Renata Cerqueira Fire, Ph.D.
I am licensed by the Board of Psychology in both Maryland and Virginia. I am also authorized by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) to provide telepsychology services in all states that participate in the PSYPACT agreement, including the District of Columbia.
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I earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 2006.
In addition to my doctoral training, I have completed advanced training in numerous therapeutic modalities. Most recently, I trained in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), an approach grounded in attachment science and particularly effective in treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I am also trained in trauma-informed care, which I consider essential when working with clients who have a history of trauma.
I have extensive experience using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in both individual and group settings. ACT is a mindfulness-based approach with strong empirical support for its effectiveness in treating a wide range of psychological difficulties. Additionally, I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) through the Beck Institute. CBT is a skills-based approach backed by a robust body of research, focused on teaching strategies to improve overall well-being. I also hold advanced training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)—a form of CBT—through the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute, specifically for the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
My knowledge of these and other evidence-based approaches allows me to tailor treatment to the unique needs and goals of each client.
I also have considerable training in multicultural psychology and acculturation issues. In addition, I bring to my work the experience of having grown up in four different countries, including the United States. I have worked extensively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and have a special interest in working with immigrants, those raised in cultures different from that of their parents and/or birth country, and those who have lived/worked abroad as part of their adult life, including those in the military. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, I provide psychological services in all three of these languages.
I have taught psychology as an Adjunct Professor at Catholic University and Trinity University in Washington, D.C. I have also provided training to graduate students and social services staff on numerous psychological topics, including trauma and family violence. Most of my career, however, has been focused on providing direct psychological treatment to children, adolescents, and adults.
I have been in private practice since 2011, initially in Falls Church City, Virginia and since 2019 in Rockville, Maryland.
Prior to private practice, I worked as a staff psychologist at Loudoun County Mental Health in Leesburg, Virginia. There, I provided individual, family, and group therapy, as well as psychological testing for clients across the lifespan. I also supervised pre-doctoral interns and post-doctoral fellows and frequently testified as an expert witness in trauma and abuse cases in Loudoun County’s Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
My predoctoral internship was completed at Cambridge Hospital through Harvard Medical School. This training included outpatient work with children, adolescents, and adults, as well as acute inpatient care for adults. The program emphasized multicultural and cross-cultural psychology, as well as psychodynamic theory.
My doctoral dissertation focused on coping strategies, using the Transtheoretical Model of Change, in a sample of women with a history of intimate partner violence seeking services in local emergency rooms. This project was part of a large-scale study conducted through Georgetown University, and I received the distinction of Highest Honors for my work.
My Master’s thesis extended Dr. John Gottman’s research on relationship satisfaction and stability to same-sex couples. This work was published in the Journal of Personal and Social Relationships and in the Journal of Memory in 2007.
My undergraduate degree is from the University of Florida, where I graduated summa cum laude with a major in psychology and minor in French. Prior to entering graduate school, I worked at a domestic violence shelter in Dallas, Texas and at the Family Violence Unit at the Baltimore County Department of Social Services.