About Cheryl Zandt, LPC
My Approach
I am Cheryl Zandt, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Virginia and Washington DC, and the founder of Heart & Mind Insights. I provide telehealth therapy for women and specialize in helping people living with anxiety, chronic stress, burnout, self-esteem concerns, perfectionism, emotional boundaries, life transitions, and the many ways these experiences affect daily life.
My work is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness practice, brainspotting, and somatic approaches to healing. I also have extensive training in advanced traumatic stress studies. At the heart of these approaches is my observation and belief that everyone makes better choices when they understand themselves more clearly.
The women I work with are thoughtful, deeply caring, and capable people who have spent years carrying responsibilities, pushing down stress, anticipating problems, and trying to hold everything together. In therapy, we work to get a better understanding of what has been shaping their experiences, to build and strengthen their relationship with themselves, and to learn practical tools that support meaningful and durable change even after therapy is completed.
My work reflects my deep respect for our shared humanity. While I know that every person has their own unique history, personality, and perspective, we also all share the same fundamental needs for dignity, connection, belonging, purpose, and the desire to feel at home in our own lives.
All are welcome in this practice.
Why I Do This
My career began in the hospital, caring for people who were experiencing medical crises. I was often present during some of the most stressful and disorienting moments of their lives, and then I never saw them again.
I found myself wondering what happened after they left. How did they process what had happened? What support did they need once the immediate crisis had passed?
Over time, those questions led me to become a therapist. I felt a deep connection to being present in an ongoing way for people as they faced life’s challenges and changes.
A Personal Note
I live in Washington DC with my husband, our amazing teen daughter, our cats, and a wild cardinal who comes to visit when he’s called.
When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me reading, spending time with friends, visiting museums, supporting local community efforts, tending my garden, or exploring a hiking trail. I love learning, I love nature, and I love travel. There is almost always another adventure being planned somewhere in the background.
What I Bring Into the Session
Growing up surrounded by nature, one of the experiences I’ve treasured most has been feeding wild birds from my hands. What I love most about those interactions is the silent joy of communicating safety for something that had every reason to stay guarded.
I’ve found that people come to therapy with good reasons for being cautious. Being trusted with another person’s story is a privilege, and one I don’t take for granted. My job isn’t to push past your protections; it’s to make sure there is enough room for curiosity, honesty, and understanding to emerge at a pace that feels right for you.
Get started here
Complete the secure inquiry form below and I’ll personally respond within one business day. We’ll schedule a brief consultation call where you can share a general sense of what brings you to therapy, ask questions about my approach, and decide whether working together feels right for you.
You may also be interested in learning more about:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a practical approach for understanding how thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and nervous system responses influence one another. Learn how small adjustments can create lasting changes over time.
Mindfulness is the practice of intentionally paying attention. In a world that constantly competes for your focus, learn how mindfulness can help you return to the present moment and the life you’re already living.
Some experiences continue affecting us long after we’ve understood them. Brainspotting helps access and process material that may exist beyond words, insight, or conscious awareness.