WELCOME TO
WHOLE JOURNEY
When you come to us, you experience the heart of what we do; supportive, holistic counseling and wellness services to you and your family.
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We Are Unique …
We are excited and proud to combine traditional and integrative approaches to emotional difficulties and challenges that you may be facing. We stand out in Virginia and North Carolina as a private, boutique-style practice, where you are more to us than just a number. Our practice is designed to feel intentionally intimate, yet inclusive. We organize our office spaces to promote relaxation and ease while working through your inner-most needs with a compassionate and highly-trained professional. We value the uniqueness of every person, which is why we use a whole-person approach to addressing your specific needs and goals.
Services Offered …
We realize counseling is a commitment of your time, energy, trust and finances. For that reason, we focus on helping you with our specialty areas.
Emotional Difficulties
At Whole Journey, we realize that everyone experiences struggles, fears, and difficulties from time to time…
Work & Career Issues
Does your life feel consumed by work? Are you an overachiever always trying to be the best? Are you feeling overwhelmed …
Trauma
No one is immune from pain. Experiencing trauma of any kind can leave scars that present many challenges emotionally…
Grief and Loss
You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never…
Women’s Issues
Women face a variety of issues throughout the course of life that are often overlooked. Whether it’s due to how you were…
Men’s Issues
Men face a variety of issues throughout the course of life that are often overlooked, misdiagnosed and misunderstood…
LGBTQIA+ Issues
We understand that there can be daily challenges of overcoming stigma, living as your authentic self, and ongoing family…
People of Color Issues
There is no one way to be a person of color. However, there are often common experiences among the African American experience…
Life Transition
Change is constant–and even when change is good, it can be tough to navigate. Transitions bring new challenges, new routines…
We give you our full attention
We focus on all things related to you in sessions. Within our practice, we aim to make this process as personally rewarding for you as possible. We are more than willing to explain processes and issues to you, and we will not judge you for being where you are in life or feeling how you feel about yourself and the issues you face. We practice Feedback Informed Therapy, which allows you to rate the quality of your sessions. If you do not feel that you are benefiting, we will make a referral for you.
Schedule your appointment today!
You are not alone. Whether the issue you are facing is new or whether you have been carrying what feels like a burden for years, we want you to know there is relief. Oftentimes, we feel that we are stuck with the problems of today, the pain from our past, and the uncertainty of the future. We are here to help you address these issues with a fresh perspective.
We prioritize a whole person approach but combine traditional treatment
The mind and body are interconnected. As a result, imbalances in one area can be reflected in the other. It is not uncommon for clients to struggle with headaches, insomnia, stomach/digestive issues, back pain, and breathing issues. We can utilize a variety of strategies to assist with minimizing these issues.
However, underlying health issues can create imbalances that affect your mood and emotions. We can help bridge the gap by working with your physician, chiropractor, psychiatrist and/or other providers to create a plan of care that helps you achieve optimal health results.
Traditional forms of treatment that our clinicians also utilize are: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Structured Family Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other Trauma-Informed Approaches.
How Does it Work?
Beginning a new relationship of any kind can feel overwhelming. We get it. We understand that making an appointment is not always the easiest choice, but it can be one of the best decisions that you make to change your life.
Step 1:
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule an appointment and make a commitment to keep it. If figuring out where to begin the conversation bothers you, it can be helpful to think about the top three things in your life you want to see changed to discuss at your first appointment.
Step 2:
Let’s Talk About It and Move Forward
In the first and second sessions, we’ll discuss your history, your story, and your goals. Your counselor will know where to go from there. By, the third session we’ll typically form a plan of care for you to help you think, feel, and cope better.
Questions clients ask
Frequent Questions
Why should I go to counseling or therapy?
Counseling can be a rewarding experience. It is not everyday that you get the opportunity to share and work through anything that’s on your mind in a safe, judgment-free space with a trained professional.
What are some of the benefits of counseling?
- You will learn more about yourself. Our counselors can provide guidance and recommendations to help you move forward after you share your story and experiences with them.
- Counseling can help you learn healthier skills to address issues in your life. Often times, people want to know the “how” to handling their issues. Our counselors can provide insight into how to understand and deal with issues from a healthier place emotionally and mentally.
- Counseling can help you achieve your goals. Even if you are not sure what your goals are at your first appointment, our counselors can assist you with getting clarity.
- With counseling, you will more than likely experience better overall health. Research draws multiple connections between overall improvement in your health due to the interconnected nature of the mind, body, and spirit in health and wellness.
Should I try counseling if i already tried it but it didn’t work?
There are multiple factors as to why counseling may not have worked for you previously. Sometimes, it can take time for symptoms or issues to change. There is also no single, approach that works for everyone all the time. We recommend you look for a counselor who treats what you’re experiencing. Our counselors are ethical and will discuss if they are not a good fit or if what you’re experiencing is outside of their ability to treat. Ultimately, it’s important to find a good fit. If you did not feel understood in counseling before, were misdiagnosed, or could not seem to connect with your previous counselor, we recommend you continue to prioritize your health and find a good fit.
How would I know if it’s time to start counseling?
Some people wait until they are in a point of crisis, and/ or they begin to have physical health issues before they consider counseling. We believe in the importance of prevention and maintenance when it comes to your mental health. Prioritize your mental and emotional health as an important part of your general health and seek support as necessary. Some factors to consider:
- If the issue you’re experiencing is taking up significant time in your day by thinking or worrying about it.
- If the issue you’re experiencing is limiting your ability to engage in work, your home life, your relationships, and things you would typically enjoy.
- If the issue causes shame and guilt. You continue to avoid it and/or are using unhealthy ways to cope.
- If the issue results in significant changes in your life that you are struggling to make sense of or accept.
- If you are experiencing changes in your mood and behaviors that you are having difficulty managing, and it is affecting your quality of life.
- If you have experienced past trauma or painful experiences that are not resolved and continue to affect your current functioning and relationships.
- If people who care about you have expressed their concern for your well-being.
Do you provide medication?
At Whole Journey, we embrace an integrative, holistic approach to our services. We do not provide medication. We are willing to provide referrals and coordinate care with any of your providers who prescribe medication for your needs.
I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?
Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the ability to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. You already have some strengths that you’ve used before, that for whatever reason isn’t working right now. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, I’ll help you identify what those strengths are and how to implement them again in what is happening now.
How does it work? What do I have to do in sessions?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs
Why shouldn’t I just take medication?
Medication alone cannot solve all issues. What medication does is treat the symptoms. Our work together is designed to explore the root of the issue, dig deep into your behavior and teach strategies that can help you accomplish your personal and/or relational goals.
Medication can be effective and is sometimes needed in conjunction with therapy.
My partner and I are having problems. Should we be in individual counseling or come together?
If you are concerned about your relationship, and you would both like to work with me, I would initially work with both of you together. After this work, if one of you would like to continue in individual sessions, I could work with only one of you. It is not helpful to move from individual into couple’s work with the same therapist because of potential trust issues.
What’s the difference between talking to you or my best friend or family?
The difference is between someone who can do something, and someone who has the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, if you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.
How long will it take?
Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time therapy can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek therapy in the first place.
Schedule your appointment today!
You are not alone. Whether the issue you are facing is new or whether you have been carrying what feels like a burden for years, we want you to know there is relief. Oftentimes, we feel that we are stuck with the problems of today, the pain from our past, and the uncertainty of the future. We are here to help you address these issues with a fresh perspective.
Client Testimonials
Due to best practice approaches, we are unable to solicit reviews from our clients to protect their privacy, but clients are able to leave anonymous feedback.