Grief counselors and therapists in Alexandria, VA

Life can pull us in a hundred different directions, and sometimes it takes slowing down, getting real, and having honest conversations to find our way forward. My approach is straightforward and commpassionate - no judgment, no fluff. I meet you where you are, walk beside you through the challenges, and help you rediscover your strength, clarity, and purpose.

As a licensed clinical social worker, I know life can feel overwhelming at times, and asking for help isn’t always easy. My goal is to create a welcoming space where you can share openly without fear of judgment. I believe in walking alongside you with compassion, encouragement, and practical tools for growth.

I am deeply committed to helping individuals discover meaning and purpose in their lives. With more than four decades of experience as a counselor, I specialize in guiding clients through recovery from addictions, anxiety disorders, and PTSD.

As an Associate Professor in the Online Department of Community Care and Counseling within the School of Behavioral Sciences at Liberty University, I facilitate courses designed to help students and clients rediscover their zest for life and cultivate lasting emotional well-being.

In my private practice, I work extensively with couples, equipping them with practical tools and proven techniques to restore joy, strengthen relational intimacy, and build fulfilling, resilient relationships.

I live in Lynchburg, Virginia, where I remain actively engaged in my community. My areas of specialization include trauma and complex trauma, anxiety, depression, child abuse recovery, and relational intimacy. I am also the author of Joy on the Same Page (2023), which outlines my Relational Intimacy approach.

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I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who focuses on treating acute and relational trauma with teens, individuals, and couples. I have been working as a psychotherapist for over 15 years. I believe that we heal in relationship to another, rather than trying to do it all alone. My style is warm, attentive and an active participant in your healing journey.

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Imagine feeling clear, confident, and in control of your next steps. I work with people navigating anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. Even when things look “on track” externally, it’s common to feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure about what’s next. I seek to empower clients as they explore, express and honor their truth. As the Clinical Director of Georgetown University’s Counseling Center, I bring extensive experience helping clients gain clarity, manage anxiety and depression, and make more intentional decisions about their lives.

Hello! My name is Chelsea Vicario. I received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Counseling from Radford University. The meaning of healing and growth looks different for everyone. I am here to help guide you to being your best self and to help you figure out what your healing and growth journey will look like. I have a passion for helping people reach their full potential.

I have experience working with people with dual diagnosis. I am a CSAC. I also have experience in private practice working with individuals and couples struggling with anxiety, depression, bipolar, self-esteem issues and relationships concerns. I am a strong ally for the LGBTQ+ community and truly enjoy working with this population. I truly believe that healthy boundaries, healthy coping skills and a positive mindset can change a person’s life for the better.

I use a mix of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy and a solution focused approach to help you reach your specific goals and start your path to healing. I know it can be difficult to start therapy, but I will provide an environment to help you feel comfortable as you start the therapeutic process.

When life gives you lemons...

My education gave me the tools to be a skilled clinician. But it was my own trauma that gave me the insight and depth I bring to this work. I know what it feels like to live in a body that doesn’t feel safe—to question everything, including yourself. I spent over a decade learning how to heal, reclaim my voice, and become the kind of guide I once needed.

In the midst of that long journey, I had a quiet moment of clarity: what I was going through wasn’t just about survival—it was about becoming someone who could walk with others through the dark. That experience grounds my work in both knowledge and deep compassion.

Learning to love the desert

I’ve come to believe that being lost isn’t a problem—it’s part of the path. Like La Loba, the mythical bone-gatherer who wanders the desert collecting what’s been buried and brings it back to life, I help others gather what they’ve lost along the way. That process is sacred, slow, and often surprising—but it’s how we come home to ourselves.

There are parts of you that haven’t died; they’ve just been waiting. And sometimes, when it all falls apart, that’s when the wild, wise parts of you rise again.