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9 therapists available in Richmond
I understand what it is like to seek help from others. My goal is to be a supportive and safe environment for you to continue to c...
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I understand what it is like to seek help from others. My goal is to be a supportive and safe environment for you to continue to care for yourself and your mental health while responding to life’s challenges.
Sarajayne Vanover is a Supervisee in Social Work with 5 years of experience in case management. She has worked with children, adolescents, teenagers, and adults from diverse backgrounds. Sarajayne has treated trauma histories and family instability. She enjoys helping clients develop coping skills for depression, anxiety, life transitions, and daily struggles. Sarajayne understands the impact that positive support can have and seeks to help clients meet their goals. She seeks to provide validation and support to clients by understanding who they are and what they’ve experienced.
Sarajayne completed her Master of Social Work (MSW) in Clinical Practice as well as her Master of Science in Conflict Analysis & Resolution from George Mason University. Sarajayne has received training in Motivational Interviewing and approaches conflict with a Narrative Practice lens.
We have all experienced the highs and lows of life. Sarajayne strives to provide a safe space and a welcoming environment for individuals as they talk through whatever is on their minds and process what life has brought their way. If you are ready to start your journey, schedule an appointment with her today! She is looking forward to meeting you!
Education and training
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As a young professional woman, I understand the challenges of navigating through life's stressors, transitions, and relationships....
As a young professional woman, I understand the challenges of navigating through life's stressors, transitions, and relationships.
Brittany Spak is a Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 4 years of experience helping children, adolescents, and adults seeking help with depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, and relationship issues.
Brittany completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from King’s College, PA, and received her Master's degree in Counselor Education from East Carolina University. She utilizes a combination of dialectical behavior, person-centered, strengths-based, and collaborative approaches to therapy while finding creative ways to meet an individual’s unique needs.
Brittany seeks to create a caring and validating relationship with you to help assist you in fostering a relationship with yourself and others, building upon your strengths and coping skills, to help you reach your goals while living a fulfilled and meaningful life.
Through many years of experience as a medical and mental health social worker, and many years of pain and growth in my own life, I...
Through many years of experience as a medical and mental health social worker, and many years of pain and growth in my own life, I have become passionate about helping others struggling at various ages and stages of life.
Annette Young is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 34 years of experience helping individuals, couples, families, and seniors navigate life’s challenges. She specializes in supporting those facing grief, end-of-life issues, chronic medical conditions, and mental health concerns. With decades of professional and personal experience, Annette offers compassionate guidance and a safe space for growth, healing, and hope.
Annette earned her Master’s in Social Work from Florida State University. She integrates her clinical expertise with empathy, focusing on client-centered approaches that foster resilience, reflection, and meaningful connections. Her background equips her to guide clients through change with clarity and care.
Annette believes every person deserves support during life’s transitions. Her passion lies in helping clients find strength through struggle and rediscover purpose. Whether you are coping with pain, seeking clarity, or ready to fine-tune your life and relationships, Annette is here to walk alongside you on your journey.
Meredith Golob is a Licensed Professional Counselor with an extensive history working with children, adults, and families dealing...
Meredith Golob is a Licensed Professional Counselor with an extensive history working with children, adults, and families dealing with depression, anxiety, crises, life challenges, and trauma. She is a firm believer in creating a mutually respectful and trusting therapeutic relationship in order to support clients in reaching their goals.
Meredith graduated from James Madison University as a "double duke," receiving her Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology and her MA, Ed.S in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is a strength-based counselor, utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, and person-centered approaches. Meredith has completed the Level 1 Training in Gottman Method couples therapy.
Meredith is originally from New Jersey. She came to Virginia for school and never went back! In her spare time, Meredith enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, listening to music, and spending time with her pet.
As someone who has worked on understanding my own identity and personal challenges with mental health, I understand the importance...
As someone who has worked on understanding my own identity and personal challenges with mental health, I understand the importance of seeking support to help better one's quality of life.
During his professional years as a clinical social work therapist, Graeme Biddle has had the privilege of working with several populations, including clients with terminal illnesses and their family members, as well as children and adolescents experiencing emotional and behavioral instability. Graeme enjoys helping clients identify tools to cope with anxiety, depression, and anger. He also has experience helping clients understand life transitions, as well as better understand periods of grief and loss.
Graeme completed his Master of Social Work (MSW) from Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as his Bachelor of Arts from Randolph-Macon College. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) through the state of Virginia. Graeme provides a calm, validating approach to therapy, while also remaining direct, and encouraging self-accountability. While using a strengths-based perspective, Graeme utilizes several clinical modalities including Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
The process of beginning therapy can be scary and overwhelming. Graeme will strive at helping provide a safe space and facilitate a collaborative approach to help you feel valued and in control of your treatment. Schedule an appointment with Graeme to begin the steps of accomplishing your personal goals.
Paula O’Leary is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who has worked in the mental health field for 15 years in a variety of ...
Paula O’Leary is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who has worked in the mental health field for 15 years in a variety of settings, including outpatient, school, community-based, residential, hospital, and correctional settings. Paula specializes in treating depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, substance use, and other issues. She completed her master's degree at Cardinal Stritch University. Paula has also completed additional training in trauma and has obtained certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP).
Paula uses an integrated approach, which may incorporate the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, person-centered, solution-focused, and mindfulness, with a focus on each individual’s specific needs and goals. She believes in creating a safe, supportive space for individuals to express themselves without fear of judgment. Paula will assist individuals in building insight, in exploring past experiences and the impact they may be having on their current functioning, and in developing healthy ways to manage stressors. She recognizes that seeking services can feel overwhelming, but welcomes the opportunity to support you in this process.
As a queer person who has experienced mental health issues in the past, I strive to provide an affirming, safe environment to work...
As a queer person who has experienced mental health issues in the past, I strive to provide an affirming, safe environment to work through mental health struggles.
I am a Licensed Master Social Worker with over 2 years of direct clinical experience. I specialize in mental health treatment, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, panic disorders, and child behavioral challenges. I also have experience providing crisis support and stabilization for children, adolescents, and adults. I strive to create a safe and affirming space where clients feel supported as they work toward their goals.
I earned my Master’s in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. My background includes crisis intervention, stabilization, and long-term support for depression and anxiety. I use approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy, and I strive to offer affirming, queer-friendly care tailored to each client.
I welcome the opportunity to walk alongside you on your journey toward healing and growth. Whether you are seeking tools to manage daily stressors or support through life’s challenges, I am here to provide compassionate, collaborative care. I encourage you to reach out so we can begin building a plan that feels supportive and meaningful to you.
As someone who has experienced the impact of mental health challenges, I provide a unique perspective, level of understanding, and...
As someone who has experienced the impact of mental health challenges, I provide a unique perspective, level of understanding, and empathy towards others.
Victoria Staten is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with years of experience. She has experience practicing in a variety of clinical settings providing both inpatient and outpatient mental health services to both adolescents and adults. Victoria focuses on helping. She has experience treating individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, traumatic experiences, adjusting to life changes, challenges within relationships, and low self-esteem.
Victoria received her Master's degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and her Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Radford University. Victoria utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), solution-focused therapy (SFT), and more.
Victoria wants you to know that even though you are the only one who can take steps towards taking back control over your mental health, you do not have to take those steps alone. Schedule your session today.
As a clinician, I strive to cultivate a comfortable, empowering therapeutic relationship that recognizes the client as a whole per...
As a clinician, I strive to cultivate a comfortable, empowering therapeutic relationship that recognizes the client as a whole person while highlighting their inner strengths.
Allie Wright is a Resident in Counseling with 1 year of experience helping teens and adults from diverse backgrounds. Allie specializes in treating clients struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and life adjustments. She is passionate about working with individuals from marginalized backgrounds, survivors of trauma and abuse, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Allie individualizes her treatment methods to meet each client's needs.
Allie has a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College at Columbia University. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative, affirming, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. Allie uses cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and narrative therapy.
Allie cultivates a compassionate, accepting, and empowering therapeutic space where she strives to meet clients where they are and work together to reach their personal goals. Schedule an appointment with Allie today!
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My go-to approach for helping people in dialectical behavior therapy is the use of the wise mind. I find the best benefit in the wise mind because it helps balance the rational mind and emotional mind while meeting anyone where they currently are.
I teach the following tools in dialectical behavior therapy:
I know a client is making meaningful progress in dialectical behavior therapy when the client is able to see and accept two opposing thoughts existing at the same time, such as “I am doing my best, and I can do better,” regularly utilizes therapy skills without thinking about using them, and expresses an improvement in emotion regulation.
Clients can supplement their time in dialectical behavior therapy with various DBT workbooks available to buy online, such as the one by Matthew McKay, PhD!
To prepare for their first dialectical behavior therapy session, an individual can remind themselves that they are doing the best that they can, therapy will help them do better, and change takes time, consistency, and accepting change.
At Thriveworks, Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) primarily concentrates on assisting individuals in emotion regulation, enhancing interpersonal relationships, and acquiring effective coping strategies for managing stress and emotional difficulties.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) targets your personal challenges. You may work with your DBT therapist to maintain diary cards to monitor progress, emphasizing validation and support in the therapeutic relationship. DBT follows a stage-based approach, prioritizing crisis reduction initially and life satisfaction.
DBT was initially developed to address the needs of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, its versatile approach has enabled its application to a wide range of mental health conditions, including but not limited to, anxiety, depression, stress, and anger issues.
The 4 pillars of DBT are mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) have distinct purposes and aren’t inherently superior or inferior to one another. DBT is most effective for managing emotional regulation, personality disorders, and interpersonal challenges, while EMDR is specifically tailored for individuals with trauma-related conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with therapists at Thriveworks in Richmond, VA is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
The duration of a standard DBT program is typically around 24 weeks, which is roughly six months. The actual number of sessions will vary depending on the issues you wish to address.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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