Family Therapy in Lake Ridge, VA

My name is Shideh Sarmadi, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Virginia. My goal as counselor is to empower client to mindfully change their lives in a positive manner by focusing on recovery and welfare and promote healthy personal growth. I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1998 and earned a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling, focused on Multicultural Counseling in 2002 in University of North Carolina at Charlotte. experienced in variety of mental health settings including outpatient, inpatient, emergency services and psychiatric research.

Are you suffering from trauma, depression or anxiety that has left you feeling hopeless, unmotivated and in despair? Have you ever wondered how the closest relationship(s) in your life shifted from being your source of pure joy to causing you to feel overwhelmed? Maybe your relationship/marriage feels like it's falling apart, or you're unable to spend quality time with your child(ren) without arguments/conflict. Could it be that divorce has taken a toll on your entire family and what you thought would finally bring peace appears to have destroyed everyone’s lives? Are you have difficulty seeing a path forward? This is a safe space!

You are always enough regardless. Just show up as you are; it is okay and welcomed. This is a place of gentleness, empathy, compassion, and authenticity. We are here to both figuratively and literally walk alongside you in your therapy journey either as an individual, couple, or family. Here it is not about what is wrong with you; it is about what has happened to you OR about the negative cycle that you have been stuck in. We make sense of it together. Mutually, we make sense of the brokenness, the pain, the relational distress. All behavior has context and fractures in relationships can be healed.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor in the state of Virginia who has over 10 years of experience collaborating with adolescents, families, adults, and couples seeking help for a variety of concerns. I am also a full-time PhD student, which is currently limiting my availability. Additionally, I have a passion in working with LGBT+, minoritzed, and racialized populations. I provide an egalitarian space where we collaborate to reach your goals, that is heavily dependent on how you define it.

Providing supervision to LPC and LMFT Clinical Residents. As the spouse of a retired military service member, my passion is working with people whose work is serving others; military service members, health care professionals, government employees and teachers. I am a systems therapist and look at how each person is impacted by their entire system i.e. family, friends, work and school. My goal is to help people learn more about themselves, the choices they make, how they communicate with others and how they cope with the stresses of life. Together we will work towards meeting your specific and unique treatment goals.

I'm here to help. Life is full of struggles and difficulties that can affect the way we see and interact with the world. I am here to help you explore what is needed to enable you to live your full and authentic life moving forward. I am here to help you process your pain, and to move past it. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families. I treat Anxiety, Depression, OCD, Trauma, BPD, self-harming behaviors, social and adjustment issues, and family issues. I use a variety of evidence-based therapies, including EMDR, CBT, DBT, Mindfulness, Play Therapy and Sand Tray Therapy.

Currently, I work at two online locations Supporting the Journey Counseling and Haymarket Counseling. I have worked in a non-profit, private practice, hospital, and with the juvenile correction system.  I have experience in providing therapy to adolescents, individuals, couples, families, mental health and substance abuse groups. I have been working with adolescents since 2002; dealing with depression, anger, self-esteem, personal/social issues, conflict management, and risky behaviors. I specialize in working with couple conflicts and adults with depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, PTSD, and relationship issues.

I believe that therapy is about the journey towards self-discovery and joining that person on a quest to seek out the answers they already have within themselves. The ideal client is a person who is open to learning, determined to self-improve and committed to the therapeutic relationship. My experiences with mental health range from: autism, mood disorders, postpartum depression, lyme disease, suicide ideation, gender identity concerns,personality disorders, chronic pain, trauma, behavioral management, social skills training, parent training, psychosis to substance use.. My career background is in schools, crisis stabilization, home-based counseling and working with INOVA.

I am dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges, assisting them in finding purpose by identifying negative systems and patterns in their lives, and collaboratively creating new, empowering ones. I believe in making the therapeutic journey engaging and enjoyable, providing a platform where individuals can explore, grow, and ultimately find healing.

I work with adult individuals and children aged 2-18 and their families/caregivers. I focus on supporting clients to creatively turn their pain into coping skills, missed connections into secure relationships, and problematic behaviors into strengths and resiliency. I focus on practical, real-world strategies that build security and connection through a balance of nurture, engagement, structure, and challenge. These strategies are a resource that can then be utilized through different life experiences, stages, and adversity. I support children and caregivers alike to learn new ways of responding, guiding, and supporting one another.