Counseling in Midlothian, Virginia and Online

How counseling can help:

Sometimes talking to friends and family isn’t enough. Or, sometimes friends and family are the problem. Whatever is holding you back, it can help to have an outside perspective. You can:

• Restore your passions
• Learn new coping skills
• Heal from emotional pain
• Improve confidence/self-esteem
• Build/maintain healthy relationships
• Learn about yourself

If you’ve landed here because you’re feeling alone, you aren’t. I’m here to help. Millions of people go through rough patches every year, and the overwhelming majority of mental health issues are treatable. My primary treatment model is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is well-established in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse issues, and has been shown to be as effective as medication.

About Virginia Counseling

Virginia Counseling is the practice of John Mathews, LCSW. I am located in Midlothian, Virginia, and provide online and in-person counseling and therapy for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and other issues.

I was born and raised in Midlothian, Virginia, am a product of its public school system, and currently live in the community of Brandermill. Additionally, I have provided therapeutic services in the Greater Richmond area since 2010, and in Midlothian specifically since 2014. I have a deep understanding of the culture of this area — its perks as well as its challenges and difficulties for both adults and adolescents.

I went to graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University, where I interned at VCU’s University Counseling Services and received a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work in 2010. The experience of working with Richmond-area college students attuned me to the vast array of backgrounds, experiences, and challenges of young people in Richmond that were outside of my lived experiences. I became a licensed clinical social worker in March 2015 and have been practicing outpatient psychotherapy and counseling since.

Read more about John.

Therapy services provided

I provide outpatient therapy treatment for anxiety, depression, substance use issues, LGBTQ issues, and other clinical issues. Throughout my career I have gained extensive experience working with adolescents, young adults, and adults. I am currently providing online counseling services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more about the services John provides.

Therapeutic approach

My approach to therapy is rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a well-researched treatment model that is action-oriented and fast-acting. With commitment, positive results can be achieved in relatively short time frames. The gist of CBT is that thoughts and actions are a driving influence of emotion. Therefore, you can improve the way you feel by exploring how your current thought patterns and habits are influencing your emotions. Once you understand current thought and action patterns, you can make changes to these in order to improve your emotional experience. This is a process we undertake together.

Read more about John’s approach to therapy.

Cost of services

The cost of services can vary based on and are based on a number of factors. I accept most major insurances in the state of Virginia, including Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Optima, Optum, and others. Using your insurance benefits can drastically cut down on your costs for therapy. Some plans feature copay options in which you will be responsible for a flat reach each session.

Some insurance plans are high-deductible plans, which means you will be responsible for the full contracted rate of the session, as set by your insurance provider, until your annual deductible is met, at which point you will have no more financial cost for services. The amount of the contracted rate per session varies by insurance plan. You can find this information by checking your insurance plan benefits online or calling the Mental/Behavioral health number on the back of your insurance card.

Read more about cost of services and other frequently asked questions.