therapy for women with toxic mothers
with Dr. Ann Krajewski, PsyD
Washington DC
Virginia
Washington DC Virginia
TOXIC MOTHER therapist serving
I know how foundational the mother-daughter relationship is, and how painful it is when that foundation has cracks.
I’ve spent 11+ years helping women understand the impact of toxic mothers and to feel like themselves again.
Do you want connection with your mom but also need emotional space?
Do you feel responsible for her feelings or afraid of disappointing her?
Did your mom have mental health issues that impacted you growing up?
Growing up under a critical or unpredictable mom leaves you anxious. You may feel guilty for having anger now or for setting boundaries. Many keep the peace at the cost to themselves.
No matter how old you are, things can change.
Are always walking on eggshells in relationships
Feel the need to put everyone else first
Feel bad for being angryAre always looking for validation
Never feel like you are enough
Criticize your body – even as an adult
Are unsure how to say no
Feel unsure of yourself
If your relationship with your mom is something you deal with every day, therapy can help.
therapy may help you if…
3 steps to get started
step 01
book a free call
Send a message or fill out the form. Share as much or as little as you want.
step 02
choose when we meet
We’ll talk for 15 minutes to see if it feels like a good fit.
step 03
begin to heal
We’ll explore what’s happening now, what you grew up with, and how we’ll approach our work together.
Ready for a new kind of relationship with your mom and with yourself?
how I approach toxic mother therapy
Therapy with me helps you understand where these patterns began, and why they still hold power.
We slow down and look at what you had to do growing up, how these roles shaped your identity, and what still gets activated today. Together we bring clarity to anger, guilt, and the pull to caretake. This work all helps you see you are not responsible for managing her emotions.
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Psychoanalytic Therapy
Helps you understand how your past shaped your current patterns. Reduces guilt, self blame, and confusion around anger.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Helps you understand the parts of you that try to keep the peace, avoid conflict, or stay perfect, increasing inner calm and self trust.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Supports emotional awareness, so you respond instead of react when old dynamics get triggered.
Relational Therapy
Uses the therapy relationship as a safe place to practice honesty to strengthen your capacity to express needs and hold boundaries.
Trauma Informed Approach
Brings stability and grounding, reducing nervous system activation and the fear of emotional backlash.
you can love your mom and still be hurt by her. get the clarity you need to build a different relationship.
When you’re no longer sorting through everything on your own, things start to shift. Over time, therapy helps you understand what you’ve been carrying, why certain patterns keep showing up, and how to respond differently — without guilt, fear, or over-explaining.
After therapy, you may experience:
clearer understanding of their emotions, needs, and boundaries
more confident decision-making without constant second-guessing
less guilt when setting limits or prioritizing yourself
the ability to stay connected without losing yourself
healthier, more balanced relationships
greater confidence at work and in daily life
less fear of how others, including your mom, might react
With clarity, you’re no longer repeating old dynamics. You begin building relationships — including the one with your mom — from a place of self-trust, steadiness, and choice.
Hi, I’m dr. Ann Krajewski, psyd.
there’s nothing you can tell me about your relationship with your mom that will shock me
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist with 11+ years of experience working with patients one-on-one. In sessions, we’ll explore your history with honestly, warmth, and depth. We’ll look at patterns, the roles you took on as a daughter, and the parts of you that are exhausted from holding everything together. We’ll move at a thoughtful pace and stay curious.
Availability: I work with patients online in Washington DC and Virginia.
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Bachelor of Art in Clinical Psychology, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology, Institute for the Psychological Sciences
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Institute for the Psychological Sciences
Training in psychoanalytic therapy, IFS, EFT, trauma informed care, and relational therapy
Extensive experience treating adult children of toxic or critical mothers
helping you journey to self-acceptance.
helping you journey to self-acceptance.
helping you journey to self-acceptance. helping you journey to self-acceptance.
View our frequently asked questions to find answers to general therapy, insurance, and service-based questions.