Telehealth

Telehealth Counseling in Virginia

Artisan Counseling offers telehealth sessions with licensed counselors and supervised residents for clients located anywhere in Virginia. If getting to an office is not realistic for you right now, or if you simply prefer the flexibility of attending from home, virtual counseling provides the same level of clinical care through a secure video platform.

Our telehealth-only counselors maintain full caseloads through virtual sessions exclusively. They are not filling gaps between in-person appointments. This is how they practice, and they have built their clinical work around making virtual therapy effective, consistent and personal.

Who Telehealth Counseling Is For

Virtual therapy works well for a wide range of clients and situations. You may prefer telehealth if:

  • You live in a part of Virginia that is not close to our Newport News or Suffolk offices
  • Your work schedule, caregiving responsibilities or health make it difficult to travel to an appointment
  • You are a parent with young children at home and limited childcare options
  • You feel more comfortable speaking openly from a familiar environment
  • You travel frequently and need a consistent therapy schedule regardless of location
  • You are a college student attending school in Virginia and want ongoing support
  • You have a physical disability or chronic condition that makes office visits difficult
  • You tried in-person therapy in the past and found that the logistics got in the way of consistency

Telehealth is not a lesser version of therapy. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology has found that outcomes for telehealth counseling are comparable to those for in-person sessions across anxiety, depression, trauma and other concerns. What matters most is the quality of the therapeutic relationship and your willingness to engage in the process.

How Telehealth Sessions Work

Telehealth sessions at Artisan Counseling are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. Here is what the process looks like.

Scheduling. You schedule your appointment the same way you would for an in-person session, by calling our office at 757.503.2819 or submitting a request through our [Contact] page.

Before your session. Your counselor will send you a link to access the video session. You will need a device with a camera, a microphone and a stable internet connection. A private, quiet space where you will not be interrupted is recommended.

During your session. Sessions are 50 to 60 minutes, the same as in-person appointments. Your counselor will use the same clinical methods, treatment planning and documentation standards that apply to all sessions at our practice.

Between sessions. Your counselor may suggest exercises, reflections or practices to try between appointments, just as they would in an office setting.

Intake and paperwork. All intake forms, consent documents and registration materials are completed through our client portal before your first session. You do not need to visit the office at any point in the process.

What Telehealth Counseling Can Address

Our telehealth counselors work with the same range of concerns addressed in our offices. These include:

  • Anxiety and worry
  • Depression and low mood
  • Trauma and post-trauma responses
  • Grief and loss
  • Stress management
  • Life transitions
  • Relationship patterns
  • Self-esteem and identity
  • Substance use concerns
  • Adjustment to parenthood
  • LGBTQIA2S+ affirming care
  • Art therapy (adapted for virtual sessions with accessible materials)

Certain modalities, including CBT, DBT, ACT, narrative therapy, compassion focused therapy, IFS, motivational interviewing and person-centered approaches, translate directly to a telehealth format. Other modalities such as EMDR and brainspotting can also be adapted for virtual delivery, and several of our telehealth counselors are trained to do so.

If you are unsure about whether your specific concern can be addressed through telehealth, contact our office and we will help you determine the best fit.

Meet Our Telehealth Counselors

The following counselors see clients exclusively through telehealth. Each brings their own clinical background, areas of focus and therapeutic style.

Wanda McInnis, LPC

Pronouns: She/Her Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor Education: Master of Arts, Regent University. Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Regent University.

Wanda provides a safe, nonjudgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts, emotions and lived experiences. She works with clients on relationship concerns, life transitions, stress, anxiety and trauma. Wanda is a trauma-informed clinician whose approach is integrative, drawing from person-centered, cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral methods. She has extensive experience supporting clients healing from sexual assault, domestic violence and other forms of trauma.

Areas of focus: Trauma, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, life transitions, domestic violence recovery, sexual assault recovery

Approaches used: Person-Centered Therapy, CBT, DBT, Strength-Based, Trauma-Informed

Abigail “Albie” Williams, LPC, ATR-BC, CSAC

Pronouns: They/Them Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Certified Registered Art Therapist, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Education: Art Therapy and Counseling (M.S.), Eastern Virginia Medical School. Political Science (B.A.), Old Dominion University.

Albie brings more than a decade of clinical experience to their work with individuals, adolescents and families. They specialize in anxiety, depression, adjustment stress and trauma, with a deep commitment to LGBTQIA2S+ affirming care and support for clients with intersecting identities. Albie integrates talk therapy with expressive and creative interventions and is trained in Compassion Focused Therapy, DBT, Feminist Theory and Internal Family Systems. They are particularly focused on supporting emerging adults, students, individuals exploring gender identity and those seeking gender-affirming care.

Beyond their clinical work, Albie co-leads a community-building creative art peer support group for LGBTQ+ adults and has facilitated clinical training and peer consultation groups.

Areas of focus: Anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQIA2S+ affirming care, gender-affirming support, identity exploration, substance use, art therapy, emerging adults

Approaches used: Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), DBT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Feminist Theory, Art Therapy, Strength-Based

Damian Tucker, LPC, CSAC

Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Education: Coming soon.

Damian is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. Additional information about his clinical approach and background will be available soon.

Areas of focus: Substance use counseling, general mental health

Ady Shea, LCSW

Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker Education: Human Services Counseling (MSW), Boston University. Psychology (B.S.), University of Evansville.

Ady is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with graduate training in human services counseling and an undergraduate background in psychology. Additional information about her clinical approach and areas of focus will be available soon.

Jennifer Looney, Resident in Counseling

Pronouns: She/Her Credentials: Resident in Counseling (supervised by a licensed clinician) Education: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.A.), Liberty University.

Jennifer works with clients experiencing anxiety, depression and the overlapping symptoms that can interfere with daily functioning. Her goal is to help clients identify the sources of their distress and build the tools to manage stressors more effectively. Jennifer uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients examine their thinking patterns from a different perspective, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to support clients in aligning their actions with their values. She provides a supportive, nonjudgmental space for clients to express themselves without fear.

As a resident in counseling, Jennifer provides services at a reduced rate under the supervision of a licensed professional at Artisan Counseling.

Areas of focus: Anxiety, depression, stress management, life transitions, values-based living

Approaches used: CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Insurance and Payment

Telehealth sessions are billed the same as in-person sessions. We accept all major insurance providers, including Aetna, Anthem, Sentara, United Healthcare and several Medicaid plans. Self-pay is also available.

Sessions with Jennifer Looney, as a resident in counseling, are offered at a reduced rate.

For a full list of accepted insurance plans and instructions on verifying your benefits, visit our [Insurance and Payment Information] page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to live near Newport News or Suffolk to use telehealth?

No. Telehealth is available to any client who is physically located in Virginia at the time of their session. You do not need to live near either of our offices.

Research supports telehealth as comparable to in-person therapy for most concerns. The quality of the therapeutic relationship and your engagement in the process are the primary factors that influence outcomes, regardless of format.
A device with a camera and microphone (laptop, tablet or smartphone), a stable internet connection and a private space where you can speak freely without interruption.
Sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. Your counselor will send you a link before each appointment.
If you are working with a telehealth-only counselor, your sessions will remain virtual. If you decide you want in-person sessions, our office can help you transition to a counselor who sees clients at our Newport News or Suffolk location.

Yes. Albie Williams offers art therapy in a virtual format using materials that are accessible and easy to find at home. No prior art experience is needed.

Your counselor will attempt to reconnect with you. If the connection cannot be restored, they will contact you to reschedule or complete the session by phone if both of you agree.

Yes. Jennifer Looney is a resident in counseling and offers telehealth sessions at a lower rate. Contact our office for current pricing.