Who We Are
Next Level Up Counseling was founded in 2022. Its three founders, Leticia Manoel, LICSW, LCSW-C, Deena Guirguis, LICSW, LCSW-C and Juana Marquez-Villegas, LPC, all met in 2018 while working at the same public school in DC providing mental health services and supports to children and their families through the school mental health system.
We have been honored to work with incredible families and individuals through each of our careers, but the last few years revealed that something was missing. With the state of mental health and mental health services, it became clear that, very simply, people need more options for convenient, available, good support in the community when it comes to addressing their own mental health and the mental health of people in their care.
We started Next Level Up Counseling as a response to the need we saw in our communities, and we are confident that our uniquely diverse trio can find you and your loved ones the right support.
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Co-Founder and Lead Clinician
As a trilingual clinician fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish, I draw deeply from my own diverse cultural background to build genuine, compassionate connections with the people I support. My lived experience helps me show up with empathy, curiosity, and openness—especially when working with clients navigating identity, belonging, or the immigrant experience.
With more than 18 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of working with children, adolescents, and adults facing a wide range of challenges, including low self‑esteem, relationship and family‑of‑origin concerns, grief and loss, life transitions, childhood disorders, trauma, anxiety, and depression. I believe that healing begins with feeling seen, understood, and accepted, and I work hard to cultivate a warm, trusting therapeutic space where that is possible.
At the core of my practice is a psychodynamic and humanistic approach. This means I value understanding the deeper layers of your emotional world while honoring your inherent strengths, resilience, and capacity for growth. Depending on your goals and preferences, I also incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and strengths‑based interventions to offer practical tools and support that fit your unique needs.
My style is welcoming, collaborative, and sometimes even playful—because meaningful growth can be supported by moments of lightness. Together, we’ll explore what’s getting in the way, build on what’s already strong, and work toward the change, clarity, and well‑being you’re seeking.
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Co-Founder and Lead Clinician
I know how important it is to find the right therapist with the right approach for you and/or your family. I pride myself on my ability to form strong relationships with my clients of all ages and I approach my work with empathy, care, and a fair dose of humor.
Over the last decade of my clinical career, I have worked with children, adolescents and families through anxiety, behavioral challenges, parenting and family dynamics utilizing a strengths-based approach, cognitive and behavioral strategies and child-centered play therapy (in-person).
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Co-Founder and Lead Clinician
I am a bilingual (Spanish and English) experienced mental health counselor with over 16 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families in the District of Columbia and Maryland. I am committed to supporting individuals toward mental and emotional well-being so that together, we can work on identifying concrete and practical solutions as clients navigate all of life's expectations and unexpected challenges.
I utilize various evidenced-based therapeutic approaches tailored to the client’s age and challenges, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and other Behavioral Interventions.