7 therapists in Virginia matching your needs

Reaching out for help in the form of therapy is not an easy thing to do as many can attest, but by reading this biography, you are taking the first step in getting help for yourself or a loved one. At times, life offers many struggles and obstacles that can be difficult to overcome alone. Engaging in therapy will provide opportunities to explore and process the thoughts and feelings that prevent you from living your best life. Though the thought of therapy may be intimidating and even nerve-wrecking for some, I believe once a person finds the right therapist, they find a trusting confidant who seeks to understand and problem solve.

My work as a psychotherapist is rooted in a profound belief that by recognizing and honoring our complex, messy life stories with honesty and gentleness, we lay the foundation to heal the obstacles preventing us from building fulfilling, meaningful lives. Throughout life, we all create narratives about ourselves to help us survive. These narratives are shaped by myriad factors (individual life experiences, relationships, intergenerational legacies, and experiences of oppression/privilege, belonging/rejection, among others). Over time, our narratives and coping mechanisms fall short. We wonder, what went wrong? What's wrong with me?

Life is full of surprises, some pleasant and some not so pleasant. It is in these moments that a little guidance can go along way. Let me be there for you during your challenging moments to help you navigate through them and emerge victoriously. I am a licensed professional counselor with five years of experience including Residency. Though I use an eclectic approach, the interventions I most commonly use are Cognitive behavioral therapy, Dialectical behavior therapy. One size does not fit all so understanding my clients and applying client specific intervention is very important to me. I am also clinical trauma specialist, trained in Internal family systems and EMDR. I am a firm believer of an individual's spirituality playing a significant role in their healing process. I provide Christian counseling to my clients who need it.

Hello I am Laura Cahill! I am a passionate, energetic, and dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a love for the art of engagement in the work of therapy. Do you feel like your emotions have taken over and pushed you out of the driver's seat in life? In life, we often experience challenges, unexpected stress and transitions, trauma, hurt, grief and loss. Understandably, we may struggle with powerful emotions that seem to almost overtake us. Part of the human experience is wanting to feel in control of our inner and outer lives. And when our natural emotional responses to difficult experiences and circumstances threaten that sense of control, we may find ourselves fighting our feelings. It’s time to step back from the battle-not by retreating, but by re-framing. Our emotions and feelings are not our enemies, they are messengers. This is where our work begins. We will focus on how to hear those messages by learning the skills needed to hear, manage and interact with these feelings to help calm the turmoil that life has taken on, understand and recover from the past, and to be fully present to our current experiences. To have the opportunity to create a life that is built on your terms and not defined by what has happened to you. Entering into the world of therapy can feel overwhelming and a bit scary (well done making it this far). I applaud your bravery and commitment to your process of healing and recovery and I would be honored to have the opportunity to get to know you better and to be a part of this journey with you.

I graduated with honors with my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling in June 2020 and I am currently a 3rd year PhD student in a Doctorate of Psychology program specializing in the treatment of and research into Trauma. I was honored to be able to present at the 2022 and 2023 VCA State Conference on the topic of Chronic Suicidal Ideation and was a recipient of a 2022 Virginia Counseling Association Emerging Leader in Counseling Award. My clinical focus is on trauma, complex PTSD, crisis, anxiety and mood disorders, military service-related stress, chronic and acute suicidality, personality disorders, self esteem concerns, self-harming behaviors, traumatic-brain injury-related stressors, dissociative disorders, and communication/conflict resolution skill building with families and individuals. However, I work with clients coming into therapy with a wide array of concerns and from many different walks of life. I not only provide general psychotherapy, I am also well-versed in assessment and testing, career counseling, parenting, sexual and gender-related issues (to include fertility complications), eating disorders, dual diagnosis, and homeopathic care. I am a lead member in my local Community Emergency Response Team (for the last 10 years) and am an instructor for Disaster Psychology with CERT; I am currently pursuing Crisis Intervention Specialist Certification as well as CISM certification. I hold professional membership in the Virginia Counseling Association (VCA), American Psychological Association (APA), as well as the American Counseling Association (ACA) including membership in the AARC, ACC, AMCD, and MGCA divisions. I am also a member of the Chi Sigma Iota Chapter of the Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International and The National Honor Society of Leadership and Success. The combination of my many personal, academic, and professional endeavors, places me in a unique position to walk with clients (and their families) along their mental health journey while ensuring they are receiving evidence-based care of the highest quality!

Whether you have a list of 20 things you want to work on, or you have a sense that you’d like support but can’t quite identify why or how, we can work to identify and explore together. I use a client-centered, experiential, strengths-based approach. As a therapist, I love helping folks integrate their parts of selves and attune to their inner sense of direction. Together we can use a whole self approach that values all the parts of you: mind, body, and spirit. Through use of mindful somatic awareness, practical coping skills, expressive and nature-based approaches, and an inter-generational lens, we can identify root issues and work together to heal.

I am licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia with 6 years of professional experience. I am a mother to three adult children and a Mimi to my two young granddaughters. As a child, I always wanted to be a therapist and have always held a deep love for people. I love nothing more than to help people to process their lives and make changes that lead to peace and happiness. I see therapy as a way to encourage you to invest in yourself and I work as a cheerleader/guide in your life. I feel that it is a gift to walk through the darkest days of people's lives and to have the honor of watching them walk out the other side, stronger and more resilient.