Therapists serving clients in Louisa, VA

Welcome to Better Help! You've taken a huge step, and I'm sure you're wondering how this works and whether it's the right fit for you. I know I felt the same way when I first came to Better Help too. My name is Jeannette Abelson, and I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Virginia. I earned my Master of Social Work degree, specializing in Interpersonal Practice, from the University of Michigan in 1998. I've worked in many different settings with individuals and families who have a variety of personal issues such as depression/anxiety, stress, family problems, trauma/abuse, addictions of all kinds, relationships/parenting and more. Over the past 20 years as a clinician, my experience has taught me that the most important aspect of counseling by far is the connection and comfort you feel with the person you choose to share your personal struggles. I believe we can all grow through challenging experiences by increasing our self-awareness. Sometimes another person, one who isn't in our immediate circle, can offer a perspective or additional support, that give us movement on a difficult situation when we feel stuck. It would be my privilege to be that person for you. We all want to be able to share our personal truths and be accepted and understood. I believe it's very important to be open-minded and non-judgmental when someone shares their personal story or experiences with me. Our relationship with our self and others has worth and is useful to explore in counseling. You are welcome to message me anytime through Better Help. The frequency with which you can have access to a counselor to work through day to day emotions and problem solving is extremely beneficial for most and a nice change from traditional outpatient counseling. I usually check messages twice each day, seven days per week. I currently offer messaging and ONLY live chat sessions at this time to new clients. Please note that what you see in my calendar may not reflect my only availability so you always want to check that out with me through messaging first. I look forward to working with you!

I am a licensed professional counselor with over 18 years of counseling experience primarily with children, adolescents and families. In addition to these populations, I will also work with women, teen mothers, military community and substance abusers. My services include but are not limited to assessments, crisis management, individual, family and group therapy. I take a directive yet client-centered approach to people's problems and encourage you to learn more about my approach to therapy. My approach is not derived from any one particular school of thought but tends to borrow from all of them. However, I do employ techniques primarily from the behavioral, cognitive-behavioral and family systems prospective. If we are to work together we will need to specify the goals, focus, risks and benefits of therapy, the approximate time commitment involved, costs and other aspects of your particular situation. I look forward to meeting and working with you and hopefully setting you on the path to your own personal journey!

Hello. I am pleased that you are taking time to learn more about me and my practice philosophy. I am a Doctor of Psychology practicing as a licensed mental health counselor. I am a licensed in both Florida and Virginia. I have been practicing in the field, helping individuals achieve healthy happier lives, as an individual, in their personal relationships and at work, for over 21 years. I have worked with clients who have a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, and career challenges, to name a few. I also assist many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse. My counseling style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I do not believe in stigmatizing labels. I meet you where you are and am focused in assisting you in reaching your personal goals. My approach combines cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, other Cognitive Behavioral therapies, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Structural Family Therapy, as well as Art Therapy. I have experience working with children, adolescents, adults and families in a variety of settings and phases of life. Each experiencing a range of life struggles and mental health concerns. My areas of specialty include working with those struggling with anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief/loss, ADHD and family issues, both parenting and couples. My counseling approach is eclectic in that I use what makes sense to my client’s needs. Predominantly, I use client-centered, cognitive behavioral and solution-focused therapies in addition to elements of mindfulness. I am passionate about helping others feel good about themselves and effectively manage through life’s trials and tribulations, in an effort to lead a life of purpose, fulfillment, and joy. I always consider feedback I receive from clients. I believe that YOU have the answers and I am there to assist you in locating these answers and use them to fulfill your goals and enrich your life. As we take this journey together, I am sure that we will be able to use your strength and knowledge in combination with mine to get through any challenge you are facing. I can interact with you in whatever manner you are most comfortable. I know how hard it can be to find a counselor who you feel a connection with. I would be honored to work with you through this stage of your life.

I AM SEEING: - Women mid 20's to mid 40's - Life’s adjustments, transitions - Anxiety - Relationship guidance - Parental guidance I DO NOT SEE: - Men - Couples - EAP - Substance abuse, - Depression, - Psychosis, or any further serious issues. I see clients as a hammock that has four bars holding them up: Body, Mind, Emotions, and Spirit. We each have weights that we put in our hammocks, both positive and negative stressors. I try to strengthen each pole so that my clients can handle the weight in their “hammocks”. Body: Breathing, to slower heart rate, exercise to lessen cortisol and create endorphins, sleep that regulates mood and focus. Physical history, medications, etc. Mind: Identifying the irrational thoughts that we all have, that contribute to stressors. Biblio therapies, communication skills, career development. Emotions: Process how to express emotions, how they affect thinking, feeling, and perceiving. Need for positive peer group, and community. Spirit: Opportunity to explore spiritual growth, especially when your body, mind, and emotions are worn out!

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who believes in empowering others to succeed. I have 8 years of experience providing both Christian and Non- Christian counseling. I also believe that establishing a rapport is paramount during the therapy process, and once created, I will identify and utilize the most effective therapeutic approach that will maximize your time, as well as allow you to reach your therapeutic goals. This includes Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Crisis Intervention Strategies, Motivational Interviewing, and Psychotherapy. l have experience working in both individual and group therapy settings. I am described by former clients, supervisors, and colleagues, as a person who is caring and compassionate, with a known reputation for establishing a good rapport with others and treating all with respect, with a focus on expressing the dignity and worth of all individuals. Since obtaining my Master's Degree in the year 2013, I have devoted my time to developing my skills as a therapist and to increasing my knowledge of issues pertaining to mental health and human behavior. I am currently pursuing my Ph. D degree in the field of Social Work with and specialty focus on Crisis, Disaster, and Intervention as they pertain to human behavior. I would like to thank you as well as, commend you for taking the first step toward becoming the best version of yourself. I look forward to working with you! Thank you for sharing information about yourself. I'm so happy that you reached out for help. I am Mironda Womack, a licensed therapist. You can read more about my background, education, experience, and therapy approach by clicking on my name on this page. I generally check my messages here a few times per day, Monday -Friday, and respond as quickly as I can. I appreciate your patience when it takes a bit longer, as I may be tending to other members or professional/personal responsibilities. I would also appreciate it if you would take the time to read over the telemental health informed consent form and afterward, submit a statement with your full legal name, DOB, and current state of residence, a statement indicating that you agree/confirm the terms and conditions of the form, along with an attachment of your driver's license or photo ID. TELEMENTAL HEALTH INFORMED CONSENT: I understand that the service provided through BetterHelp is not intended for crisis situations and urgent needs. While my therapist, Mironda Womack, LCSW (VA LCSW #0904013707) is a licensed therapist in the state of Virginia, Better Help services and/or online or text-based services may not be the best avenue for me to receive mental health care. If the use of this site or online services is not appropriate for my situation, I understand that my therapist will assist in providing me with additional options of in-person referrals where I can obtain care. VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY AND LOCATION AT THE TIME OF THE SESSION: I understand and agree to provide my therapist with a COPY OF A VALID PHOTO IDENTIFICATION, such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport, at the start of our work together. This is to verify my identity including my legal name, date of birth, home address, and proof of VA state residency. If my address on the submitted ID is not included or is not current, I will provide my clinician with my current correct address with proof. I agree to provide my clinician with a phone number to reach me in an emergency, as well as an emergency contact name and number. I understand that there will be no recording of any of the online sessions by either party. All information disclosed within sessions and written records pertaining to those sessions are confidential and may not be disclosed to anyone without written authorization, except where the disclosure is permitted and/or required by law. I understand that, for safety reasons, my therapist will NOT meet with clients in a moving vehicle, and that failure to comply will result in the session being canceled. I understand that if I am having suicidal or homicidal thoughts, actively experiencing psychotic symptoms, or experiencing a mental health crisis that cannot be resolved remotely, it may be determined that telemental health services are not appropriate and a higher level of care is required. IN A CRISIS SITUATION, I AGREE THAT I WILL EITHER: TEXT: You can text the Crisis Text Line by texting “Help” to 741-741 PHONE/VOICE: Call the Crisis Hotline via phone at (800) 273-8255 You can also call your psychiatrist, primary care physician, or medical/mental care providers for assistance IN PERSON: Go to your nearest emergency room for in-person help if you are in an immediate crisis. I understand that my confidentiality is fully protected by law with the exceptions of these circumstances: If my therapist has concerns or suspicions of abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, someone with a disability, or someone otherwise unable to care for themselves. If I present as a risk of harm to myself or others in the professional judgment of my therapist. If my therapist is legally compelled through a subpoena or court order in any court proceedings regarding my care (This is extremely rare, and if it were to happen, we would discuss it thoroughly.). If I choose to sign a Release of Information form. I have read, understand, and agree to the Client Terms of Service at https://www.betterhelp.com/terms/ 70 THIS INCLUDES UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEING THAT: My Better Help clinician cannot provide, verify, or produce reports related to the clinical diagnosis of a mental health condition. While trained to do so, services of this nature must be provided outside of the Better Help site/services at the discretion of my provider. My Better Help clinician cannot provide proof of attendance at, or reports regarding progress in, the use of the site, or services provided through the site. This includes documentation for court, custody agreements, employers, or any other party. My Better Help clinician cannot provide letters of support for Emotional Support Animal designations (or ESA.) I understand that I can seek out online therapy services from another therapist other than Mironda Womack, LCSW or another clinician OUTSIDE of Better Help if I have needs for clinical diagnosis, biopsychosocial assessment with diagnosis (including psychological testing), or referrals for treatment that come from the legal system, child welfare services, or my employer, and may require documentation or proof of attendance. PRIVACY OF SESSIONS: I understand that the privacy laws that protect the confidentiality of my protected health information (PHI) also apply to telemental health unless an exception to confidentiality applies (i.e. mandatory reporting of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult abuse; danger to self or others; I raise mental/emotional health as an issue in a legal proceeding). If having a “live” session with my clinician, my clinician will ensure my privacy by being alone at the time of sessions, as well as having “white noise” devices playing in the meeting space. I understand that I am solely fully responsible for the privacy in my own environment for meetings. To ensure the greatest privacy, my clinician recommends: Ensuring that I am alone in the room I am meeting Using headphones for phone and video sessions whenever possible Muting the microphone (or turning off apps) that listen to my environment, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Siri on Mac devices, or Bixby on Samsung devices If possible, place a Bluetooth speaker or device outside of the space I am in that plays “white” noise or music to mute any options of hearing me speak during sessions. Scope/Location of Practice I understand that my therapist is ONLY able to work with clients who reside in Virginia full-time. This is a legal requirement for their clinical license to practice, and they will not jeopardize their licensure status by violating this rule. If you are quarantined out-of-state, traveling, working, or residing at college outside of Virginia, please let your therapist know at the start of your work together. There may be some exceptions that can be made; however, you must be a primary resident of Virginia. RISKS AND BENEFITS OF COUNSELING: I understand that there are risks, benefits, and consequences associated with telemental health, including but not limited to, disruption of transmission by technology failures, interruption and/or breaches of confidentiality by unauthorized persons, and/or limited ability to respond to emergencies. I understand that the privacy laws that protect the confidentiality of my protected health information (PHI) also apply to telemental health unless an exception to confidentiality applies (i.e. mandatory reporting of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult abuse; danger to self or others; I raise mental/emotional health as an issue in a legal proceeding). First and foremost, I can’t help if you aren’t here! In making an appointment, you are committing to that time for yourself to the exclusion of others. If you must CANCEL an appointment, you must provide NO LESS THAN 24 HOURS' NOTICE. Failure to cancel in advance may result in changes to the type or frequency of sessions your clinician is able to offer. To gain the most from the therapy process, it’s helpful if you are honest about your commitments to self-examination, understanding, and our relationship. This includes any concerns you may have regarding services or with me. I want to serve you well and appreciate any feedback you may have that will help me to do so. Unwise applications of new learning are a common risk in therapy (e.g. being too harsh when learning to assert yourself) as well as feeling as though you are regressing when feeling vulnerable. Therapy is a process that is often like taking three steps forward and one step back at times, but the overall momentum should be forward. Talking openly about this can help minimize stress about this process. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of others that participate in your counseling sessions, such as in family therapy sessions. In marital therapy, secrets between spouses work against successful outcomes; in this regard, your counselor is not obliged to keep secrets of one spouse from the other spouse. It is best to avoid abrupt terminations from counseling and to honestly discuss, preferably by video or phone, the reasons for your desire to end care or transfer to a different clinician. This method can maximize growth and health at these times. TERMINATION OF SERVICES: If you do not interact with me for a period of time (either through appointments or messaging back and forth), I cannot ethically continue a treatment relationship with you. Sometimes I am not the best fit to work with a client for a variety of reasons (personal fit, clinical experience, schedule availability, etc.) Clients can decide to end services or change counselors at any time, however, it is in your best interests to let your therapist know you are doing so in advance. If you’d like to switch counselors within Better Help, you can do so by clicking on the icon in the top right corner of the “Counseling” page and choosing “Change counselor” from the drop-down menu. Make sure you specify in the feedback to support what you are looking for that is different. If you have any trouble with this, please reach out to Support at Contact@betterhelp.com. Know that if you decide to take this action, you will lose all written correspondence with me at that time on your client dashboard. To cancel your BetterHelp subscription, contact Customer Service via email (contact@betterhelp.com) or online at https://www.betterhelp.com/contact/ and ask them to cancel your account altogether. If you cancel your account and decide to return at a later date, Better Help will prompt you upon logging in about whether you would like to return to work with me or find a different therapist. Please know that while I am happy to resume working with you at a later time, this is subject to my availability to see new or returning clients at that time. If you do not cancel your account or request a new therapist, you will continue to show as an “inactive” client on my caseload whether or not you are logging in to the site or participating in services or not. Please note that your agreement for counseling services with me is considered no longer valid once you have not been in contact with me here for a period of 30 (thirty) calendar days. Exceptions to this are only made in the discussion of clear dates and plans between us on a case-by-case basis. On the Better Help site/app, I will continue to send you this same message regularly until you either: 1. respond and resume contact with me, 2. change therapists, or 3. cancel your account. Thank you. BY PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING REQUESTED INFORMATION VIA A MESSAGE YOU ARE LEGALLY AGREEING TO THE TERMS OF THIS FORM: I HAVE READ AND FULLY AGREE TO THE CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF THE CLIENT INFORMATION FORM, ENTER THE DATE THAT YOU AGREED, ALONG WITH YOUR FULL LEGAL NAME, DOB, CURRENT STATE OF RESIDENCE, FULL ADDRESS, COPY OF A CURRENT PHOTO ID OR DRIVER'S LICENSE, ALONG WITH A STATEMENT STATING "I ALSO AGREE TO NOTIFY MY CLINICIAN OF ANY CHANGES PERTAINING TO THIS INFORMATION AND UNDERSTAND THAT MY CLINICIAN WILL DO THE SAME".

Betsy believes in partnering with her clients to identify their own potential abilities and strengths in resolving their mental health concerns; to help them recognize their mental health challenges, and work to achieve their goals. Betsy is invested in an approach emphasizing an integrative, dynamic, and holistic approach to mental health, in her belief that there is no one aspect of an individual’s life which cannot be improved upon in the search for increasing mental health well-being. Betsy believes that support systems (family, friends, etc.), work or school environment, and spirituality/religious faith should be part of the mental health pathway to a more balanced personality. Betsy has worked for the past eight years in a variety of settings: outpatient specialty clinics; crisis intervention; inpatient programs; and federal programs. Betsy utilizes a variety of techniques and skills drawn from recognized therapeutic modalities including Art therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused CBT, Solution Focused, Crisis Intervention, Psycho-education, behavior modification, mindfulness, and relaxation.

I enjoy seeing people do well. Life can be challenging and navigating turbulent times, daunting. It seems like our world is in a state of unrest-are you questioning who you are, and where you belong. Coping with it all is no easy task. Whatever the source of your unrest, be it emotional distress, anxiety, employment/relationship issues, and trauma/tragedy, I can help. I approach counseling from a Christian perspective. I believe the word of God has many remedies for improved quality of life. Let's collaborate creative strategies to turn your life experiences into purpose. You are where you are, and I am glad that you have chosen to seek support. Your well-being and growth will be my top priority; thus, I will challenge faulty beliefs, and give honest compassionate feedback to empower you into positive behavioral changes.

I am licensed in Virginia with 37 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with trauma and abuse, coping with grief and loss, parenting issues, & bipolar disorder. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in Virginia with 11 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.

I am licensed in North Carolina and Virginia with 28 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, & motivation, self esteem, and confidence. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.