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Find the right therapist for you, based on your specific needs and preferences, all online.
Find the right provider for you, based on your specific needs and preferences, all online.
Discover how starting family therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
8 therapists available in Richmond
Grounded in my own experiences of trauma, recovery, and queer identity, I support clients with empathy, authenticity, and a deep r...
About
Grounded in my own experiences of trauma, recovery, and queer identity, I support clients with empathy, authenticity, and a deep respect for the courage it takes to heal.
I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 10 years of experience working in addiction treatment, trauma recovery, and mental health care. I work with adults navigating burnout, identity shifts, grief, and relationship struggles, as well as those seeking clarity after trauma or transition. I support individuals who feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, or disconnected and are ready to rediscover themselves in a space that fosters growth, healing, and self-awareness.
I earned my master’s in social work from the University of Arkansas. My approach is trauma-informed, attachment-focused, and mindfulness-based, helping clients feel safe enough to explore what hurts and move toward healing. I strive to create a collaborative, honest space with room for humor, compassion, and genuine connection.
If you’re tired of carrying it all alone, you don’t have to anymore. Healing doesn’t require perfection, just the courage to show up as you are. Together, we’ll work toward building a more grounded, authentic life. I’d be honored to walk beside you as you write the next chapter of your story.
Education and training
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Growing up in a working-class, single-parent home shaped my empathy, and I bring personal and professional experience to meet each...
Growing up in a working-class, single-parent home shaped my empathy, and I bring personal and professional experience to meet each client with authenticity and care.
I am William Watson, a Licensed Social Worker Supervisee with 2 years of experience. Shaped by a working-class, single-parent upbringing, I bring lived experiences and strong clinical training to my work. I support adolescents and adults facing depression, anxiety, ADHD, stress, and life transitions. My goal is to provide steady guidance and practical support as a respectful partner who values honesty, feedback, and collaboration.
I hold a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Arkansas and blend evidence-informed care with lived experience. My sessions emphasize practical tools, steady structure, and clear goals to help clients build confidence and skills between visits.
I know that starting therapy can feel overwhelming. That’s why I focus on creating a safe, respectful space where you can move at your own pace. If you are looking for practical strategies and a collaborative therapist who meets you where you are, I welcome you to reach out because you don’t have to face life’s challenges alone.
I collaborate with my clients to promote healing in a safe and affirming space....
I collaborate with my clients to promote healing in a safe and affirming space.
Sharon Looney is a Supervisee in Social Work with 1 year of experience in in-home, outpatient, and clinical care. They specialize in the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders, depression, neurodivergence (including OCD, ADHD, and ASD), and PTSD/trauma. Sharon also provides care for major life stressors including domestic and relationship issues, gender dysphoria/transition, and grief. Sharon has experience with behavioral interventions, crisis stabilization, case management, and individual psychotherapy.
Sharon received their Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. They utilize strategies from dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and other evidence-based practices to create a personalized experience.
Beginning therapy may not be an instant fix for life’s challenges, but it is the last step you’ll have to take alone. Sharon is ready to walk with you in this next stage of your recovery. Schedule your initial appointment today!
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.
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.
As a clinician, I understand that individuals have different backgrounds and experiences that make them unique....
As a clinician, I understand that individuals have different backgrounds and experiences that make them unique.
Marissa Bell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience in the mental health field. She is passionate about helping adolescents, adults, and families address their unique challenges and needs. Marissa has a diverse professional background working with individuals of different ages and needs. She specializes in treating individuals with depression, anxiety, grief, adjustment disorder, trauma, and major life transitions. Marissa completed her Master of Social Work (MSW) at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Marissa is very passionate about supporting and guiding others in finding solutions and overcoming challenges. Marissa utilizes multiple treatment approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, person-centered therapy, and solution-focused therapy.
Despite the challenges and situations that happen in life, Marissa is confident that she can support and empower individuals through navigating life challenges. Marissa can support others in developing coping skills and establishing goals. If you are ready to start therapy, schedule an appointment with her today.
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.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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My go-to approach to family therapy is to start by creating a foundation for open communication so that everyone's voice is heard. From there, we work on enhancing the trust between family members by focusing on attachment and openly speaking about difficult trust-related issues. I find that working on healthy attachment provides the best way for family members to get reassurance about concerns/fears that are hard to express verbally.
The tools I offer are related to communication, and they include:
I know a client is making progress in family therapy when they are not interrupting each other and are able to discuss their fears and trust issues.
Clients get the most out of therapy when they do work outside of sessions. Practicing communication skills they learned in session and taking time to reflect on how they are contributing to the conflict can help supplement their time in family therapy.
To prepare for family therapy, it is helpful for individuals to have an idea of how they want things to be different in the family and keep an open mind about how conflicts develop.
Family therapy helps families resolve conflicts and strengthen their relationships. It is led by qualified mental health professionals like psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) who have extensive training in family dynamics and group communication.
Thriveworks family therapists in Richmond, VA usually begin by asking what everyone’s goals are for family counseling. Family members may need help with very specific issues or with general relationship functioning. But there are three main purposes in family counseling: to educate, to counsel, and to strengthen. Thriveworks also offers online family therapy and in-person services, so you may all meet in an office together or join a video call from your home depending on everyone’s location and availability.
The most effective form of Family therapy will often depend on the family itself, as there are many types of family therapy for therapists to use as they see fit in order to best meet the needs of their clients. However, one of the most commonly used types of family therapy is structural family therapy (SFT). SFT focuses specifically on family dynamics and interactions, looking at how they shape the relationships and structure present in the family. It can be effectively used to treat a variety of concerns.
This answer often looks different to each family that starts family therapy. However, some signs that your family might need to consider family counseling include frequent fights or misunderstandings, constant tension, experiencing loss, behavioral issues, marital issues, divorce, and blended family issues, among others.
In family therapy, therapists will often start by asking questions and assessing individual and family dynamics. From there, they may employ therapeutic techniques such as structured family therapy, CBT, strategic family therapy, and more depending on the present concerns and conflicts. From there, a therapist will work to open lines of communication between family members and facilitate emotional healing and growth.
Family therapy can be incredibly successful, with some studies reporting a success rate of almost 90% for improving participants’ emotional and mental health, and around 66% for improving their physical health.
Thriveworks therapists in Richmond, VA offer both online family therapy and in-person family therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
Family therapy is usually short term and solution-focused, with most families accomplishing their goals in 12 sessions or fewer. However, it can also last for longer if the probles at hand are more complex — and that’s okay, too.
Family dysfunction is a common occurrence because when one family member experiences trouble, often other family members are affected. It does not take much for families to start working against each other instead of working for each other. Overcoming the dysfunction can be difficult without an outside perspective.
The counselors and psychologists at Thriveworks Richmond understand the challenges that threaten to tear families apart. We love seeing families face their difficulties together and grow closer as they find solutions that work for each individual family member. If you think you could benefit from family therapy, reach out to Thriveworks today to schedule your first appointment.
Every family, regardless of size, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, will have hardship, and these times can either tear family apart or bond them closer together.
Crises can change life in a moment. When unforeseen events happen to one family member, others are inevitably affected to some degree as well. Crises can blindside and disorient families, but a skilled therapist can help families connect and work together during unexpected disruptions such as:
Not every challenge, however, is unexpected. Some family problems begin small and manageable, but they grow when left unaddressed. It often does not take long for these problems to overwhelm a family, but therapy may help families make necessary adjustments to deal with on-going challenges such as…
These challenges to not have to harm families. Many families bond in the midst of challenge, but finding balance in the midst of a crisis or on-going difficulty is hard. Often, the outside perspective and safe space that therapy can provide are the help families need to make progressive together. A skilled therapist may help by…
Family systems therapy and family structural therapy are two popular techniques in family therapy. Their foundational idea is that understanding an individual means understanding their family of origin—people gain their role in life and sense of identity from their family. Even when people distance themselves from their families, the family unit provides the context necessary for understanding the individual.
Family counseling is not a magic formula that will make life easier, but when family members are ready for a more harmonious home life, counseling can guide the process.
At Thriveworks Richmond, we aim to give each client first-rate care. When you schedule family therapy at our office, know that evening and weekend appointments are available. Many first-time clients see their therapist within a week of their call, and we accept many forms of insurance.
If your family is ready to work together, call Thriveworks today. We are ready to help.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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