**BOOKING NOW** for Openings starting 1/5/26 – Available Online: Mon., Weds. & Thurs. (daytime, after-school & evening!) – Contact Brian (below) to get scheduled!
Brian is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia specializing in trauma-informed, structured counseling for adults. His work centers on helping individuals understand their emotional patterns, improve stress and emotion regulation, and build resilience so they can thrive rather than merely survive. His passion for counseling grew from his interest in human adaptation to stress and his commitment to supporting people in strengthening their internal foundations for long-term wellbeing.
Clinical Focus Areas
Brian provides individual and couples’ counseling to adults ages 18 and up. His specializes in helping professionals navigating high-stress, high-pressure careers. He also supports clients facing self-esteem concerns, work/life imbalance, stress and burnout, mood dysregulation, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD.
Counseling Approaches
Brian takes a collaborative, strengths-based approach rooted in building clarity, emotional regulation skills, and resilience for life beyond the counseling process. He integrates evidence-based techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-informed therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and somatic awareness practices to help clients develop insight, increase self-regulation, and create sustainable change.
Professional Philosophy
From Brian’s perspective: “I believe counseling is most effective when it brings clarity, collaboration, and practical skills to the process of change. Each person carries unique strengths and patterns, shaped by their life experiences. My role is to help you better understand what happening internally so you can navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence, resilience, and direction. The goal of therapy is not just symptom reduction, it’s a about strengthening your own internal foundation so you can live in alignment with your values and goals.”
Professional Experience
Brian brings over 16 years of professional mental health experience, including in outpatient and crisis settings. He helps individuals stabilize quickly, understand their emotional responses, and build resilience over time. Prior to becoming a counselor, Brian worked in first-responder roles, where he saw firsthand how stress and trauma affect identity, relationships, and long-term mental health. This experience continues to shape his thoughtful, structured approach to helping others.
Educational Background
Brian earned his Master of Science in Education in Counseling from Old Dominion University, a CACREP-Accredited program. He has completed post-Masters coursework in Counseling at Liberty University. His undergraduate degree is a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Sciences from Old Dominion University. In addition he completed numerous certification and continuing education courses relating to trauma-informed counseling, integrative mental health therapy, compassion fatigue and burnout, and counseling ethics.
Fun Facts About Brian
- Brian is passionate about men’s health, physical challenges that explore both mental and physical resilience, and supporting community causes that help create a better world for everyone.
- He also loves spending quality time with his spouse, children, and dogs, traveling, learning about historical facts, endurance running, drumming, playing sports, attending concerts, and attending sporting events.
- He trained in mixed martial arts and is a big supporter of self-defense training.
- His favorite color is dependent on the day. It is often blue, but green and yellow also hold strong and become the favorite for a moment every once in a while.
- His favorite music artists currently include Dream Theatre, Motionless in White, Nothing More, and Tesla.
- The background you see in Brian’s photo is from our office “The Voyage” here at Free Spirit.
Contact Brian direct to schedule an appointment at: brian@freespiritonline.org or call: 757-347-0450.
**Information on Sessions: Brian is able to see client for a a self-pay cash fee and is processing for the following insurance plans: Aetna (Commercial), Anthem (Commercial), Cigna/Evernorth, Optum/UBH/UHC (Commercial) and Sentara Health Plans (Commercial & EAP).