About Virginia
Virginia Ballantyne uses a client-centered approach to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and trauma. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW - practicing in California and brings 12 years of experience to her work. Her style is direct and non-judgmental, aimed at helping people find practical steps forward.
She focuses on concrete problems like communication breakdowns, parenting strain, grief, and recovery from addiction. Virginia also supports people navigating sexual identity, gender dysphoria, and concerns tied to HIV or alternative sexual cultures.
Background and approach
She offers a sex-positive space where intimate concerns can be discussed openly. Her methods draw from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy. In sessions she helps people identify unhelpful patterns, test small changes, and practice new coping skills.
She tailors the mix of techniques to each person rather than using a single formula. Virginia has worked in nonprofit and county settings and has long experience with people affected by intimate partner violence, trauma, and growing up around substance use or mental illness. That background informs how she balances safety, practical supports, and emotional work.
She emphasizes each person’s strengths and ability to make choices. Sessions are offered by phone, video, live chat, or text messaging to fit different needs. People start by completing a brief matching questionnaire and scheduling a session based on availability.
Her California license number is CA LCSW 98267.
Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care
Client-centered therapy emphasizes understanding each person's perspective and building on their strengths to set goals and take small steps forward. It is useful for people coping with life changes, relationship struggles, or stress because the conversation centers on what matters most to the person. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing different behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, and problematic coping. It often uses homework and concrete skills practice between sessions. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills when feelings run high or relationships feel chaotic.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to choose techniques that fit the client's goals, needs, and preferences. Together they will try methods, adjust what is not helpful, and build a plan that matches the pace a person can manage.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and skill practice. Phone sessions can be easier when video is not convenient and live chat or text messaging can fit quick check-ins or times when typing feels easier than speaking. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or busy schedules.
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Career difficulties
Also works with
- Addictions
- Adoption and foster care
- Anger management
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Gender dysphoria
- Grief
- HIV / AIDS
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Parenting issues
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Stress, Anxiety
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 12 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English