Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Reston, VA covered by Aetna

For the past 35 years I have helped clients work through troubling life situations. Throughout my career I have worked with a broad spectrum of clients from every walk of life. I have treated people struggling with a wide range of problems; depression, anxiety, marital difficulties, infidelity, loss of a job, domestic violence, PTSD or other life altering circumstances. Your past does NOT equal your future. Who you can become is not defined by who you have been, who you think you are now, or by what experiences that may have impacted your life to this point. My role is to challenge and empower you to transform your life, helping you to change your patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that may not work or don't support you to attain the personal growth you are committed to accomplishing.

A lot of men arrive in therapy through anger, because it is often the only feeling they were ever given permission to have. If that is you, or if the anxiety has been running underneath everything for years, or if something happened to you that you have never said out loud, you are in the right place. I'm Dr. Justin D. Gravely-Strayhorn, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I earned my Master of Social Work from Campbellsville University and my Doctor of Education from Liberty University. I work with adults on anxiety, depression, trauma, anger, relationships, and the particular weight men carry when they have been taught that handling it alone is the same thing as being strong. Culture is part of that conversation, not separate from it. What shaped you, what was expected of you, and what it costs to keep performing being fine all belong in the room. My approach combines evidence-based therapy with compassion, cultural awareness, and a holistic view of wellness. I believe growth happens when we feel seen, supported, and empowered to rewrite our stories.

You’re the one who holds it all together. On paper it’s working — the career, the relationships, the discipline. Underneath, you’re anxious, tired, and disconnected. Intellect, stamina, perfectionism and people-pleasing may have gotten you far — but now its part of a pattern that keeps you stuck.

I see driven, self-aware adults who are often the most capable person in the room despite (and because of) their bodies holding patterns of high-functioning anxiety, trauma, and depression.

The pattern lives within your nervous system — so this work includes the mind, body, and environment. Yes, we will explore your patterns & why they exist, AND we’ll notice them in your body, in real time. Coherence, parts work, Brainspotting, ART, EFT- different tools, one principle: change consolidates through experience, not just explanation.

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Making the decision to start therapy is a profound investment of your time, energy, and vulnerability. If you are looking for a blank-slate clinician who simply nods and listens, we might not be the best fit. I offer a highly engaged, malleable, and unflinching partnership.

My approach is rooted in the belief that while the work of untangling our lives is deeply structural, the room itself doesn't always have to feel heavy. I bring a grounded warmth to my practice—which means knowing how to sit quietly in the gravity of a difficult truth, but also knowing when to break the tension, exhale, and find the light in the sheer complexity of being human. I won’t just sit in silence while you do all the heavy lifting; I am an active collaborator who adapts to exactly where you are.

Are you worried that therapy will feel awkward and formal? It doesn’t have to be. As a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 10 years of experience, I have learned that people are more complicated than a diagnosis, a history, or a list of things that have gone "wrong." Therapy should be a place where you can be honest, curious, and fully yourself. You shouldn't have to worry about saying the 'right thing', or knowing exactly what you want out of the experience.

As a licensed counselor with over 15 years of experience, I have worked in a variety of different settings with those struggling with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. I graduated from Liberty University with a master's in counseling and practice as a licensed professional counselor as well as a licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner. I have worked in outpatient and inpatient settings.

I believe therapy begins with feeling safe enough to be honest and being heard without judgment. I want my clients to know that you don't have to have all the answers before coming to therapy. Sometimes taking the first step is the hardest part.

I earned my Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Maryland and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-C) licensed in Virginia and Maryland. I have worked in behavioral health for many years, with a particular focus on substance use, co-occurring mental health concerns, and trauma. My experience includes working with adults from diverse backgrounds and supporting individuals through residential, intensive outpatient, and outpatient levels of care.

I genuinely enjoy helping people recognize strengths they may have forgotten they have. I believe that your diagnosis, substance use, trauma, or past experiences are only part of your story—they do not define who you are. I will meet you where you are and work with you to identify where you want to go next.

Feeling overwhelmed, lost, or unsure where to start? You've come to the right place.

With over 17 years of clinical experience across a variety of settings, I specialize in creating a warm, judgment-free space where you can explore your concerns at your own pace. Whether you arrive with specific goals in mind, need help identifying them, or simply need somewhere to exhale.

I work with children, adults, couples, and families navigating a wide range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, behavioral concerns, relationship difficulties, and life transitions. Whatever brings you here, I bring deep clinical expertise, genuine compassion, and a commitment to helping you move toward the mental health and life you deserve.

As a child growing up in New Orleans, LA, I struggled feeling seen, heard, and as if I truly belonged. I realized at a young age people (of all ages) shared with me their vulnerable, intimate and personal stories. And as I listened and held space for their concerns, these story-tellers felt a sense of relief, seemed lighter and a smile spread across their face.

I began wondering why people do what they do. This led me to gain education, strategies and tools to understand human behavior and development, learn how to effectively hold space for another, and begin supporting others with empathy; allowing them to feel seen, heard, and belong.

In the process, I chose to become a stepmom. I learned first hand how hard it is to blend a family and co-parent. If no one gives the biological parents a manual upon the birth of their child, there really is nothing for steps. This experience has given me a desire to fill this gap; helping steps, bios, and the children navigate and build a more content settled home.

Board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, I bring years of experience helping people manage ADHD, anxiety, and depression across all ages. My background spans a wide range of clinical settings and diverse populations, giving me the flexibility to meet you where you are. I practice telehealth-only medication management, so you can access care from the comfort of home, whatever your schedule looks like.