My communication style is warm, collaborative, and focused on your unique needs and goals. I aim to create a safe, non-judgmental space for you to process your experiences and emotions.

Are you your own worst critic? Maybe you can’t shake the feeling that your best is never good enough? Do the little things feel overwhelming? Is it hard for you to stick up for yourself and you’re left swallowing your anger or disappointment? My name is Liz Caritj and I work with people in high stress situations, particularly people working in the field of law or in rigorous academic programs, who feel like they’re falling apart trying to hold everything together perfectly. Clients come to me for a compassionate, and non-judgmental atmosphere. Gain better insight into unhelpful patterns and learn skills to change them. You can better understand the physical and emotional reactions and learn new tools to get through challenging situations. Imagine learning to trust yourself and letting go of your harsh inner critic. I love helping people feel less alone and discover how powerful they really are. It is my goal to provide a safe atmosphere where you can unburden yourself and we can sort it out together, find healthy coping skills, and make a plan to get what's most important back into your life. Reach out to me today so that we can get started! If you think I would be a good fit or are simply curious, please contact me to make an appointment or to request a free, brief (20-25 minute) phone consultation.

My 25+ years of experience has taught me the importance of making the time to listen and understand before I start making suggestions. This involves understanding each person's life story, administering assessment tools, reviewing relevant records, and interviewing other people that my client and I agree should be involved. I believe strongly in evaluating strengths as well as pain, with my feedback emphasizing the former. I also believe in letting my clients know about what research-based treatments are available to them so that we can collaborate in experiencing transformative change ASAP. I believe in setting life-altering goals before beginning, and checking on progress as we go. My intention is to promote healing, wellness, and happiness as thoroughly and as effectively as possible. With child and teen clients, I use a variety of methods to make each person comfortable (e.g., I use magic to connect with kids and teens, referring to myself as a wizard).

I think the most important part of being a good therapist is genuinely caring about the well-being of the people I work with. I am an empathic therapist, and work to create a warm and welcoming environment for those I see in therapy. This sets a foundation that enables us to talk about what brings you to therapy, whether it be hopes, struggles, fears, conflicts, etc. Together, we will explore your concerns and wishes, and uncover what is standing between what life is like now and what you want it to be. I will help you recognize and understand the barriers that keep you from feeling the way you want to feel, and work with you to break through those barriers, which can result in greater satisfaction in relationships, work, and day-to-day life. I also provide support and guidance for those experiencing life transitions, such as marriage, children, loss, divorce, and those new to the city who are having trouble adjusting. I think that it is important to recognize that, although we all have limitations, we also have strengths and resources. I have a flexible approach to therapy, and have been trained in a number of different modalities that allow me to cater to your specific needs.

If someone is struggling with today's news and events, surviving a difficult upbringing, or wrestling with issues of identity, the best thing they can do for themselves is to find that safe, affirming space that allows them to speak freely without fear of judgement. My goal is to provide the emotional, physical, and affirming space for that very thing to happen. My clientele consists of students, mental health professionals, veterans, seniors, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I hold master's degrees in trauma informed counseling and the arts. Sometimes individuals have a block and the words are difficult to find. A more creative process can often reveal nonverbal cues and metaphors that can deepen understanding and healing. I help clients use imagery, symbolism, and creative expression to uncover meaning and insight. I currently work with individuals ages 8 and up, I have worked with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, grief and loss, life transitions, and trauma-related issues. I bring creativity, compassion, warmth, and a genuine desire to provide affirmation, and occasionally humor to foster a safe, affirming, and empowering environment.

Elizabeth Peters is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 3 years of experience. She has had the privilege of working in crisis management, forensics, incarceration, and outpatient settings. She works with individuals ages 5 and up who have concerns including addiction, depression, anxiety, severe mental illness, and trauma.

If you’ve gone through something hard, and you’re having difficulty enjoying things, experiencing intrusive thoughts, anxiety, depression, or just not feeling like yourself, I will listen, help you find your footing, and guide you toward feeling like yourself again. Using a warm and supportive approach, I help adult women and men at all life stages who are coping with trauma and life stressors, toward symptom relief and more peace of mind. I have a special interest in reproductive mental health, including pregnancy and postpartum, as well as reproductive loss and trauma, and I am trained and certified as a perinatal mental health counselor (PMH-C) by Postpartum Support International.

You are noticing that some of the things that you experienced as a child affected you in many ways. Now that you are a parent, you are seeking support to parent your young children differently. My specialty is working with new and prospective parents to help them explore their parenting beliefs, learn the essentials of infant and early childhood development, and gain practical, real-life parenting skills that are designed to foster a loving and secure parent-child bond with children who feel loved, supported and respected.

Working with you, alongside you, and for YOU, to take care of the emotional wellbeing that defines YOU. Life can present some difficult challenges. With the right support, these can be an incredible opportunity to grow. I offer deep empathy and active listening skills. I meet you where you are, and assist you in developing strength based techniques that you can use in reaching your goals in a non judgmental environment. I am also offering group counseling and workshops online that will assist you in taking care of your mental health.

I believe in the strength and resiliency of the human spirit and consider it an honor to work with people on a daily basis. My job is to create a safe and nurturing environment so that each individual feels comfortable and supported as they work on their personal goals. Everyone's goals are as different as the individuals themselves, and in order to honor that individuality, my approach is eclectic and personalized to each person. I always encourage and welcome feedback in order to continually ensure that the techniques being used are effective and keep progress moving in a positive direction.

**I have a limited number of in-person and telehealth sessions available. Please contact me to see if I am a good match and our schedules align.** My initial goal in therapy is to deeply understand the unique individual sitting across from me. I take a holistic approach to this task. I understand that the mind, body, spirit, and relationships are all connected and impacted by one another. I think of my clients as more than just a collection of problems and diagnoses. I want to understand your strengths and talents as well as your struggles and areas for growth. I also want to understand where you have come from and where you would like to go. As we better understand how your life story impacts your current feelings, motivations, and relationships, you will likely experience increased self-acceptance and the ability to make to make better decisions about your future. Intellectual insight alone, although useful, is often not enough to allow clients to fully make the kinds of life changes that they desire. Consequently, I also utilize methods from more action-oriented approaches to therapy that focus on obtaining new skills and practicing new behaviors. These skills are often focused on learning new ways of managing difficult feelings and improving communication and intimacy in relationships. I believe that a therapist and client should work together as a team. I will bring my energy, experience, and compassion to the therapeutic relationship. I ask you for openness, honesty, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment with new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. My goal is to work with you to help you achieve a greater sense of happiness, peace, integrity, and satisfaction in your life.

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, personalized care to adult clients in Virginia. She began her health care 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 health challenges in many churches. She also has a mission to reduce the stigma of psychiatric conditions by educating clients, families, and the community about mental health.