Anxiety and depression therapists and psychiatrists in Lynchburg, VA

This field is everything to me. I have been fully licensed for a short time but have worked in mental health for over 10 years in many roles. Working with clients, being alongside them through their most difficult and profound experiences is, I feel, the biggest honor one could have.

I believe therapy should feel like a place where you can finally exhale. You don’t have to have the right words, know exactly what you need, or arrive with everything figured out.

My approach is warm, compassionate, and deeply human. I work with people who may feel overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected from themselves, or exhausted from carrying too much for too long. Together, we make space to understand what you’ve been through, what your nervous system has learned to protect you from, and what you need now in order to heal and move forward.

I created Gentle Ground Therapy with the hope of offering exactly what the name represents—a soft place to land, where you can feel supported, understood, and safe enough to grow.

You are more than what has happened to you, and healing does not mean becoming someone new. Sometimes it means gently finding your way back to yourself.

I want you to know that my heart is to walk with you. No matter what you are bringing into counseling with you, I desire to provide you with a safe space where you can be confident in knowing that you are seen, heard, and known.

I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) and bi-cultural Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida and Virginia. I have 19 years of therapy experience working in community based nonprofits, private practice and in the Federal Civil Service. I am dedicated to helping clients find effective ways to deal with stress, trauma, or difficult emotions. I am committed to helping my clients on their journey to becoming happier and healthier, as well as improving their interpersonal relationships and behavioral patterns.

Mental health counseling is a form of help that can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of many individuals. Some mental health professionals, including me, intentionally incorporate spiritual or religious elements into their therapeutic practices. I do so because I primarily serve a Christian community, because my clients also adhere to religious principles in their own lives, and I subscribe to the belief that people experiencing distress can especially benefit from the help of God and spiritual empowerment.

I am Dr. LaTaya T. Whitaker, DNP, PMHNP‐BC, FNP‐BC, a dual‐certified Nurse Practitioner with more than twenty years of experience in primary care, urgent care, occupational health, and psychiatric mental health. My practice is grounded in whole‐person, evidence‐based care that supports both physical and emotional wellbeing. Over the years, I’ve worked in federal agency clinics, community health settings, and academic nursing programs, where I’ve had the privilege of teaching and mentoring students at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma‐related concerns, mood disorders, and life transitions. I am deeply committed to providing accessible, equitable mental health care and helping individuals move toward stability, clarity, and long‐term wellness.

I am committed to providing high-quality service and clear communication. I value honesty, professionalism, and respect. My goal is to understand your needs and work with you to achieve the best possible outcome. I believe successful results come from collaboration, trust, and consistent effort from both of us.

For more than twenty years, I have had the privilege of walking alongside adolescents, adults, and couples during some of the most difficult and meaningful seasons of their lives. I believe that sometimes it can be difficult to see beyond the darkness in front of us. My role is to listen without judgement while helping you find your way toward the light again.