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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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Monika Isip, LPC, ATR
Education & Experience I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist and began providing clinical services to a wide range of individuals in 2005. A large concentration of my work has focused on children, adolescents, and families seeking support as they navigate trauma, co-occurring mental health diagnoses, short and long-term stress, mental health crisis, caregiver-child attachment dynamics, and family interaction challenges. I earned a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Virginia Wesleyan College in 2004, followed by a Masters Degree in Art Therapy from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2006. In my most recent role as a state director for a community-based mental health agency, I enjoyed the opportunity to work with individuals from a variety of cultures and backgrounds from across the state of Virginia. I’ve worked with a variety of specialized needs, including palliative care, family violence, and Autism and developmental differences. In my clinical work, I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. I consider it a privilege to build relationships with clients, hear their stories, and share in their journeys. My approach is, first and foremost, collaborative and focused on identifying and building strengths. Also, I appreciate the role of chronic stress and trauma on our mental, emotional, and physical states, and partner with clients to develop a well-rounded approach to wellness. I invite clients to explore the connection between the brain/nervous system and our patterns of behavior, emotional responses, and overall wellbeing, as with this understanding comes powerful opportunity for growth and change. In sessions, I invite clients to use a variety of avenues for self-expression and healing, including verbal discussion, art making, writing, and mindfulness/ relaxation exercises. -Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor # 0701004604 |
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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 bring into a play 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, Resident in Counseling
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! -Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor #0701012636 |
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Courtney Kramer, LCSW
Education and Experience My educational background includes both a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology including a minor in Social Work as well as a Masters in Social Work from George Mason University. I am happily back in Virginia after a few years in Asheville, North Carolina where I spent time working in a community mental health setting. I provided individual counseling services to youth before and after aging out of the foster care system with a variety of diagnoses as well as transition type goals. I worked alongside the Department of Social Services, Juvenile Justice System, and Foster Parents to ensure quality, wrap-around care. I was then promoted to a Clinical Supervisor role, which allowed me to provide treatment and diagnostic consultation for a group of Licensed Mental Health Clinicians. During this time I attended several specialized trainings in areas such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, stress management, trauma, emotional regulation, collaborative problem solving, etc. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I specialize in supporting adolescent and adult clients who are experiencing difficulties with life transitions, career challenges, self-esteem, managing stress/burn-out, identity exploration, depression, and anxiety. My approach is person-centered and holistic. I incorporate Trauma-Focused, Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused, and Internal Family Systems methods. I encourage clients to engage in a variety of creative and intuitive avenues towards healing. I believe the relationship we build is the most essential part of cultivating change and transformation. It is my mission to create an authentic, compassionate, comfortable, and honest space for you. I trust our therapeutic relationship is capable of building your capacity to nurture self-compassion, embrace a range of emotions (those uncomfortable and enjoyable), and identify ways to confidently handle life challenges. -Virginia Licensed Clinical Social Worker #0904012614 |
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Christina (Tina) Calkins, Resident in Counseling
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. -Resident in Counseling #0704013592; Supervised by Patricia Smith, LPC #0701001263 and Carmen Wolf, LMFT #0717001347. |
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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 |
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
