I prefer my clients to feel like someone is listening to them, my environment is relaxed and nonjudgmental.

My communication style may be described as lax, as I feel this allows for the client to be comfortable. I pride myself in being allied with LGBTQIA2 and identify as a Black woman.

When we feel stuck in our lives, for weeks, or years, it can take a toll on us in ways we may not see. Time passes and we don't feel any further in our life. We're left feeling exhausted and alone in our pain. My name is Ryan, and I provide therapy for people who are looking to break free. Whether it's poor relationships, anxiety, depression, substance or process addictions, trauma, or a desire to deepen their connection with others, I help my clients find strength, flexibility, and compassion, returning themselves to the feeling of being whole. My job is to guide you through the things that have been holding you back in your life. I'm experienced in both modern and historical approaches; psychodynamic, attachment-based, internal family systems, addiction, and psychosynthesis. Regardless of the style of therapy, I specialize in creating safe holding for exploring emotional depth and healing.

At Kaltum Counseling & Recovery, PLLC, I believe therapy should be a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered. I specialize in working with teens, adults, and couples who are dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, emotional burnout, relationship concerns, substance use challenges, and life transitions. Using a compassionate, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based approach, I support clients in strengthening coping skills, improving emotional wellness, and working toward meaningful healing, growth, and healthier relationships. My goal is to help clients feel supported while creating lasting, positive change.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 30 years of experience working in various inpatient and outpatient settings. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress (PTSD), childhood trauma, career challenges, substance abuse issues, and grief and loss. I have also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma andor emotional abuse. My therapy style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating all my clients with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I don’t believe in stigmatizing labels.

I provide a comfortable, nonjudgmental space and a multicultural lens to help you tackle what you’re going through in a safe, healthy way. I specialize in working with teenagers, college students, and the LGBTQ+ community, and I also focus on supporting people with attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), anxiety, borderline personality (BPD), trauma, and general life stressors.

I am a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with over 7 years of experience supporting individuals on their mental health journeys in Virginia. I have worked in both psychiatric hospital and outpatient clinic settings, providing compassionate care to people with diverse needs. My background in mental health nursing has given me a strong understanding of complex behavioral health conditions, and I strive to help clients navigate anxiety, depression, and adjustment challenges while building emotional resilience and overall wellness.

I understand that seeking therapy can be daunting, and view therapy as a holistic process, striving to provide a warm, empathic, and accepting atmosphere, to support clients who are committed to making lasting change. I am Licensed Professional Counselor, and have extensive clinical experience working with individuals and couples struggling with relationship issues, trauma, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, low self-esteem, grief and loss, and questions of identity. I am passionate about helping couples and individuals grow and thrive, improving communication, working through trauma, and identifying and achieving goals. I received my Master of Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2011, and since then have undergone continued training specializing in trauma-informed approaches. I am a Gottman Method Level 1 trained therapist. I operate from a trauma-informed perspective recognizing that many people have had or currently experience trauma. I understand the need for emotional safety and trustworthiness in a therapist and work with clients to regain a sense of empowerment in their lives. My style is eclectic, but my work is trauma informed, using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients stop fighting against the pain of their past, and build rich and meaningful lives. For couples work, I pull strongly from the Gottman Method. I strongly believe that every person holds the capacity for growth, and can benefit from a trusting and supportive therapist to help them acknowledge and ignite that ability within themselves. I consider the client as the expert in their life and trust that a positive client and therapist relationship is key to facilitating change. Through a safe and professional relationship, the therapist can help the client deeply examine their life, and identify areas for change. Utilizing individualized treatment plans, I help clients develop goals tailored to their specific needs, and identify coping and management strategies to help clients regain a sense of control in life.

I believe that my mission in life is to help others by providing the space in which they can share their struggles and concerns without judgment. Life is difficult, and more than anything else, I think we all crave to be listened to. I enjoy listening, and I like to help others to listen, too. By listening carefully we can create deep connection with others. Strong connection helps make life a bit easier and more enjoyable. Being a therapist has been a dream of mine ever since I was in middle school and my brother brought his introduction to psychology textbook home from college! I love to understand why we all do the things we do, and I enjoy helping others to understand themselves and those around them better, too.

"We are only as needy as our unmet needs" - John Bowlby At Matters of the Heart Counseling, we specialize in working with families parenting children from hard places (adoptionfoster care). We have a team of people ready to assess and provide a fully developed plan for working with your family. We utilize individual, family and couples therapy and also incorporate Neurofeedback as appropriate Matters of the Heart Counseling was established out of Karen's desire to provide, teach, and cultivate quality mental health counseling with an attachment focus to those specifically desiring a Christian faith-based perspective. All of our counselors have experience and specialized training to work with trauma and specifically, adoption. Many of our therapists can support a Christian perspective. Karen’s primary focus is to supervise and work with the team of therapists at Matters of the Heart Counseling to ensure quality services and therapy for all who enter our practice. Karen is specially trained in EMDR (through EMDRIA approved trainer), and Level II Certified Internal Family Systems therapist. Karen additionally utilizes the creative arts in her therapy through the use of art, sand tray, and other creative outlets as it is often difficult to find words for the experiences one has endured. Karen is a trained Neurofeedback technician, incorporating it into sessions. Karen closely supervises the clinicians on staff to impart her experience and cultivate their growth. Karen also enjoys being a speaker at conferences & has spoken on topics of adoption, self-injury, compassion fatigue, and trauma, Please contact Karen for her speaking fees.

From a space of non-judgment and sensitivity, I believe it is my job to provide a supportive environment for us to explore patterns that contribute to the pain and challenges of your everyday life. I aim to bring light to different ways of being, so you can experience less pain, more satisfaction, and a better quality of life. We all get stuck at some point in our lives. It is my job to be present in those "stuck" moments so that we may collaborate in discovering the origins of the pain while identifying a path to well-being that fits for you.

Life can feel hard at times. I believe that therapy should be a safe place to turn to when it feels important to be heard and understood. I specialize in treating adults who struggle with trauma, posttraumatic stress (PTSD), dissociation, anxiety, depression, low self-confidence, emotional instability, relationship problems, borderline personality, and grief. I have a special interest in working with emotionally sensitive individuals. I also have a strong knowledge base of Christianity. Clients I work with have goals to decrease trauma-related symptoms (e.g., flashbacks, mood swings) and feel more fulfilled. In sessions, I am down-to-earth, friendly, empathic, and nonjudgmental while paying attention to how your past and present experiences have made life feel for you. My biggest passion is empowering clients who have felt misunderstood, unseen, or mistreated in their lives, and helping them learn everyday skills to handle overwhelming emotions and situations. I have experience working in a variety of settings, including a community mental health clinic, university, inpatient psychiatric hospital, private practices, and residential treatment facility, offering both psychotherapy and assessment services. If you are feeling down, lost, or discouraged, feel free to reach out to me if you feel we may be a good fit.