Victoria Sterling

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.

My approach is person-centered, trauma-informed, and collaborative. I believe you are the expert on your own life, and therapy should be a partnership rather than a place where someone simply tells you what to do.

Depending on your needs and goals, I may incorporate approaches such as EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and other evidence-informed interventions. I also have training in Acudetox/NADA protocols and continue to pursue ongoing education in trauma treatment.

When working with trauma, I place a strong emphasis on safety, stabilization, and developing effective coping skills before moving into deeper trauma processing. We will work at a pace that feels manageable rather than rushing the process.

I also believe that therapy should be practical. We will work together to identify tools you can use outside of the therapy room—not just talk about what is difficult, but develop strategies that can help you respond differently when life gets challenging.

Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and begin building a therapeutic relationship. You can expect questions about what brought you to therapy, what you have been experiencing, your history, your current supports, and what you hope to accomplish.

You do not need to tell me everything during the first session. In fact, you don't need to talk about anything you aren't ready to discuss. Building trust takes time, and we will move at a pace that feels appropriate for you.

We will begin identifying your goals for treatment and explore what you would like to be different in your life. I will also help you understand what therapy may look like and answer any questions you have about the process.

Most importantly, I want you to leave your first session feeling that you have been heard, respected, and understood. You don't have to know exactly what you need before you walk through the door. We can figure that out together.