I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and certified clinical trauma professional (CCTP) located in Norfolk, Virginia; I am also licensed in Washington state (LMHC). I specialize in and am passionately committed to helping teens and adults learn how to overcome past traumas, work through anxiety, and reclaim their lives. I strive for authenticity, and I believe in being a real person with you so you can feel free to be your true self; you won't get a blank slate therapist with me! I strive to create the safest environment possible in which you can come as you are and release your burdens without being judged or shamed. As a fellow trauma survivor, I know how crucial it is to feel like you can trust the person you're opening up to about your darkest secrets and deepest pains! Moreover, I'm a follower of Jesus Christ and believe in the healing power of a strong relationship with God. I've devoted my life to serving Him through this work with dedication to my fellow human beings, and it is my deepest desire to help you draw closer to God if that is also something you want for yourself. If you've been hurt by religion, I would also be honored to help you process and heal from those wounds.

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

Our first session will be time for me to get to know you in more depth. We'll talk about your symptoms, past treatment, your support system (or lack thereof), family life, relationships, coping skills, and more. I'll assess you for your levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as get an ACE score (ACE stands for Adverse Childhood Events) and assess your levels of dissociation, and level of risk for self-harming. We'll talk about what you want to accomplish in therapy, what to expect, what your needs are, and answer questions you might have.

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

One of my greatest strengths as a provider is empathy; I've always been very sensitive to others and I have lived the very experiences that I help folks overcome now. As someone who has recovered from complex PTSD, war, and much more, I understand the kind of challenge and the level of excruciating emotional pain that comes from hard lived experiences. Because I understand trauma so deeply and thoroughly--from both a personal and academic perspective--I will not judge you or the ways you've been coping, which are things you might feel deeply embarrassed or ashamed about. I can assure you that you have no reason to be ashamed with me, as there are good reasons you do the things you do. Finally, I am exceptionally passionate about what I do. I don't see being a therapist as a job or career; for me, it's a calling and my life's mission to help people up out of their suffering. I am compelled from deep in my heart to do this work, and to help others climb up out of the same pit I was in. I get you!

About Bethany Donovan

Appointments