Professional Counseling
We are all about Connection! As a group private practice, Counseling Connect provides mental health and wellness services for a wide range of issues and for clients of all ages and backgrounds. We strive to match clients with a therapist that is the best fit for their needs and we build relationships to help people realize positive change.
We provide in-person counseling in Christiansburg, VA. Telehealth is available for Virginia residents, including live video sessions and text-based therapy via secure messaging. Service contracts are available for individuals or employers to purchase therapy sessions in bulk.
Our Treatment Focus
Our counselors work from a wellness perspective, a holistic, strength-based, and client-centered approach. We will give you a safe space to process your thoughts and feelings, and help you gain insight to empower you to make positive changes in your life. We will collaborate with you on a customized treatment plan and support you in reaching your full potential. We can help you heal from your pain, achieve your personal goals, and become the person you want to be.
Community Service & Social Justice
Counseling Connect is committed to advocating for positive social change and diversity inclusion. To further this goal, we are working on several community service projects, including an initiative to promote wellness in the workplace, a suicide prevention group, and a support group that facilitates friendship to help people overcome social anxiety and loneliness. We liaise with other counseling practices to pool our resources and offer seminars to businesses that want to improve the well-being of their employees.
Connect on the New
In collaboration with Nesselrod on the New, Counseling Connect presents a monthly networking event called "Connect on the New" to foster relationships with other professionals and businesses in our community. Attendees have an opportunity to mingle, exchange referrals, and discuss ways that we can help each other and our community. We will also provide brief presentations of our upcoming service projects and invite speakers to share their talents with us.
This event is held on the first Thursday of the month 4-6 PM. It is hosted by Nesselrod on the New. Check out their beautiful venue: https://nesselrodonthenew.com/#welcome
Supervision & Mentorship
Our practice is founded on a mentorship model. It is designed to nurture the professional development of pre-licensed clinicians and give them opportunities for growth during their residency and before they become independently licensed. Clinical supervision is provided by Rae Burgess, Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Supervisor.
Meet Your Therapist
Rae Burgess, LPC, LCMHC, Clinical Supervisor
Rae is the owner of Counseling Connect, PLLC. She is licensed to practice counseling in Virginia and North Carolina. She is an Approved Supervisor with the Virginia Board of Counseling. She provides individual therapy for adults and clinical supervision for pre-licensed professionals.
Rae has 15 years of experience in the counseling field. She has post-graduate training in Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy and a retired therapy dog, who worked as her co-counselor for many years. She specializes in helping people with trauma, addiction, depression, and anxiety. As an Adlerian therapist, her approach to counseling is strength-based, attachment-focused and person-centered, emphasizing emotional validation, self-acceptance, healthy relationships, and positive thinking.
Email: rae@counseling-connect.com
Call: (540) 315-1445
Anda Ben Senior, MS, Resident in Counseling
Anda brings a balance of empathy and action to her counseling approach. She builds a strong working alliance with her clients, while implementing a mixture of cognitive, behavioral, and dialectical interventions to help you reach your goals. When you're ready for a change, you will want to work with Anda!
Anda combines Mindfulness strategies with a Cognitive Behavioral approach to therapy. She works with adults and helps her clients remove the barriers to self-acceptance and make healthy choices, so that they can lead a fulfilling and self-directed life. By building a strong client-counselor relationship, she will work with you to understand the origin of your issues and learn new ways to solve problems. When you feel lost or stuck, therapy is the best starting point for drawing a new and improved road map-- and Anda can help you get on track!
Counseling Connect is developing a support group with the goal of facilitating friendships for adults to help them overcome social anxiety and loneliness. Anda is the primary clinician for this group.
Email: anda@counseling-connect.com
Call: (540) 391-0579
Lindsay Caldwell, MS Counseling & Human Development
Lindsay is bright, warm, and uplifting, which makes her a fitting therapist for clients of all ages. She specializes in working with people, who identify as LGBTQ+ and treating issues related to depression, self-harm, and suicidality. If you're hurting, you are not alone-- ask Lindsay for help!
Lindsay believes that change is possible for everyone! She builds trust and understanding in the client-counselor relationship to help people reach their full potential. Through her Person-Centered approach, Lindsay gives her clients power over their own care. Clients set their own goals, determine what they want out of the experience and explore their feelings, beliefs, and values in a non-judgmental space. She will collaborate with you, so that you can learn how to cope with current and future problems!
Counseling Connect is developing a suicide prevention group to help those struggling with depression and hopelessness. Lindsay is the primary clinician for this group, called We Are Hope.
See our blog for more details!
Email: lindsay@counseling-connect.com
Call: (540) 391-0251
Amanda Pentiah, MA, Resident in Counseling
Amanda is an expert on couples and family counseling. Her emotion-focused approach fosters connection and self-confidence to spur individual growth and meaningful relationships. If you're facing a challenging issue or life transition, Amanda is here for you.
Her goal as a counselor is to provide the support you need to cope with challenging emotions and gain insight about yourself to create lasting positive change. Amanda utilizes Emotion-Focused Therapy to help individuals, couples, and families to learn positive thinking styles and emotional validation. She reserves appointments for couples on Saturdays as part of a series called Coffee with Couples.
Amanda will be presenting a seminar on Health & Wellness, based on the Health At Every Size approach, which is designed to promote sustainable habits for physical and emotional health.
See our blog for more details!
Email: amanda@counseling-connect.com
Call: (540) 315-7404
Elle Ryan, BS, Mental Health Counseling Intern
Elle is working at Counseling Connect for her internship, as part of her graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Emory & Henry College. She is an old soul with a big heart! Eager to take on new challenges and expand her empathy, Elle is on your side and prepared to see you through your journey of growth and healing.
Elle has experience providing mental health and addiction recovery services for children, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in helping clients, who identify as LGBTQ+, survivors of sexual violence, and people with anxiety, neurodivergence, and personality disorders. Her approach is grounded in Person-Centered and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She uses mindfulness techniques and strength-based interventions, tailored to your needs, while teaching you effective coping and stress management skills to improve your overall well-being. She works with clients on a sliding scale ($30-80) per session.
Email: elle@counseling-connect.com
Call: (540) 315-1445