Courtenay Alleyne
About
Hi! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, DSW) based in Virginia with over 15 years of experience working with adolescents and their families. I help teens who are struggling with emotional regulation, anxiety, behavioral concerns, self-esteem, and life transitions.
Having worked with adolescents and adults for the past 10 years, I've developed different skills for supporting clients in (a) identify the root cause of your challenges and (b) create a tailored plan that leads to measurable progress.
I also support parents and caregivers who want to strengthen communication, improve family relationships, and better understand their adolescent's emotional and behavioral needs. My approach is supportive, practical, and collaborative, helping families develop the skills needed to navigate challenges and build healthier relationships.
First session
In our first session, we'll spend time getting to know one another and discussing what brought you to therapy. We'll explore your current concerns, relevant life experiences, strengths, and goals for treatment. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and determine whether we're a good fit. Together, we'll begin identifying areas of focus and develop a plan to help you move toward meaningful and lasting change.
Strengths
With over 15 years of experience working with adolescents, young adults, and families, I bring a compassionate, practical, and collaborative approach to therapy. I strive to create a supportive environment where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful changes. One of my strengths is helping clients identify the underlying factors contributing to their challenges while developing realistic strategies that can be applied in everyday life. I believe in building on each client's strengths and tailoring treatment to their unique needs, goals, and circumstances.
Ideal clients
I am best positioned to work with adolescents, young adults, and parents who are navigating emotional, behavioral, and relationship challenges. Many of my clients feel overwhelmed by strong emotions, anxiety, family conflict, life transitions, or difficulties communicating effectively with others. They are motivated to improve their circumstances but may feel stuck or unsure of where to begin. Together, we focus on building insight, developing practical coping skills, improving emotional regulation, and strengthening relationships so they can move toward their goals with greater confidence and resilience.
Treatment methods
Child Parent Psychotherapy
I have worked with children and their families for the past 10 years. Applying child parent psychotherapy supports families in making sense of what the family went through and learn how to cope with emotions while identifying coping skills.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I have used DBT for the past 4 years in my practice. DBT skills support individuals in coping with distressing emotions and teaches them how to regulate their emotions.
EMDR
I have been using EMDR for the past year in my practice in supporting individuals in decreasing trauma responses to triggering events or people.
Family Therapy
I have been practicing with families for the past 10 years in supporting them through tough times and learning to cope with difficult situations.
Polyvagal Therapy
I am experienced in what the Polyvagal theory is and use it to inform my practice when working with families and individuals.
Location
Virtual sessions