Chel'sea Ryan
LCSW, 15 years of experience
About me
Hi! My name is Chel'sea! I've been a practicing clinician for 15 years. I have a Master's of Clinical Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and I specialize in working with athletes, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals and individuals impacted by trauma. I am trained in EMDR, CBT, ACT, IFS, Somatic Therapy and I use a combination of these modalities in my practice. As for my personal life, I am a mom to 3 human children and 1 pup. We love going on trips and spending time in nature. I am also a former College Softball player, Go Dukes! I look forward to working with you soon!
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session will involve building our therapeutic relationship through a little self disclosure on my part and completion of a intake assessment and treatment plan on yours. I will keep it casual yet informative.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
While there is always room for improvement, one of my strengths is understanding what its like to be impacted by trauma both in my professional and personal life. Having experienced childhood trauma has helped me dedicate my life to serving others in a very compassionate way.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
The client I love to work with is one that is ready to embrace their therapy journey and is open to honest feedback!
Specialties
Top specialties
Other specialties
I identify as
Serves ages
My treatment methods
EMDR
I specialize in EMDR within the LGBTQIA2S+ and Black / Brown communities. These communities are special to me as a Bi-Sexual Black woman, it means a lot when my care team can be representative of my identities. This modality will allow you as the client to reprocess the way your trauma is experienced through bilateral stimulation - either hand movements or tapping. However I am trained to work with other communities as well.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is one of go to modalities. With CBT I will help guide you through how your thoughts shape your behaviors. This is a critical first step in understand the relationship between our mind and our body thus allowing space to develop individualized coping strategies.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT is another modality that can be important in client healing. With ACT, you as the client are able to develop the ability to stay in the present moment thus taking an active role when changing your behaviors.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Parts work is one of the most rewarding modalities for client healing, identifying that we are a system and how our parts can impact our functioning while developing a healthy relationship with them.
Somatic
Connecting your mind and your body through expressions like dancing, humming, singing, breathing etc can help foster regulated emotions and behaviors
Location
VirtualLicensed in
Accepts
7 ratings with written reviews
July 16, 2025
My first meeting with Chelsea was very warm and welcoming. I wanted to check all the boxes. She is very well spoken, intelligent, authentic, warm, and I look forward to our other sessions.
Verified client, age 35-44
June 30, 2025
Cheal'sea has made a huge impact on helping me get to a good place with my postpartum depression. She is very understanding, great listener, kind, and open minded. Very easy to talk to. Gives productive feedback that is helpful.
Verified client, age 35-44
June 5, 2025
Chel'Sea has been an excellent therapist so far! She is supportive, nonjudmental, very perceptive, and supports the creation of realistic solutions and adaptations, even if they don't fit into 'typical' expectations.