Why Choose Capital Youth Services?

Our founder, Britt Rathbone, is a pioneer in adolescent mental health. Among the first therapists in the Washington, DC region to specialize exclusively in adolescents, Britt has built a career as one of the nation’s leading voices in adolescent psychotherapy. He is widely recognized as an expert clinician, accomplished author, and sought-after speaker, regularly presenting to professional and community audiences alike. Britt is also deeply committed to training others; he mentors our team, educates the local community, and teaches clinicians across the country. His leadership ensures that our practice remains at the forefront of evidence-based care for young people and their families.

Adolescents are our specialty. We understand how challenging it can be to connect with teens, and how critical it is to get it right. Our team knows how to engage young people in a way that earns their trust, even when they’re hesitant about therapy. We provide proven, research-based treatments that address the real struggles teens face today, from emotional regulation to behavior issues, to family conflict, and we are proud of the positive, measurable outcomes we achieve. Parents, schools, and professionals turn to us because they know: we get results with adolescents.

We are relentless about excellence. Our training and supervision program is not just strong, it is intentionally designed to be robust, innovative, and uncompromising in quality. Every therapist receives on-site supervision as well as ongoing, direct access to nationally and internationally recognized experts in specialized treatments and interventions. Beyond supervision, we invest heavily in professional growth, providing clinicians with up to 75 hours of advanced training each year, a commitment that far exceeds industry norms and ensures our team remains at the forefront of evidence-based practice.

Unlike many practices that rely on independent contractors, we employ our therapists directly. This distinction matters: the IRS prohibits direct supervision of contractors, which means those practices cannot formally oversee or shape clinical work. By hiring employees, we ensure that every clinician is closely trained, directly supervised, and continuously supported. This structure allows us to uphold the highest clinical standards, accountability, and consistency of care for our clients.

We are more than a team, we are a community of therapists who genuinely enjoy working together, and that spirit of collaboration and respect shows in everything we do. We are committed to supporting the well-being and quality of life of every employee, offering a generous compensation and benefits package designed to attract and keep the very best. The result is a highly skilled, stable staff: many of our clinicians have been with us for 10, 15, even 20+ years, a rare level of loyalty and continuity that reflects our culture.

Our offices are built with teens in mind. From the ground up, we’ve designed our spaces for comfort, safety, and growth, shaped by feedback from our clients themselves. We recognize that adolescents come to us after long days filled with school, sports, jobs, community service, and social commitments. That’s why we’ve created an environment where they can finally exhale and feel at ease. Every detail matters: soundproofing for privacy, welcoming spaces stocked with snacks and refreshments, and state-of-the-art therapy tools that make sessions both engaging and effective.

For more than 30 years, we have built and sustained a stellar reputation in the community. This trust has been earned one client at a time, by recognizing that every individual who walks through our doors brings a unique story, history, and set of needs. We approach each client with the same care, attention, and commitment we would extend to a close friend or family member. Our highest priority is the well-being of those we serve, grounded in respectful, ethical treatment and unwavering integrity. We are proud of our decades long track record of ethical practice, exceptional outcomes, and a reputation for excellence that families, professionals, and colleagues continue to rely on.

At Capital Youth Services, your teen is in expert hands. Our therapists aren’t just highly trained, they are widely recognized as leaders in the field of adolescent mental health. Families, schools, and professionals trust us because our team combines deep expertise with genuine care, creating a place where young people feel understood, supported, and empowered to grow.

Capital Youth Services/Rathbone & Associates has been named a Great Place to Work by Washingtonian magazine. This recognition is a testament to the culture we’ve built and the values we live by every day. We believe that the way we treat our clients begins with the way we treat one another.

We’re a carbon neutral organization that supports both global and local environmental efforts. We offset our carbon footprint by donating to Earthjustice and the Anacostia Watershed Society, because we believe caring for our community includes caring for the planet.