Find a Therapist in Oakton, VA

My communication style is calm and personable. I empathize with and challenge the perspectives of people I work with.

I strive for and deliver a communication style that is consistently warm, proposed without bias, and ultimately collaborative. I first want to make my clients feel heard and understood, transitioning into using my knowledge to challenge negative thoughts or patterns of behavior in a constructive and supportive way once trust and understanding is built.

People - like plants - don't thrive in less than optimal conditions. However people - unlike plants - have the ability to improve the conditions in which they exist and give themselves the gift of positive and exuberant growth. Is your growth as an individual being limited by ~ anxieties & fears ~ lack of direction ~ depression ~ past trauma ~ poor self image ~ relationship issues Any one of the above can make you feel stuck and uncertain. Growth oriented psychotherapy will help you rediscover your purpose and direction. My task is to guide you as you identify your goals and the resources you'll need to achieve them. My belief is that most of these resources already exist within you or are readily accessible to you.

If you are feeling stuck, anxious, sad, weird, depressed, triggered, or just... at loose ends, get in touch. Talking helps you figure out where you are, how you got there, and where you want to go. In a collaborative process, I will help you understand your thoughts and feelings, and I will help you clarify your direction and purpose.

**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.

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).

Claudette Gadson is currently a Supervisee in Social Work (SISW) Resident of the State of Virginia with years of experience. She treats clients of all ages and specializes in depression, grief, trauma, posttraumatic stress (PTSD), anxiety, and suicidalhomicidal ideation.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 4 years of experience supporting individuals through life transitions, anxiety, grief, mood challenges, trauma, and substance use. I specialize in working with adults who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves, their relationships, or their sense of purpose. Many of my clients come to therapy seeking clarity, healing, and a more grounded sense of self. Together, we work to understand patterns that no longer serve them, build resilience, and cultivate meaningful change.

My practice is focused on experiencing power through change. I curate wellness and healing, centered on building your belief in hope, and implementing functional steps toward change. Life's journey can be intricate, layered, and unpredictable, often leaving us overwhelmed with anxiety and depression. As a Psychotherapist with a PhD in Clinical Sexology, I specialize in helping individuals and couples regain control and find fulfillment through psychotherapy and sex therapy (polykink positive). With a trauma-informed and integrative approach, including EMDR and cognitive-based therapy, I empower clients to transform their lives. Let's embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery together.

Ileana is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC) who manages and treats a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, bipolar, insomnia, and other mental health issues that may be interfering with normal daily functioning. She is passionate about providing quality, compassionate, and comprehensive mental health services to adults. As a PMHNP, Ileana's view of mental health care is as a mutual partnership where she takes things at your pace. She prioritizes patient-focused care that is individually tailored to meet your needs.

Our approach is first and foremost to offer acceptance and understanding. Our clinicians have a variety of theoretical orientations and approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy, attachment-based therapy, emotion-focused therapy, and interpersonal therapy. All of us have training and experience with a family systems approach to therapy and are able to integrate this into our work.

Dr. Mary Ukpabi-Egbuniwe is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner with a combined 20 years of experience in practice management, advocacy for women and children, and patient care. She possesses a deep interest in addiction medicine and assists people in liberating themselves from dependency. She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), adolescent psychiatry, anger, behavioral issues, bipolar, obsessive compulsion (OCD), sleep issues, stress, and PTSD.