Compassion Focused Therapists in Henrico County, VA

My hope is that people of all identities and walks of life can feel safe with me. I offer unconditional support no matter who you are, what you’ve done, or what you’ve been through. My clinical experience has predominantly been in treating adults with substance use and co-occurring disorders. Other areas of focus include grief, anxiety, depression, and trauma. It is my passion to support people experiencing shame and guilt, as these feelings can be too much to handle alone. I hope to be a listening ear when it’s needed most.

I welcome those who are experiencing grief/loss, life adjustments, stress, anxiety, and PTSD. Sometimes we can find ourselves not wanting to burden those around us with our worries, or we just don't feel understood. Know that my space is one where you will be heard, validated, and seen. Common goals I work on with people can include: developing healthy coping skills, decreasing the presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and increasing people's ability for self-compassion. The individuals I work with are just trying to show up for themselves and the people that are in their lives, and that starts with taking care of themselves.

I believe that the relationship with oneself is the foundation for all other relationships. Valuing the self, experiencing worthiness, are skills that can be learned and applied through the lifespan. They are the "emotional ingredients" for building trust, confidence, and a sense of well being. My clinical foundation is based on 25 years of experience with diverse populations in which I addressed multiple complex psyhological/emotional issues with those aged 30 and above. My strongest traits as a therapist are my patience, perseverance, and a solid commitment to help my clients make enduring changes in their lives.

I am a licensed psychologist that provides specialized assessment and intervention services for children, adolescents, young adults and families. I aim to provide comprehensive assessment and intervention services for complex cognitive, emotional, behavioral, interpersonal and/or academic challenges. I provide a supportive, warm and collaborative environment in which clients and their families are able to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, navigate various challenges and make positive changes. I have diverse experience working in clinical, medical and educational settings.

As a bereaved mother and a trained therapist, I have deep personal, as well as clinical, understanding of the difficult issues facing those grieving the deaths of loved ones. I can help you find your path toward wholeness on this dark, but sometimes beautiful, journey through grief. I've done graduate and post-graduate work in counseling through death, dying, and bereavement, worked with hospices, led groups with traumatized and bereaved people--parents, spouses, and siblings--of all ages. Your journey is unique, but know that you are not alone.

Anxiety, depression, severe stress, trauma, addiction, and other mental or emotional health struggles can prevent us from living our best, most fulfilling life. I am a firm believer in meeting a person where they are at when it comes to supporting them in their journey towards healing. Working collaboratively, we can heal old wounds and implement skills that can be effective, stabilizing, and healing. These skills can assist in improving your quality of life and better coping with life’s ongoing challenges.

With over 14 years of experience in the field of mental health and school counseling, I have been fortunate to gain a wealth of knowledge working with individuals 5 to 65! Utilizing my education gained from VSU, VCU and Walden University, I pride myself in the ability to use a variety of treatment modalities, shining a unique perspective within the field!

It is much harder for us to show kindness and compassion than it is to judge ourselves because we are not strong enough to push through everything with a smile. I hope to assist you with learning how to extend the kindness you give to others to yourself. I have experience with individuals across the lifespan experiencing significant emotional distress and with those struggling with transitioning between stages of life. I focus on ambiguous grief to assist anyone struggling to identify and establish the role they want to have in their own lives and create sustainable change.

Beneath your fights about dishes are valid needs that deserve to be heard, seen, and valued. Let's get you more connection and less tension in the relationship. I also work with individuals navigating recovery from high-control childhoods and romantic relationships, including religious trauma and loved ones with personality disorders like BPD. Let's explore who YOU are and what you authentically want outside those institutions and relationships. Attachment work, grief, identity processing, and trauma are uncomfortable parts of the human experience. We'll work together to see how they show up in your life. You deserve more peace.

You have always felt driven towards perfection. You attended the right schools, chose the high-pressure career, married the right type of partner, and had children with them. Everyone who knows you thinks you have it all. But something has changed everything for you. You have nagging doubts. Where you once felt in control and confident, you now feel devastated, confused, and lost. You are struggling to get through the day while your numerous responsibilities await. The pressure is starting to feel unbearable.

Are you contemplating the end of your relationship, feeling like you've exhausted every effort? Despite your hope for change, you find yourselves trapped in repetitive cycles of conflict. It's a challenging situation—we love deeply, yearning for a connection that feels elusive. Discovering how to both love and allow ourselves to be loved becomes a complex puzzle. If you're navigating these struggles, let's embark on a journey together to rekindle the connection and find new paths for love to thrive.

Allie has over 8+ years of experiencing working with all populations ranging from children and adolescents to adults. I have experience working with dual diagnoses, mood disorder, anxiety, depression, and long-term chronic mental health concerns. My experiences range from community-based services, residential treatment center and acute inpatient psychiatric treatment. I offer individual and couples therapy.

My clients may feel that they have been unable to comfortably make decisions in their lives or have made poor decisions. They may not have been able to identify or achieve their goals, leaving them feel unfulfilled. Often, they want to initiate change but have uncertainty about their ability to do so or the steps in that process. They seek to establish and achieve goals that will bring fulfillment, enjoyment, material comfort and success in their lives. My clients seek lives in which they are self-confident and motivated. Through the coaching relationship, they determined what was important to them, then pursued and achieved it.

While going through a loss... Have you ever been told to “get over it, hold your head up, or be strong”? Many of us were taught to be strong – and that feelings (aside from the "good" ones) mean that we are weak. When we think of bereavement, we usually think of the death of a loved one. However, there are over 40 different personal losses that can leave us feeling devastated, heartbroken, lost, hopeless, and ultimately cause the same emotional and physical symptoms of grief. If you are feeling overwhelmed by a loss in life and are seeking instructions on HOW to get through the emotional process, we can help.

During his professional years as a clinical social work therapist, Graeme Biddle has had the privilege of working with several populations, including clients with terminal illnesses and their family members, as well as children and adolescents experiencing emotional and behavioral instability. Graeme enjoys helping clients identify tools to cope with anxiety, depression, and anger. He also has experience helping clients understand life transitions, as well as better understand periods of grief and loss.

I have been a clinician for 23 years. I have a Master's from the U of MD Social Work program. I have enjoyed wide-ranging training and employment in many settings, including supervising a county-wide suicide hotline, in an adolescent residential facility, intensive outpatient and in-home therapy. I have worked in diverse settings, such as Johns Hopkins Methadone/Suboxone program and for an AZ Native Tribal Nation. I am experienced in diverse treatment modalities, including DBT (couples and family) dual-diagnosis treatment, Imago and in Imago/communication focused couples therapy, and multi-systemic or strategic family therapy.

Are you struggling in a relationship? Dealing with stress at work? Trying to bridge the gap between two cultures or struggling to find your identity? Feeling overwhelmed or just not like yourself? Maybe it feels like nothing is going your way or there is too much on your plate. The fact that you are here means you have already taken the first step towards feeling better. You no longer need to be stuck in a place of anxiety, anger, trauma or stress. Let's work together to find a healthier place to be, a better understanding of yourself and how to deal with the stress in your life.

You are not alone in your journey to feel better, mentally and physically. Are you experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, stress or feelings of fear that are holding you back? Symptoms of PTSD? Feeling depressed, overwhelmed or unmotivated? Do you have unresolved trauma? Have you experienced abuse? Difficult or unfulfilling relationships? I specialize in helping clients identify problem areas in their lives and formulate goals to improve them. We will work to eliminate any self limiting and sabotaging beliefs patterns and you will acquire coping skills, strategies and resources to succeed. Healing and thriving is possible!

Are you feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities to others? Do you feel like you are on "automatic," frustrated with not living the life you once wanted for yourself? Such a lonely place! I can help you move towards healing & transformation. I am here to witness the development of your unique & authentic voice as you create the life you want. Within the framework of a strengths-based & hope-focused perspective, I equip individuals & couples, at any stage of commitment, with strategies to create & maintain healthy relationships now & in the future. Change is possible! Find the life you have dreamed of living! It's within you.