Women's Issues Therapists in Downtown, Charlottesville, VA

If you're someone who wants to work through some issues, I am eager to help. If your issues are eating disorders, anxiety, depression or women's issues , I am comfortable and confident of my ability to work with you. Send me an email if you'd like more information or to make an appointment.

I do not have a specific "ideal" client, but I most enjoy working with, and have the most experience with, women from ages 18 to 65. Their issues could be depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues, and more(see list below). They are looking for someone who will listen with full attention, interest and compassion. They want someone who is very supportive, who makes them feel very safe and accepted, just as they are. They are looking for a real human being they can relate to. Someone who will remember what is going on with them, who truly cares and cheers them on, who makes them laugh and gives them hope.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and have 20 years of counseling experience working with mental heath disorders, eating disorders, and couple therapy. I take an emotion focused and Jungian approach that allows for depth therapy. I also use Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills training to promote self-acceptance, non-judgment, and behavior change in the areas of interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, distress tolerance and emotion regulation. My therapeutic approach promotes an environment of acceptance and compassion that over time becomes an increasing internal experience.

I am a licensed social worker and a trained and certified yoga teacher. I hold certification in the practice of tele-health, and able to work with clients remotely during this pandemic, in Virginia and Massachusetts where I am licensed. I believe in an integrated approach to therapy. I employ the evidence-based theories of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (CBT) Neuropsychological-Informed CBT, Internal Family Systems, (IFS) - which all help in improving insight, life and coping skills.. My expertise is with trauma, anxiety, eating disorders, relationships. My previous work includes the Massachusetts Child Trauma Project (MCTP)

Please be aware that I am accepting new clients on a limited basis. Does it feel like you are just going through the motions, or like you're 'stuck?' Do you have negative thoughts such as 'I'm not good enough,' or 'I don't deserve to feel good?' We all develop ways of interacting with our world based on personal life experiences. Eventually, some of these ways stop working and they may even make us feel worse. Together we will identify patterns and ways of thinking and interacting that no longer work for you. I am most drawn to working Individuals who have anxiety, mood disorders and/or a history of trauma.

Everyone can improve and succeed regardless of any struggles or trauma a person may encounter. I aim to help clients heal past traumas, strengthen relationships with themselves and others, work through difficult emotions, and find their inner strength. I believe inherently in the resiliency of the human spirit. We have the power to recover, to heal, to grow, and to learn. My goal is to help you understand the problems that you are facing and allow you the space to solve them so that you may transform into the best version of yourself.

UPDATE! We've hired additional clinicians and are now offering expanded telehealth services to adolescents, as well as evening and weekend hours! I have been in the mental health field for over 15 years, specializing in trauma disorders, depression, anxiety, mood, and women's health (e.g. perinatal mood disorders, PPA/PPD, life transitions, relationships). I employ a variety of therapeutic approaches to include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychoanalysis, Mindfulness and Multicultural therapies. In addition, I am certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, telehealth, and as a clinical trauma professional.

My past experiences of working with at-risk populations has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of trauma on an individual. While I support clients with a wide range of traumatic experiences, I consider myself an ally of survivors of sexual trauma in particular; I understand the pain and confusion that people experience and the many ways in which these experiences impact one's mental health. I hold an accepting, welcoming environment so we can work together through these past experiences to help you find peace in the present.

Working with couples and men is awesome. My clients always surprise me with their intelligence and strength, even if muted by their immediate troubles. Focusing on the connection the couple does have, we can work on the skills to being our own individual within the relationship. Working with men often involves negotiating the contradictions the world presents, attending to power differentials and how they impact our inner world, discovering where our habits developed and how we want to change and grow who we are in the world. I utilize a multitude of maps to offer my clients impactful and effective interventions.

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

For over 30 years I have been treating depression, anxiety & addictions with a specialty in eating disorders. I'm a founding fellow for The Academy of Cognitive Therapy and also integrate other strategies in helping my patients actualize their full potential. I provide individual, marital, family, and group therapy. From adolescence to later life years, I help clients improve their physical, emotional & spiritual well-being. As a seasoned clinician, I've worked inpatient, in community mental health agencies & in private practice for over 30 years. I collaborate with physicians, dietitians & other mental health professionals.

Sometimes we struggle to connect with ourselves and others, but we all deserve to feel heard, respected, and understood. I believe that effective therapy starts with an authentic relationship between client and therapist. I strive to create an environment that is warm, inclusive, and challenging. It is an honor to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to share their lives.

Accepting new clients: I approach my work through the lens of attachment – how we cope in moments of disconnection with those we love the most – with empathy, cultural awareness, and validation around being a human – moreover, a parent. As a mother to young children, I understand the beauty and despair of parenthood. As a therapist, I understand the impact our childhood experiences have on how we show up in our adult relationships. I meld my experience and training to support both women and men along the path of reconnecting with themselves and with those whom they love most.

I am an EMDRIA-certified therapist with 15+ years of experience serving individuals and families in Charlottesville. I operate from a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach and incorporate interventions from the following therapeutic modalities, depending on the client's goals for therapy and presenting issues: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, expressive arts therapies.