About Trusted Roots

(she/her/hers)

I am a dedicated and compassionate psychologist with extensive experience in helping individuals and families navigate life's challenges. With a deep commitment to understanding your unique needs, I take a holistic approach to therapy, integrating evidence-based practices with a warm, empathetic style. I specialize in areas such as anxiety, depression, identity development, relationship dynamics, and life transitions, while also focusing on promoting overall emotional well-being and resilience. I believe in the power of self-discovery and growth, creating a safe and nonjudgmental space where you can explore your concerns, gain insights, and work toward meaningful change. My approach is grounded in cultural humility and sensitivity, ensuring that you feel understood and supported in your therapeutic journey.

Originally from California, I received my undergraduate degree in psychology from Brown University and my Ph.D. in child clinical psychology at the University of Washington. I completed my Internship year at the Hawthorne Center and Wayne State University School of Medicine in Michigan and a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan.

I have been a psychology faculty member for the past 26 years at several institutions including the University of North Texas, the University of Michigan, Kenyon College, the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Hood College. I currently serve as a professor and Assistant Program Director for the APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral program at Divine Mercy University in Virginia. I also direct Excellence in College Admissions Preparation (www.myecap.org), an interactive multi-day summer bootcamp to launch high school students on a successful college search. It is an honor to train the next generation of clinical psychologists, and support high schoolers and their families as they navigate exciting and stressful transitions.

When not involved in teaching and clinical work, you’ll find me tie-dying and playing with my two cats, while loudly cheering on my wonderful daughter in college.

Diane R. Graves, Ph.D.

  • My primary area of expertise lies in working primarily with BIPOC young adults and women who feel they lack self-worth (sometimes called “imposter syndrome”) and are struggling with their sense of identity, specifically who they are and where they fit into the world.

  • I work with individuals seeking support for any of the following:

    • Adjustment Disorders

    • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

    • Anxiety Disorders

    • Bereavement/Grief/Loss

    • Career Counseling

    • Caregiver’s Guilt

    • Children’s Behavioral Disorders

    • College Transition Stress

    • Depression

    • Eating Concerns

    • Emotional Growth and Development

    • Family Issues

    • Identity/Personal Growth

    • Life Transition

    • Low Self-Esteem

    • Relationship Issues

    • Psychological Stress

    • History of Trauma

    • Women’s Issues

    • Work-Related Issues

  • I conduct my practice within a cognitive and behavioral framework, in which thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are conceptualized as being linked. I provide effective change and acceptance based treatments to intervene in these areas, tailored for each individual. Using these empirically-supported practices as my foundation, I integrate culturally-adapted family therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and mindfulness practices, while incorporating a social justice lens.

    I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Virginia (#0810008440), Maryland (#07334), and a licensed psychology associate in the District of Columbia (PSYA200001513).

Why Trusted Roots?

In developmental psychology, two key concepts come to mind: equifinality and multifinality. Equifinality suggests that there are many different paths that can lead to the same outcome, much like the roots of a tree. These roots represent our personal histories, grounding us in who we are.

For instance, there are various reasons why someone might seek therapy for depression, and part of my work is to help you explore those roots—your unique experiences and past. The second concept, multifinality, means that from a single starting point, individuals can grow in many different directions based on their strengths, resources, and support. I see this as the branches of the tree—where clients can expand into new possibilities.

It’s incredibly rewarding to witness clients not only reduce their symptoms but also find hope, useful tools, and a renewed sense of well-being, connection, and purpose as they branch out into the next phase of their life’s journey.

“I learnt that the only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you’ll finish it, even if in the beginning you think you can’t do it at all.”

— Langston Hughes