Artisan Counseling offers individual, couples and family therapy from our Newport News office at 11713 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 200. Our licensed counselors work with adults, couples and families across the Peninsula, including clients from Hampton, Yorktown, Poquoson and Williamsburg. Sessions are available in person and through telehealth during weekday, evening and limited Saturday hours.
This page provides an overview of what is available at our Newport News location so you can make an informed decision before reaching out.
The Peninsula has its own rhythm. Military installations, the shipyard, local universities and a mix of long-established neighborhoods and growing developments make Newport News a place where people are busy, often stretched thin and not always sure where to turn when things get heavy.
Stress does not wait for a convenient time. It shows up in your sleep, your appetite, your patience, your relationships and your ability to concentrate. For many people in Newport News, the decision to start therapy comes after months or years of trying to manage on their own. By the time they call, the weight has compounded.
Our Newport News office was built with that reality in mind. We staff a team large enough to keep wait times short. We offer morning, daytime, evening and Saturday appointments because not everyone works a nine-to-five schedule. We accept all major insurance plans and Medicaid because cost should not be the reason someone does not get help. And we offer telehealth for clients who cannot make it to the office due to work, health or family obligations.
Our counselors hold active Virginia licenses and bring experience from a range of clinical settings, including community mental health, hospitals, residential treatment and school-based programs. They work with clients dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, substance use, relationship conflict and the kind of low-grade exhaustion that builds over time without a clear cause.
If you live or work on the Peninsula and you have been thinking about starting therapy, this is a place where that can happen without a long wait, a complicated intake process or a counselor who does not understand the realities of your life.
Our Newport News office provides counseling for individuals, couples and families. Each service is described briefly below, with links to full pages where you can learn more.
Individual therapy is a private, one-on-one process between you and a licensed counselor. It is the most frequently requested service at our Newport News location and serves as the entry point for most clients.
People begin individual counseling for many reasons. Some are dealing with a specific event, such as a loss, a breakup or a job change. Others have noticed that anxiety or sadness has become a constant presence. Some are repeating patterns they want to break. Others are not sure what is wrong but know that something needs to shift.
Your counselor will meet with you weekly or biweekly for 50 to 60 minutes. Together, you will identify what you want to work on, set goals and develop a plan. That plan will adjust as you move through the process.
There is no requirement to know exactly what you need before you start. That is part of what therapy helps you figure out.
[Learn more about Individual Counseling]
Couples seek therapy when something between them has changed and they have not been able to fix it on their own. That change might be a specific event like infidelity or a gradual erosion of trust, communication and closeness.
At our Newport News office, couples counseling gives both partners a space to speak, listen and examine the dynamics that are driving the disconnect. Your counselor will not assign blame. Their role is to help both of you see the patterns at play and to give you tools for responding to each other differently.
Sessions involve both partners and are typically held weekly. Your counselor may also schedule brief individual check-ins when it supports the work.
[Learn more about Couples Counseling]
When conflict, change or crisis disrupts a household, family counseling brings members together to address what is happening and to rebuild how the family communicates and functions.
Our Newport News counselors work with families dealing with parent-teen conflict, behavioral concerns in children, divorce, blending households, grief, substance use and the effects of trauma on the family unit. The counselor adjusts the approach based on the ages of the members involved and the specific concerns that brought the family in.
Family therapy is not about singling out one person. It is about looking at the system as a whole and helping every member find their place within it.
[Learn more about Family Counseling]
The counselors at our Newport News office draw from a range of clinical methods. Your counselor will recommend an approach based on your history, your goals and what they observe in session. Below are the modalities available at this location.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT examines the relationship between your thoughts and your emotional responses. It is structured, practical and well-suited for anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia. Your counselor will teach you to identify thought patterns that are contributing to distress and develop strategies to respond differently. [Learn more about CBT]
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT builds skills across four areas: mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. It is designed for clients whose emotions are intense, fast-moving and difficult to control. [Learn more about DBT]
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR helps the brain process memories that are still causing distress. It uses guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to reduce the emotional intensity attached to a specific experience. [Learn more about EMDR]
Brainspotting. Brainspotting accesses stored distress through fixed eye positions. It works at a subcortical level, reaching parts of the brain that talk therapy may not engage directly. [Learn more about Brainspotting]
Somatic Therapy. Somatic approaches focus on the body. Your counselor may guide you to notice tension, breathing changes or physical activation as a way to access and process what your nervous system is holding. [Learn more about Somatic Therapy]
Art Therapy. Art therapy uses creative materials as clinical tools. It does not require any artistic ability. The process of making something with your hands can open channels of expression that conversation alone does not reach. Board-certified art counselors are available at this location. [Learn more about Art Therapy]
Narrative Therapy. Narrative therapy treats you as the authority on your own life and helps you examine the stories that have been shaping how you see yourself. It is reflective, collaborative and grounded in the idea that you are not defined by your problems. [Learn more about Narrative Therapy]
Not all counselors offer every modality. Our scheduling team can match you with a clinician whose training aligns with what you are looking for.
Our Newport News office is located at 11713 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 200, Newport News, VA 23606. The building sits along Jefferson Avenue with direct access from I-64, placing it within a reasonable drive for clients from across the Peninsula.
Hours of operation:
Front Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 8am to 4:30pm and Friday 8am to 12:00.
For Counseling Sessions (by appointment only): Monday through Thursday: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Friday: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM Sunday: Closed
Evening sessions run Monday through Thursday and fill quickly. Saturday morning slots are limited. If those times are important to you, scheduling early gives you the best selection.
Virtual sessions. Telehealth is available with most Newport News counselors. Sessions take place on a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. Your counselor will send a link before each appointment. Telehealth works well for clients whose schedules shift week to week, who are managing health concerns or who prefer the privacy of attending from home.
Parking. The building has a free lot adjacent to the entrance.
Building access. Suite 200 is on the first floor and handicap accessible.
The Newport News office is home to a team of licensed clinicians and supervised residents. Each counselor brings a different set of clinical interests and training. Below is a partial list of the team members who see clients at this location.
Michele Haynam, LPC, NCC, CSAC, CSOTP is a practice owner and Licensed Professional Counselor with certifications in substance abuse counseling and sex offender treatment. She is available at both offices and through telehealth.
Dr. Ben Newman, PhD, LPC, CSAC is a practice owner, Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor with a doctoral background in counseling.
David Furlong, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor who sees clients at the Newport News office and through telehealth.
Rachel Goodwyn, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor available at both the Newport News and Suffolk offices and through telehealth.
Kelsey Norton, LPC, CCTP is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She sees clients at the Newport News office and through telehealth.
Kristina Piercy, LPC, NCC, CSOTP is a Licensed Professional Counselor with national certification and a specialization in sex offender treatment. She is available at the Newport News office and through telehealth.
Courtney Spence, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor who sees clients at the Newport News office and through telehealth.
Lauren Tatro, LPC, ART is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Art Therapist. She is available at the Newport News office for in-person sessions.
Abby Brundage, LCSW, CCTP is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional available at both locations and through telehealth.
Sonia Turner, LMSW, Supervisee in Social Work holds credentials in alcoholism and substance abuse counseling and addiction recovery coaching. She sees clients at the Newport News office and through telehealth.
Jennifer Looney(virtual)
Wanda McInnis (Virtual)
Damien Williams (virtual)
Albie Williams (Virtual)
Aby Shey (Virtual)
Alex Chirila, Resident in Counseling sees clients at the Newport News office and through telehealth.
Brian Mitnick, Resident in Counseling is available at both offices and through telehealth.
Traci Powers, Resident in Counseling sees clients at the Newport News office and through telehealth.
Cierra Wilson, Resident in Counseling sees clients at the Newport News office and through telehealth. This is a good option if cost is a factor in your decision.
Visit our [Counselors] page for full bios. If you have a preference, mention it when you call.
Step 1: Reach out. Call 757.503.2819 or fill out the request form on our [Contact] page. Share your preferences for counselor, format and scheduling.
Step 2: Confirm your coverage. We accept Aetna, Anthem, Sentara, United Healthcare and several Medicaid plans. Self-pay is also an option. Our [Insurance and Payment Information] page has a full breakdown of accepted plans and instructions for verifying benefits.
Step 3: Complete your intake forms. You will receive access to our client portal where you can submit your registration packet and consent documents before your appointment.
Step 4: Attend your first session. There is no preparation needed. Your counselor will use the time to learn about you, hear what brought you in and begin building a plan together.
Our front office team can help you figure out which counselor, service or format makes the most sense for where you are right now.
11713 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 200, Newport News, VA 23606. Free parking is available on site and the suite is easily accessible..
Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Sunday is closed.
Yes, Monday through Thursday. These slots are limited and tend to fill up, so booking in advance is recommended.
Yes. Telehealth is available with most of our Newport News counselors for clients located in Virginia.
Aetna, Anthem, Sentara, United Healthcare and several Medicaid programs. Self-pay and reduced-rate sessions with supervised clinicians are also options. See our [Insurance and Payment Information] page for the full list.
Timing depends on counselor availability and your scheduling flexibility. We prioritize getting new clients in as soon as possible. Being open to multiple days or times helps.
Yes. Let us know who you are interested in when you contact the office. If they are unavailable, we will suggest someone with a similar clinical background.
Yes. Our supervised residents offer sessions at lower rates. They hold graduate degrees and work under the direct oversight of licensed clinicians.
Yes. Our Newport News office is centrally located on the Peninsula and serves clients from Hampton, Yorktown, Poquoson, Williamsburg and surrounding areas.
Call the office as soon as you know. The cancellation policy is provided during your intake process. Please provide 24 hours notice in order to avoid a late cancellation fee.