Grace Soistman
Grace Soistman
(she/her)
Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, licensed to serve clients in Virginia, Washington DC, and Iowa. A graduate of George Mason University, Filipino-American, first-generation immigrant. I bring a deep, lived understanding of cultural nuance and systemic barriers. My experience in Asia, the Middle East, and the U.S., and growing up in poverty shaped my belief in a crucial truth: Majority of the time, what people need most is connection, not medication. Pain is real. The weight of your trauma, financial strain, work pressures, and relationship challenges all exist within a broader life context. So I don’t focus solely on treating symptoms. I will collaborate with you to build resilience and the capacity to face life as it is, not to escape it. My approach is comprehensive, grounded in evidence-based care and enriched by genuine, human conversations. Medication is one of many tools. When I prescribe, I do so carefully, avoiding unnecessary polypharmacy and tailoring every decision about dosage, timing, and duration to support your long-term wellbeing. Currently, I provide care for adults with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders across residential, PHP, and outpatient settings. I also work with teens in PHP and support veterans with disabilities. My approach is clear, direct, and grounded in compassion. Clients often tell they leave sessions feeling seen, empowered, and understood; because I’m not here to pathologize your pain. I’m here to walk beside you. So, if even a small part of you is starting to imagine life with more clarity, calm, and connection…you’re already taking a step forward. Let’s take the next one together!
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
During the initial session, you can expect a thorough and compassionate process focused on data gathering and understanding your unique story. This foundational meeting is designed to create a safe and supportive environment where you feel comfortable sharing your experiences, challenges, and goals. We'll also discuss how we'll work together, then dive into your background- what's happening in your life right now, and any mental health issues you're facing. It's important to talk about these things so I can fully understand where you're coming from. We'll look at your symptoms, your day-to-day life, and any other factors that might be affecting your mental health. At the same time, we'll talk about what you want to achieve through therapy. Whether it's dealing with certain symptoms, improving your relationships, or just personal growth, setting clear goals from the start helps make sure our time together meets your needs. Setting these goals together is a key part of creating a treatment plan that's based on solid evidence and tailored just for you.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My strength comes from neuroscience, extensive clinical training, evidence- based research, and LIVED experience. I know exactly how hard it is to build mental health capacity when you’re carrying the invisible weight of poverty, racism, stereotypes, and generational struggle. When no one hands you wealth, privilege, beauty, or high IQ- and survival becomes your baseline skill. When the world tells you-overtly or silently- that you don’t belong. Despite of, it is possible to face life head-on! With clarity and grit, without glorifying the struggle or collapsing into a victim mindset. That perspective shapes how I practice as a clinician. I see your pain, your patterns, your survival strategies, and most important- your STRENGTHS. I’ll meet you exactly where you are- without judgment, and with a clear belief in your capacity to grow, heal, and to live your life with intention- if you choose to. My approach is both direct and compassionate. Insight is essential, but insight without action is USELESS! That’s why we’ll explore both. We’ll examine the unconscious patterns, emotional defenses, and behavioral loops that quietly run the show. Then we’ll get practical- yes, down to worksheets and skills- because awareness without traction isn’t enough. Patients often tell me they feel truly seen. They learn to name the unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that have shaped their lives- and when those patterns surface, we face them together, with clarity, courage, humility, and self-respect. You won’t do this work alone. We’ll sit in the discomfort together. Safely. Skillfully. Until what once felt unbearable becomes something you can understand, hold, and ultimately move through. Because this work isn’t just about feeling better. It’s about becoming better.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I help clients struggling with substance use and addiction, mood disorders, and personality disorders; and those wanting to safely taper off or simplify their psychotropic medications. I am particularly mindful of the potential risks associated with polypharmacy- understanding that although it is sometimes required, it can also result in reduced adherence for some clients. So I aim to manage medications judiciously, tailoring each treatment plan to align with your specific needs and circumstances. My approach is firmly grounded in making well-informed, careful decisions to improve health outcomes and quality of life. Please be advised that I do not provide opinions regarding disability or fitness to return to work or engage in other activities for clients who are not well-established within my practice at the time such an opinion is requested. This policy ensures that any recommendations I make are based on a comprehensive understanding of the client's medical and personal history, allowing for more accurate and tailored advice.
About Grace Soistman
Grace Soistman offers therapy covered by UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicaid in Virginia.
I identify as
Specialties
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I use SFBT by helping clients set clear, achievable goals and encouraging them to recognize past successes and current resources they can utilize. For example, with clients facing anxiety, I help them identify times when they successfully managed their anxiety and explore the strategies they used. We then work together to apply these strategies to current challenges. By focusing on their strengths and what is working, clients often feel more empowered and optimistic about their ability to make positive changes. This approach is particularly useful in a busy clinical setting as it can lead to meaningful improvements in a relatively short period.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I utilize CBT to help patients understand the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By identifying and challenging cognitive distortions—such as catastrophizing or "should" thinking—I work with patients to reframe negative thoughts and develop healthier perspectives. This approach is particularly effective in managing anxiety, depression, and obsessive thinking. I also integrate CBT with medication management when appropriate, tailoring interventions to each patient's unique needs and goals to promote long-term well-being.
Christian Counseling
This approach involves combining evidence-based psychological techniques with Christian principles, offering spiritual guidance alongside mental health treatment. I work collaboratively with patients who express a desire for faith-based counseling, using scripture, prayer, and discussions of faith to support emotional healing. This method is tailored to the individual's spiritual beliefs, allowing for a holistic treatment approach that respects both psychological and spiritual well-being, while ensuring the counseling remains person-centered and aligned with ethical practices.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a conversational style that supports people in exploring their own reasons for change, while respecting their autonomy. It’s especially helpful when there’s ambivalence about treatment, lifestyle shifts, or medication adherence. In practice, MI techniques are used to meet patients where they are. Instead of pushing change, the focus stays on building trust, listening with empathy, and guiding conversations in a way that draws out the patient’s own motivation. Open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarizing (OARS) are key tools that help keep the dialogue collaborative and non-judgmental. This method fits especially well with patients who may feel stuck, resistant, or unsure about making changes. It creates space for honest conversations without shame or pressure, which often leads to more meaningful engagement and progress over time. MI also blends well with other therapeutic approaches and works across different diagnoses, from substance use and mood disorders to chronic medical or behavioral issues. It’s a flexible, respectful approach that strengthens the therapeutic relationship and honors the patient’s voice in their care.
Psychodynamic
Psychodynamic principles are helpful to better understand a person’s emotional world, especially the unconscious patterns that come from early life experiences and shape current relationships and behavior. In clinical work, these insights may help guide treatment beyond just symptom management. Observation of emotional themes, relational patterns, and reactions that might reflect deeper struggles. This approach is especially helpful when working with individuals who have long-standing or complex mental health concerns. Techniques such as reflection, exploring defenses, and noticing transference can support growth and insight over time. This way of thinking brings depth to treatment and often helps patients feel more seen, understood, and supported in a holistic way.