Individual Therapy

 We offer individual therapy for anyone who might be struggling socially or emotionally, with the focus on achieving personal goals of healing and self-improvement.  Many pursue individual therapy because of traditional psychological concerns like depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, borderline personality, or adjustment disorder.  However, therapy can help with so much more.

Relationship Issues (Communication, Intimacy)

Stress related to Work and Military Service

Bullying and Peer Difficulties

Grief and Loss

Anger Mangement

Social Awkwardness

Divorce and Separation

And more

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Couples Therapy

If you and your partner struggle with intimacy, trust, or communication - couples counseling can help.

Couples therapy - or couples counseling - is the first line of treatment for relationship issues.  You and your partner will have the chance to meet together to work through your difficulties in a safe and confidential space that is free from shaming or blaming. 

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A few common concerns addressed in couples counseling include:

Pre-marital counseling

Divorce or separation

Frequent fighting or arguing

Conflict resolution

Difficulties related to sex and intimacy

Infidelity

Major life decisions (having children, moving, etc.)

Building blended families (remarriage, connecting with stepchildren, etc.)

Infertility stress

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Our couple’s therapists are specially trained to pick up on underlying bond-disrupting patterns of communication and expression between couples.  Therapy can help you learn to meet one another’s needs, navigate difficult conversations, and rebuild feelings of closeness.

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EMDR Therapy

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EMDR-informed therapy refers to therapeutic approaches that incorporate elements or principles of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) without fully adhering to the structured, eight-phase protocol of traditional EMDR therapy.

 

Therapists who use EMDR-informed techniques may:

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1. Borrow Techniques: Integrate specific EMDR components, such as bilateral stimulation (e.g., tapping or eye movements) or grounding strategies.

2. Adapt Treatment Goals: Focus on stabilization, distress tolerance, or symptom management rather than full trauma processing.

3. Simplify the Process: Modify or omit certain EMDR phases to fit client needs or contexts, often when clients are not ready for intensive trauma processing.

4. Supplement Other Therapies: Combine EMDR-informed methods with other therapeutic modalities like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or somatic approaches.

 

Unlike fully certified EMDR therapy, EMDR-informed therapy does not follow all guidelines established by EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) and is often used by clinicians who have training in EMDR concepts but may not be certified practitioners. It is typically employed when the client requires a more flexible, tailored approach to trauma work.

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Trauma-Informed Therapy

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Trauma-informed therapy refers to an approach that recognizes and responds to the impact of trauma on a person's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It prioritizes safety, trust, and empowerment while considering how past traumatic experiences may influence behavior, emotions, and relationships. This approach is not limited to a specific technique but instead shapes the therapist's attitude, interactions, and treatment planning.

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Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Therapy:

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1. Safety: Creating an environment where clients feel physically and emotionally safe.

2. Trust and Transparency: Building a trusting relationship through clear communication and consistent, respectful behavior.

3. Empowerment: Encouraging clients to regain a sense of control over their lives and therapeutic processes.

4. Collaboration: Involving clients as active partners in their healing journey.

5. Cultural Sensitivity: Acknowledging and respecting clients' cultural, racial, and social backgrounds.

6. Avoiding Retraumatization: Being mindful of triggers or practices that could reintroduce or intensify trauma symptoms.

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Trauma-informed care is applicable across various therapy modalities and settings, helping therapists approach clients with empathy and understanding while fostering resilience and healing.

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Teen Therapy

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If your teen is struggling - let us help!  Most teens have difficulty talking about their problems with family members - especially parents.  We provide a space for teens to build a sense of autonomy, self-empowerment, and ownership of their therapy experience. 

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Therapy for teens - or teen counseling - is designed to help individuals deal with some of the expected difficulties of adolescence (e.g., school stress) as well as the unexpected (e.g., bullying). We work with teens to help them develop effective coping strategies for dealing with difficult thoughts and feelings as they grow into motivated, confident, healthy young adults. 

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Adult Therapy

You deserve help, too!  We put so much pressure on ourselves - keep steady work, provide for our family, stay in shape, find love, and the list goes on.  To make matters worse, adults are taught to be completely independent and self-reliant (especially men), which is why we avoid reaching out for help.  But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

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If you’ve been dealing with feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worry, or stress - We are here for you.  Our private pay system allows clients to keep information about treatment (e.g., diagnoses, treatment plans, & progress) confidential and away from insurance records, as well as giving full control over the treatment process (session scheduling and frequency) to each client.

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Additional Therapy Services...

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Therapy for Military Service Members

As a psychotherapy practice based in Virginia Beach, we are proud to offer services specifically tailored to the men and women who serve in our military and their families - both active and retired.  We recognize that many service members may prefer to keep details about therapy confidential and off of insurance records, and we are able to assist with that through our private pay therapy services. 

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Therapy for the LGBTQ+ Community

We are committed to helping those who identify within the LGBTQ+ community.  We hope to support you through unique stressors, such as family concerns, acceptance among peers, bias and stereotyping in the workplace, and more. 

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Telehealth and Online Therapy

We offer HIPAA-compliant online therapy for adolescents, teens, and adults to address a wide range of issues.  This offers convenience for our clients' schedules and allows us to serve the entire state of Virginia. 

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Interested in hearing more about Graceful Changes Psychotherapy?  Want to learn more about us?  Let’s connect – We would love to hear from you. 

 

We believe that - with the right support - you can overcome whatever challenges life has thrown your way.  It is not always easy to reach out for help.  But when you are ready - We are here for you.

Our hope is that you feel welcomed and encouraged so that we can get started on your wellness journey. ​