Nathan Gehlert, PhD, Licensed Professional Counselor               

I received master’s and doctoral degrees in counseling at Loyola University Maryland. A Licensed Professional Counselor, I am concluding training to become a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist. I am a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, the Mid-Atlantic Association of Imago Therapists, and Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society.

I’m in practice as a psychotherapist at the Imago Center of Washington DC, a non-profit mental health care center that serves hundreds of clients in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. I work out of metro-accessible offices in Dupont Circle, Capitol Hill, and Foggy Bottom. 

Research

I’m currently working as principal investigator on an experimental study of Imago Relationship Therapy interventions with couples. The study is funded in large part through a generous grant from The Sister Fund. The study is part of a movement to establish Imago as an evidenced-based practice. My doctoral dissertation also examined several aspects of Imago theory in a sample of 128 couples. The main purpose of the study was to assess patterns of mate selection and the ability of Five Factor Model (FFM) personality and spirituality to predict marital satisfaction. The results showed that: (a) greater similarity between spouses was found for spirituality than personality; (b) similarity on spirituality between self- and observer-ratings was predictive of marital satisfaction; (c) husbands’ rating of wives’ Neuroticism was predictive of marital satisfaction; (d) wives’ rating of self and husbands’ Neuroticism and husbands’ Conscientiousness were predictors of marital satisfaction; (d) on spirituality, individuals were most similar with their spouse’s opposite-sex-parent, suggesting that psychological imprinting-like mechanisms play a role in human mate selection. I was fortunate to have the co-creator of Imago, Harville Hendrix, on my dissertation committee.

I also work as a consultant with mental health care organizations, helping them research their treatment methods and examine how their programs improve the lives of their clients. I recently conducted a study on how treatment groups that incorporate spirituality improve well-being for patients with severe mental illness.

Research is not only a rewarding practice, but also allows me to continually stay informed about current research on health and healing  and incorporate evidenced-based methods into my own practice.  

Personal

Prior to beginning clinical training, I worked as a political consultant and fundraiser in Washington, DC. I hope my previous career gives me an appreciation for the professional and personal struggles of some of my clients in Washington. I’m also passionate about nature and enjoy hiking, running, and outdoor adventure activities.