Simona Efanov, Psy.D.

Dr. Simona Efanov is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia who works with adults and couples. Dr. Efanov provides psychotherapy as well as neuropsychological and psychological assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. She also conducts specialized evaluations, including bariatric psychological evaluations, other medically related psychological assessments, evaluations for prospective adoptive parents, and fitness-for-duty assessments. Dr. Efanov has extensive experience working with adults facing a range of mental health challenges. Her clinical background includes work across diverse settings, including private practice, healthcare systems, inpatient units, and specialized eating disorder treatment programs.

Dr. Efanov specializes in working with adults and couples experiencing trauma and complex PTSD, attachment and relational difficulties, personality dynamics, ADHD and executive functioning challenges, and difficulties with emotional regulation. Her work often focuses on how early family experiences and attachment patterns shape current relationships, identity, and emotional functioning. She has extensive experience treating individuals who have experienced a wide range of traumatic exposures, including relational and developmental trauma, relational abuse, assault, and physical trauma (such as TBI or injuries). She also works with individuals who have faced repeated exposure to high-stress through their professional roles or life circumstances, including members of the military, first responders, and humanitarian workers. Dr. Efanov works with adults navigating complex relationship concerns, including dating patterns, trust ruptures and infidelity, intimacy and sexual concerns, desire discrepancy, infertility and reproductive stress, and the impact of family-of-origin dynamics on adult relationships.

In her clinical work, Dr. Efanov integrates evidence-based and attachment-oriented approaches tailored to the needs of each individual or couple. Her work draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, and DBT-informed strategies to help clients process trauma, strengthen emotional regulation, and develop healthier relational patterns. In couples therapy, she focuses on helping partners understand and shift negative interaction cycles, repair trust ruptures, rebuild emotional and physical intimacy, and strengthen secure emotional connection. Dr. Efanov is trained in the Gottman Method and is an EFT-trained couples therapist. She is also an AASECT member and sex therapy–trained. Her approach is collaborative and integrative, with an emphasis on helping clients develop insight, build resilience, deepen emotional connection, and create more secure and fulfilling relationships.

Dr. Efanov earned a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from The American School of Professional Psychology. She also holds a Master of Science and Medicine in Bioethics from the University of Montreal and a Bachelor of Science from McGill University. Prior to clinical practice, she conducted research at the Montreal Neuroimaging Institute studying the effects of chronic stress in individuals with eating disorders and college students.

She is a member of PSYPACT, an interstate compact facilitating telepsychology and temporary in-person practice across state boundaries.