EVERYONE is WELCOME
Anderson Counseling Services strives to create an environment that encourages individuals to show up as their authentic selves. Ensuring that our agency exists as a safe space for all people to unpack trauma, heighten self-worth, and embrace new coping skills is vital to our practice. We adhere to the professional values of the American Counseling Association, which advocates the promotion of diversity and supporting all people, regardless of their social and cultural background.
About Us
Anderson Counseling Services was founded in 2004 by agency director Dr. Mike Anderson, Ed.D., LPC, ACS. Our practice is headquartered at 434 Graves Mill Rd. in Lynchburg, Virginia and is a licensed mental health agency that serves the community through in-person and telehealth sessions. We serve the community of Lynchburg, Virginia and the surrounding areas including Bedford County/Forest and Bedford, Amherst County/Amherst Town, Appomattox County/Appomattox Town, and Campbell County/Altavista & Rustburg. Anderson Counseling Services accepts Medicaid and many major health insurances. Please contact the office at (434) 239-2004, ext. 200 or email leia@andersonva.com to explore your options.
In August of 2022, Anderson Counseling Services is looking forward to the expansion of mental health services to the downtown Lynchburg area, which will be based in the Historic Hunton-Randolph Community Center called Propel Counseling. Propel Counseling provides trauma-informed mental health care promoting cultural humility and protective factors that creatively encourages growth, supports emotional regulation, and addresses complex trauma through the use of empirically proven interventions.
Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Supportive Services
We recognize the importance of quality treatment for each and every client that walks through our doors. Our focus is not only on your unique therapeutic goals, but in providing you with a safe, warm, friendly and nurturing environment.
In-person and telehealth services for Individual Psychotherapy and Counseling.
Couples and Marital Therapy.
Mental Health Skill Building for adults (in-home and community based), which focuses on client symptom management, understanding treatment plans, improving social skills, building support systems, and fostering money management skills.
Intensive In-Home for children and teens who are having a mental health crisis and are at risk for out-of-home placement. Services are provided in the client’s home for up to ten hours per week.
Mentoring support for children and teens, providing psychoeducational materials individualized for the individual. Teaching coping skills, emotional regulation skills and prompts for use, and exploring trauma history are some important areas we cover. Services are provided in the client’s home and in the community.
Psychological Testing and Evaluation.
Consultation and Speakers to public & private agencies and educational institutions.
Psychodynamic Therapy and More
Anderson staff uses Psychodynamic Therapy as a primary therapeutic lens. Rooted in traditional psychoanalysis, it draws from attachment, object relations, ego psychology, and self psychology. The therapeutic relationship is a central focus. Psychodynamic therapists help clients find patterns in their emotions, thoughts, and beliefs in order to gain insight into their current self. These patterns are often found to begin in the client’s childhood since psychodynamic theory holds that early life experiences are extremely influential in the psychological development and functioning of an adult. Using psychodynamic therapy, Anderson therapists help people gain insight into their lives and present-day problems by evaluating patterns in emotions, thoughts, and beliefs. Recognizing recurring patterns can help individuals see how they avoid distress or develop defense mechanisms to cope. Awareness and understanding of these patterns allows individuals to begin changing them.
Therapists at Anderson Counseling also use other therapy modalities to help clients develop coping skills. Some of the modalities include:
Cognitive-Behavioral techniques to promote rational thought
Positive Psychology perspectives to assist with the development of self-esteem.
Person-Centered therapy to develop insight.
Solution-Focused approaches to enhance incremental planning.
Reality therapy to encourage responsibility for outcomes.
Motivational Interviewing to initiate the stages of change.
CEO and Clinical Director
Mike Anderson, Ed.D., LPC, ACS
Mike@andersonva.com
Dr. Mike Anderson is the president and agency director of Anderson Counseling Services, a clinical supervisor, a licensed professional counselor (2013) and a member of the Virginia Counselors Association. He has over twenty six years of clinical and administrative experience. Eager to learn better ways to serve clients and colleagues, Mike completed his educational studies in professional counseling at the EdD program of Leadership Studies at the University of Lynchburg, graduating in 2020. During his doctorate research, Mike explored new ways of treating trauma and created the AIM Model. Mike's clinical focus is oriented in psychodynamic theory, human growth and development, and the object relations theory. Mike is also the president of Grow A Future, a 501c3 non profit, whose mission is to transform the culture of the urban family and its community through literacy, enrichment, and wellness focusing on four key areas of literacy-the FACTs: financial, academic, cultural and technology. Mike has been happily married to Matrice for over 20 years and they have a daughter and a son. Mike enjoys reading, classic cars, fitness training and coaching youth sports. Mike credits his achievements to his commitment to his faith and a calling to the helping profession.
Jim Hutchison, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT
jamesrhutchison@andersonva.com
Clinical Training Consultant/Outpatient Counselor
Assistant Administrative Director of Community Mental Health (CMHC) & Rapid Response
Javaughn Colbert, QMHP-A 434-420-3980 javaughn@andersonva.com
Intake Coordinator
Leia Anderson 434-239-2004 ext. 201 leia@andersonva.com
Outpatient Counselors
OUTPATIENT THERAPIST & Outpatient Clinical Program Coordinator - Nicole Adams, MS, LPC
nicoleadams@andersonva.com
CURRENTLY BOOKED
National Board for Certified Counselors
Nicole strives to provide a supportive and understanding environment unique to each client’s needs. She focuses on building a strong rapport with clients in order to promote change in their daily lives. Nicole views counseling as a collaborative relationship between the counselor and client to develop skills and decrease symptoms. Nicole attended the University of Scranton for a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and continued her education there obtaining a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her study of neuroscience helps provide clients with additional insight into the way brain functioning contributes to mental health issues and how parts of the brain can be shaped through consistent behaviors to reduce symptoms. Nicole predominantly works with clients 8 to 40 years of age. She focuses on PTSD, Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, attachment issues, and self-esteem. Nicole utilizes Cognitive Behavioral, Psychodynamic, Person-Centered, and Narrative based therapy techniques through a variety of interventions.
OUTPATIENT THERAPIST & Agency Clinical Services Coordinator - Tyler Yeatts, MA, LPC
tyler@andersonva.com
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
Tyler Yeatts is an LPC, Virginia Board of Counseling #0701013860
Tyler provides a judgment-free space for clients to grow and heal. He enjoys working with all age groups and enjoys clients from diverse backgrounds. Tyler is highly skilled in building rapport and trust with his clients. Ultimately, he believes the purpose of therapy is to empower the client to learn to believe in their full potential. He collaborates with clients to identify and enlist their internal strengths and resources to approach life’s challenges. With the client leading the way, experiences can be explored together resulting in new positive outlooks. Tyler has a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from James Madison University. He utilizes Person Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral and Psychodynamic Therapy. Tyler has experience supporting those with anxiety, depression, and trauma whose symptoms often show up as frustration, anger, isolation, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and overall loss of pleasure in life. He started his career in community mental health working with both children and adults in their homes. Tyler enjoys working with children and helping families move towards healthier relationships. He works to address negative thought patterns and habits while improving self-regulation and daily functioning. He seeks to provide a safe and comfortable environment for his clients to achieve their therapeutic goals. Tyler enjoys going to the movies, playing basketball, working out and spending time with friends.
OUTPATIENT THERAPIST - Tiffany Shaver, MA, LPC-R
tshaver@andersonva.com
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
Tiffany has over five years of experience in the mental health field and has a passion for helping individuals of all ages. Tiffany also has over fifteen years of experience working with children and teenagers in different capacities, and together we can overcome obstacles and create a brighter future filled with resilience and happiness. She offers a unique perspective and a tailored approach to address a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety, relationship conflicts, trauma, addiction, and more.
Tiffany utilizes various therapeutic methods such as CBT, DBT, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Insight Oriented, Psychodynamic, Play therapy, and Family Systems approaches to help clients reach and achieve their best self. She prioritizes radical genuineness, acceptance, validation, and being non-judgmental while she practices. No matter what challenges you are facing, whether it's depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress, trauma/abuse, addictions, mood dysregulation, or any other obstacles, she is here to walk alongside you on your journey towards healing and growth. She is dedicated to providing compassionate support and guidance.
She believes that everyone strives for safety and healthy connections with others. As a therapist, her approach is systemic, which means that she considers clients' lives and the problems they present in therapy through a biopsychosocial lens. This means she takes into account their mind, body, and relationships, and how all of these things affect each other. Her goal is to help her clients find safety, establish healthy relationships, overcome obstacles, and work through and process trauma. She is here to support her clients in maintaining and establishing stability in their life and mental health. Together, you can work on establishing healthy boundaries, regulating emotions, staying in the moment, and creating and practicing healthy coping strategies and techniques. She provides a safe space where clients feel comfortable sharing their traumas or simply having a place to sit without having to say anything.
She is a Resident in Counseling with a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and two Bachelor's degrees in Christian Counseling and Crisis Counseling. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. She understands the challenges of mental health and the importance and difficulty of reaching out and asking for help.
If you have a spiritual component to your life and would like a Biblical approach, including prayer, she can incorporate that into the sessions, upon request if you are comfortable with it.
OUTPATIENT THERAPIST - Samantha Taylor, MA, LPC-R
samanthataylor@andersonva.com
Samantha practices using unconditional positive regard for her clients in order to facilitate a safe environment for healing and growth. Samantha began working in the field of community mental health, working with children and adult clients in their homes. As an outpatient therapist, Samantha primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and as needed incorporates approaches from Motivational Interviewing, Person Centered Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Mindfulness, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Samantha works with individuals with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, neurodivergent diagnoses (i.e. ADHD, ASD), addiction, stress, trauma/abuse, mood dysregulation, and grief/loss. Samantha collaborates with her clients to find what works best for them and guide them along the path to their goals.
Samantha is a Licensed Resident in Counseling within the Commonwealth of Virginia. She received her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University, and is currently pursuing licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
In her free time, Samantha enjoys watching TV/movies, riding horses, hiking, swimming, paddle sports, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.
