Discover how starting grief & loss counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
5 therapists available in Charlottesville
As an LGBTQIA ally and a woman of color, I understand the need for identity, acceptance, and purpose....
About
As an LGBTQIA ally and a woman of color, I understand the need for identity, acceptance, and purpose.
I am a Resident in Counseling with over 2 years of experience, and I specialize in working with caregivers, as well as individuals managing anxiety, depression, parenting challenges, relationship concerns, and life adjustments. My goal is to create a supportive and safe space where clients feel heard and understood. I am passionate about guiding people through life’s challenges while helping them develop tools that foster growth, resilience, and lasting positive change.
I hold a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and a Master’s in Human Services from Purdue Global University. Through my training, I have gained experience in crisis intervention, mental health first aid, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness practices, which I integrate into my work.
I believe the key to any relationship is being present and meeting people where they are. I strive to provide space and opportunity for clients to speak freely without judgment, ensuring they feel supported and empowered. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and focused on helping individuals move forward with confidence.
Education and training
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I look forward to meeting you and assisting with your needs!...
I look forward to meeting you and assisting with your needs!
Andrea Dilley-Frame is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC). She has over 20 years of experience working with adult clients who are dealing with the effects of grief, life transitional issues, low self-esteem, stress, trauma, PTSD, women’s issues, anxiety, depression, anger issues, dysfunctional relationships, poor coping skills, family conflict, and more.
Court, Probation, Referral Source Letters-Requests for letters to Court, Probation or other referral sources regarding completion of assessment and/or treatment status will be considered after 90 days/3 months of consistent treatment. Requests are considered on a case by case basis, is not guaranteed and a fee may be charged for completion of the letter.
Andrea obtained a Bachelor’s of Science from Marshall University in Huntington, WV, and a Master’s of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA. Andrea served in the Virginia Community Service Board system for 15 years in rural, suburban, and urban areas before entering private practice. Andrea's specialties include addictions and severe persistent mental illness. She approaches treatment from a person-centered, strength-based perspective.
Andrea is comfortable working with individuals ranging from adult to retirement life stage. Partner together with her to start developing a unique treatment plan that addresses your needs with compassion and professional support.
Finding a therapist and opening up about your fears can be scary and overwhelming. I know this not just on a professional level, b...
Finding a therapist and opening up about your fears can be scary and overwhelming. I know this not just on a professional level, but a deeply personal one, and strive to ease that discomfort.
Elizabeth (Liz) Oberheu is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She is passionate about helping her clients identify the roots of their concerns, and work toward making changes that allow them to live happier healthier lives. Liz has experience in working with anxiety, depression, and adjustment/stressor-related concerns.
Liz obtained her M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Texas San Antonio. Her interest in counseling came from wanting to better understand her own struggles, and help others do the same. Liz uses a psychodynamic approach, while also utilizing other modalities such as mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
The stigma around discussing mental health struggles has greatly lessened over the past couple of years. That doesn't mean it can't still be nerve-wracking. Liz strives to provide an open, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space. If you are thinking about starting therapy for the first time or are looking to ease back in, schedule an appointment with her today.
Having been on the other side of the screen myself, wondering if I could truly open up to someone, I understand that this work req...
Having been on the other side of the screen myself, wondering if I could truly open up to someone, I understand that this work requires empathy, honesty, and a deep respect for each person’s story.
Jamie Jackson is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 7 years of experience working with individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, veterans, and the LGBTQIA+ community. She believes in creating a space that supports true self-expression, leading to personal growth, transformation, and healing. Jamie meets clients where they are, helping them navigate their journey of self-discovery with empathy, collaboration, and respect for their unique stories.
Jamie earned her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Eastern Mennonite University. She uses a therapeutic lens to help clients identify their needs with compassion, offering structure when helpful, and supporting autonomy through collaboration.
Jamie is personable and relatable, working with diverse backgrounds and cultures. She builds strong connections through communication, using an eclectic therapeutic approach to provide clients with a wide range of tools for their personal growth and success.
I enjoy assisting people in building on their personal strengths in a safe and nonjudgmental space to share their experience and f...
I enjoy assisting people in building on their personal strengths in a safe and nonjudgmental space to share their experience and feel supported.
Robin Blackwell is an LCSW. Robin has 18 years of experience working with adults and children seeking help with depression, anxiety, anger management, inability to focus, and life transitions. She completed both her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and her Master of Social Work (MSW) at Radford University.
Robin utilizes motivational interviewing techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based, and solution-focused treatment modalities. She enjoys using a holistic approach to include breathwork, meditation, and guided imagery to assist with acceptance, relaxation, and mood regulation. Robin seeks to establish a therapeutic relationship and assist you in building on your personal strengths to achieve your goals and enhance your overall wellbeing. She will encourage and help you strive to be your best possible self.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Katybeth: I work primarily with clients who are grieving the loss of relationships, whether that's a parent, a sibling, or a partner, as a result of the client setting boundaries or advocating for themselves in the relationship and the other party has a negative response. There are myriad related topics addressed as well, such as family dynamics, abuse cycles, and substance use/addiction issues.
Sharon: There is not one 'best approach to grief counseling because each person experiences it in their own way. Grief counseling and grief therapy are different, so the timing and interventions are tailored to the person's needs. The most important approach in my opinion is to actively listen as they allow you into their story.
: My approach for helping people in grief and loss counseling is companioning the bereaved. Listening with the heart while honoring the spirit leads to meaning-making in the loss.
Katybeth: When I'm working with a client who is in grief and loss, I use psychoeducation to help the client understand what is happening, which helps them feel validated and normalized in their emotional experiences. I help them build skills to reframe distressing thoughts, begin to make some sense out of the loss, and see from different perspectives.
Sharon: In grief counseling, techniques are individualized and include active listening, validation of feelings, mindfulness exercises, role-play, identifying problems, and establishing new normal routines. Clients are encouraged to talk about their loss and bring photos, letters, jewelry, etc., to their session. As odd as it sounds, there is often humor involved in the process. Other tools include grieving rituals, mindfulness exercises, getting enough sleep, and maintaining healthy habits, including eating, journaling, drawing, and worksheets.
: I encourage the use of Dr. Alan Wolfelt's books and journals as aids in walking through the journey of loss and mourning.
Katybeth: I know a client is making meaningful progress in grief & loss counseling when they can stop venting/obsessing about the initial distress and begin to get curious about themselves in response to the loss. Also, progress looks like utilizing coping skills in real-time to help with emotional regulation.
Sharon: One way to tell that a client is making meaningful progress is when they begin to be able to talk about the loss in happy ways and move away from seeing only the sad aspects. They become more engaged in daily activities, release beliefs of self-blame, allow themselves to have fun, and set both short- and long-term goals.
: In grief and loss counseling, clients will find themselves feeling less burdened and heavy with emotion as their pain has been witnessed and they have been given the space to process without judgment.
Katybeth: Clients can supplement their time in grief & loss counseling with journaling. It is one of the most effective and accessible ways to increase self-awareness and process thoughts. There are also grief and loss workbooks published by licensed professionals that are available in bookstores and online.
Sharon: In their personal time, clients can create a memory book, write an unsent letter to their loved one, participate in meditation or a yoga class, and seek spiritual support if appropriate. I strongly encourage attending a grief group and suggest this when someone knows they are going to die, both for the dying person and the family.
: To supplement grief counseling, I encourage journaling, engaging in activities that bring pleasure to provide breaks from the heaviness of the loss, avoiding isolation by seeking social support (possibly through grief groups or supportive friends or organizations), and engaging in mindfulness practices.
Katybeth: To prepare for their first grief & loss (tele)counseling session, you can schedule the appointment at a time when you have privacy and energy to devote to it. Get comfy! Grab your favorite beverage and snack. Be prepared to experience discomfort while discussing things/answering questions. Know that you can redirect the clinician to other topics if you're not prepared to talk about certain things. Use phrases like, 'I'm not ready to talk about that today,' or 'Could we talk about that next time, so I have time to organize my thoughts about it?'
Sharon: To prepare for a first grief counseling session, a person can think in advance about what information they would like to share, if they have any concerns about the process, and what goals they have for counseling.
: To prepare for their first session, an individual can consider if they are taking care of their physical health through nutrition, sleep, and exercise. Maintaining physical health will support the work of grief counseling.
Grief and loss counseling helps people grieve difficult losses including the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship. It helps people navigate their grief process and eventually accept, understand, and move forward from their loss. Thriveworks grief therapists in Charlottesville, VA have specific experience, training, and skills that enable them to best support grieving individuals.
Grief and loss counseling isn’t one-size-fits-all, but it involves sharing about your loss and then working with your counselor to acknowledge and accept your new reality in its wake. Your provider at Thriveworks in Charlottesville, VA will design your treatment plan around your unique needs and goals for therapy, applying the counseling techniques that best support them.
If you have recently experienced an event like the death of a loved one, a breakup or divorce, the loss of a job, or another major life change, then you may want to seek grief and loss counseling. Grief can be caused by many experiences and events, so if you feel that you are having trouble moving on from a certain event or find that it is still impacting your life and functioning, grief and loss counseling can help you process it more effectively so that you can move on and once again find fulfillment and satisfaction in your life.
There are many counseling theories for treating grief, one of the most frequently used being the dual process model of grief which helps people acknowledge who or what they’ve lost through rumination while also adjusting to the new roles and identities that this loss has now placed on them. There are also many commonly used therapy approaches used in grief and loss counseling, including Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and traumatic grief therapy.
Grief & loss counseling at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
For many, grief and loss counseling lasts for about 6 months. For others, it may last shorter or longer, depending on the severity of their loss and their grief.
Losing a friend, family member, or loved one is one of the most difficult events you can experience. Regardless of whether the loss is expected or unforeseen, more often than not it brings with it intense emotions of grief and pain. This is why Thriveworks Grief Counseling Charlottesville is here – to help you process your grief and emerge a better person for it. It may sound like an impossible feat, but you’re capable of more than you think.
Grief counseling is not only an effective tool for overcoming the death of a loved one but is also beneficial for those whose intense feelings of pain and loss are brought on by different events.
Divorce or separation, a missing person, and even losing a pet can trigger strong feelings of grief. Grieving is part of life, and as such, it is natural to experience these feelings of loss. There’s no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed for seeking help through this natural part of life.
Support from a highly trained and caring professional counselor, therapist, or psychologist, like those on our team at Thriveworks Charlottesville, VA Grief Counseling, is often the key to real and lasting reprieve.
Grief can quickly become too much to handle alone. Here are a few warning signs:
If you are experiencing any of these indicators, please do not face them alone. Thriveworks counselors are here to help. Call us today at (434) 812-4009.
If you’re ready to see the difference that a mental health professional can make, call our office in Charlottesville, VA to get started. When you do, our support team will help you with the process: everything from setting up your insurance to booking your first session is made easy with their help.
And with support available seven days a week, we’ve taken the hassle out of everything. Thriveworks opens the door to exclusive benefits, including:
Call Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Charlottesville—because there’s no reason to delay getting a professional’s help. With a provider’s support, you can reclaim your life from the mental health challenges standing in your way.
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