Helping young children, parents, and parents-to-be heal, grow, and thrive through the earliest chapters of family life.
From fertility, birth, and NICU experiences to behavior challenges, anxiety, feeding, sleep, and questions about how you want to parent, the earliest chapters of family life can feel overwhelming.
You don't have to figure it out alone.
Specialized perinatal & early childhood psychological services, from the convenience of your living room.
Currently booking telehealth appointments for families across Virginia & Florida. Inquire about availability for services in California.
Meet Dr. Desmond
Parenting—and the path to becoming a parent—isn't meant to feel stressful all the time.
I'm Dr. Anjeli Desmond, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in perinatal, infant/toddler, and early childhood mental health. I work with parents-to-be, parents, couples, and young children across the earliest stages of family life, from fertility and pregnancy through the early childhood years.
For adults, I provide therapy to process fertility and infertility experiences, difficult births, NICU stays, medical trauma, and the emotional adjustment to parenthood. I also work with parents individually and as a couple to better understand where their parenting beliefs and patterns come from, clarify the values they want to bring into their own family, and develop a more intentional and confident approach to parenting.
For young children and families, I help with emotional, behavioral, and developmental concerns including anxiety, separation difficulties, disruptive behaviors, feeding challenges, sleep problems, toileting concerns, and medical or relational trauma. My training includes evidence-based approaches such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Parent Management Training (PMT), and cognitive-behavioral and exposure-based interventions for anxiety, feeding, sleep, toileting, and medical fears.
After training and providing care at leading children's hospitals across the country, I'm proud to now offer specialized perinatal, parenting, and early childhood mental health services to families throughout Virginia & Florida. No referral or diagnosis is needed. Through secure telehealth, I provide individual therapy, parenting therapy, parent coaching, couples-based parenting work, and family treatment from the comfort of your own home.
Whether you're trying to make sense of a difficult journey into parenthood, wondering why certain parenting moments feel so activating, helping an anxious baby or dysregulated toddler, or simply asking yourself, "Is this supposed to feel this hard?"—you don't have to figure it out alone.
My goal is to help you understand what is happening, why it is happening, and what to do next—using developmental science, evidence-based treatment, and care tailored to you, your child, and your family.
Services
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Free 15-Minute Consultation
A complimentary 15-minute phone consultation is an opportunity to briefly discuss your concerns, ask questions about my approach, and determine whether my services are the right fit for your family. If appropriate, we'll discuss next steps for scheduling an initial appointment.
Comprehensive Initial Intake
Following your consultation, you can schedule a comprehensive initial intake. During this appointment, we'll take a detailed look at your child's development, current concerns, family history, strengths, and goals. Together, we'll develop a shared understanding of what's going on and create a personalized plan for treatment.
Early Childhood Consultation
A one-time early childhood consultation offers a focused space to ask questions and receive guidance about your child’s development. We’ll discuss your concerns, your child’s strengths, and what you’re noticing at home, at school, or in other settings. I’ll provide developmentally informed recommendations and practical guidance, and help you identify next steps—including evaluations, services, or interventions that may be helpful. This consultation is designed to offer clarity and direction as a standalone service.
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Family therapy helps strengthen the relationship between you and your child while addressing the emotional and behavioral challenges that make everyday life feel harder than it should.
Whether you're navigating anxiety, tantrums, challenging behaviors, medical or NICU-related trauma, or simply feeling like you don't understand what your child is trying to communicate, treatment is tailored to your family's unique needs and goals.
I specialize in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and Parent Management Training (PMT)—evidence-based approaches that help children thrive by strengthening the relationships that matter most.
Family therapy sessions are typically 60 minutes, once per week.
Think family therapy might be right for you? Book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss.
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Sometimes you don't need therapy—you just need expert guidance.
Parent coaching offers practical, evidence-based support for everyday challenges like potty training, picky eating, sleep difficulties, and other developmental concerns. Together, we'll understand what's driving your child's behavior, create a plan that fits your family's values and routines, and troubleshoot along the way.
Whether you're getting started, feeling stuck, or simply looking for reassurance, parent coaching can help you feel more confident and make everyday parenting a little easier.
Parent coaching typically takes place in 30- or 60-minute sessions scheduled weekly or bi-weekly.
Think your family could benefit from parent coaching? Book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss.
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Sometimes the challenges of parenting begin before your child is even born—or bring up parts of your own story you did not expect.
Individual and parenting therapy offers a space to process experiences such as infertility, pregnancy or birth complications, NICU stays, medical trauma, grief, and the emotional transition to parenthood. Therapy can also focus on understanding how your own upbringing, relationships, and past experiences influence the way you parent today.
For parents and couples, we can explore where your parenting values, expectations, and reactions come from, identify which patterns genuinely fit the family you want to create, and develop a more intentional, values-aligned approach moving forward.
Sessions are tailored to your goals and may involve individual therapy, parenting-focused work, or sessions with both parents.
Think this might be a good fit? Book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss.
What Families Are Saying
“The best doctor - of any kind - we’ve ever had.”
-Mother of D., 6 y/o M, treated for toileting issues. “My daughter began working with Dr. Des when she was struggling with significant anxiety, panic attacks, and fears related to dental care and being away from home. She connected with Dr. Des immediately and genuinely looked forward to their sessions. Dr. Des helped her understand her emotions, develop coping skills, and gradually conquer her fears, while also giving us practical guidance for supporting her at home. As a parent, I always felt included while knowing my daughter’s privacy and autonomy were respected. She has grown tremendously in confidence, and I’m incredibly grateful for the foundation Dr. Des helped her build. I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Des to other families.”
- Mother of N., 9 y/o F, treated for anxiety.“We loved working with Dr. Des and are so grateful for how much she helped our family. She strengthened our relationship, helped us better understand our daughter’s needs, and gave us practical strategies that made a lasting difference at both home and school. Dr. Des was consistent, communicative, understanding, and never shied away from challenges. I truly don’t know where we would be without her.”
-Mother of L., 4 y/o F, treated for behavior challenges.