Our therapists offer trauma therapy in Charlottesville, VA

Hi, I’m Madison Powell, Resident in Counseling, MSEd. I work with adults who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, stress, and major life transitions. Many of the clients I support feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve them. Whether you're looking to heal from past experiences, build healthier coping skills, strengthen your relationships, or feel more confident in managing life's challenges, I aim to provide a supportive space where you can feel heard, understood, and respected. 

My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and tailored to your unique needs. Drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, person-centered, and narrative approaches, I help clients identify patterns, reframe unhelpful beliefs, build resilience, and develop practical tools for lasting change and personal growth. 

Seeking support takes courage, and you don't have to navigate life's challenges alone. My goal is to create a safe, compassionate environment where you feel empowered to grow, heal, and move forward with confidence. If you're ready to invest in yourself and your well-being, I would be honored to be part of your journey.

Shirley Hudson is a dual board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) who is passionate about providing evidence-based and personalized care to adult clients. She began her health career treating patients in various settings including spinal cord injury, intensive care, hematology, oncology, and medical-surgical units. As a Christian, Shirley understands there is still a stigma attached to mental illness in many churches. She also has a mission to reduce the stigma of psychiatric disorders by educating clients, families, and the community about mental health disorders.

After years as a registered nurse, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing at Old Dominion University. Through her years at the hospital bedside and clinic, Shirley saw a need for more psychiatric care providers. To help increase access to mental health services, she earned her Post-Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification.

Shirley believes that the best patient outcomes are built on the foundation of a strong and authentic patient/provider partnership. She values the client as an integral part of the treatment team and works diligently to provide education about all aspects of the mutually agreed-upon treatment plan.

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.

Kedian Gooden is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) committed to assisting individuals with mental health challenges to live more productive lives and improve their functioning in society. As a PMHNP, Kedian’s role is to provide safe, quality psychiatric care to individuals and their families. She is well versed in applying an evidence-based approach to conducting a psychiatric assessment, medication evaluation, and management for a wide variety of mental health conditions. Furthermore, Kedian has over 15 years of experience in health care, working in various positions, which have aided in her developing the necessary skills and abilities for providing the highest quality behavioral health care.

In 2007, Kedian obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at the Northern Caribbean University. Over the years, she grew to love and appreciate caring for individuals with mental health conditions, which gave her the drive to improve the quality of care and bring more awareness to reduce the daunting stigma plaguing the mental health community. She then furthered her studies at Walden University, achieving a Master of Science degree in nursing specializing in mental health care across a life span. Kedian possesses exceptional clinical skills and a natural ability to build rapport with clients and their families.

Kedian is passionate and highly motivated in delivering high-quality, compassionate, client-centered care. She demonstrates empathetic listening skills and establishes a therapeutic alliance with patients, family, or caregivers in a nonjudgmental and safe virtual environment. If you are ready to take control of your mental health, join her and schedule an appointment with her today!

Monica Alexander is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 15 years of experience in the mental health and substance use treatment fields. She has provided treatment in various settings and with a wide range of populations. She seeks to help people live more effective lives in order to thrive, not just survive, in life. She specializes in emotional dysregulation, depression disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, interpersonal conflict, grief, major life transitions, complex trauma, and mindfulness practices.

Monica Alexander completed her Master of Arts in Professional Counseling (MA) at Liberty University in 2012. She is a wife and mother and an active member in her community and church. These roles coupled with clinical training and experience allow her to have an effective approach to problem-solving with modalities such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy, substance use treatment modalities (matrix, seeking safety, living in balance), and motivational interviewing.

Monica is ready! She believes you can do hard things. She wants you to become unstuck and free. Monica is confident that she will be able to provide effective treatment and straight answers, and that she will know the difference between when a client needs information versus affirmation to cope with challenges. If you are looking at this now, take the next step and schedule an appointment with her today!