Trauma Focused Therapists in Leesburg, VA

People tend to come to counseling when they're dealing with something NEW or something old that has gotten BIGGER than they can handle on their own. Counseling is a private, safe place to process those life events and/or symptoms of mental health. With over 15 years of experience, I have helped many clients reach their goals. I have experience in all areas of mental health, life transitions, and relationship issues. By working together, we will identify challenges and develop healthy solutions to improve your present situation. The strategies and tools you learn will continue to benefit you even after counseling has ended.

I work with motivated individuals and families who are ready to address problem areas, develop insight, and identify what is of most value and meaning in their lives. I specialize in the treatment of trauma, especially as it relates to family system and relationship issues, life stressors and transitions, and substance use disorders. In addition to my clinical practice I speak nationally on these topics and work as a clinical consultant. I believe in providing quality, authentic, and clinically informed care that identifies and addresses the root causes of problems and barriers to living a more meaningful life.

I work with all couples and relationships including couples who have experienced an affair, couples who are “fighting all the time”, and couples who have lost that “spark” for each other.

Amy Hughes is an LPC and the founder of Connections4life Professional Therapy Services, PC. She is also a VA board approved supervisor of student interns and residents in counseling. In addition, she is trained in EMDR, EFT and is a level 2 Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Connections4life offers customized care. We specialize in C-PTSD, PTSD, developmental trauma, anxiety & depression. We believe in the power of connections and that we are all capable of change and growth. Our passion for what we do reflects in the connections we are able to make with the individuals we treat.

I have a passion for treating clients motivated in overcoming symptoms related to anxiety, depression, trauma, and eating disorders (utilizing the Health At Every Size and All Foods Fit approach). While therapy isn't always easy, I like to take a friendly and casual, yet professional approach to our therapeutic relationship. I want your experience in therapy to be a positive one. I enjoy working with people of all ages, and do particularly well with adolescents and young adults!

Are you seeking nonjudgmental support, a resource for change? If you're ready, I look forward to helping you. I am passionate about empowering people to live their lives to the fullest. I believe that through self-discovery and self-awareness, each of us can find freedom from our pasts and establish peace within ourselves.

Dr. Sarah M. Vanlandingham, PsyD (Dr. Sarah) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in comprehensive psychological assessment and psychotherapy services for children and teens. Dr. Sarah is dedicated to providing comprehensive, evidenced-based psychological services for children. Her commitment to quality and patient outcomes always takes priority over volume. Her approach is highly effective as evidenced by documented outcome measures. In her work, she uses data-informed and effective psychotherapy approaches to move beyond symptom reduction and help each child thrive.

Seeking therapy is taking steps toward your well-being and can be a difficult and courageous first step. I would like to support that and to assist in empowering you to find your resiliency. I believe we all have resiliency, meaning the power to move forward, adjust, make changes and withstand the difficult times, sometimes we need help finding it within us. I can help with that! I look forward to talking with you.

You've been through a lot. I want to meet you where you are at and help you find the relief you have been looking for. Sometimes it will feel like a big rock being taken off your shoulders and other times it will be hard work. I believe we can walk through it together and steadily rediscover the joy in life, uncover your creativity and accomplish your goals for healing. I've worked with all developmental stages over the past six years, specializing in trauma treatment within families and individuals. I'm looking forward to starting the healing journey with you at your pace.

Are your relationships causing you stress? Do you feel stuck and unsure how to change things? Does your child or teen struggle somehow, perhaps in school, emotionally or with peers? Or maybe you want support with parenting? We are here to help with what you need and develop a plan to build connections and emotional experiences that are fulfilling and healing. Whether you need to process through experiences or strategize through situations or big emotions, we are here to help!

Do you ever get lost in your thoughts, feel overwhelmed emotionally or lack motivation? Is your relationship strained and you wonder how to make things better, if it's even possible? Are you struggling with parenting your child(ren) and wish you knew how to best support them? I can help you live a peaceful life that allows you to act consistent with your values, whether your concerns are within your relationships or something you hope to tackle yourself. There's insight to gain and skills to learn. Life can get sticky, so let's untangle the confusion and sort out what's relevant to create the changes you desire.

There are times when life is overwhelming - you feel that your relationships, work, stress, your trauma, your moods are more in control than you are. Are you a woman 35 or older and suddenly having severe mood changes, irritability, emotionally flat, or anxiety, that you never had before? You could be in perimenopause! It's so much more than 'just' hot flashes. Are you going through life transitions like empty-nest, divorce, or reevaluating your life? Have you spent years prioritizing the expectations of everyone else, leaving your own goals neglected and unexplored?

Working with me, therapy can bring you out of feeling alone, and improve your self-esteem/worth, relationship issues and conflict resolution. Learn how to let go of your inner critic that strips you of your joy and strength.

In addition to psychology, I have an educational/work background in engineering, including disaster management, and bring a balance of empathy and evidence-based approaches to help you resolve issues. With hands on training in community mental health, I am comfortable working with with a diverse client base, including all genders, nationalities, races, disabilities, and ages, with a wide range of emotional challenges and issues. I have experience working with trauma, depression, and anxiety. I have a personal passion for equality and I am a strong LGBTQ+ supporter.

I specialize in trauma informed, outside of the box therapy. I enjoy working with people who find conforming to societal norms a bit challenging. I like to highlight the strengths of such uniqueness, while also giving resources that can help manage every day "normal" life. I prefer a holistic approach that focuses on the mind-body connection. I've had success in reducing anxiety, depression, ADHD and autism symptoms with a combination of diet and behavioral interventions.

I am passionate about helping clients to gain deeper understanding of their relationship history so that they are able to have healthy happy relationships throughout their life. Many of us have struggled with family members or in dating due to not having an understanding of our own emotional wounds and how they manifest. There isn't a class on healthy relationships so we all learn what "normal" is from our parents, TV shows, books...None of these sources are inherently trustworthy so it makes sense why so many of us struggle. I have helped people navigate this deep work for more than 10 years and I would be honored to help you.

Are you entering a new life transitions, and need some direction? Do you feel that you are in pain as a couple or in a family situation? Please reach out to me today. I would welcome the opportunity of working with you. I have always felt that my passion in life was to offer support to others and to suggest alternative choices in life. I have a Master's degree in Social Work with a focus on gerontology, but I have had experience in working with youth, adults and seniors.

I am a Certified Complex Trauma Professional Level I and EMDR trained. I have years of experience working with individuals with complex trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD and chronic pain. I work with children and adults utilizing my professional and personal experience to create a collaborative and person-centered approach. I utilize cognitive behavior therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to assist others in getting to the root cause of what is creating discord in their life and work towards finding their personal empowerment. I have a diverse background and strive to create a welcoming space for all people.

We are not meant to navigate life’s tumultuous ups and downs alone. I commend you for exploring what is out there in terms of getting the support you deserve. Here in the therapy room, I offer a safe and non-judgmental space for you to unpack what is bothering you or keeping you from a more fulfilling life so we can explore, together, what freeing that space might look like for you. I encourage curiosity and non-judgement so that we may get to know how these aspects of you came to develop and work to create change that compliments who you are today and where you envision heading. Whether it is a recent life transition,