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About our CliniciansCarmen Wolf, LMFT, Owner
In 2015 I opened Atlantic Family and Adolescent Therapy with a goal of helping the Virginia Beach community. This goal continues to grow and we now have a fantastic group of clinicians dedicated to the same ideas and principles the business was founded on. Education and Experience I received my Bachelors of Art in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Rutgers University in 2008. In 2012, I earned my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University. For the last five years my professional experience includes working with adolescents, families, individuals, couples, and foster youth in a variety of settings. Also, I have extensive experience with dual diagnosis adults that include a variety of diagnostic criteria including Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Substance Abuse. This has included an assortment of clients including self-referrals and mandated individuals. As an added note I was a military spouse for 10 years. I understand how difficult the military lifestyle is and I have also worked with teens and children who needed various support pertaining to deployments, moves, etc. Finally, I am a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in the state of Virginia, license #0717001347. |
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Susan Amory, LPC Part Time Therapist Education & Experience Hello! I am a Chesapeake native and have just recently moved back to Virginia after living in Colorado and Wyoming since 2008. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who has a varied background working with adolescents, adults, and couples for over 25 years in school settings, community behavioral health agencies, inpatient facilities, and private practice. I have a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Radford University (1992), a Master of Arts in Education from Norfolk State University (1997), and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University (2015). My professional work is currently focused on treating post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety and depression, identity discovery, anger management, mindfulness, mood disorders, addictions, and couples counseling. Presently, I am licensed to practice in Virginia and Wyoming. I am employed full time as a mental health counselor with the Cheyenne Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, working remotely. Working with veterans and active duty military, I have learned distinctive evidence based practices to treat post-traumatic stress disorders and how to counsel from a trauma informed perspective. I was formerly a high school special education teacher for twenty one years (1998 -2019) and have worked as a teacher and private practice counselor in unison. This being said, I thoroughly enjoy and welcome counseling children, adolescents, and their families. My work with children is focused on treating and promoting skill building, healing from past trauma, cognitive behavioral approaches to anxiety and depression, emotional regulation, problem solving, and working within a family system. I am an empathic and flexible helper, interested in collaborating with clients in order to meet identified goals. I am a counselor who will empower you to seek and tell your truth, explore and feel your true feelings, and live your best quality life. I am holding sessions on Saturdays and Mondays at Atlantic Family and Adolescent Therapy. -Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor #0701009978 |
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Tess Hosier, LPC
Education and Experience I completed my Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Human Services from Old Dominion University in 2017. In 2020, I received my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Old Dominion University. My professional experience includes work with a non-profit organization in the Hampton Roads area in which I provided mental health counseling services to children, youth and adults in an individual, group, and family capacity. I have served clients within a variety of mental health programs including general mental health counseling, intimate partner violence, anger management, and trauma-focused counseling. I believe that counseling should be a collaborative and holistic experience that is tailored to meet the individualized needs of each client. I generally utilize person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, and strength-based approaches, with an emphasis on trauma-informed care. I establish a warm and non-judgmental environment in which clients can become fully engaged in therapy and can feel more empowered to create change. I support clients in developing greater insight which can be harnessed to more effectively navigate the challenges they face in their daily lives. I have experience working with anxiety, depression, anger management, PTSD/trauma, Couples Counseling via EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy),adjustment difficulties, daily life stressors, relationship/interpersonal conflict, and self-esteem. As a military spouse for the last 7 years, I also know first-hand the unique challenges that military families face along with the incredible strengths that they possess. Therapy plays an important role in promoting overall wellness and I enjoy supporting clients in achieving greater quality of life through the therapeutic process! More about Tess and couples counseling here: http://www.atlanticfamilytherapy.com/couples-counseling.html -Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor #0701012636 -Colorado Licensed Professional Counselor #0021057 -South Carolina Telehealth Registered Professional Counselor Provider #1366, https://llr.sc.gov/TeleHealth/Counselor.html |
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Christina (Tina) Calkins, LPC
Education and Experience I received my Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Counseling and Human Services from the University of Scranton in 2015. In 2019, I graduated with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Old Dominion University. My professional work includes a background in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). Through this work, I have gained experience with children and teens specifically focusing on behavior and learning. I have spent 4 years providing intensive in-home therapy to children, adolescents, and their respective families with challenges such as anxiety, depression, aggression, anger, self-esteem, familial conflict, trauma, and/or crisis response. I have also spent time working in a residential facility for adults focusing on dual diagnosis including Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Substance Abuse. Additionally, I provide outpatient services to adolescents and families. Through personal experience, I have exposure to the military population. I can understand and empathize with the challenges brought upon by a transition. I believe an essential part of progress is the establishment of a warm, trusting therapeutic relationship that fosters growth and well-being. My goal is to promote an environment that feels both safe and accepting to those I work with. I aim to hone in on explored strengths and positive attributes in order to bring about positive change and achieve personal goals. -Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor #0701012986 |
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Lauren Acarino, LPC
Education and Experience I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Army veteran. I earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology from SUNY University at Albany in 2008, followed by a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Fordham University in 2010. My career in counseling began in a private practice specializing in the child, adolescent, and young adult population who experienced difficulties within the school system or their families. In 2015 I left the field of counseling psychology to pursue a military career. I was commissioned as a field artillery officer in the US Army, when women were introduced to combat roles. After leaving the Army, I briefly worked in DOD counseling services before joining the US Department of Veterans Affairs where I focused my work on complex trauma/ PTSD, treatment resistant depression, grief / bereavement, transition difficulties, anxiety, addressing impulsivity and anger, transition issues, resiliency and race based stress/trauma. I have worked with the full spectrum of ages and enjoy working with young children to the geriatric population, and I enjoy using my experience in the military to work with active duty, veterans and military families. My application of counseling psychology focuses on evidence based practices, integrating scientific principles with the warmth and empathy that are necessary components of therapeutic work. My philosophy and foundation of psychology is to assist each client in identifying what components of their life are not producing the results they desire, and consistently target those thoughts and behaviors until goals align with choices and behaviors. I believe that anxiety and depression are a shared experience that we all encounter in our lives during periods of time we experience heightened stressors, and that counseling is a helpful tool for anyone to use when those experiences last longer than we'd like or feel overwhelming. Oftentimes, I use a foundation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and emotion regulation concepts from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I enjoy implementing Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD treatment. Aside from implementing scientifically validated treatments, I am a strong proponent of the whole person perspective. It is important to me that I know much more about each client than the issue that brings them to therapy in order to understand who you are aside from a diagnosis. -Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor #0701007981 |
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Megan Burgan, LCSW
Education and Experience In 2014, received a Bachelors of Art in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Following this degree, I worked as a Habilitation Technician for Maxim Healthcare and as a Shelter Advocate for a youth shelter in Wilmington, NC until moving back to Virginia. I completed my Master of Social Work degree in 2019 from Virginia Commonwealth University and achieved licensure in 2022. Since moving back to Virginia, I have gained professional experience in a variety of roles such as Shelter Advocate and Administrative Assistant for a domestic violence shelter for women and children, Intensive-In Home Clinician providing intensive crisis focused therapeutic services to children and families, and Regional Mobile Crisis Responder through a local community services board. I have experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families. I have worked with individuals experiencing a range of challenges such as depression, anxiety, life transitions, anger, self-esteem, identity exploration, relationship conflict, and crisis. I have also worked with members of the LGBTQ+ community, specifically trans adolescents or youth processing gender exploration, and have worked with survivors of domestic violence. I enjoy using CBT, TF-CBT, and DBT techniques in sessions to better explore and understand the impacts of stress and trauma, and learn ways to identify and accept difficult or conflictual feelings. Your therapy is just that: yours. I believe that as your therapist, it is my job to foster a safe space for you to express yourself and achieve your goals for your mental health. -Virginia Licensed Clinical Social Worker #0904014023 |
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Jahaira Tavares, LCSW Education and Experience I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2015 and have been providing therapy to teens, and their families, since 2011. I am originally from New York City and have recently relocated to Chesapeake, VA. I received a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from CUNY Hunter College in 2009, followed by a Masters of Social Work from the CUNY Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2011. My experience is centered on the importance of building meaningful relationships. I have helped youth in crisis situations engage positively in school, at home, and in their communities through individual and family counseling. During my time as a licensed social worker, I’ve worked with several age groups, including very young children, teenagers and adults. My first internship while earning my MSW was a non-profit organization that provided preventative services to families of children 0-3 years of age. In that time, I did developmental work with families with a focus around attachment and ran Baby and Me parent groups. I practiced individual and family therapy for 5 years while working at an alternative to incarceration program, with a focus around family dynamics, improved communication and conflict resolution. I also provided case management services that addressed each family’s needs. I worked closely with parents around behavior management and provided support around addressing their child’s needs while providing structure. While working in schools, I was given freedom to apply several approaches including psychodynamics, CBT, motivational interviewing, strength-based, and narrative therapies. In addition, the experience allowed me to work with students facing all types of challenges including learning disabilities, suicide ideation, newly diagnosed mental illness, grief/bereavement, complex trauma, significant life changes, divorce and separation, loss of housing, poverty. I specialize in addressing anxiety, depression, ADHD, Bi-polar disorder, Schizophrenia, and suicide ideation. Finally, I have 4 years experience providing a supportive educational environment for MSW interns and enjoy teaching clinical skills to future social workers. I am fluent in Spanish, LGBTQ+ affirming and have worked closely with multicultural families throughout New York City. I believe that therapy can help young people and their families discover the tools they need to overcome adversity and manage change so that they can enjoy a full and present life. -Virginia Licensed Clinical Social Worker #0904014830 -New York Licensed Clinical Social Worker #083588 NY |
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Laura Bolt, LCSW
Education and Experience My educational background includes a B.A. in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California - Irvine, where I graduated magna cum laude, and a Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree from California State University - Long Beach. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 16 years of experience providing clinical services to children, adolescents, adults, and families in a variety of settings including outpatient mental health and residential treatment, as well as the child welfare system. I am originally from Los Angeles County, California, where I also started my social work career and gained my clinical experience. I am so happy to have recently relocated to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and I look forward to continuing my work in this community. I am experienced in working with clients who are experiencing depression, anxiety, adjustment difficulties, and daily life stressors. I also have significant training in perinatal/maternal mental health, and I have spent the last 6 years providing psychosocial training and consultation to OBGYN clinics regarding their perinatal patients. I enjoy working with clients to create a treatment plan that is unique to their needs and goals. I utilize a person-centered and strengths-based approach and draw from evidence-based practices including cognitive-behavioral therapy. I believe therapy should be a safe and non-judgmental place for clients to comfortably share their thoughts and feelings, learn about themselves, build upon their strengths, and gain confidence in approaching the challenges in their lives. -Virginia Licensed Clinical Social Worker #0904012852 |
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Lucretia Mahan, LCSW
Education and Experience With a deep commitment to supporting individuals and families, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker dedicated to providing compassionate and effective mental health care. My journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in Labor and Employment Relations from Pennsylvania State University, followed by nearly a decade of service to military families as part of the Navy's Fleet and Family Support Program. Additionally, my experience as a military spouse of 23 years provides invaluable insight into the challenges military families face. Earning a Master of Social Work from California State University San Marcos in 2020 and subsequent licensure in Virginia in 2024 has equipped me with the necessary tools to address various mental health challenges. My clinical experience spans diverse populations, including underserved communities in San Diego County. This includes extensive work within child welfare services, school-based therapy for children and their families, and adult crisis intervention at a short-term inpatient facility. I specialize in supporting clients from adolescence to adulthood. Whether you're navigating the complexities of adolescence and teen years, facing the demands of adult life, or coping with the unique stressors of life, I'm here to help. With a deep understanding of anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions, I offer a compassionate and results-oriented approach. By combining evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy with a strengths-based perspective, I empower clients to build resilience, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and achieve their goals. I believe in creating a safe and supportive therapeutic environment where clients can feel heard and understood. I am an advocate and strive to empower my clients with a non-judgemental approach, offering tools and developing skills to help clients reach their goals and personal growth. If you're seeking a therapist who can help you navigate life's challenges, I invite you to reach out. Together, we can work through difficulties, build stronger relationships, and create a brighter future. -Virginia Licensed Clinical Social Worker #0904016905 |
Atlantic Family and Adolescent Therapy
1120 Laskin Rd Suite 104
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
1-757-650-5346
1120 Laskin Rd Suite 104
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
1-757-650-5346
