A young woman with long brown hair smiling, wearing a blue floral shirt, standing against a stone wall.

Hi, I’m Catherine!

Owner & Therapist | inner strength counseling, LLC

LPC, LCPC, LMHC

Licensed in Virginia, Maryland, Oregon, & Florida

Hi, I’m Catherine! I provide individual, trauma-informed, and strengths-based therapy for young adults and millennials who often feel like the ‘black sheep’ of the family/friend group and are trying to make sense of their eating disorder, anxiety, relationship struggles, and obsessive thinking. My approach is person-centered — which is therapist-speak for: this is your space. You set the pace and bring what matters most to you, and I’ll bring curiosity, compassion, and a few well-timed reality checks! I pull from several therapy models, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Narrative Therapy, as well as a healthy dose of humor, and your own interests and strengths to help you build confidence, face uncomfortable emotions, and build and foster healthy relationships that actually feel good (not just “look” good).

Let’s be real — life can be messy! I became a therapist because I’ve lived some of that mess myself. My own experiences with an eating disorder, toxic relationships, and an overachieving, perfectionistic brain taught me how hard it can be to quiet that inner critic and feel at home in your own skin. That’s why I show up as my full self in therapy: a professional, yes, but also a human who gets it. I don’t believe in “fixing” people — because, honestly, you’re not broken! I believe in helping you reconnect with the parts of you that are strong, funny, resourceful, and just waiting to breathe again.

In our sessions, expect honesty, warmth, and some humor — because sometimes we need to cut through the bullshit to get to the good stuff! Therapy with me is collaborative and grounded, but it doesn’t have to feel heavy every time. We’ll talk about the hard things, laugh when we can, and work toward helping you feel more grounded, confident, and connected to who you really are — not the version of you that anxiety or perfectionism says you should be.

Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia: #0701013988

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland: #LC15856

Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon: #C9912

Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida (Telehealth only): TPMC5419

Let's Get Started!
A white bowl filled with various green and purple succulents of different shapes and sizes.

my Experience

    • Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia

    • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland

    • Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon

    • Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida

  • I completed my graduate internship working at an eating disorder treatment facility with teens and young adults. From there, I began practicing in private practice in 2020 and opened my own practice in October 2022.

    I work with people across demographics and mental health challenges; however, my specialty is helping people living with eating disorders, anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and people-pleasing tendencies to learn how to work with their anxiety, rather than against it, to accomplish their goals.

    I also have a passion for helping individuals who have experienced relationship trauma (toxicity, narcissistic behaviors, etc.), as these can often lead to increased anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, insecurity, and disordered eating.

  • I completed my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Christopher Newport University. During my time at CNU, I began researching the impacts of social media on various mental health challenges, including eating disorders and anxiety.

    I then earned my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University, where I began my clinical experience working with teens and young adults living with eating disorders. I held individual sessions with clients, as well as created and ran multiple therapy groups related to body image, emotion regulation, and helping teens building life skills through the recovery process.

  • National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)

    American Counseling Association (ACA)

    Chi Sigma Iota - Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International

  • Brainz Magazine Executive Contributor/Writer

    Co-author of multiple books, including My Mess is My Message II, Focus on the Magic, I’m So Glad You Left Me, and Broken Trust, Healing Hearts

    Interviewed for Business Innovators Radio

  • Brainz 500 Global Award Recipient

Let’s Chat!

Book a free 15-minute phone call with me.

Schedule a free consultation