Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Newport News, VA

Feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or like you’re just getting through the day on autopilot? I work with children, teens, and adults who are moving through anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, substance use, and the everyday stress that slowly piles up until something finally gives. Whether you’re in crisis or simply know something needs to change, therapy with me is a place to be honest, feel understood, and start building relief that actually lasts. I offer virtual therapy for clients located anywhere in South Carolina or Virginia, so you can join from home, work, or wherever you feel most comfortable.

Hi, I’m Marlane.

Taking the first step toward therapy can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face life’s challenges alone. I provide a safe, supportive space for individuals and families navigating stress, trauma, emotional challenges, and substance use concerns.

With over five years of experience supporting clients in crisis, I use a collaborative approach tailored to your unique needs. Through evidence-based approaches such as CBT and trauma-focused CBT, we will work together to build coping skills, improve emotional wellness, strengthen communication, and create meaningful change.

My goal is to help you feel empowered, resilient, and confident as you move forward.

I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner with a PhD, and I've spent ten years working with people who are genuinely tired of feeling like they should have figured this out by now. I work virtually with clients throughout Virginia, and I take a different approach than most therapists: I consider myself part clinician, part teacher. My goal isn't just for you to feel better in session — it's for you to leave understanding yourself well enough that you don't need me forever. I work with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance use, trauma, life transitions, and end-of-life concerns. I'm also a proud affirming provider for LGBTQ+ clients and believe good therapy should be accessible to everyone — which is why I've built in morning, afternoon, and evening availability.

Life's challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming, whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, grief, or the transitions that come with different stages of life. You don't have to navigate these experiences alone. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and judgment-free space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered to move toward meaningful change from an eclectic evidenced based approach that promotes hope, stability, and wellness, including faith-based perspective.

I specialize in working with adults and older adults experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, intimate relationship conflict, and couples counseling.I believes my purpose is to assist individuals to live life healthy and with hope.

I have extensive experience with substance abuse, holding a previous Certified Alcohol Drug Certificate (CADC) in Illinois, previous certification as an Emergency Services Prescreener with mental health, certified as a Clinical Trauma Professional, trained in level 2 of the Gottman Couples Method, experienced with anxiety, depression, grief & loss, and intimate relationship conflict. I received an outstanding excellent therapy award in 2021 and am committed to lives being changed. I am inspired daily by my husband, two adult children, and in love with my five grandchildren. In my spare time I love exercising, running miles, and reading educational/spiritual literature to keep myself sharp to assist others in sharpen themselves.

Thank you for reaching out for assistance. I have been providing mental health interventions and support for 36 years as an LCSW. I have also been credentialed as a trauma and ICU nurse and very early on in my professional life I was a special education teacher and received a masters in education as well.

My first few decades in practice was dedicated to the care and treatment of children 4 -12 years of age and adolescents 13 to 18 many who had been adjudicated for protection. Because of my nursing background and work in oncology I also have experience in providing supportive care for loss and grief issues as well as education and support for chronic illness, and post trauma care.

I have in the past 15 years began to work also with adults. I am licensed in EMDR interventions for PTSD both acute and chronic post trauma effects.

Because of my medical background i try and include a holistic approach to understanding both the physical and psychological issues my clients may be experiencing .

Many of the young people I work with come to me feeling trapped. It's as if the weight of what they're carrying is too heavy to put into words, and they're not sure anyone will understand. Anxiety and depression can make the world feel impossibly small, and for some, those feelings have led to self-harm or thoughts of suicide. I specialize in working with teens and young people, though I welcome clients of all ages — because feeling stuck doesn't come with an age limit.

Seasons change and so do we. I believe that strong relationships are the foundation of meaningful change. With experience in schools, hospitals, and community mental health, I create a supportive space where you feel seen and heard. Using a person-centered approach, CBT, and mindfulness, I’ll help you reframe thoughts, set goals, and build tools for lasting growth.

There is something different about talking to someone who actually understands your world. I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, life transitions, and challenges with identity and how they see themselves, and I offer sessions in both English and Haitian Creole. I bring particular care to clients from Haitian and Caribbean backgrounds and to women navigating the emotional weight of motherhood, loss, and everything in between. With more than 15 years of experience, I have seen what becomes possible when people feel genuinely seen and free to show up exactly as they are.

When navigating challenges like anxiety, depression, or trauma, it is easy to assume that something is fundamentally wrong with you. If you are struggling with low self-concept, anger, or substance usage, you might view these obstacles as personal failures. My goal is to completely shift that narrative. Together, we will look at what is going on with you, rather than what is wrong with you.

Since 1993, I have spent over 30 years helping individuals recognize their innate strengths and leverage them to overcome life’s hardest hurdles. Throughout my career, I have developed deep clinical expertise, obtaining specific, formal certifications across multiple states to ensure you receive highly credentialed and adaptive care.

Taking that first step to reach out for support can feel intimidating. Because of this, our introductory session is designed to be a safe, collaborative space. We will explore what is currently going well, examine the challenges you are experiencing, and align on your expectations for therapy. My primary objective is to establish an empowering professional relationship built entirely on your strengths.

As a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner in rural Virginia, as well as, a decade abroad working for the U.S. government. My experience includes acute crisis management, addiction medicine, community health, and maternal and child health. Medication management, therapy, and holistic care for depression, anxiety, adjustment challenges, traumatic experiences, and bipolar disorders are my main areas of focus. Particular interest and expertise in working with children and families in foster care.