Grief counselors and therapists in Fairfax, VA

Welcome! Since space is limited, let's hit the ground running! I have been a counselor since 2003 and am licensed in Virginia, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Prior to this, I worked as a respiratory therapist, so I am familiar with the stress medical personal face, as well as issues related to trauma, death and dying. In particular, I enjoy working with those who are struggling with existential questions or have suffered moral injury.

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.

I help to create a safe, collaborative space where you will feel seen, not judged. Our relationship is one where you can let your guard down and show up as your full self. It is my goal to use a warm and compassionate relationship to walk alongside you, offering reflection, compassion, and challenge when needed to help you reach your goals.

With 8 years of experience in the mental health field, I firmly believe in the parity of mental and physical health. Life often leads us into dark tunnels, and my role in therapy is to guide individuals toward the light at the end of those tunnels.

Alejandro is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who earned his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. More importantly, he brings a warm, grounded, and genuinely human presence into the therapy room. Clients often describe him as approachable, easy to talk to, and deeply attentive.

Alejandro believes that meaningful change occurs in a space where you feel both safe and understood while also being gently challenged. He meets you where you are, without judgment, and helps you explore patterns, emotions, and experiences with curiosity and compassion.

Whether you are navigating stress, experiencing life transitions, or facing deeper emotional struggles, Alejandro is committed to walking alongside you at your pace. He aims to support you in building clarity, confidence, and a stronger connection with yourself.

As a LPC, I know that the client is the expert in their own life, and this truth guides the work we do together. I earned my BA from Lycoming College and my MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling from Rider University. My theoretical framework is Person Centered/Solution Focused/CBT via talk therapy. My specialties include, but are not limited to anxiety, depression, ADHD, self-esteem, career challenges, relationship issues, grief, family challenges, and illness.

I have been working in the mental health field for four years and have experience supporting clients ages 5–60. I graduated from Regent University in 2021 with a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. For clients who prefer a faith-based approach, I also integrate Christian principles into therapy sessions.