Our Team

  • Melissa Callahan, LMFT: Co-Director

    Melissa is the Co-Director of the Washington Baltimore Community for EFT (WBCEFT) and is an ICEEFT-Certified Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) practitioner. She is trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), Individual Therapy (EFIT), and Family Therapy (EFFT), as well as supervision in each of these areas. Melissa has been practicing EFT since the beginning of her career, drawn to its attachment-based, experiential, and empirically validated approach, which aligns closely with her personal and professional philosophy.

    Throughout her career, Melissa has supported hundreds of couples, individuals, and families in strengthening their relationships by improving communication and deepening connections. She specializes in helping clients navigate relationship struggles, focusing on both the pain that can arise and the healing that is possible. Melissa is also passionate about training therapists and has mentored dozens through systemic and EFT supervision, including leading group sessions, offering individual supervision, and guiding other supervisors in developing their own unique approach. 

    As an LGBTQIA+ ally, non-monogamy-affirming, anti-racist, and culturally humble therapist, Melissa is committed to inclusion and welcomes all individuals to her practice. She offers in-person sessions at her Northern Virginia office and provides telehealth sessions to clients in Virginia and North Carolina. Melissa is also dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment within both WBCEFT and her private practice.

    You can reach Melissa directly at melissa@wbceft.com.

  • Krista Clark, LMFT: Co-Director

    Krista is the Co-Director of the Washington Baltimore Community for EFT and is a Certified EFCT & EFIT Therapist and Supervisor. Krista has been using EFT in her clinical work for over 10 years and continues to be inspired by this trustworthy roadmap that transforms even the most distressed relationships. As a Virginia board approved supervisor and an EFT Supervisor, Krista enjoys supporting clinicians as they pursue licensure or certification in EFT.

    Originally from Georgia, Krista received her B.S. degree in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia and her Master’s degree in Human Development and Marriage and Family Therapy from Virginia Tech.

    Krista co-owns a private practice with former WBCEFT director, Kathryn Rheem, in Fairfax, VA. Krista is licensed in Georgia and Virginia and is committed to providing care that prioritizes inclusivity and emotional safety. In her clinical work and in her role at WBCEFT, she strives to create an environment where individuals feel supported, safe, and seen.

    You can contact Krista at krista@wbceft.com.

Former WBCEFT Leadership

  • Kathryn Rheem, Ed.D., LMFT - Former Director

    Kathryn is a Certified EFT supervisor & therapist. She is an ICEEFT Certified EFT Trainer Emeritus and former Director of WBCEFT. She has trained hundreds of mental health clinicians in EFT nationally and internationally. She has been a student of EFT since 2002, has been using this empirically-validated approach exclusively in private practice since 2005, and continues to study and learn the model daily.

    Kathryn trains and presents EFT regularly at many locations in U.S. including the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium, AAMFT Annual Conference, state divisions of AAMFT, and EFT Summit and has taught EFT in Denmark, Sweden, Holland, and Germany.

    She works extensively with couples where one or both partners have endured trauma and has written and presented on the application of EFT with trauma numerous times. In addition to the application of EFT with trauma, Kathryn has a special passion for working with and teaching the Withdrawer Re-engagement process. For her doctoral dissertation, Kathryn completed the first analysis of Withdrawer Re-engagement, and she enjoys teaching clinicians how to come alongside and work with Withdrawers. Kathryn was voted a Top Couples Therapist in Washington, D.C. by the Washingtonian magazine in December 2012.

  • Sarah Cook, LCSW Former Co-Director

    Sarah is a former Co-Director of the Washington Baltimore Community for EFT (WBCEFT) from January 2022- January 2025. She is an ICEEFT- Certified Emotionally Focused Couples and Individual Therapist (EFCT & EFIT) and Supervisor and an AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist. Sarah is passionate about the EFT method– a humanistic model supported by research– and has witnessed the model effectively strengthen emotional bonds between partners to create more secure attachments. In addition to providing individual supervision to therapists, Sarah, together with Angela, has facilitated supervision groups for therapists learning and refining their EFT skills.
    Sarah received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Asian Studies from the University of Virginia. She received her Masters in Social Work, with a concentration in Child Welfare, from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her Masters-level research focused on ethnic identity development in transracial adoptees. This interest stemmed from her personal journey as a biracial person, navigating her ethnic identity while straddling two cultures and with a blend of skin color. 
    Sarah is on the Executive Board of the non-profit Conexa and traveled with them to Uganda and Kenya with the mission to reduce relational violence and support the development of EFT within the East African context.
    Sarah is committed to anti-racist and LGBTQIA+ inclusive work, both professionally and personally. She warmly welcomes all people in all bodies to WBCEFT and her private practice located in Alexandria, VA.

  • Angela Fowler-Hurtado, LICSW - Former Co-Director

    Angela is a former Co-Director of the Washington Baltimore Community for EFT from January 2022-January 2025. She is an ICEEFT Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist and ICEEFT Certified Supervisor in EFCT for couples, EFIT for individuals and EFFT for families. She received her Masters in Social Work from Catholic University in Washington DC.
    In addition to her extensive training in EFT, Angela is certified in EMDR by EMDRIA, is a Certified Relational Life Therapy coach and is a graduate of the Ferentz Institute Trauma Certificate Program. Angela has been in private practice for more than 15 years providing therapy to individuals, couples and families along with individual and group EFT supervision for therapists growing in the EFT model.
    Angela is passionate about creating healthy relationships with self and others. She believes deeply that experiencing safe and secure connection in relationship is a vital part of being human and is committed to bringing the healing power of connection to all.
    Being part of a bi-cultural family with her husband, three children and two dogs, Angela is a constant, humble learner of the complexity and challenges of our most important relationships.