Grief counselors and therapists in Fairfax, VA

Are you BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ struggling with self-compassion and self-care? Are you struggling with the anxiety of navigating a society that feels like it's not made to support you? Whether it's systemic issues or unpredictable life changes, sometimes life can feel overwhelming and beyond our control. I provide a space for you to be your authentic self and receive unconditional positive regard through these challenges. Come as you are.

Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming — and sometimes the hardest part is simply starting. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Art Therapist, and Master Addictions Counselor, I bring more than two decades of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families through some of life’s most challenging moments.

Hi, my name is Austin and welcome to my private practice. As a man who has been deeply affected and healed by counseling, I get the need and role of counseling firsthand. This is why I love counseling: I believe humans were created to share their stories and to work through difficulties together. Counseling is my life’s passion. I am truly honored and delighted to now walk alongside others in dark places toward durable hope and lasting change.

I am personally acquainted with the pain of grief. After the loss of my mother to suicide, I began a counseling journey that revealed many unexplored areas in my life that needed compassion and care. These experiences have brought me face to face with life’s difficulties.

I received my Bachelor’s Degree from the United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO) in Foreign Area Studies (Russia and Eastern Europe). After graduation, I worked as a military aviator and US Air Force Officer in domestic and international locations. I returned to graduate school to pursue a Master’s of Arts in Counseling and a Master’s of Divinity at Covenant Theological Seminary. Over the years, as a counselor, I have worked in a community-based counseling center, as a staff counselor for a church counseling center, and I am now in independent practice, working with men, veterans, couples, and families navigating trauma and PTSD, and the many ups and downs of life.

I have traveled throughout the world during my Air Force career. Seeing the many ways humans experience the world, in all its pain and joy, has only increased my passion to care for others. From working with teenagers and their struggles to individuals seeking hope to the married couple with decades of experience to everyone in between. I love working with people who are struggling and want change.

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) from Walden University, I am deeply passionate about delivering patient-centered care and committed to advocating for individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. With over eight years of experience working with patients, families, and communities affected by mental illness, I have developed a profound understanding of the importance of compassionate and individualized care.

My professional journey began as a registered nurse, where I came to realize that mental illness is no respecter of person, age, color, or social status. This experience reinforced my belief that every individual facing mental health challenges deserves a patient-centered, personalized, and holistic approach to their care.

As a PMHNP, my goal is to serve as a source of strength and support through active listening, empathy, and compassion. I strive to provide an evidence-based approach tailored to each patient’s specific needs, ensuring that every individual feels heard, valued, and empowered on their path to wellness.

I am a licensed clinical social worker and I have over 18 years of experience working with children, adults, and families who have been diagnosed with mental health challenges along with substance abuse disorders. I specialize in working with the adolescent population but also enjoy working with adults and families. I enjoy seeing individuals set goals and meet them and be successful navigating daily challenges using the skills obtained in therapy.