Counseling Services - Bio
Shannon L. Reynolds
Are you feeling exhausted by unhealthy cycles and frustrations that leave you unsatisfied in life and relationships? You’ve come to the right place for change. Here, you will express, address, and process your emotions and thoughts in a safe environment. I will accompany you through treacherous obstacles, murky waters, and rough mental terrain to help you achieve mental health wellness through effective mental health counseling.
I am trained to offer you the tools needed to move forward and realize your Best You! You may wonder if this is possible. Let me share my personal philosophy that fuels my passion for the therapeutic process.
Throughout my formative years, I practiced, taught, and implemented various forms of communication as an essential life-altering skill. Effective communication became vital in my relational encounters, allowing for a life of unapologetic fulfillment. My goal is to journey alongside my clients, facilitating their desired change towards a fulfilling life.
Understanding this desire, I aim to give voice to encased emotions, words to feelings, and new perspectives to thoughts that have kept many in mental and emotional bondage. As your therapist, you will be met with empathy and respect. I have worked with culturally diverse groups, including children in and out of the child welfare system, individuals, geriatrics, disenfranchised young adults, military personnel, veterans, families, and LGBTQIA+ communities. I enjoy working with these different populations to invoke change, but my primary focus is on adults aged 21 and older, as well as couples, within my practice.
I will utilize a variety of techniques, such as mindfulness and exposure therapy, with a person-centered approach to therapy. I’m here to listen to and honor your experience while facilitating the change process. My educational background includes a BA in Psychology from Columbia College, an MS in Counseling Psychology, and a Master's in Counseling with a specialization in Military, Veteran, and Family Therapy from William & Mary.
"Expression as the Author of Change" has become my life work. If you are ready to commit and work toward sustained change, click "Client Portal" for a free 15-minute consultation today.
BIO
Lori Ann Stretch PhD., LCMHC-S (NC), LPC (VA), NCC, ACS, BC-TMH-Supervisor
Dr. Stretch earned a PhD in Counselor Education with a minor in Child and Adolescent Psychology from North Carolina State University in 2005. She also earned a M.S. in Community and College Counseling with a specialization in Special Education from Longwood University in 1997.
Dr. Stretch is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor - Supervisor (NC #4381) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (VA #0701010280). In addition, she is a National Certified Counselor (#72374) and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (#00606).
Counseling Background and Approach
With a rich background in mental health counseling since 1997, Dr. Stretch serves youth, adolescents, and adults aged 12 years and older. She currently provides individual, couples, family, and group therapy. Her counseling orientation is integrative, heavily influenced by the person-centered and cognitive-behavioral approaches to counseling. Dr. Stretch strives to create a safe and consistent relationship with her clients while encouraging them to examine how their thinking impacts their interactions with the world. Additionally, she incorporates various techniques into her therapeutic process, including sandtray, art, homework, mindfulness, play, relationship enhancement, and psychoeducation.
Dr. Stretch believes that understanding the thoughts underlying behavior is crucial for changing maladaptive patterns in life. The ultimate goals of self-awareness and self-acceptance can sometimes take a considerable amount of time to achieve. Some clients may only need a few sessions to reach these goals, while others might require months or even years of ongoing psychology services. As a client, you maintain complete control and may choose to end the counseling relationship at any time, with Dr. Stretch fully supporting that decision. If the counseling is successful, you should feel empowered to face life’s challenges in the future without her support or intervention.
