Ioanna Galani

About Ioanna Galani (she/her/hers)

Ioanna Galani is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist who provides culturally responsive, trauma-informed therapy and coaching to individuals, couples, and families across the DMV area. Her work is grounded in empathy, transparency, and collaboration, with a strong emphasis on building trust and creating a safe, supportive space where clients can explore challenges and foster meaningful, lasting change. Ioanna specializes in helping clients navigate concerns related to anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, personality disorders, relationship and family conflict, emotional intimacy, and life transitions. She also has extensive experience working with complex dynamics such as suicidality, ambiguous loss, and culturally influenced stressors. Her integrative approach draws from evidence-based modalities and Family Systems models. Ioanna recognizes that each client’s experience is shaped by their cultural background, values, and relational systems. By thoughtfully incorporating these elements into the therapeutic process, she helps clients develop insights and strategies that align with their identities and lived experiences.

Ioanna earned her Master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she also completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Rhetoric. During her clinical training at the Center for Healthy Families, she worked extensively with diverse populations across individual, couple, and family systems. She also contributed to research examining cultural influences on social attitudes, further informing her nuanced clinical perspective. She has completed advanced training in leading evidence-based relationship modalities, and is a member of the American Psychological Association and European Family Therapy Association.

In Ioanna’s Words

“I know that starting therapy can feel vulnerable—you may be wondering how much to share, whether you’ll be understood, or if your experiences will feel “too much” or hard to explain. My goal is to create a space where you don’t have to filter or perform, and where we can make sense of things together at a pace that feels right for you.

In our work, I pay close attention not just to what you’re going through, but to how your experiences have been shaped by your relationships, culture, and the meanings you’ve had to make along the way. I may gently slow things down, ask thoughtful questions, or reflect patterns I’m noticing—especially the ones that feel difficult to name on your own.

My style is warm and collaborative, but also intentional. I will support you while also helping you look more deeply at patterns that may be keeping you feeling stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed. Together, we’ll work toward building insight, strengthening emotional clarity, and creating changes that feel both meaningful and sustainable.

Above all, I want you to feel genuinely seen and respected in this process. Therapy with me is not about “fixing” you—it’s about helping you better understand yourself, navigate your relationships with more confidence, and move forward in a way that feels aligned with who you are.”

Emily’s Endorsement

“From the moment I met Ioanna as a graduate student of marriage and family therapy, I knew she’d be a wonderful fit for the Capital Crescent Collective team. Her energetic presence is calm yet passionate, her ability to listen is deep yet curious, and her smile puts others instantly at ease. Choosing Ioanna as your therapist means you’ll be working with someone who believes in your worthiness for joy and peace, who trusts your decision making and validates your experiences, and who will challenge you in the patterns of thinking and behaving that are keeping you stuck. The warm-heartedness she brings to every interaction with her clients and colleagues is evidence of how deeply she cares for others. In a private practice market very competitive for high-quality therapist talent, having Ioanna on our team is a dream come true!”

What clients say about working with Ioanna
“My partner and I first met with Ioanna during a crossroads in our relationship. Ioanna made me feel comfortable almost immediately. I have had difficulties trusting therapists in the past. With her guidance, I was able to reconnect with my partner and strengthen our relationship.”

Education

• MS, Couple and Family Therapy, University of Maryland
• BS, Psychology & Rhetoric, University of Maryland