Barbara Stephenson, M.S., LMFT, Co-Owner
is a licensed marriage and family therapist whose passion is to help empower and motivate others to seek personal growth and positive life changes. She provides a supportive and safe environment where clients can feel comfortable exploring their thoughts and feelings. She collaborates with each client to help identify and understand their challenges and tailors her therapeutic approach to meet the client’s specific needs and treatment goals. She believes treatment should emphasize the whole individual and therefore focuses on mental, emotional, physical, and social health to enhance their overall well-being.
Barbara received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Marshall University in West Virginia. She graduated with her master’s degree in Counselor Education/Marriage and Family Therapy from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited Stetson University in Florida. She completed her residency for licensure in Northern Virginia working in both outpatient mental health and intensive in-home settings. Additionally, she has worked as a high school counselor. She has experience working with individuals dealing with adjustment issues, anxiety, self-esteem issues, depression, couples and family relational issues, and behavioral problems in adolescents. She works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families to help provide healthy coping skills and effective communication skills.
Barbara focuses on client strengths and encourages clients to engage in strategies outside of
therapy sessions in order to progress towards their goals. She believes a positive
mind set is essential in creating a healthier balance and striving towards endless
possibilities.
Stephanie Hernandez, LMT
is a licensed massage therapist. She has a passion to heal and help with everyone’s unique physical stressors that cause tension, soreness, chronic pain, and discomfort. The types of massages she performs includes Swedish, deep tissue, and sports massage.
Stephanie attended the Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage (NVSTM) for Licensure. She received her certifications through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) programs.
Stephanie is excited to keep extending her knowledge and growing in everything that massage therapy has to offer. Outside of work she enjoys the outdoors and spending time with friends/family.
Sara Ayasso, MS.Ed, LPC, NCC
is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia and board certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors. Sara graduated with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She has a background of working in a variety of settings: communities, schools, residential and outpatient sites and has experience working with diverse clients including adults, children, families, couples, refugees, and offenders. Sara has helped individuals experiencing anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, adjustment issues, stress, ADHD, depression, relationship issues, life transitions, and substance abuse struggles. She uses an eclectic approach that includes person-centered techniques, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness in order to better help her client’s unique journey. She also implements trauma-focused techniques and motivational interviewing.
Sara’s passion is to help her clients cultivate their mental health by giving them a holistic plan enabling them to confront and nourish their life mentally, physically, and spiritually. Sara constantly strives to improve the overall emotional well-being of individuals experiencing difficulty managing mental distress from crises to daily living skills. She first and foremost endeavors to foster a trusted bond between herself and others. Her positive, empathetic nature and attentive, sensitive demeanor creates a safe environment in which individuals can feel free to talk openly without judgment. Sara is passionate about bringing patience, empathy, unconditional positive regard, and comprehensive treatment strategies to each individual.
Karen M. David, M.Ed, LPC
is a Licensed Professional Counselor approved by the Virginia Board of Counseling. She obtained her Master’s in Counseling and Development from George Mason University. Karen has experience working with children, adolescents, teens, and adults who have experienced trauma, sexual abuse, domestic violence, anxiety, depression, as well as relationship and life adjustments concerns. Karen is a Certified Trauma Professional (CTP) and has also completed her training as a Meditation Specialist I-BC in Focused Awareness Meditation from the National Meditation Specialist Certification Board.
Karen is passionate about meeting clients wherever they are on their life journey and helping them process the challenges they are facing. Karen believes that everyone struggles from time to time with mental health concerns and that within each person are the answers to moving forward. This begins with self-awareness of one’s strengths, supports, as well as goals. Karen offers an integrative/eclectic evidenced base therapy practice. She utilizes Person Centered Therapy, IFS, CBT, DBT, Humanistic Therapy, Creative Impact Therapy, and Mindfulness based stress reduction, while working with you toward your goals.
Please join Karen, as she invites you to a safe space, to be heard, to explore the possibilities of being self, to discover the answers within, and to reach your goals of well-being.
Eliza Gallagher, MS.Ed, LPC
is a Licensed Professional Counselor approved by the Virginia Board of Counseling. Eliza graduated with her Master's in Counselor Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. She has previously worked in elementary schools and has experience working with young children, teens, young adults, and families. Eliza has experience working with individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, separation, grief & loss, trauma, self-esteem, major life transitions, suicidal thoughts, family systems, conflict resolution, transitions and emotion management. Eliza is passionate about stepping alongside clients as they navigate through challenges and goals while emphasizing specific, individualized treatment plans to promote the discovery of who each client is and is meant to be. Eliza's experience includes working with at risk youth in gangs, homeless services, law enforcement, social workers, human trafficking, social media, and society/school/family pressures that lead to decreased health and increased challenges for individuals in an already challenging world. She believes in building a support system unique for each person and believes in counseling because it adds one more person to 'your team' of people.
Eliza values creating a safe, inclusive, open space for clients to enter into as they engage mentally, emotionally, physically and/or spiritually. Her therapeutic style can be described as present, empathic, positive, and compassionate. By creating specific individualized tasks for clients to process or do outside of the counseling space, she hopes to promote increased growth and freedom.
When she is not at work, Eliza enjoys spending time reading, cooking, and being active, especially outdoors with her spouse and dog, Oshie.
Katie Christian, M.Ed., Resident in Counseling
is a Resident in Counseling working towards becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. She studied psychology at the College of William & Mary and later graduated with her Master’s degree in Counseling and Human Development, with a concentration in clinical mental health, from George Mason University. She spent the duration of her internship working at an inpatient facility, where she provided mental health services to individuals diagnosed with substance abuse disorder, as well as various co-occurring disorders, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, and eating disorders. She has conducted education, group, individual, and living skills sessions that were designed to help clients develop and utilize holistic insight with knowledge of themselves, their behaviors and patterns, their environment, and healing. She also has taught a college class on human relations, which covered professional and personal perspectives and manners of relating, communicating, and problem-solving.
Katie is certified in Horse-Inspired Growth and Healing (HIGH) and Horse-Inspired Psychotherapy (HIP) through Big Heart Ranch in Malibu. She believes that one of the keys to healing is for humans to build connections with themselves, with others, and with nature. One of her principles to live by and by which she approaches her clients is that humans are all simultaneously both masterpieces and works-in-progress. She strives to offer a healing space that provides a balance of acceptance and encouragement to give her clients the safety that they need to fully explore themselves, their ways of being, and the possibilities for change and growth. It is imperative to her that she supports her clients as human beings rather than simply treat the diagnosis on the screen.
She employs an assortment of therapeutic concepts, models, and techniques to assist her clients in their introspective work and in cultivating methods for growth, including assessing mental perspectives and patterns, documenting impactful and emotional experiences, and identifying unhelpful or counterproductive behaviors and habits, and then analyzing the connections between those elements to successfully build new, healthful and heartful patterns of thinking and being. The necessary guidance and path to healing comes from the client themselves as they work with Katie to learn new insight into their pasts and legacies, challenge and unravel the false ideas that they learned, practice different ways of coping and relating, and, ultimately, take steps towards the satisfaction and joy that they desire and deserve. Currently supervised by Sarah Freeman, LPC.
Eugenia Stokes, MA, Resident in Counseling
is a Resident in Counseling approved by the Virginia Board of Counseling working towards her licensure. Eugenia graduated with her Masters' degree in Community Counseling from Regent University. She has previously worked with children, adolescents, teens, young adults, and adults. Additionally, she has a passion for working with couples and families. She has worked with individuals experiencing ADHD, anxiety, behavioral issues, depression, life transitions, marital and relationship issues, suicidal ideation, and trauma.
Healing is a process when working with couples, families, and individuals that happens in the context of relationships, and despite the issues that life presents, there is always hope. Eugenia considers it a privilege to work alongside her clients who are struggling with many issues. Eugenia believes that one of her most effective tools is her ability to connect with her clients in a compassionate and understanding way that empowers them to live free of destructive emotional and behavioral patterns.
Empathy, compassion, and a safe place to express your emotional and mental pain can be expected during your sessions. Eugenia will explore and discuss strategies on how to cope and utilize the appropriate interventions for anxiety and depression, and other mental health issues. Her approach to healing allows connection and processing so you may be free.
Eugenia currently works under the supervision of Jeanne Brown, LPC.
Denise Whetstone, M.A., Resident in Counseling
is a Resident in Counseling, approved by the VA Board of Counseling working towards licensure. Denise earned her Master’s in Counseling from Wake Forest University. She has previously worked at a community counseling center on a military base servicing active-duty military, veterans and their dependents, in addition to working in outpatient private practice. Her experience includes working with adults, adolescents and couples to provide individual, couples and group therapy services. Denise has worked with clients addressing a range of concerns to include depression, anxiety, self-image, transition and adjustment issues, relationship conflict, stress management, grief and loss, trauma, anger management, separation/divorce. She has a special passion for working with individuals identifying as BIPOC and other marginalized communities.
Denise’s approach in working with clients is rooted in awareness and resources. She provides a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to engage in internal exploration with the aim of increased awareness of mind, body, spirit and environment. Insight into current states of functioning allows clients to identify needs and work throughout the therapeutic process to develop skills and resources to achieve desired goals and improved functioning. Denise believes that the client is always the self-expert and her role is to cultivate a supportive and collaborative space to bring about the client’s greatest potential. She utilizes interventions from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy and Mindfulness.
Denise currently works under the supervision of Jewelle Daquin, LPC.
Andrew Morton, M.Ed., Resident in Counseling
is a Resident in Counseling approved by the Virginia Board of Counseling working towards becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. After a twenty-one-year military career he now serves as both a mental health therapist and advocate - committed to mental health initiatives and access across all populations.
He has a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from the College of William and Mary and has hundreds of clinical hours working with clients from diverse backgrounds in both the individual and group counseling setting. No matter the origin or circumstances- trauma, transitions, and the everyday challenges within our lives can be debilitating- keeping us from achieving the fulfilling lives we deserve. Working with adults and adolescents across multiple treatment approaches (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Post-Traumatic Growth, Logotherapy, Mindful-Self-Compassion) he collaboratively and compassionately helps clients explore their lived experience- honestly and openly. Then, through a measure of both trauma-informed and existential treatment approaches he partners with his clients to help them grow through these challenges and achieve the fulfilling lives they deserve.
Viktor Frankl’s “Will to Meaning” demonstrates how powerful meaning can be in our lives. Yet for those who are facing anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges in their lives- there also must be a means to achieve that will. Andrew believes in a holistic approach (mind and body) that’s informed by the client’s unique circumstances, cultural identity, and goals- fostering growth beyond trauma - from surviving to thriving. Andrew Morton is supervised by Carl Mojta, LMFT
Kyle Atkins, M.A. Resident in Counseling
is a Resident in Counseling approved by the Virginia Board of Counseling working towards becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. He graduated from Liberty University with his Masters in Clinical Mental Health. Kyle has experience working with teens, college students, older adults, and families who have experienced workplace trauma, adjustment problems, divorce, eating disorders, relationship issues, depression, and anxiety. He has grown up overseas in central/eastern Europe for a large portion of his life living in both military and missionary institutions. Futhermore, Kyle is passionate for group work and has facilitated college students who are currently in life transitions and groups that have been focused on sex addiction.
Kyle emphasises strong support systems through healthy relationships, providing a space that is safe for building trust and meeting people at whatever walk of life they are at. Kyle works in collaboration with clients to meet their goals through the counseling process and explore deeper experienes that the client has had through out of their life. Kyle has used a varety of approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Famly Systems Therory, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, as well as Solution Focused Therapy. Kyle has also been open to using other experimental techniques such as empty chair to help clients reach a deeper point in their recovery and experience break through in area of deep conflict.
Kyle believes in a holistic approach to counseling and desires the very best for his clients. He values human authenticity through self-reflection and awareness and desires to offerhope for people in a place where is seems to be hopeless.
Kyle is currently supervised by Sarah Freeman, LPC.
Morgan Scribner, MS, Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy
Morgan is a Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy working toward independent licensure. She earned her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University. Morgan has experience working with individuals, couples, and families navigating life transitions, relational stress, identity development, anxiety, and the impact of trauma. Her clinical work focuses on supporting clients who feel stuck in repeating patterns, disconnected in relationships, or overwhelmed by life changes.
Morgan’s approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and grounded in curiosity. She believes healing happens in relationships, including the therapeutic relationship. As a systems-trained therapist, she pays close attention to the dynamics within families, partnerships, and larger systems that influence how individuals experience themselves and others. Morgan does not view people as problems to be fixed, but as whole individuals shaped by their relationships, culture, and lived experiences.
Her work is grounded in traditional systems theory, narrative therapy, and a strengths-based approach. She helps clients explore patterns that may no longer serve them, examine the stories they carry about themselves, and build practical tools that support meaningful and sustainable change. Morgan integrates attachment-informed and trauma-informed perspectives to support increased insight, improved communication, and relational growth.
Morgan believes that clients are the experts of their own lives. Her role is to provide a respectful, supportive, and thoughtfully challenging space where clients feel empowered to move toward clarity, connection, and intentional growth. Morgan currently works under the supervision of Autumn McCain, LMFT.
Yana Yaich, MS, Resident in Counseling
Yana is a Resident in Counseling approved by the Virginia Board of Counseling and is currently working toward full licensure. She earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from the University of West Alabama and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.
She has experience working with a diverse range of clients, including children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Prior to her current role, she worked with military service members and their families, as well as professional adults and youth across various stages of development. Through these experiences, she developed a strong appreciation for the unique challenges individuals and families face while navigating life transitions, relationships, and personal growth.
She is passionate supporting individuals facing a wide range of mental health concerns, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD), Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Chronic Pain/Disability, Traumatic Brain Injury, Panic Disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Grief, Parenting and Relationship issues. She strives to create a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental environment where clients feel safe exploring their thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Her counseling approach is collaborative and person-centered, focusing on helping individuals build insight, resilience, and practical skills to manage life challenges. She believes each client brings their own strengths and personal wisdom into the therapeutic process, and she considers it a privilege to walk alongside them as they work toward healing, growth, and meaningful change. Her therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based Therapy practices. Yana currently works under the supervision of Monica A Quaste, LPC