Perimenopause can arrive in the middle of an already full life of caring for others, managing responsibilities, and holding everything together. Anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, overwhelm, changes in your body, and lack of good sleep can leave you exhausted and disconnected. You may be wondering why everything feels harder, why you don’t feel like yourself, or why life doesn’t feel quite right anymore.
Midlife can be disorienting, but it can also allow for greater clarity, authenticity, and growth. What if you didn’t have to just suffer through it? What would it feel like to be informed, supported, and empowered as you move through this season of life?
I primarily work with women navigating perimenopause and midlife, women in their 30s experiencing early changes or wanting to prepare more intentionally for the years ahead, as well as women navigating (post)menopause. I provide individual and group therapy, telehealth only throughout Virginia.
Clients find support with…
- Anxiety, stress, & burnout
- Depression and mood difficulties
- Neurodivergence (early or late diagnosed ADHD, OCD, Autism)
- Life transitions (relationship, career, empty nest, grief and loss)
- Nervous system regulation
- Relationship concerns & communication
- Identity exploration & self-worth/compassion
- Meaning, purpose, & existential questions
- Spirituality
- Trauma, PTSD & adverse experiences
- Chronic illness & other health issues or concerns
- Lifestyle habits
- Personal reinvention & growth
My Approach…
I believe meaningful change happens through relationship and genuine connection, where you feel seen, respected, and welcomed as your whole self. Along with my education and clinical background, I bring curiosity, compassion, honesty, and a nonjudgmental presence while honoring you as the expert on your own life. My approach is collaborative, integrative, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive. Depending on your needs and preferences, I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), strengths-based and positive psychotherapy, feminist and anti-oppressive therapy, insight-oriented and existential therapy, somatic approaches, CBT, and solution-focused work. I may also integrate parts work, narrative therapy, and creative or expressive approaches when they feel appropriate and useful to you.
Background
- Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.), clinical mental health counseling and a Bachelor of Science in political science with a minor in East Asian studies – Old Dominion University.
- Completed Perimenopause Care Certificate from Perry Academy, 2026.
- Research assistant for the Global Issues subdivision of the International Institute for the Advancement of Counseling Theory at ODU. The research project, “An Investigation of South American Perceptions of Counseling Theoretical Frameworks and Indigenous Healing Practices,” has been accepted for presentation at the International Counseling Association’s conference in Montevideo, Uruguay in November 2026.
On the personal side…
Like other women in midlife, I sometimes feel like I’m bumbling through perimenopause and, no less, as a late diagnosed neurodivergent (ADHD) individual. I’ve also had to navigate chronic illness and pain for decades. So, I know what it’s like to be a client working on myself and my own healing, which enriches my work and deepens my empathy as a therapist.
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, biking, reading and learning new things, experiencing different cultures, going to museums, and engaging with the visual and expressive arts. I love dogs and cats, though probably more of a cat person. I’m an animal and nature lover overall, gaining insight from the natural rhythms and ways of being. As for colors, it’s hard to pick my favorite and I gravitate to different ones. My mainstays are dark teal, peach, and various pinks. I have an intermediate level of Spanish, used to be conversational in French, and now learning Dutch.
Contact me direct to schedule an appointment at: kacey@freespiritonline.org or 757-241-4901.
**SPECIAL NOTE Resident Sessions: As a Licensed Resident in Counseling, I am in-network with the following commercial/Medicare plans: Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth, and Sentara Health Plans and the following Medicaid Plans: Aetna Better Health, Anthem Healthkeepers+, Humana Healthy Horizons, Sentara Community Plan, and United Healthcare Community Plan. I am also able to see those not on these insurances for a sliding scale, negotiable fee.
I work directly under the supervision of Clinical Director Dr. Jill Nardin; 757-204-1866 and jill@freespiritonline.org.