Evidence-Based Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Complex Trauma, PTSD, OCD, Marriage Counseling, and more in Midlothian, Virginia!
We have openings! We accept Anthem, Aetna, and Tricare.
Dr. Rob Young, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Anxiety, Marriage/Couples, OCD, Depression
I have extensive training and 21 years of experience helping individuals and couples overcome anxiety, OCD, depression, and relationship/marital problems, including but limited to differences in sex drive. I help my clients understand what is wrong and how to fix it. I believe that therapy should not be about endlessly recounting your past. It should be about moving forward.
Malissa Watterson, MSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Young Adults and Adults
I have experience and training working with teens and adults, but I have a special interest in working with adults, particularly mothers experiencing perinatal anxiety and mood disorders. I am very accepting and easy to relate to, and I am serious about following evidence-based guidelines.
Mike Pease, MSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Adolescents, Teens and Adults
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (a form of CBT specifically for PTSD) I have a special interest in treating PTSD/trauma, addiction, anxiety, and depression. It is my priority to create a safe, comfortable space and therapeutic relationship that cultivates healing, understanding, and growth, and to empower meaningful change. I earned my Masters at VCU, and I have worked in a variety of settings in Richmond with adults and teens. I am skilled in both short-term, symptom-focused, and long-term exploratory therapy.
John Snyder, MS
Licensed Professional Counselor
Adolescents, Teens, Adults
I am supportive and non-judgmental. I have 16 years of experience, including working in some very difficult and complex settings, and I have been in this practice since 2016. I help adolescents, teens and adults adjust to and navigate difficult life circumstances such as trauma, grief, divorce, bullying, big life transitions, relationship issues, including friendships, stress from school and work, and addictions.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal part of being healthy – if it is helpful. Many times, anxiety gets so bad that it seriously impacts your happiness. In fact, it is a leading cause of depression. It involves symptoms like worry, unpleasant bodily sensations, sleeplessness, and even panic attacks. It usually leads to some form of avoidance that can deprive you of fulfillment and pleasure. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches people to think and act in ways that significantly reduce the emotional experience of anxiety, and just makes life easier and more pleasant.
Depression
Common causes of Depression are social isolation, troubled relationships, fatigue from anxiety and stress, a lack of a sense of purpose, a belief that things will not get better, and negative self-talk, among others. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy addresses these problems directly. We don’t just sit and listen. We give you real skills, and we help you understand the complexiites of the problem so that you are able to maintain your gains after therapy. There is no connection between serotonin and depression – for more information, see the article in Nature.
Panic Attacks
Chronic panic attacks are usually a symptom of something else, such as depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, or OCD. Sometimes a person has one panic attack becasue they think they are going to be fired, or their blood sugar has dropped from not eating. But then they become afraid that they will have another panic attack. And that fear predisposes them to more panic attacks. We call that Panic Disorder. Panic Control Treatment (a form of CBT) teaches you to not fear panic so that you are less likely to have panic attacks. Most people completely stop having panic attacks.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
We use Cognitive Processing Therapy (a specialized version of CBT) to treat PTSD. This approach is considered the Gold Standard by the DoD and the VA. It does not involve “facing your trauma.” Our clients rarely if ever cry or become distressed during this evidence-based therapy, which involves articulating and examining beliefs about the cause and effects of the trauma, without eliciting emotion. Check out NPR’s “This American Life” podcast episode on the treatment here.
Stress Management
Like anxiety, stress is a normal part of life. But too much of it sucks. We will help you understand what is getting in the way of reducing stress, and we will help you overcome those barriers. You don’t want to read any more. You’re already stressed as it is.
OCD
People with OCD either have irrational thoughts they can’t get out of their head, or they have an irresistible urge to do something (that is not addictive). These urges lead to repetitive behaviors that get in the way of life. These thoughts are extremely distressing and often lead to avoidant behaviors. Exposure and Ritual Prevention can bring your life back.
Couples Counseling
Dr. Young is a Marriage/Couples Counselor. He specializes in positive marriage counseling and sex therapy, with a special emphasis on sexual desire mis-matches. Though he does treat erectile dysfunction (because it’s almost always an anxiety problem), he does not treat fetishes, orgasmic disorder, or sex addictions, and he does not teach sexual skills. He views sexual problems as relational in nature.
Complex Trauma
Many of our clients have a history of childhood trauma or a series of traumas that have occured over time. Sometimes these events are hard to digest, and need to be processed over period of time. Our approach to this can be much less structured and can feel more like the talk therapy that many people are more accustomed to.