Grief counselors and therapists in Lynchburg, VA

Having over 30 years of experience and a doctorate in social work, I've enjoyed helping clients work through life's hardest passages- grief, identity, relationships, and carrying heavy burdens. I work with adults and seniors, individuals and couple, and bring a warm, direct, solution-oriented style that clients describe as grounding and refreshingly practical. We develop a rhythm quickly and I invest in understanding both where you have been and where you want to go. Homework often helps progress develop quickly.

I went to Stony Brook University for my Masters in Social Work and my Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Adelphi University. I have done two post graduate certification programs. One in substance use and another in trauma informed care.

I believe that it is important for every client to understand their story deeper and what their values, beliefs, and core language is like and how impacts there well-being. I believe in the mind-body connection.

I specialize in working with interpersonal conflict, behavioral issues, anxiety, life cycle transitions, depression, and helping clients recognize and build on strengths to overcome challenges.

I believe prioritizing mental health is key to living a well-balanced, fulfilling, and stable life. Seeking help can be one of the hardest steps, so congratulations on taking that step for yourself. My approach is warm, collaborative, and direct, blending traditional talk therapy with mindfulness and body-based approaches to help clients feel more grounded, connected, and confident. I strive to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel truly seen and understood while also helping them build practical tools for healing, emotional resilience, and lasting growth.

The Behavioral Health Outpatient Adult Team at the CSB consists of 132 diverse, talented clinicians who work in partnership with a medical team of nurses and prescribers to provide treatment to more than 5,000 individuals a year across seven locations. It is an honor to work with a team of passionate and person-centered providers.

Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, and I believe you deserve to be met with warmth, respect, and genuine curiosity. I’m Gretchen Soto, M.Ed., LPC, and I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, relationship concerns, and caregiver strain. My approach is affirming, collaborative, and grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive care. Together, we will draw upon your strengths, explore what matters most to you, and identify meaningful steps toward the life you want.

You’ve spent a lifetime caring for everyone else. My job is to help you finally exhale.

I’m Melissa Lou Koerner, LCSW — a therapist with 20+ years of experience helping people navigate the messy, meaningful, and often hilarious business of being human. I’m a generalist at heart, which means you don’t have to fit into a diagnostic box to work with me. If it’s part of your story, it’s welcome in the room.

Over the years I’ve supported adults, couples, families, caregivers, Veterans, adoptive families, and folks moving through grief, trauma, identity shifts, and major life transitions. From school hallways to hospice rooms to VA clinics to private practice, I’ve learned one thing over and over: people are far more resilient than they realize.

My style is warm, grounded, and practical. I blend trauma‐informed care, attachment work, and evidence‐based approaches with a healthy dose of humor — because sometimes the only way through a hard moment is to laugh at how absurd life can be.

And while I’m a true generalist, I’ll admit my favorite work these days is helping adults untangle enmeshment, estrangement, and parentification. There’s something powerful about watching people reclaim space in their own lives after years of carrying roles that were never theirs to begin with.

If you’re looking for a therapist who can help you untangle what’s heavy, honor what’s hopeful, and

As your therapist, I create a space where you can slow down and reconnect with yourself. My style is warm, collaborative, and grounded in belief that meaningful change begins within. Whether you’re managing anxiety, relationship challenges, identity shifts, or past experiences that still affect you, we move at your pace with practical tools and honest conversation.

With over three decades of dedicated psychiatric experience, I bring a unique, comprehensive perspective to mental health care. My journey spans more than 30 years in the field, including 18 years as an advance practice Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and adult medical prescriber. Having cared for individuals of all ages during my foundational years as a registered nurse, I understand the deep complexities of human development, behavioral health and substance abuse disorders. My passion for elevating patient care has allowed me to lead, mentor, and collaborate with teams of nurses across multiple states and healthcare systems. This expansive network keeps me at the forefront of modern, evidence-based treatments and diverse clinical practices. I am deeply committed to empowering my patients through personalized, empathetic and expert care. Whether you are navigating a life transition, managing a chronic mental health condition, or seeking support for substance recovery, my wealth of knowledge ensures you receive top-tier, specialized guidance. Together we will build a tailored path toward lasting wellness, balance and healing.

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.