I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and although I have been in caregiving roles for over 20 years, I have been working in a professional capacity as a counselor for the past 5 years and in the equine-assisted therapy field for the past 10 years. My education background is in marriage and family therapy, and I am currently working on a PhD in Developmental Psychology. I have extensive experience in the areas of depression, anxiety, grief, foster and adoption, trauma, care-giver hardships, domestic violence, Christian counseling, and working with the at-risk youth population through equine-assisted counseling. I have experience in individual, marriage, family and group counseling.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

Starting with a new counselor can be an overwhelming experience! I try hard to make sure you feel seen and heard from the very first time we meet, as well as try hard to make sure you are informed of important information so there are no surprises down the road. I will typically ask what it is that brought you to counseling, and then do my best to be a compassionate listener. I may ask you a few questions so I make sure I understand correctly, but for the most part my goal is to help begin to build a space where you feel safe to explore whatever it is that brought you to counseling.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I believe my greatest strength as a counselor is the ability to display compassion and empathy. I feel like those are two of the most important skills for a counselor to possess in helping others. I also have an ability to help clients bring meaning and understanding to often confusing or distressing emotions and situations. I consider it a privilege to enter into someone's story and walk alongside of them to provide support, encouragement and direction in their unique and personal journey.

About Amy M. Carroll