Find a Therapist in Lake Ridge, Virginia.

I work collaboratively with individuals to set goals and articulate areas of growth. I use cognitive and psychodynamic approaches to help you to: Understand and process the sources of distress, and Develop coping styles and behaviors to better manage that distress. Some issues benefit not only from talk therapy but also medication. I may recommend this combined approach of both psychotherapy and medication to help lessen distress. I have working relationships with area psychiatrists making this combined approach easier for the patient.

My first task in psychotherapy is to provide a safe and secure environment. I provide my clients with care, calmness, respect and stability to help address life challenges in new ways. Being non-judgmental, open-minded, empathetic and listening with respect helps set the stage for the deeper work that needs to be done. I help my clients evaluate whether their present life choices are providing what he or she wants. I also help my clients become aware of and transform the mental, emotional, interpersonal and/or behavioral strategies that cause his/her suffering. My approach to psychotherapy is to help clients become what he/she wants to become, to be better equipped to deal with life’s challenges, and to be in a greater state of health and harmony.

I use an evidence-based approach to therapy. This means that the techniques I use are proven to help you overcome your challenges, whether it be depression, anxiety, relationship issues, or life transitions. Together we will create a space where you can feel safe talking openly about your challenges, learning and practicing new skills, and getting genuine feedback. In our work together, I will help you untangle the confusing, complex emotions you may be feeling. We will explore and confront the fears, doubts, self-criticisms, and other thoughts that keep you up at night. No matter what you’re struggling with, we'll work together to help you feel better.

Psychotherapy is the talking cure. If you are looking for a therapist, that means that you have recognized that things can be better. Our conversations will continue the work that you have started. As you talk about your difficulties in the present and your vision for the future, you will start to identify what needs to change and how it needs to change. Together we will develop the strategies of how to make that happen.

Psychotherapy is a time each week to focus on yourself. The process of having another person demonstrate an investment in you and your growth increases curiosity about yourself, which enhance a sense of knowing yourself and your patterns. This knowledge allows for a greater sense of freedom in the choices you make, a stronger voice, and more rewarding relationships.

Here's what it comes down to: We all bump/hit/slam into obstacles that hold us back from creating meaningful, vibrant lives. And we all need effective help sometimes. What makes therapy the most effective? (1) The quality of the connection and trust you have with your therapist, and (2) your therapist's level of experience. Helping people get traction to get beyond those obstacles is what I've been doing for more than 20 years, and it's what I love to do. I bring together different approaches to suit your needs, and I’m compassionate, straightforward, and authentic. Let's find out if we'll work well together.

I think of psychotherapy as a healing process in which you, as an individual or a couple, discover more effective ways to deal with the unique issues and challenges you face. When you and your therapist form a trusted collaborative relationship, research shows that psychotherapy works. In such a relationship, I can provide support as you navigate the losses and transitions of life. Together we can explore multiple options to challenge individual problems like anxiety and depression, as well as tackle relationship problems with issues like communication and trust. Contact me with questions or to schedule a FREE 15-minute phone consultation.

Psychotherapy is a journey to discover our authentic selves and become the best we can be. Through therapy, we come to understand our past, present, and future. I use a variety of approaches, including cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and strengths perspective. My approach is to meet you where you are, help you to overcome obstacles, and assist you in moving forward to achieve maximum growth.

I work with individuals and couples to provide the right therapy for each person who comes to see me. Through a variety of approaches, we work to find the causes of issues and concerns, develop responses and strategies to address them, and practice these new coping mechanisms to work through (or around) the issues, and turn negative thoughts into positive ones. Through a variety of therapeutic approaches, including emotionally focused couples therapy, family attachment therapy, grief therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and psychoanalysis, we can work together to help you get to a happier place.

Psychotherapy is sacred work, and I hold a very safe and honest space for people to show up authentically. I use different modalities, but the most important factor is to have deep compassion and let the person know you care. Humor is essential, and there is as much laughing as crying in my office. I have been doing this work for nearly 30 years, and I am still in awe of the capacity people have to change.

Psychotherapy is an investment in your quality of life. Clients who seek talk therapy from me benefit from my gentle humor, sensitive suggestions, unique insights, and careful listening. We work together to reach your unique goals, whether they are about improving your work life balance, healing from past relationships, building a life that you are proud of, or learning about the ways you think and feel. I often incorporate helpful books or in-session tasks that expand our conversations and deepen the benefits of talk therapy.

Robyn E. Brickel, M.A., LMFT, LLC works with clients on a range of issues and concerns and has experience with clients of all ages, backgrounds, and belief systems. The foundation of effective therapy is a safe, trusting and collaborative relationship. We will work with you to develop a plan that is tailored to your goals and needs. Robyn's treatment style is active and supportive. Robyn's goal is to help you uncover your true potential and lead a life that is worth celebrating. While we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can work together to better understand and resolve challenges in your life.

We are complex beings, shaped in all sorts of ways by our past and present relationships and experiences. We all need people in our life who can help us better understand ourselves, who we are, where we have come from, and where we want to go. I would be honored to have that role in your life, and to help you become more whole, more free, more yourself. You don't have to be stuck--our brains are built with the ability to grow and heal, and I would love to help you experience that.