Danville, VA Local Support & Community Resources

Changing Lives Therapeutic Service is committed to delivering the highest quality clinical support to help individuals achieve their fullest potentials. They serve a diverse clientele that includes children, adolescents, adults, seniors, and the LGBTQ community. The team is made up of highly qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors and Licensed Clinical Social Workers, who provide both community-based and remote counseling options. Individual counseling offers a unique opportunity for clients to receive tailored support to address a range of personal challenges, including anger, anxiety, depression, substance use, relationship difficulties, parenting issues, behavioral concerns, and academic struggles. Therapy sessions can be structured to meet individual needs, potentially occurring up to twice a week. Changing Lives Therapeutic Service is guided by core principles that emphasize compassion, acceptance, respect, empowerment, and sincerity in every interaction, ensuring that each person's journey toward healing is recognized and valued.

Karen Cotta is a dedicated Clinical Social Worker and Therapist with a passion for supporting children and families as they navigate through challenging circumstances. With expertise in areas such as foster care, grief and loss, gender and sexual identity issues, past abuse, depression, and anxiety, she is well-equipped to help individuals cope and thrive. Karen's extensive experience includes working with individuals with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries, allowing her to tailor her therapeutic approach to meet the unique needs of each client. Her background in Music Therapy and the creative arts enables her to employ diverse therapeutic methods to help clients identify, express, and manage their feelings. Additionally, she incorporates mindfulness strategies, self-compassion techniques, and play therapy into her sessions. As a trained EMDR practitioner and a Certified Havening Techniques® Practitioner, Karen is committed to fostering resilience and growth in her clients. Recognizing that life presents many challenges, she believes in the importance of having someone to talk to during difficult times. Karen is ready to provide the support and guidance needed to help individuals find their path to healing.

Shelby Kaitlin Vaughan is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with a profound passion for supporting individuals facing challenges such as depression, anxiety, past abuse, familial issues, and sexual and gender identity concerns. Shelby brings a wealth of experience working with individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as those with developmental delays and intellectual disabilities, skillfully adapting her approach to meet clients where they are in their journey. With a solid background in assisting children, adolescents, and young adults grappling with various mental health issues, she is committed to fostering understanding and healing. As a proud member of the LGBTQA+ community, Shelby finds joy in working with and uplifting others from diverse sexual orientations, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and non-binary individuals. She firmly believes that life is meant to be lived fully, not merely endured, and emphasizes that it's perfectly okay to seek help when needed.