Grief counselors and therapists in Harrisonburg, VA

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.

Amber Shreve is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received her Master’s in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. Amber has experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Existential Therapy, Trauma Informed Care and other approaches. She believes every person and each experience has value. She is passionate about supporting individual autonomy and resilience. In her free time, Amber enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, fishing, and baking.

Your struggles do not define you, but they can refine you. -Reyna Aburto

⭐Rita Ososanya, DNP, PMHNP‐BC, is a board‐certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with more than twenty years of nursing experience and six years dedicated to advanced psychiatric practice. She specializes in comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, diagnostic formulation, and evidence‐based medication management for adults with complex mental health needs, including mood disorders, anxiety, trauma‐related conditions, psychotic disorders, ADHD, and substance use disorders. Her DNP training strengthened her leadership, clinical decision‐making, and commitment to measurement‐based, patient‐centered care. Rita is known for her calm, empathetic communication style and her ability to collaborate effectively across interdisciplinary teams to support safe, individualized, and trauma‐informed treatment.

I'm a bilingual therapist (English and Spanish) who came to Virginia from Bolivia in 2003. Before entering private practice, I spent years working in Child Protective Services and maternal health — systems that gave me an honest, on-the-ground understanding of what families face when life gets complicated. That experience still shapes how I show up for clients today: I'm not here to give you textbook answers. I'm here to sit with the real thing. I specialize in trauma, PTSD, anxiety, BPD, maternal mental health, and the kind of grief that doesn't fit on a sympathy card. I'm especially attuned to the unique pressures of immigration, cultural identity, and what it means to build a life in a country that wasn't your starting point. If you've ever felt like no one really gets the full picture of who you are, that's exactly the kind of space I try to create.

I’m a licensed mental health therapist with over 10 years of experience working with individuals across a range of settings. I specialize in anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, and relationship concerns, with additional experience in trauma and self-esteem work. My background includes training in evidence-based approaches, and I’m committed to providing a supportive, nonjudgmental space. I view therapy as a collaborative process focused on helping you create meaningful, lasting change.

You’re used to holding it all together—but stress, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion may be catching up. I help high-functioning women navigate burnout, regain balance, and feel like themselves again. I provide collaborative psychiatric care including diagnostic clarification, medication management, and support to stabilize symptoms of burnout, anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 23 years of clinical experience and an approved supervisor to counseling residents. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Mental Health Psychology in 2002 and a Master’s degree in Community/Clinical Psychology from Norfolk State University in 2005. Before going into private practice, I spent several years working in community services supporting client mental health journeys. I currently work with adults, families, and adolescents. My specialty includes treating culturally diverse patients, depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions/adjustment, sexual abuse, anger management, and serious mental illness.

In supporting a new client, we will begin at the client's point of readiness. We will address the client's mental health needs/symptoms with CBT, mindfulness certifications/other required clinical skills.