David A. Heilman, Psy.D.

Dr. Heilman is a Licensed Psychologist within the District of Columbia, and received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University’s Professional Psychology Program (Psy.D.). While pursuing his doctoral studies, Dr. Heilman graduated with a Graduate Certificate in LGBT Health Policy and Practice, and later joined the program’s faculty where he taught LGBT Mental Health. He worked to co-found the Support and Identity Discovery Psychotherapy Group for Gay Men at The George Washington University’s Center Clinic, completed his externship training at American University’s Counseling Center and Georgetown University’s Counseling and Psychiatric Service (CAPS), and completed his pre-doctoral internship with an LGBTQ+ emphasis at Virginia Commonwealth University’s University Counseling Services in Richmond, VA.

Dr. Heilman specializes in helping people with LGBTQ+ concerns, ADHD, Performance Anxiety, Mood & Anxiety concerns, and enjoys working with couples and group clients in building more meaningful relationships. Before becoming a psychologist, Dr. Heilman was a professional opera singer and trained at both The Juilliard School in New York, NY, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in San Francisco, CA. Pulling on his strengths in the performing arts, he enjoys helping people feel more comfortable in their own skin, even when they feel themselves to be under tremendous performance pressure.

Credentials, Advanced Trainings, and Certifications

Licensed Psychologist – Psychology DC# PSY1001615
PSYPACT Approved
EMDR Therapy Basic Training, The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy
Internal Family Systems Level 1 Training, IFS Institute

Experience

Education

PsyD, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
Graduate Certificate in LGBT Health Policy & Practice, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
MPsy, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY
MM, The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco, CA
BM, The Juilliard School, New York, NY

Affiliations

Professional Presentations & Journal Articles

Heilman, D., Marsh, L., McLish, J., Williams, R. (2019). Invited Presenter for Circling the Chairs: Starting Groups in Private Practice, Short Course, Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis (ICP+P), Washington, DC.
Heilman, D. (2019). Invited Presenter for Music Performance Anxiety: Not Just Cognitive Distortions Anymore…, Presenter, American University Counseling Center, Washington, DC.
Heilman, D., Marsh, L., McLish, J., Williams, R. (2019). Invited Presenter for To Group or Not To Group: Assessment and Preparation of Potential Group Members, Presenter, American Group Psychotherapy Association’s Connect 2019, Los Angeles, CA.
Heilman, D., Marsh, L., McLish, J., Williams, R. (2019). Invited Presenter for To Group or Not To Group: Assessment and Preparation of Potential Group Members, Short Course, Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Washington, DC.
Heilman, D. (2018). Invited Presenter for Community and Cohesion: The Importance of Group Process in the Treatment of Internalized Homophobia in Gay Men, MAP Symposium Meeting, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Heilman, D. (2018). The Potential Role for Group Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Internalized Homophobia in Gay Men. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 68(1), 56-68.
Heilman, D. (2017). Invited Presenter for Black Swan: Performance, Competition, and Annihilation in Group Psychotherapy, Cinema Series Meeting, Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society, Washington, DC.
Heilman, D. (2016). Accessing Gay Male Shame in Group Psychotherapy: The Social Treatment for Internalized Homophobia (Book proposal in preparation). The George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Heilman, D. (2016). Invited Discussant for Division 39’s Graduate Student Live Supervision Panel. Presentation at the American Psychological Association’s 2016 Annual Convention, Denver, CO.
Heilman, D. (2015). Invited Presenter on Working with Internalized Homophobia in Gay Male Patients, Seminar Series Meeting, Willow Oak Therapy Center, Rockville, MD.
Heilman, D. (2014). Invited Presenter on Beginning Therapy – A Case Example, All-Staff Meeting, George Washington University, Professional Psychology Program, Washington, DC.
Heilman, D. (2014). A Review of Treatments for Music Performance Anxiety and the Need for a Biopsychosocial Approach. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association’s 2014 Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.
Heilman, D., Chesaniuk, M., & Stadler, G. (2014). Depressed Mood and Medication Adherence in Epilepsy: Role of Mediating Pathways. (Manuscript in preparation). Neurology.
Heilman, D., Chesaniuk, M., & Stadler, G. (2014). Elderly Epilepsy Patients and The Internet: A Case Study in Internet Usage for Improving Chronic Health Condition Related Patient Knowledge. (Manuscript in preparation).
Heilman, D., Chesaniuk, M., & Stadler, G. (2012). Depressed Affect Linked with Lower Medication Adherence in Persons Living with Chronic Disease. Poster presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies 46^th Annual Convention, National Harbor, MD.
Heilman, D., Chesaniuk, M., & Stadler, G. (2012). Depressed Affect Predicts Less Action Implementation and Its Social-Cognitive Predictors. Poster presented at the 24^th Annual Association for Psychological Science Convention, Chicago, IL.

Trusted Colleagues

If we are not an ideal fit to work together, I can refer you to one of my other trusted colleagues listed below who are also located near the Dupont Circle neighborhood in DC. These colleagues have proven themselves to be reliable, capable, and warm clinicians who are highly adept at helping clients through challenging times.