Our therapists offer help for LGBTQ+ issues in Virginia Beach, VA

Aadirayana Joseph is a Supervisee in Social Work with 3 years of experience supporting adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relationship challenges and working with diverse communities such as the military and LGBTQIA+. She provides a warm, collaborative space where clients feel seen, supported, and empowered to create meaningful change in their lives. She uses several approaches to help clients develop practical tools for managing emotions, improving communication, and navigating life’s challenges.

Aadirayana has a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy and emphasizes a strengths-based approach tailored to each client’s journey. With a compassionate and evidence-informed lens, Aadirayana helps individuals build resilience, gain clarity, and move toward emotional wellness.

Aadirayana understands that reaching out for help can feel overwhelming. She helps clients feel empowered to navigate life’s challenges, reconnect with themselves, and take meaningful steps toward healing and growth. Aadirayana encourages you to reach out today!

Abel Juarez is a Resident in Counseling who specializes in depression, anger, anxiety, relationships, and addiction. In life, there will be obstacles and complications that can interrupt and affect how individuals cope with negative as well as positive outcomes. These outcomes can influence a person's thought process and have the ability to make them feel overwhelmed, powerless, and anxious. In counseling, these challenges can be handled in a manner in which individuals, couples, and families can address and begin to understand how such difficulties can result in the present situations.

"I am passionate about aiding those in difficult situations to focus on their strengths and build on them," says Abel. "In this, the counseling process becomes an understanding of several issues instead of focusing on the negative aspects that people find themselves in. Therefore, progress can move forward and the client and I can begin to address the issues at heart.

Furthermore, counseling sessions are a nonjudgmental arena in which the client is not thought of in a negative light. Being that, everyone experiences life and reacts to circumstances both negatively and positively. The extent of this reaction is where counseling starts to help those in need of a better understanding of how they conduct themselves."

Mariellen Blanton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) who has 30 years of experience working with adults seeking assistance with life stressors, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief, loss, substance abuse, and restoring balance in life. 

Mariellen completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology at St. Leo University and her Master of Social Work (MSW) at Norfolk State University. She utilizes solution focused, cognitive behavioral, supportive, mindfulness-based approaches to therapy while offering a safe, accepting forum in meeting each individual’s needs to empower all to flourish. Mariellen presents flexibility along with being attentive to what will work best for each individual’s distinctive needs and concerns.

Mariellen strives to create a calming and helpful relationship with you as a way to work together with you in building upon your existing coping strategies and achieving your goals while living a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle.

Karen Todaro is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Virginia who has 41 years of experience working with adults, couples, teens, and children experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, unwanted behavior, and relationship issues. 

Karen completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from the University of South Florida and her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. She utilizes cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, relational, emotionally focused, and life coaching approaches to therapy while maintaining the flexibility, awareness, and creativity to best meet the unique needs of each client. Her focus is to be mindful of your prior life experiences, individual skillset, and timeframe in setting and reaching your goals in order to live your best life.

Karen is non-judgmental, warm, and caring and seeks to build a relationship with you based on mutual trust and respect through open communication. She will assist you with identifying your strengths and building on them so that you can reach your goals efficiently and move forward towards a more optimistic, productive, and rewarding future.

James Martin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 15 years of experience. He specializes in anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma, anger/stress management, grief/loss, and major life transitions.

James obtained his Master's degree in Counseling and Human Development from Radford University. He utilizes an eclectic approach to therapy, including person-centered therapy (PCT), REBT, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and more.

If you're ready to work with James, he is dedicated to helping individuals set and achieve their therapeutic goals, empowering them to lead more fulfilling lives. Schedule today.

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