About Me
If you’re unhappy, stressed, or struggling with toxic people in your life, I can help. I provide a nonjudgmental and supportive therapeutic environment combined with evidence-based skills and constructive feedback. I want to help you rekindle your passions and build on your strengths to get where you want to be in life.
I am a licensed therapist who provides online therapy in the State of Virginia and in-person therapy at my local office in Chesterfield, Virginia. I provide counseling to teens, young adults and adults.
In college, I majored in psychology at George Mason University, and spent my senior year volunteering at the university’s Human Emotions Research Lab, which at the time was conducting a 10-year study on ways to help former inmates transition into the community.
I split my time between interviewing inmates in the Fairfax County jail and conducting reliability testing on a self-control scale, the research from which was published for the 2007 American Criminology Conference in Atlanta, Ga. I was also nominated by lab head Dr. June Tangney for outstanding undergraduate researcher at George Mason University for the 2006-07 academic year. While I enjoyed conducting research and continue to keep up with the latest advances in the field, I found field work to be my true calling and decided to tailor my career towards direct care.
I received a Master’s of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010. During the 2009-10 academic year, I interned at the University Counseling Services, where I provided outpatient counseling to VCU students in individual and group formats. I also began doing crisis work at this time. The training was outstanding, and I loved working with students. I knew from this moment on that I had found my calling.
My post-grad experience has included working in community and outpatient settings, as well as providing emergency on-call services. In addition to work with clients, I have served as a supervisor for Master’s and Bachelor’s level counselors, providing training and guidance to counselors about difficult situations and ethical dilemmas.
Therapy Approach
My counseling approach is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is geared towards identifying and eliminating negative or unrealistic thoughts that create anxiety and depression.
With CBT, which has its roots in ancient Greek philosophy, the therapist helps to raise awareness about the interconnectivity between thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. The therapist helps to identify and reduce negative or hurtful thoughts and behaviors that lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. CBT is generally a more quick-acting therapy that provides immediate coping skills for use throughout the day. CBT is focused on the present more so than the past. However, exploring the past can be a helpful way to identify how certain thoughts and behavior patterns may have emerged.
I also use Interpersonal Theory in my practice, in which I tailor my communication style in ways that help support your growth. With Interpersonal Therapy, the process in which we communicate is more important than the content of the conversation, and it can be helpful for someone who is interested in exploring new ways of communication styles (being more assertive, for example).
Do you want to read more about my approach to therapy? Read John’s Approach to Therapy.
Therapy Education
2010 Virginia Commonwealth University
Master’s of Social Work
2007 George Mason University
Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology
Therapy Licenses
Virginia: L.C.S.W – License No. – 0904008919
Therapy Association Memberships
National Association of Social Workers
Outside the office
I was born and raised in Midlothian, Virginia and am proud to call myself a native to the area. In my adult years I have been around the country and overseas, but Midlothian has always felt like home. I’ve seen enough to know it is a great place to be! When I am not busy with the career I love, I enjoy staying connected to the Richmond music and arts scene, reading and writing, and spending time outdoors.
Want to read more about the therapy services I offer? Check out my counseling services page.
Ready to reach out?
If you have more questions or want to schedule an appointment, message me.
Let’s talk more about how I can help.