Prenatal and postpartum therapists & psychiatrists in Blacksburg, VA

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 am Dr. Darlene Anderson, A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Virginia, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in the state of North Carolina, a Nationally Recognized Board Certified Counselor (NCC), and an approved Supervisor for Virginia Board of Counselor residents. I have worked with clients through various issues and concerns, which includes depression, anxiety, substance issues, low self esteem, relationship issues, family conflict, codependency issues, trauma, stress, grief and loss, and life transitions.

I have 30 years of experience working with young adults, individuals, couples, and families in various settings such as community mental health facilities, home, schools, hospitals, detention centers, and private practice. I graduated with my bachelors degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, my masters degree in Counseling from the University of the District of Columbia in Washington, DC, and my doctorate degree in Social Work from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Life asks all of us to carry difficult things. I believe healing isn't measured by the absence of hardship but by our growing ability to carry it. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a PhD in Mental Health Counseling, I specialize in helping individuals and couples navigate chronic illness, evolving medical needs, the relational impact of major medical challenges, and all of the other parts of life because no one lives just to be a patient. I come to this specialty with both years of experience as a therapist supporting specific illnesses like cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and cancer as well as lifelong experience as a sibling to a brother with chronic illness. My role is to help you better understand what you're carrying, strengthen what helps sustain you, and build a life that feels meaningful even when life doesn't become easier. If you are navigating illness, its impact on your relationships, or simply a life that feels

heavier than it should, I would be glad to hear your story and to help you carry it.

It can be difficult to deal with life’s ongoing challenges on your own. I can help guide you, but you are in the driver’s seat when it comes to your counseling sessions. You decide where you want to go and we will come up with a plan of how to get there. My goal is to support you while you make the changes you are seeking with the tools I can provide. My role is to provide a safe, compassionate space where you feel heard and understood.

I am trained in Family Centered Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I also have experience working with active-duty service members and their families, as well as survivors of child abuse and domestic violence.