Grief counselors and therapists in Lafayette, LA

Are you finding it hard to navigate everyday life? Are your relationships suffering? If you answered “yes” to these questions, please know you CAN live a different life. Relationship issues, trauma, grief/loss, anxiety, depression, and many other problems are challenging, to say the least. Therapy provides a safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings, learn coping strategies, and improve your relationships. You do not have to go it alone when therapy is available.

Welcome! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 13 years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relationship challenges. I believe that prioritizing your mental health is key to finding happiness and stability in life. I know that reaching out for support can be one of the hardest steps. So, congratulations on being here!

My path to psychiatric care is a little different from most. I spent over a decade as an Obstetrics Nurse before transitioning into psychiatric mental health — and that background deeply shapes how I show up for my clients. I understand the weight of life transitions, the complexity of the mind-body connection, and the importance of feeling truly supported. Now, as a PMHNP, I bring that same compassionate, whole-person perspective to mental health care.

Therapy is personal, and I believe it should feel that way. With nearly nine years of experience, I've learned that meaningful change happens when clients feel comfortable enough to let their guard down and simply be themselves. My sessions are conversational, genuine, and often include humor when it's helpful, so clients frequently leave feeling like they've had a real conversation instead of a formal counseling session while also gaining practical, evidence-based strategies they can apply in everyday life. I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), along with other evidence-based approaches, to help clients create lasting change.

If you have been feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed by relationship or family conflict, or weighed down by grief, loss, or intimacy concerns, you do not have to carry it alone. For 35 years, I have helped people navigate these challenges, including military families facing active duty and retirement transitions. I also bring a strong sense of fairness that helps me connect with clients making sense of hurt and confusion.

You might be feeling exhausted from holding everything together, anxious about the future, or stuck in patterns that no longer fit who you are. I work primarily with women and couples navigating anxiety, burnout, relationship stress, and trauma that can be hard to put into words. Many of my clients are new to therapy or haven’t always felt culturally safe or understood in past spaces. With me, you don’t have to shrink yourself or explain your whole identity just to be believed. Together, we’ll work toward you feeling more grounded, more confident, and more like yourself again.

I believe everyone needs help from time to time.

I specialize in evening and weekend appointments. Later appointments are available, please request your needs.

I am a friendly goal-oriented therapist who believes strongly in positive self-reinforcement. I have a Master's degree from La Tech University with a background in private practice for over 20 years. I am Licensed in Louisiana and Texas as a professional counselor. I am also Licensed as a marriage and family therapist in Louisiana.

Hello,

I am a proud LGTB member that is flexible with my approach to assist with a variety of mental health barriers.

After more than 20 years of working with children and families in the school system, I now provide virtual therapy to reach and support more people navigating anxiety, ADHD, depression, grief, stress management challenges, low self-esteem, life transitions, and relationship difficulties. Many of my clients struggle with emotional regulation, feeling overwhelmed, attention and focus concerns, family conflict, academic stress, or feeling stuck in patterns that impact daily life. Family dynamics and personal relationships are often at the heart of these challenges. My approach is creative, engaging, and intentionally different from traditional talk therapy. I incorporate music, humor, interactive exercises, and experiential techniques to help reduce anxiety, build coping skills, and make it easier to process difficult emotions in a supportive, welcoming space.

I’m Velia R. Bradley, a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in Louisiana with over 10 years of experience supporting people through emotional and psychological challenges. I earned my master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and am currently pursuing a doctorate focused on Counseling Education, Supervision, Trauma, and Crisis Interventions. My approach is holistic and client-centered, with care for the mind, body, soul, and spirit. I meet you where you are and work alongside you at your pace, with honesty, warmth, and respect.