Kathryn Shumate , LPC

Kathryn Shumate is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Virginia with 40 years of professional experience. She focuses on helping people navigate addictions, LGBTQ+ related concerns, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and the many challenges that come with life changes. Using a client-centered approach, she aims to build an open, nonjudgmental space where clients can express thoughts and feelings honestly and be heard.

Kathryn encourages clients to recognize the courage it takes to seek change and to take initial steps toward a more satisfying life. She works to empower individuals through supportive collaboration and practical coping strategies. In addition to her primary specialties, she attends to caregiver stress, communication difficulties, issues of forgiveness, post-traumatic stress, self-love, and women's concerns.

Her practice emphasizes respect for each person s pace and priorities, and she partners with clients to identify goals that feel meaningful and achievable. Kathryn s longstanding experience offers a steady, compassionate presence for those ready to explore healing and personal growth.

Client-Centered Care Online and Therapeutic Options

Client-Centered Therapy places the person seeking help at the center of the process, emphasizing empathy, acceptance, and the client s own strengths. This approach involves active listening and reflection to help individuals explore feelings about addiction, trauma, grief, or relationship challenges, and supports clients in making choices that align with their values and goals.

Kathryn s use of a client-focused stance means the therapeutic path is shaped by each client s needs rather than a rigid program. Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process - licensed professionals and therapists work together with the client to determine techniques and pace that best fit the client s goals and preferences.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people balancing work, caregiving, or geographic constraints. Video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging allow clients to engage in therapy in ways that suit their schedules and communication styles. These options can make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to access regular support while working toward personal change.