Find a therapist in Newport News, VA — covered by insurance

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia who helps women navigate the emotional complexities of motherhood and family life. Whether you’re adjusting to a new baby, managing shifting family roles, or feeling stretched thin trying to meet everyone’s needs, therapy can be a place to catch your breath and find your footing again.

Katherine Castelo, LCSW is a licensed therapist and certified clinical supervisor in Virginia, Texas, Florida, West Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, and Colorado. With over 25 years of experience, she specializes in trauma, military and veteran mental health, first-responder wellness, grief, deployment-related stress, and major life transitions.

A former Marine Corps veteran spouse, Katherine brings lived experience and deep cultural understanding to her work. She has served across the DoD, VA, nonprofit, and civilian sectors, providing high-level clinical care, consultation, and program leadership.

She previously oversaw a Defense Health Agency program for transitioning service members and served as the U.S. Army Reserve Psychological Health Program Director, leading outreach for more than 200,000 soldiers and families and advising on post-suicide psychological autopsies as part of the USAR Fatality Review Board.

Katherine also worked as a civilian Employee Assistance Program (EAP) manager for the U.S. Navy and as a casualty assistance consultant for NCIS, developing programs focused on readiness, crisis response, and deployment-cycle support.

As founder of Awaken Wellness Center, her practice centers on trauma recovery, crisis intervention, and integrative therapies. She is trained in Brainspotting, IFS-informed work, and trauma-responsive care, and has provided trainings for service members, clinicians, and community providers on PTSD, MST, suicide prevention, and Brainspotting.

Today, Katherine consults with the SAFE Project’s SAFE Veterans initiative and teaches caregiver wellness classes with Semper Fi & America’s Fund, bringing compassionate, evidence-based, culturally grounded care to military members, veterans, first responders, caregivers, and their families.

I hold a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and have been working with clients since 2021. I specialize in anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and identity — the big, tender stuff that often doesn't have an easy answer but always deserves a real conversation.

I work with adolescents and adults but to be honest, my door is open to anyone having a human experience. Which, is all of us.

My approach draws from Person-Centered therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness — but what that looks like in practice is less textbook and more tailored to you. Some people need tools and strategies. Some people just need to feel genuinely heard for the first time in a long time. Most people need both, and we figure that out together.

I show up as a real person. I'm warm, honest, occasionally funny, and always in your corner. You won't find me blank-faced or judgmental. You will find someone who is genuinely invested in your story and rooting for you, every step of the way.

Welcome!

As a Spanish and English speaking Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I believe mental health is a key ingredient in navigating life transitions and regaining stability. Seeking support on your journey is hard, so congratulations on doing what is hard. I’ve been practicing for 20 years, working with clients aged 13-25 navigating anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, and life transitions.

I hold a Masters in Marriage, Family, Child Counseling from San Francisco State University. I specialize in self-esteem and working with attachment-related trauma, which is sometimes referred to as complex trauma or inner child wounding. Complex trauma can often look like anxiety, depression, unhealthy patterns, or a cycle of unfulfilling relationships.