Hi! My name is Charnelle Cook and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia with seven years of experience in the private practice setting. I attended Virginia Commonwealth University for undergrad and I earned my Masters of Arts in Counseling from George Washington University in 2016. I believe that all clients should be treated as individuals, but I would consider myself a strengths-based therapist; encouraging my clients to focus on the positives in their lives and the things that are going well for them and not on the things that are not going so well for them. I also utilize CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) techniques when working with clients because I believe that when we are able to change our thinking, we are on the way to making changes in our lives. I believe that autonomy is important for clients when in therapy and take a person-centered approach, allowing my clients to lead their sessions with me. I believe that therapy is powerful and I love to help people work through their life challenges. Choosing to seek counseling services is a big decision to make, and I applaud you for making the first step in becoming the best version of yourself! If you send me a message during the day, I will try my best to respond within a few hours. I will respond to any messages received after 6pm on Fridays on Monday morning. In addition to sending me messages in your counseling room, you are also able to book live sessions with me by visiting my schedule and picking a time that works for you. Please remember that BetterHelp is not appropriate if you are in crisis or in immediate need of support. In crisis situations, please call 911 or local emergency services. You can also call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to someone right away! I look forward to working with you!