding of what I hear, adding texture where I can, so that you gain the benefit of getting to know yourself better. Developing a richer vocabulary to describe the currents of your emotional life can also make it easier to understand—and to connect with—the internal experiences of others. Feeling understood can quiet the fear of not being understood. As apprehension recedes, a willingness to share more freely may follow, and previously recessed material can begin to rise to the surface. Growing confidence in the therapist may encourage greater risk-taking in what is said. Thoughts may be raised for exploration even when they are only partially formed, or when it is unclear where their expression might lead. Concerns or emotions that are uncomfortable to face—because they expose vulnerability or cast one in an unflattering light—may be more readily spoken about. The reward for overcoming a reticence toward openness, or for recognizing previously unseen aspects of one’s make-up, conduct, or relationships, is a broader sense of freedom. WORKING TOGETHER There may be times when I don't immediately grasp the full nature of what you're saying. Even so, this can be a helpful moment. In clarifying your experience for me, you may begin to notice—perhaps as you hear, possibly for the first time, your own articulation of the matter—facets of your thinking that hadn’t been apparent before. As part of helping someone talk through their circumstances—especially if they’re feeling blocked or jumbled—I’ll gently raise questions that help draw out a fuller picture of what’s been happening. My inquiry may prompt you to take a fresh look at a familiar matter, to flesh out a conception of an issue that isn’t yet well understood, or to act differently as a consequence of revising your thinking. Over time, the process of examining your experiences and putting them into words fosters a clearer awareness of how your inner world operates. A person in psychological trouble may feel stumped when it comes to finding a way to relieve their distress. When someone feels unable to figure out how to tackle a problem, I offer suggestions aimed at helping them become unstuck. Drawing on my understanding of a person’s strengths and gaps in thinking and behavior—and on my sense of the resources needed to meet current demands—I propose ways of viewing the situation and courses of action designed to narrow the divide between existing capacities and required competencies. You remain free to accept or reject these suggestions as you see fit, and I’m always ready to explain in detail the reasoning behind any perspective or course of action I recommend. THE AIM OF THERAPY One path to knowing yourself that therapy can encourage is recognizing how external events affect your inner experience, and how those reactions, in turn, shape the behavior that follows. A further benefit of this understanding is gaining insight into how thoughts and feelings drive unproductive actions, and how those actions set off the problem-sustaining thoughts and feelings that take hold next. Examining how each of these spheres influences the other can promote a more nuanced appreciation of the subtleties of your personal psychology. Therapy, at its best, becomes a sustained exploration of what it means to live with awareness, resilience, and compassion for oneself and for others.

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.

Overall rating

5.00

Wait time

5.00

Bedside manner

4.92

Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here

16 reviews

Most relevant

Dr. Shectman is a humanist. Seeing him has been like talking to a trusted elder in the best possible way. He treats me as an individual and brings an immense amount of knowledge and experience to the practice. He is unflappable and professional. Highly recommend him.

CHVerified patient

This was my first experience with counseling, so feeling comfortable was incredibly important to me. From the start, Dr, Shectman was exceptionally attentive and compassionate, truly listening without judgment. His thoughtful, practical suggestions made me feel supported, respected, and empowered throughout our work together

KKVerified patient

Dr. Shectman is a kind, thoughtful, and compassionate therapist who approaches his patients with everything you would hope for as a first time attendee of therapy. He has a warm, calming presence that puts you at ease, and he genuinely seems to care about his patients' progress. The space Dr. Shectman creates feels safe and non-judgmental, and he asks insightful, thoughtful questions that have enabled me to think more deeply about the things I am working through. Whether you're new to therapy or have worked with other therapists before, I would highly recommend Dr. Shectman. I am grateful to have found him.

FBVerified patient

Very patient and understanding. Not at all confrontational; rather, leading my verbal soliloquy with pertinent, personal questions arising from just spoken factual experiences and emotional expressions. Dr. Shectman and I may have crossed paths during my mental health crises of decades ago perhaps; life can be uncanny that way! And even if not, there was a feeling of being 'home again' as I spoke. I do look forward to our next meeting next week with a heightened, elated eagerness that well-overrides the intrinsic pains of, yes, the reality of the financial costs. For, me, a befuddled simple man of absurdly simple means, though oft-questioned "Really?! Why thus?!" being a Caucasian male in Western Civilization, to which I have no clear answer, maybe that there is the crux of my lifelong mental health matter: the securities offered by any attained wealth are perhaps merely dark illusions holding nothing viz-a-viz the comforts of a wise, elder willing to take a chance on a younger legacy.

December 30, 2025Michael N.Verified patient

Dr. Shectman has a diverse, adaptable style of therapy that meets me where I am in that moment or season of life. He's an attentive listener and always responds thoughtfully, whether that's encouraging me to go deeper on a topic or providing excellent feedback and actionable changes I can apply. He's great at helping me reframe my mindset or obstacles to growth. I've benefitted from his ability to push and challenge me, always with the utmost support and care. He is also very flexible; I prefer in-person visits but, when needed (even with short notice), he's able to pivot to telehealth visits.

MHVerified patient

Dr. Schectman is a great therapist. He listens, provides deep insights and has helped me on my healing journey. I highly recommend him.

GSVerified patient

Dr. Shectman is very patient and kind. He has helped me work through a lot of my mental issues and really proposes good tips and ways of thinking of things.

LHVerified patient

I've been seeing Dr. Shectman for about a year now, and appreciate his methodical yet practical approach to dealing with issues I surface during our conversations. His insightful and thoughtful questions have prompted deeper reflection on my part and helped me identify patterns of thinking underlying my beahviors and beliefs. I would highly recommend him as a therapist.

UOVerified patient

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MMVerified patient

January 18, 2026Frank B.Verified patient

January 10, 2026Initials hidden

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