Tara is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia with over fifteen years of experience working in various therapeutic settings. She completed her Masters of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lynchburg College in 2012 and received a Bachelor's of Science degree from Liberty University in 2007. 

 

Throughout the years, Tara has sought out specialized training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to address traumatic life events of children through young adults, and  is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to address a variety of presenting problems. These include processing traumatic life events, addressing problematic core beliefs which negatively impact daily life functioning, and instilling positive adaptive beliefs and methods of coping. 

 

Tara has also received specialized training in Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (ACRA) as well as skills training in the ASAM model (American Society of Addiction Medicine) to treat substance abuse issues with her clients. 

 

Other clinical interests include exploration of the connection between physical and mental health, and exploring the benefits of physical activity in decreasing anxiety and depression. She takes an individualized, person centered approach in working with children, adolescents, and adults in individual or group therapy settings.