Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in Stafford, VA

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.

I believe in the inherent wisdom and strength within all human beings and I utilize a number of approaches to reveal that wisdom and strength within my clients.

Hi there! I have been a therapist for about 25 years (MSW- Western Michigan University). I feel grateful to have such meaningful work and honored to walk alongside such a variety of people on their journeys. My clients have described me as irreverent, honest, and caring.

Many folks come to therapy in times of crisis and others come because they are looking for a neutral place to talk and process a wide range of life experiences including trauma, anxiety/depression, substance concerns, and relationship issues.

In my non-work hours you'd find me spending time with my elementary age kiddo and our dog, listening to live music, swimming in Lake Michigan, or finishing up a good jigsaw puzzle!

Dr. Ahlers treats adults and adolescents with a wide range of psychiatric conditions including Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Personality Disorders, ADHD, and Psychotic Disorders. Dr. Ahlers is able to provide pharmacological management and/or psychotherapy services, depending on an individual's needs.

Hi, my name is Austin and welcome to my private practice. As a man who has been deeply affected and healed by counseling, I get the need and role of counseling firsthand. This is why I love counseling: I believe humans were created to share their stories and to work through difficulties together. Counseling is my life’s passion. I am truly honored and delighted to now walk alongside others in dark places toward durable hope and lasting change.

I am personally acquainted with the pain of grief. After the loss of my mother to suicide, I began a counseling journey that revealed many unexplored areas in my life that needed compassion and care. These experiences have brought me face to face with life’s difficulties.

I received my Bachelor’s Degree from the United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO) in Foreign Area Studies (Russia and Eastern Europe). After graduation, I worked as a military aviator and US Air Force Officer in domestic and international locations. I returned to graduate school to pursue a Master’s of Arts in Counseling and a Master’s of Divinity at Covenant Theological Seminary. Over the years, as a counselor, I have worked in a community-based counseling center, as a staff counselor for a church counseling center, and I am now in independent practice, working with men, veterans, couples, and families navigating trauma and PTSD, and the many ups and downs of life.

I have traveled throughout the world during my Air Force career. Seeing the many ways humans experience the world, in all its pain and joy, has only increased my passion to care for others. From working with teenagers and their struggles to individuals seeking hope to the married couple with decades of experience to everyone in between. I love working with people who are struggling and want change.

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.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over eight years of experience providing therapy in both English and Spanish. I work with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, specializing in trauma, stress, and depression.

I strive to create a warm, supportive space where you feel heard and understood. My approach is collaborative and tailored to your needs, helping you build insight, develop coping skills, and move toward meaningful change.

Whether you’re navigating a difficult time or working through past experiences, I’m here to support you every step of the way.