Therapists in Staunton, VA

Have you looked in the mirror and asked yourself, "How did I get here?" “Who can I trust?” “How did my life change so quickly that I can't even recognize myself anymore?" "Am I Crazy?" "I Want to be Happy?" Problems are just the tip of the iceberg. Real problems start and end with the mirror image we see daily. Often the mirror image is silent but dying to speak and live life again. Issues in life start with the inability to be heard, believed in, and understood. I believe the best way to find you again, is to find your voice.

ATTENTION: Due to the Corona Virus crisis for safety, I would appreciate you coming to your session with your mask on. For more information, please Call Nancy Pinzon at 540-246-8155. I am here for you. ATTENCION: Debido a la presente crisis del Corona Virus, les agradezco venir a sesion con sus mascaras puestas. Pare preguntas, favor llamar a: Nancy Pinzon at 540-246-8155. Estoy para servirles.

I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in working with children, adolescents, and their families. Using a Behavioral, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Solution-Focused approach, I believe that by providing a positive and supportive setting, young people are capable of changing those behaviors that are causing them and/or their family distress. Through discussion and play, young people and their families are able to learn new ways of understanding their problems and to practice new techniques to change their thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs to more positive and productive ones.

At Light Counseling, our team of professionally trained and compassionate clinicians are here to help you overcome life’s challenges with evidence-based practices and a distinctly Christian approach. Our professionals specialize in helping with many of the following issues: ADD/ADHD, Adolescence Adjustments, Alcohol Abuse and Addictions, Anger Management, Anxiety, Attachment Disorders, Child Abuse/Victim Support, Childhood Behavioral Problems, Compulsions, Depression, Drug Abuse and Addiction, Family Issues, Grief and Loss, Infidelity, Marital Stress, Men’s Issues, Obsession, Panic Attacks, Parenting and Step-Parenting Concerns, Phobias, Pornography, Post Traumatic Stress Issues, and more.

I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in helping adults and adolescents with ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma, mood disorders, and life transitions. I offer Psychological Assessments (testing) for the following: ADHD, Educational Problems, Behavioral Issues, Diagnostic Clarification, and Adolescent Forensic/Risk assessments. I do not conduct court-ordered or parental capacity evaluations. I have specialized experience working with trauma (PTSD), behavioral problems, anger management, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), suicidal ideation, self-injurious behavior, and serious mental health issues.

I am currently a Supervisee of Social Work with over 21 years of experience working with adults, children and couples. I have a vast knowledge of mental health as it relates to individuals, disadvantaged populations, groups and couples. My specialty also surrounds social work, child protective services, Foster care juvenile justice systems and special education. My Job is My Passion, My Ministry. I too have experienced difficult life situations, trauma and grief. I didn’t start my life with all of these titles. I had to work hard for each one of them. Through every challenge, every struggle, every stumbling block, and every failure.

I am a Blacksburg native, recently relocated back to the area, and have opened my practice to offer assessment, therapy, and consultation services. I work with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing difficulties with learning and attention problems, executive functioning issues, and mood and behavioral difficulties, including anxiety, depression, and anger-management. My treatment approach is typically based in cognitive-behavioral interventions, although I consider the personality of the client and the dynamics of the family in order to tailor an effective and goal-directed treatment approach.

Since youth, I wondered about human behavior and why people do what they do. To explore this interest further I took a class in comparative behavior and loved it. Since then I looked for opportunities to learn more about people, their actions, and their feelings while trying to find ways to help them improve their lives and feel better. I am lucky enough to be trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I used this advanced therapy process in California at the Anne Sippi Clinics in the service of those suffering severe adult psychopathology (mental health issues) early on in his career.

No matter who you are, life is always changing, filled with challenges, transitions, doubts, and sometimes successes. This is the human experience, and you do not have to go it alone. Counseling is an available resource to help hone your natural talents and skills to find vision, motivation, meaning, and resolve through your choices and experiences. With the support of a professional counselor there are no dead-end scenarios. I thoroughly believe in meeting clients where they are at, treating individuals with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they come from, celebrating differences and individuality.

My professional interests include depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, and serious mental illness. I enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families in therapy. I also focuses on stress management and wellness in my clinical work. My therapeutic influences are primarily Humanistic, Cognitive-Behavioral, Systemic, and Interpersonal theories.

Life challenges have a way of interfering with our daily lives. I believe that the challenges come to help us re-examine our lives and discover ways to overcome difficulties and live life to the fullest. My focus as a Therapist/Resident is to serve the needs of others by using my theoretical approaches, 20 years working with individuals, families and children, and spiritual based framework. Through my training and experience, I recognize the need to create a safe place to explore life struggles, change negative behaviors and thoughts, rebuild relationships, and practice new skill building techniques through therapy.

I believe that we all have the capacity for great change, sometimes we just need a guide to get us there. My focus in therapy is to develop resiliency, understanding, and self-action. My clients work through past trauma, sexual exposure, problematic sexual behaviors, and developing safe relationships. I provide both individual and group therapy, along with intensive outpatient therapy (IOP) to provide a wide variety of support and therapeutic interventions.

*NOW accepting new clients* Is it time for a change in your life? Life can get pretty challenging at times. Depression and anxiety can feel unshakable. Purpose can feel unclear. Effective communication, trust and true support can feel unreachable. Sometimes we come across challenges that are hurdles to achieving our goals. You may often find yourself feeling isolated and helpless when attempting to resolve these barriers. Days can start to seem like a blur as you struggle to find joy. Therapy can help clear the fog by teaching skills that help you reach your goals and improve your quality of life.

I have enjoyed providing support in mental health for over 20 years now. We all face moments of distress and experience unplanned circumstances in our lives that we simply are not prepared for. It can be difficult to navigate our way through all of the thoughts that may come up or the different levels of pain we tend to experience. I know that reaching out for help can be challenging. We all have our own healing journeys and I am grateful to be able to help individuals with discovering their own path to healing, growth and change.

Dr. Rachel Spurrier is a licensed clinical psychologist administering comprehensive psychological evaluations to clarify client diagnosis as well as to provide recommendations for treatment. Dr. Spurrier has administered testing to clients with concerns related to depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, adjustment disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her goal with clients is to make them feel comfortable and secure with the evaluative process, and to understand the importance of testing as they progress in their therapeutic treatment.