Psychotherapy
a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator. Althea has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from Southeastern University. In 2006, after spending four years researching mental health disorders in the Quality Improvement Department at the American Psychiatric Association, Althea received a Master of Social Work in Organizational Leadership from George Mason University. Althea’s passion for helping individuals and families go from “Hurt to Healed” aided in her decision to return to George Mason University in 2008 to complete the requirements to become a Clinical Social Worker and specialize in trauma recovery. She has an active psychotherapy private practice in Northern VA.
Althea has experience treating children, adolescents, and adults with diverse backgrounds and ranges of concerns, including anger, substance use/abuse, domestic violence, anxiety, and depression. My career in the mental health field spans more than 18 years in the provision of research and diagnosis, behavioral mental health, and employee assistance services. I use a prescriptive approach to treatment, tailoring interventions to the unique needs of the client. I bring a range of educational, professional, and life experiences to my work as a therapist, clinical supervisor, and mental health consultant.
Today you are one step closer to an emotionally healthy and empowered embarking on a positive path to growth and well-being.
Brighter Day Therapeutic Solutions offers traditional therapy and expressive therapies for children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups. Althea is committed to understanding the needs of clients and assisting them in achieving their personal treatment goals. Behavioral and therapeutic services aim to meet the diverse needs of clients by utilizing approaches that are client-centered, family-focused, and culturally responsive. My goal is to help clients enhance and maintain psychological, behavioral, and social functioning.
It is my commitment to deliver ethical mental/behavioral health services for the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders. Services reflect an ongoing commitment to practical, innovative, measurable results and client empowerment.
Clients may be assured that treatment is based on individual needs, while their personal values are respected. If you are looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation or you’re just ready to move in a new direction in your life, I look forward to working with you to achieve your goals.
Please call or email me for an individual, couples or family therapy consultation today.
(If you are using insurance benefits, you must contact your insurance company to verify your mental health benefits).
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Plans
Employee Assistance Program
Medicare Part B
TriCare
TriWest
Physical Address:
12781 Darby Brook Court, Suite 202
Woodbrridge, VA 22192
Phone:
703-595-6988
Email:
althea.simpson@brighterdaysolutions.net
The overarching goal of the Brighter Day Therapeutic Solutions (BDTS) Trauma services is to help individuals and families go from “Hurt to Healed” in their recovery from abusive and traumatic life experiences. Althea engages in ongoing education and training to stay current on effective treatment approaches for the treatment of trauma.
Trauma therapy services are designed to help individuals and families cope with trauma and its connected emotional and behavioral reactions. A combination of treatment approaches are utilized, such as Play Therapy, NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Brief Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, etc. The client’s needs, however, are the final determinant in choosing a therapeutic approach used to support trauma recovery. Trauma treatment services open the door to communication and normalize the feelings resulting from traumatic experiences. A traumatic experience can be, but is not limited to:
- Death
- Domestic Violence
- Emotional Abuse
- Foster Care
- Homicide
- Physical Abuse
- Rape
- Sexual Abuse
- Suicide
- Witness to Violence
Benefits to seeking help after exposure to a traumatic event:
- Understanding the impact of what has happened to you.
- Find comfort and learning to take care of yourself.
- Learning positive coping and recovery.
- Getting support from others.
Three important things to look for in a psychotherapist:
- The therapist needs to be qualified to do psychotherapy.
- The therapist needs to have specialized training and experience working with trauma survivors.
- You need to feel there is a good fit between your personality and that of the therapist.
