Online Therapy for Couples in Virginia Beach & throughout Virginia
You want to thrive in your relationship and not just cope. Don’t we all deserve love like that?
Rhonda Ladd, PhD, LPC
I get it.
You have the same arguments over and over again. You’re tired of walking on eggshells. It seems so difficult and memories of the ease you used to feel are dim, almost like a dream. You miss that place of rest, refuge, connection, passion, and fun.
You’ve tried to figure out how to change things. You’ve searched for solutions, maybe read the books and blogs, but you need someone with expertise to help you.
If we could just communicate better…
After 25+ years of helping couples, I consistently find that communication or relationship skills only bring temporary relief (if any) and most distressed couples have difficulty implementing the skills when they are most needed. Instead, I focus where lasting change can occur: the hot spots causing distress, hurt, confusion, conflict, and emotional devastation to come alive. This is the place where we can interrupt and disempower the negative patterns. You will then be able to engage in new skills that bring you into a more loving, passionate, connected, and lasting dance with your partner.
I’m Dr. Ladd.
Here to meet you with empathy, compassion & expertise.
The couples I work with come from a variety of backgrounds - married (or not), newlyweds to golden anniversary, civilian and military, and diverse cultures and ethnicities. Across lived experiences, they all desire a safe, supportive, and close connection with their partners.
Together, we can identify the roots of your disconnection and begin to create positive lasting change. I can provide you with the support, expertise, and a process to transform your relationship.
Whether you are here wondering if your relationship is going to work, feeling an impact from changes life brings (even the happy ones), or proactively seeking support before you commit to one another, I’ll take the time to understand what is happening in your relationship, the concerns each of you have, and help you craft a roadmap to the life and relationship you desire.
Couples Counseling
EFT Couple Intensives
Premarital Counseling
What is it like to work with me ?
While I am an expert on relationships, you are the expert on your life and how you experience it. My work with you will be collaborative and you will be supported and understood for who you really are. Your engagement and feedback in this process is invaluable. I am not perfect and may miss the mark at times. I will help you to feel safe in letting me know when something is not quite right, or could be better.
My clients have described me as warm, authentic, and fully engaged. They report feeling safe and heard, even when the process feels challenging. They feel that I slow down intentionally to ensure that I understand and respect their perspective. They perceive that I am able to gain a clear picture of each person’s lived experience and even hear the unspoken fears and desires of their heart between the lines.
Ultimately, you will find that my heart is truly in this work and I am committed to seeing your heart find a safe place to heal.
Why I do this work
I became aware of challenges in marriage and family relationships in my teens. I didn’t have the language yet to understand what was happening, but my emotions understood; I could see and feel the fear, depression, and disconnect. As I entered my first internship over 25 years ago, at least 75% of my clients were couples and I began to see how life changes when relational wounds are allowed to be opened and healed.
These experiences, along with my own marriage, have made me empathetic for my clients’ experiences and highly invested in quality care and competency far exceeding what is typical. Beyond the PhD and license, I have completed hundreds of hours of continuing education, consultation, and supervision. My growth edge is sharpest as I regularly seek feedback from fellow EFT clinicians, enabling me to develop new perspectives on your relationship and catch my blind spots.
Counselor.
Supervisor.
Counselor Educator.
My Background
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Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia & Pennsylvania
Ph.D. Counselor Education & Supervision (2011)
M.A. Community Counseling (1998)
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I’m trained in a variety of therapy methods, allowing me to tailor my approach to your unique goals and needs. These include:
Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFCT), Individuals (EFiT), & Families (EFFT).
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
Gottman Couples Therapy
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