Grief Therapists in Downtown, Charlottesville, VA

Lisa is passionate about helping people live their best life. She has over 20 years experience working in the field of Counseling. After graduating from George Mason University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology in Fairfax, VA, Lisa worked with children and adolescents in a diagnostic group home. Realizing her passion for helping others on their journey towards healing, she pursued her Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University.

Making a decision to start therapy changes your life. Whether you are facing challenges, coping with depression, grieving over the loss of a loved one or going through a transition, therapy can help. Therapy is time set aside just for you and your inner struggles. Our society sets you up to focus on everything except your sense of peace and emotional wellness. Meeting with a counselor allows you to grow, heal and regain a sense of well-being.

There are some changes and losses in life that break us. Completely. Totally. Every area is fragmented, jagged and raw. Sometimes the hurt is so overwhelming that we become numb, afraid, avoiding things that we used to enjoy. It’s hard to put those pieces back together again. They don’t fit the way they did before. While time may heal some wounds, moving from being functional in your pain to being free from that hurt takes effort and therapy. As a licensed clinical social worker with over ten years of experience, I’m here to assist you in moving from function to freedom.

No matter who you are, life is hard. The difficulties of day-to-day life often put us in an irresolvable bind: On one hand, the stressors are too big and too painful to ignore. And yet, while we may wish for and even utilize the support of those around us, for a whole host of reasons, we often resort to going it alone. In these moments, therapy can be a promising new option: a confidential relationship rooted in honesty, understanding, and compassion. It is my belief that such a relationship can provide a fresh start: a new orientation towards our problems and a new way of experiencing the world we live in.

I have extensive experience supporting clients who suffer from trauma-related disorders, including intimate partner violence, childhood abuse/sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and loss and grief issues. We will work together as partners in your treatment, developing a plan to process your trauma and move from the role of victim to that of a strong and successful survivor. I also have experience working with clients who have other anxiety-related disorders and now offer online sessions via HIPAA compliant, secure, easy to use platform. Easy online scheduling.

If you struggle with anxiety, depression, grief , relationship issues or just the overwhelm of life, I am here to help. I provide tools and insights to help break unconscious sabotaging patterns that keep you stuck. I utilize a strength based approach and specialize in working with college students and other individuals experiencing the challenges of life transitions. For couples seeking help, I have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (see drsuejohnson.com), that is proven to help couples resolve issues and get back to feelings of love, safety and security. You deserve to feel better! It doesn't have to be so hard

Now accepting clients for couple therapy: Clients tend to come into therapy with feelings like anxiety, sadness, resentment, or disappointment. Couples may have unresolved relationship conflicts, needing reconnection and healing. They may also be seeking help with infertility, birth loss or trauma, postpartum depression or anxiety, parenting issues, divorce, grief , or complicated childhood experiences that impact the current relationship. We work together to close the gaps of disconnection and bring you closer, repairing the ruptures you have with less pain and more vulnerability and safety.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 15+ years of experience. I provide a welcoming space for clients experiencing anxiety, depression, grief , stress, relationship challenges, and life transitions. I have found that the shift from judgment to understanding with compassion-based awareness is the core of healing and change. I support clients to soften to themselves, work skillfully with difficult emotions, and reconnect with the capacity to problem-solve constructively. My approach guides clients to deepen insight, see options clearly, and transform the self-talk, narratives, boundaries, and habit loops that keep people stuck.

Your decision to start counseling represents a meaningful commitment to yourself, and to a life that is more satisfying and balanced. The clients I work with appreciate my focused, sensitive and caring approach to the issues they present for counseling. If you are dealing with anxiety, depression, grief , stress, or relationship issues, I will work with you to develop strategies that will help you improve self-esteem and self-confidence, enhance self-awareness and relationship skills, reduce worry and negative thinking, and improve mood and energy.

I use a person-centered, trauma-informed approach to create a safe space where you can explore the challenges that are preventing you from thriving in your daily life. I work with individuals, families and couples to identify behavior patterns and past experiences that are currently causing distress in their lives. We will work together to develop effective coping strategies that will support you feeling confident in your own abilities to reach your therapeutic goals.

I specialize in family, couples, and individual therapy for children and adults. I believe that, within the context of a supportive relationship, people can understand their problems in new ways and learn skills towards leading healthier and more fulfilling lives. I utilize a strengths-based approach that incorporates cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, and systemic interventions. People see the most change when doctors, psychologists, teachers, and other players are working together. Thus, with your permission, I consult with others in order to better understand the problem and provide solutions that expand beyond the therapy room. When appropriate, I will be your advocate.

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.

Afton has experience working with individuals in the areas of anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflict, trauma, grief / loss and life transitions. Afton believes that every person is fully capable of change, growth and healing. Her work focuses on empowering clients to recognize their inner strengths and cultivate healthy mindsets. Afton integrates elements of cognitive behavior therapy and solution focused therapy to aid clients in challenging negative thought processes, setting goals and envisioning their future selves. She also uses mindfulness as a way to help clients explore their present situation and find joy and peace.