Anxiety and depression therapists and psychiatrists in Norfolk, VA

Whether you are struggling with the far-reaching impact of past trauma, relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other ongoing health issue or simply wanting to invest in a bit of self-exploration and growth, I am so glad that you have begun your search for the best facilitator in that journey. I believe in meeting people where they are and allowing you to set your own pace for healing. I look forward to assisting on your healing journey in any way that I can.

⭐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.

Life can pull us in a hundred different directions, and sometimes it takes slowing down, getting real, and having honest conversations to find our way forward. My approach is straightforward and commpassionate - no judgment, no fluff. I meet you where you are, walk beside you through the challenges, and help you rediscover your strength, clarity, and purpose.

As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), I provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive psychotherapy through secure telehealth appointments.

I have over 18 years of nursing experience, including 8 years in forensic psychiatry, nursing leadership, and education. These experiences have given me a strong understanding of mental illness across different settings and have shaped my patient-centered approach to care.

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 .

I became a social worker because I believe no one should have to face life's hardest moments alone. As a Behavioral Health Therapist, I have supported others through illness, loss, caregiving, family change, and some of life's most difficult seasons.

Along the way, I've also volunteered my time into local community organizations throughout the years.

All of this has taught me something simple: people don't need to be fixed. They need to be heard, understood, and given the tools and support to heal. That belief is at the heart of how I practice.