Grief counselors and therapists in Abingdon, VA

The Behavioral Health Outpatient Adult Team at the CSB consists of 132 diverse, talented clinicians who work in partnership with a medical team of nurses and prescribers to provide treatment to more than 5,000 individuals a year across seven locations. It is an honor to work with a team of passionate and person-centered providers.

Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, and I believe you deserve to be met with warmth, respect, and genuine curiosity. I’m Gretchen Soto, M.Ed., LPC, and I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, relationship concerns, and caregiver strain. My approach is affirming, collaborative, and grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive care. Together, we will draw upon your strengths, explore what matters most to you, and identify meaningful steps toward the life you want.

You’ve spent a lifetime caring for everyone else. My job is to help you finally exhale.

I’m Melissa Lou Koerner, LCSW — a therapist with 20+ years of experience helping people navigate the messy, meaningful, and often hilarious business of being human. I’m a generalist at heart, which means you don’t have to fit into a diagnostic box to work with me. If it’s part of your story, it’s welcome in the room.

Over the years I’ve supported adults, couples, families, caregivers, Veterans, adoptive families, and folks moving through grief, trauma, identity shifts, and major life transitions. From school hallways to hospice rooms to VA clinics to private practice, I’ve learned one thing over and over: people are far more resilient than they realize.

My style is warm, grounded, and practical. I blend trauma‐informed care, attachment work, and evidence‐based approaches with a healthy dose of humor — because sometimes the only way through a hard moment is to laugh at how absurd life can be.

And while I’m a true generalist, I’ll admit my favorite work these days is helping adults untangle enmeshment, estrangement, and parentification. There’s something powerful about watching people reclaim space in their own lives after years of carrying roles that were never theirs to begin with.

If you’re looking for a therapist who can help you untangle what’s heavy, honor what’s hopeful, and

I have been leveling up my approach to psychotherapy for the span of my career, most recently completing training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This is now the primary approach of my practice. My career began nearly 15 years ago with victim advocacy, working with survivors of sexual violence, first as a volunteer then graduating to counselor as my education progressed. I also gained a great deal of experience in crisis response and substance use treatment from working in residential/inpatient facilities with adolescents and adults. A great deal of my clinical experience has been in practice of Dialectical Behavior and Cognitive Behavior Therapies, which continue to be solid supports for my work in EMDR with clients.

I graduated in 2016 with a Masters Degree in Professional Counseling and have been working as a Mental Health Therapist since that time . I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and have focused my subsequent studies on trauma work including adoption competency. I have worked in direct mental health services since 2011 including individual, family and group counseling.

Charmaine is a christian woman that is warm and challenging. Charmaine enjoys getting to know the strength and character of her clients. She is strong yet compassionate and nonjudgmental.

My clients are experiencing circumstances like trauma (stemming from past/recent events), relationship concerns, stress, grief/loss, divorce, parenting, transitions in life/work, seeking intrapersonal growth, money relationship/behavior struggles and adjustment difficulties.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over two decades of experience, I focus first on creating a strong therapeutic relationship built on trust, safety, and respect. From there, we work collaboratively to explore the patterns, experiences, and challenges that may be keeping you stuck. Together, we develop an individualized plan that aligns with your unique needs, strengths, values, and goals. For over 20 years, I have had the privilege of supporting military service members, veterans, and their families through life's challenges and transitions. As a South Asian therapist, I also understand the unique complexities of cultural expectations, immigration experiences, family dynamics, and balancing multiple identities. I am passionate about helping individuals from all backgrounds navigate personal, relational, academic, and professional pressures while creating a life that feels authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling.

Laneka Montgomery is a compassionate therapist with experience supporting individuals navigating stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and life transitions, including end-of-life concerns. She works with adults, women, and couples facing relationship challenges and emotional distress.

Laneka is committed to creating a supportive, affirming space where clients feel heard and valued.

I work with adults experiencing ADHD, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions and grief. Many of my clients feel stuck or unsure how to move forward, whether that involves improving focus and follow-through, coping with loss, or navigating changes in mood and life circumstances.

You may be overwhelmed, struggling to stay focused, or going through a difficult change in your life that makes you feel stressed out.

With over 30 years of experience in healthcare as both a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Nurse, I bring a practical understanding of how physical, emotional, and mental health are connected, especially for adults managing ADHD, focus challenges, and overwhelm.