Brenda Atkinson

Experienced LCSW focused on lasting growth

LCSW, CSW Virginia

Experience: 31 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages: English

About Brenda

Brenda Atkinson is a licensed clinical social worker with more than three decades of practice helping people navigate mood disorders, trauma, and major life transitions.

Background and approach

She brings a foundation in psychology and social work from the University of Louisville, paired with long experience addressing depression, anxiety, grief, relationship and family concerns, addiction, and career-related stress. Brenda emphasizes emotional and spiritual growth across stages of life including early adulthood, middle age, and later life.

Her clinical stance balances compassion with structure: she adapts to each person's needs while drawing on methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), attachment-based work, client-centered techniques, dialectical behavior therapy, and emotionally-focused interventions. Brenda prioritizes an authentic therapist-client relationship and aims to create a space that supports self-exploration, coping skill development, and practical problem-solving.

With credentials as an LCSW and CSW and a Virginia practice, she offers a steady, experienced presence for those seeking sustained therapeutic support.

How Brenda's Approaches Translate to Online Care

Brenda commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and attachment-based approaches in her work. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression and to build practical coping skills. Attachment-based therapy explores patterns in close relationships, helping clients understand how early bonds influence current relationship dynamics and emotional responses.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Brenda works with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences, and she tailors interventions over time rather than prescribing a single method from the start. This collaborative stance helps clients feel engaged in planning their care and adjusting strategies as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Brenda is offered through multiple formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which makes it easier to fit sessions into busy lives or when in-person meetings are not practical. These options support flexibility in pacing, frequency, and the ways people communicate, allowing therapy to be more accessible while still grounded in evidence-informed methods and an experienced therapeutic presence.

Frequently asked questions

What types of concerns does Brenda address in therapy?

She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family challenges, addictions, grief, intimacy concerns, parenting and career-related problems.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style blends genuine, client-centered listening with structured approaches such as CBT and DBT, along with attachment and emotionally-focused work tailored to each person's goals.

What is her background and experience?

Brenda has 31 years of clinical experience and extensive work supporting individuals through mood disorders, life transitions, and relational issues.

What credentials and location should I know about?

She is licensed as LCSW and holds CSW credentials with practice based in Virginia under GA LCSW CSW004649 and VA LCSW 0904015906.

Which languages are available for sessions and can she see international clients?

Sessions are provided in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats does she offer?

Available formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are fees and payment handled for sessions?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What is the process for beginning therapy with her?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Depression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobias Post-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

31+ years

Licensed

Georgia, Virginia

Languages

English