Play Therapy in Sterling, VA

Do you wish you could move beyond merely surviving and to thrive in all aspects of your life? Do you want to transform your inner world, replacing self-doubt and fear with confidence and self-compassion? Do you dream of uncovering your true potential and living authentically? Do you want to reclaim your narrative, to rewrite your story from one of struggle to one of resilience and empowerment? Ultimately, do you want a therapist who can walk alongside you on this journey, providing guidance, validation, and unwavering support?

I have come to see relationship as a key factor in helping clients to flourish. Whether that is a child growing in relationship with their parents and peers through play therapy, couples and family members developing greater love and understanding for each other, or even an individual cultivating a healthy relationship with their own thoughts and feelings I seek to cultivate an attitude of curiosity and acceptance of both internal experiences and experiences with others. In doing so, the factors that are preventing healthy interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships are removed to allow greater gift of self.

Young children are learning every day about themselves, their environments, and the people in their world. Sometimes that learning can be hard! From navigating big feelings, toilet training, early learning and motor planning, or even learning how to navigate our bodies in space and dealing with sensory challenges, things can feel overwhelming for our children and their families! We recognize caregivers as the experts of their children, and we are there to help foster and nurture this amazing relationship!

I am devoted to offering my clients an emotionally warm and comfortable place where they feel really listened to and not judged. Working with people of all ages, I empathize with each individual to offer hope, knowing that life is challenging. I provide professional counseling services to children, adults, families and couples in the Northern Virginia area to help them find solutions and growth in their lives.

In moments of challenge, many facets of our lives converge: our attachments, nervous systems, neurology, environment, and relationships. We all strive to equip ourselves with a diverse toolkit to confront these moments. Therapy offers a pathway for self-exploration and a chance to reshape our approach to life, fostering a more regulated state to manifest our best selves, anchored in self-regulation, attunement, and connection. Behavior serves as a form of communication, and understanding an individual's neurology can be pivotal in meeting their needs effectively.

Have you noticed signs of anxiety, depression, or mood swings in your child or teen? You want to better help your child navigate friendships, peer pressure, and social dynamics at school? You may be trying to connect with them but feel like you're getting pushed further away. You are ready to take the next step to support your loved one, but you also want to work with a therapist who will provide you with feedback and strategies to incorporate at home. I see you! As a parent and licensed adolescent therapist, I am able to bring my experience and knowledge from various perspectives.

Life can be challenging, uncertain, and just plain hard. We all go through difficult changes, unplanned circumstances, disappointments, and, sometimes, intense pain and suffering. Our past experiences shape our behaviors, relationships, and how we function in the world. You are not your behaviors. There is always hope for healing, growth, and change in the future from the bottom-up and the inside-out. We are all on this journey together. You are not alone. I offer help to children, teens, adults, and parents who are in need of a place to heal, grow, and become the best version of themselves.

Counseling is a journey towards integration. I'm here to help you overcome anxiety or depression, traumas of any kind, or if you are simply looking for someone to listen to you and provide a non-judgmental and accepting place for you to process life's experiences. I profoundly believe that you do not enter therapy "broken" or that clients need to be "fixed". By learning self-compassion and acceptance, most of our struggles can be understood as manifestations or behaviors that follow from wounds or traumas. The journey is about healing and transformation, rather than getting over something.

Now accepting new adult telehealth clients. — I can help you overcome any obstacles that you may be experiencing, strengthen those relationships most important to you, and find the peace, fullness, and happiness that you want and deserve. I also have extensive clinical experience working with children, teens, and young adults. I seek to create a safe, therapeutic space for my clients to open up—directly or indirectly—through the utilization of play, art, or talk therapy. I am also happy to incorporate a Christian perspective into therapy for those who are interested in a faith-based approach.

I am a graduate of Divine Mercy University and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia. I hold the belief that the counseling room is a sacred space in which God dwells and heals. I have been specially trained in an integrated model of contemporary psychology and Catholic/Christian anthropology and theology. I am also a Certified Facilitator/Instructor and Clinical Traumatologist with the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology, and have extensive deployment and field experience.

Are you struggling in your relationships? With meeting your daily obligations? Overwhelmed by life circumstances? Therapy can provide relief in a multitude of ways: developing healthier, more fulfilling relationships; alleviating and coping with the stresses of daily living; and understanding one's behavior and thought patterns in order to make productive choices and reach one's full potential in relationships, at home, and in the workplace. When one becomes overwhelmed by the relationships and responsibilities of their daily life - to include marriage, family, work, and school - therapy can get life back on track. Finding a therapist whom one trusts is an essential part of therapy.

** Shah is available to offer therapy services in Urdu, Hindi, and English Shah Hasan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Virginia and a Nationally Certified Counselor by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Shah has extensive experience working with individuals and families seeking help for an array of disorders and issues such as anxiety, depression, stress management, and family functioning.

Accepting new clients - The Center for Connection, Healing & Change was conceived as a sanctuary to facilitate joyful connection to ourselves and our loved ones. Our work focuses on the creation of secure, close, and satisfying relationships – within us and between us. We choose to specialize in relationships because we know the importance of satisfying relationships for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Services explore the relationship we have with both ourselves and others; how well we can live with emotional ease, know who we are, ask for what we need, and access our resilience in moments of hurt or stress.

Marie Aleman is a Licensed Professional Counselor who is passionate about integrating psychology and Catholic-Christian anthropology in order to restore hope and healing to suffering individuals. Marie uses a combination of emotionally-focused, cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and interpersonal techniques in order to meet the particular needs of each client. Mrs. Alemán’s therapy is informed by her Christian faith, her educational training, and her personal experience as a wife and mother. Marie works to heal clients through individual, parent-child, family, or couple counseling formats.

Charly Volk is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 10 plus years of experience providing therapeutic and behavioral health services for numerous mental health areas and a wide ranging of clientele base from ages 6 and up. Charly received her Master's Degree from the University of Connecticut, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Spanish. Charly is passionate about raising awareness of the critical importance of mental health in every community. She wants her clients to know she supports and values them, and always builds tailored treatment plans to accommodate their unique issues or concerns.

As a therapist, I work with individuals, couples, and families of various cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, life stages, and compositions. I specialize in trauma treatment and anxiety related to family and partner relationships, abuse, acute and chronic trauma, C-PTSD, ACOAs, life transitional stress, occupational and academic stress, and their relationship with themselves. Additionally, I specialize in assisting families and couples with setting boundaries, healthy communication skills, relationship transitions, and navigating parenting styles.

Hey there! I'm Jalynn, a licensed therapist that specializes in expressive therapy for teens and adults. I am passionate about providing creative and personalized interventions that cater to your unique goals. That's why I've crafted a therapeutic space that utilizes a variety of creative and expressive interventions. Whether you're a teen or an adult, life can present its share of challenges and transitions, leaving you feeling overwhelmed. My goal is to provide you with a safe, supportive environment where you can explore your inner thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, helping you find clarity and empowerment on your unique journey.

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.

Psychotherapy provides a healing relationship and a safe environment to process experiences and develop insights into- and coping strategies for- current challenges. We will provide you or your family this therapeutic relationship, guidance through your path to growth, & the opportunity to learn new skills & enhance your life.