Our counselors offer self-harm counseling in Chesterfield, VA

Nessalyn Dearce is a Resident in Counseling who has experience providing mental health services to children and adults seeking help with depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, chronic illness, and stress management. Nessalyn is LGBTQIA+ affirming and works to maintain multicultural awareness in session. She completed her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology at Christopher Newport University and her Master of Science (MS) in Education in Counseling at Old Dominion University. 

Nessalyn utilizes person-centered, mindfulness-based, cognitive-behavioral, strengths-based, solution focused, and emotionally focused approaches to therapy. She encourages individuals to acknowledge their inner experiences in healthy ways and assists them in aligning with their goals and ideals. Nessalyn aims to meet the individual needs of each person by exploring the qualities and experiences that make them unique.

Nessalyn understands that getting help can be difficult and intimidating, so she aims to make the office a safe space for clients to be themselves and hopes to establish a therapeutic relationship that makes room for growth and healing.

Benjii Maust is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 10 years of experience working with children, teens, and adults in intensive in-home, community, outpatient, and residential settings. Benjii specializes in LGBTQIA affirmation, anger management, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and managing trauma-based behaviors. His ideal client struggles with acceptance, coping mechanisms, and expressing feelings healthily. Benjii has also supported clients living with chronic illnesses who require emotional support in managing their medical needs.

Benjii received his Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. He draws on techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, compassion-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing. Benjii utilizes art and play-based interventions with younger clients.

Benjii is committed to meeting you where you are in your journey and engaging with you to identify thoughts, patterns, and narratives working against you. If you are feeling stuck and looking for a change, reach out to Benjii today.

Brittany Brown is a Resident in Counseling with 7 years of experience. She specializes in helping adults and seniors dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma. She genuinely loves to see others do well in life and is passionate about developing a toolkit to assist clients in reaching their full potential.

Brittany graduated from Lipscomb University with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She utilizes person-centered therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, expressive arts, and faith-based counseling to adapt a plan of care to each of her clients.

Congratulations! Being here means you have made a pivotal move in bettering your life and are actively looking for a teammate to assist you on this journey to healing or finding a solution. Brittany encourages you to walk with her as you explore your challenges, emotions, and goals. Please reach out to schedule your first appointment today!

Alexis Wooden is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 4 years of experience. She specializes in accommodating and supporting children, teenagers, and adults with a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, addiction, life adjustments, grief, coping skills, and career challenges. Alexis also enjoys working with pre-teens who are affected by behavioral problems and oppositional defiant disorder. She has spent time in various clinical environments including educational and virtual.

Alexis received her Master's in Community Mental Health Counseling at Hampton University. She uses modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, motivational interviewing, and multicultural and mindfulness-based methods while tailoring care to each client’s needs.

Alexis believes empathy and connection have great power and is looking forward to assisting you in realizing your advantages and highlighting the good things in your life. Book an appointment with her today!

Hui-Chen Wong is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Ms. Wong received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Social Welfare and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.

Ms. Wong has over 10 years of experience providing individual counseling for children, adolescents and adults across the lifespan. Her work draws upon crisis intervention, trauma informed care, mindfulness, and meditation. She specializes in treating acute stress, anxiety, depression, family challenges, grief, loss, life balance, trauma, PTSD, mood disorders, and behavioral issues. 

Ms. Wong utilizes evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy, self-compassion treatment, behavioral modification therapy, trauma-informed therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches to help individuals achieve improved emotional and behavioral functioning. Ms. Wong's goal is to provide a comfortable, supportive environment upon which a strong clinical relationship can be built. It is her belief that through this partnership clients are best able to draw on their individual strengths and capabilities.

Ashley Floyd is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisee with 2 years of experience in the mental health field. She specializes in supporting individuals through depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, substance use, and life transitions. Ashley was inspired to return to school to study social work after spending 12 years in retail and meeting a wide variety of diverse people. She has worked with clients with intersectional identities including LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and those in recovery. As a believer in flexible treatment, Ashley tailors her approach to each individual.

Ashley received her Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her favorite therapeutic approaches are parts work and internal family systems techniques, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and traditional talk therapy.

These are challenging times for everyone. Despite being increasingly electronically "connected,” people feel more isolated than ever, but Ashley believes change is always possible! Reach out and find a strategy to work toward being the best version of yourself in a life that honors your values.

Valerie Fowlkes, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over five years of experience helping adolescents, adults, and couples create meaningful, lasting change. She has served clients in outpatient mental health settings, therapeutic treatment programs, substance use recovery services, and community-based agencies, giving her a well-rounded understanding of diverse client needs.

Valerie specializes in supporting individuals who are navigating relationship challenges, childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, anger, women’s issues, parenting stress, and behavioral concerns. She also provides premarital, marital, and couples counseling, helping partners strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and reconnect with one another.

Valerie earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. She uses evidence-based approaches tailored to each client’s goals, including Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness-Based techniques, and the Gottman Method for couples.

Valerie believes therapy should be collaborative, goal-oriented, and empowering. She creates a secure, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, understood, and challenged to grow. Her focus is not just symptom relief, but equipping clients with lifelong skills for healing and success.

If you’re ready to gain clarity, build stronger relationships, and move forward with confidence, schedule a session with Valerie today.

Carl Brown is a Resident in Counseling who has been working in the mental health field for over 20 years. Mr. Brown has experience working with seriously mentally ill population (SMI) adults, children, and families who have experienced trauma, varied mental health diagnoses, and legal and socioeconomic concerns. His professional career began with District 19 Community Services Board (CSB) as a qualified mental health professional working in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Day Program. There he was primarily responsible for training and developing individuals with a serious mental illness on independent living skills.

Mr. Brown worked at District 19 CSB for 13 years as a Mental Health Support Provider and then as a Mental Health Case Manager before joining the private mental health sector. He was the Lead Clinical Supervisor with L.I.F.E. Youth and Adult Services for 9 years. Mr. Brown started his private sector career overseeing intensive in-home services, mental health skill building services and the psycho-social rehabilitation (PSR) day program. In addition, he also managed the day-to-day operations of L.I.F.E. Youth and Adult Services and worked with local community mental health agencies to coordinate and collaborate services as needed. Mr. Brown completed his Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at Ferrum College and his Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University.

Mr. Brown’s focus is to empower and help you develop strength and mastery over life challenges to help you find your way to healing. Healing is a process that involves appropriate strategies and skills, life changes, insight, self-awareness, and support to get to a place of clarity, self-discovery, and stability. Life often hands us unforeseen challenges and obstacles, but that doesn't have to break us or keep us from the healing we all deserve. There are benefits to seeking help and having a safe space to process. Mr. Brown is here to work with you on your healing journey. He utilizes evidence-based treatments, including person-centered therapy, behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness, to help individuals achieve improved emotional and behavioral functioning.