Blog | Psychotherapist | Resilience Counseling & Social Skills Center

RESILIENCE: A BUILDING INNER STRENGTH JOURNEY: EPISODE 5

Resilience Podcast Episode 5: Sarah Spinner, LSISW

Sarah Spinner is a Supervisee in Social Work and obtained her Bachelor’s at Virginia Tech with a Bachelors of Science in Sociology and a Theatre Arts Minor. While studying at Virginia Tech, she interned at the Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley helping survivors and their families who were fleeing domestic/sexual violence and human trafficking. This internship was the start for Sarah's social work career. From this internship, Sarah realized that she wanted to help and advocate for people of all genders and backgrounds. Pursuant to this goal she earned her Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention, and is a proud ally for LGBTQ+ communities. Right after graduating from Virginia Tech, Sarah then started graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University for her Masters in Clinical Social Work. In her first year of graduate school, Sarah was an intern for the YWCA of Richmond. At the YWCA of Richmond, her role was in case management and safety planning for emergency shelter families, assisting with housing & employment needs, and was an on-call RHART Advocate for domestic/sexual violence survivors at local hospitals. In her final year of graduate school, Sarah interned for CARITAS of Richmond as a community resource navigator for individuals in shelter and at the Richmond Federal Office for the Public Defender as a Sentencing Advocate. Post graduation, Sarah was a Case Manager and Therapist with Williamsville Wellness (Summit Hill)'s Smart IOP, Remote IOP programs, and assisted with their PHP program working with individuals undergoing substance use/gambling disorders. Throughout college and graduate school, Sarah was employed as a substitute teacher for Bright Horizons Family Solutions and worked with children ages 6 months to 12 years old. Sarah incorporates many sociological and social work theories to her practice including the strengths-based perspective, dialectical behavior therapy practices, expressive/direct play with children, and mindfulness training. Sarah feels that everyone is human and that it's normal to struggle with life challenges. "You are the driver in our sessions, and I am here to help and guide you through your journey." -Sarah

Resilience CounselingJuly 17, 2023

RESILIENCE: A BUILDING INNER STRENGTH JOURNEY: EPISODE 4

Resilience Podcast Episode 4: Kristina Bonanca, LPC

Kristina believes that everyone has a natural inclination toward positive growth and development, but that life's challenges can block forward movement. These challenges can take the form of depression, anxiety, traumatic events, losses, life transitions, difficulty controlling anger, and difficult relationships. Kristina understands that starting therapy can be an intimidating decision. She aims to provide a comfortable, supportive, and accepting environment in which to explore difficulties, obstacles, and strengths in order to make positive change Kristina is a Licensed Professional Counselor and specializes in working with children, teens, adults, and families. She has direct-care and supervisory experience in various levels of care including outpatient, therapeutic day treatment, and intensive in-home. Kristina has experience addressing a wide range of concerns, including depression, trauma, anxiety, social skills, and ADHD. Kristina encourages her clients to be active in their therapy, utilizing a variety of techniques to work with them and address their needs. Kristina does so to create a supportive environment for clients to help facilitate their own personal growth.

Resilience CounselingJuly 17, 2023

We are proud to welcome several new clinicians to the team!

We are proud to welcome several talented clinicians to our team!

-Kirsten Wachsmann, MS, Resident In Counseling (Midlothian)

-Elizabeth Audritsh, MSW, Supervisee In Social Work (Midlothian)

-Sheri Milbourne, LPC (Fredericksburg)

-Miosha Lamar, MA, Resident In Counseling (Stafford)

-Ashley Dalton, LCSW (Midlothian)

-Hannah Simmons, MSW, Supervisee In Social Work (Fredericksburg)

-Chanel Hudson, MSW, Supervisee In Social Work (Midlothian)

-Laura Cook, MA, Resident In Counseling (Midlothian)

-Edin Pajalic, MSW, Supervisee In Social Work (Midlothian)

-Carrie Sheehan, MSW, Supervisee In Social Work (Midlothian)

-Brittney Coleman, MS, Resident In Counseling (Fredericksburg)

Learn more about them here:

Mental HealthResilience CounselingJuly 17, 2023Counseling, Psychotherapy

Resilience: A Building Inner Strength Journey: Episode 3

The third Episode of our podcast features Joshua K. Taylor, LCSW. He discusses his journey that lead him to this profession and some of the interesting experiences he’s had along the way.

Resilience CounselingNovember 9, 2022Resilience Counseling & Social Skills Center

Our Psychiatry and Medication Management Team continues to grow.

Samantha Moussari, PMHNP-BC offers psychiatry services at our Glen Allen, Virginia office.

RESILIENCE: A BUILDING INNER STRENGTH JOURNEY: EPISODE 2

Our second episode of our podcast features Katelyn Kiley, LPC. Katelyn discusses her journey to becoming a counselor and also gives a great discussion on EMDR.

Therapist Spotlight: Shaneka Owusu, LRIC

Shaneka Owusu is a Resident in Counseling working to obtain clinical hours in pursuit of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Resilience CounselingOctober 12, 2022Resilience Counseling & Social Skills Center

Now Enrolling: Men's Grief Processing Group

Experience the support and benefits of Group Counseling. This group is focused on Men experiencing grief and loss. We are now enrolling interesting in participating in this group beginning on September 7th, 2022 and running for 8 consecutive weeks. TIME: 6PM-7PM WEEKLY ON WEDNESDAYS

Resilience CounselingAugust 18, 2022Resilience Counseling & Social Skills Center

Resilience: A Building Inner Strength Journey: Episode 1

The first episode of our podcast features Robert Raborn, LPC. Rob is a Licensed Professional Counselor with nearly 10 years of post-graduate field experience in Virginia. He received his B.S. from the University of Central Florida and his M.A in Clinical Counseling from Asbury Theological Seminary (a CACREP Accredited Degree Program). His counseling experiences include home and school-based programs, outpatient, and clinical supervision of residents in counseling.

Resilience CounselingAugust 11, 2022Resilience Counseling & Social Skills Center

Rediscovering the Art of Conversation

Why are conversations important? How can I enhance my professional communication skills? How can I communicate more effectively with friends and family? How come developing my communication skills is important and why does it matter?

Coach's Circle Podcast: Featuring Karl G. Memmer, LPC

Last week I had the opportunity to discuss some ideas about the relationship between the counseling and coaching professions with Brandon Baker of Life Coach Path.

We discuss the similarities and differences between coaching and counseling, where they may intersect and how counselor’s and other mental health professionals might utilize coach’s as part of an interdisciplinary approach to supporting our clients.

Ready for The Journey: Getting the most out of therapy

Successful therapy cannot claim its definition within just a single concept; it is founded on a wonderful complexity, and is subjectively defined to the elements the client and therapist decide success to be.

Breaking addiction, overcoming grief/loss, championing confidence, deciding to trust again, and managing trauma make up just a few aspects needed to claim that success was achieved. In my practice, the initial mission is for us to quickly discover the swirl of goals waiting for you along the way of your therapy journey.

Life in the Time of Covid-19

While we establish localized communities, cultures and connections with others that hold similar beliefs, values, and interests we also have a collective consciousness that permeates cultural differences and boundaries.

Never in our lives have we experienced something so global and universal that we share the same thoughts and feelings with those around us creating a more tightly woven collective consciousness that permeates cultural differences and boundaries. I have never seen a greater example of how the human race can have such a ubiquitous experience.

Starbucks Offering Mental Health Benefits Through Lyra

Are you a Starbucks Employee? As of April 1st, 2020 your mental health benefits are covered by Lyra. Our Practice participates with Lyra so you now have access to one of our clinicians at no cost to you.

Security Concerns Of Telehealth Counseling

Many of our clients are relying on our services being delivered via Telehealth during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Recently there have been various articles surrounding security and privacy concerns with certain platforms being used for Telehealth Counseling. Many rules and regulations have been relaxed to allow healthcare providers to use various methods of delivering services during this time. However; this has come with some unintended consequences related to privacy and security.