FAQ
Where are you located?
We are currently located in the offices of Christ Episcopal Church, just off Charlottesville’s downtown mall, on First Street. We see clients here in our offices or online, depending on client preference.
How much does therapy cost? Do you take insurance?
Our therapists charge the market rate for services ($100-$150 for a 50 minute session). While we do not currently accept insurance, we are able to send you an invoice or “superbill” to file with your insurance company for reimbursement.
What’s your specialty? Do you have a model of therapy?
We see clients for a variety of issues, including but not limited to anxiety and stress, depression and loneliness, trauma, marital and family conflict, grief and other painful life transitions, and more.
Our therapy model is first and foremost relationship-based. Our focus in sessions, both in content and through the therapy experience itself, is in developing a relationship with clients that feels honest, compassionate, and committed. Because of this focus, our therapists are experienced in working with attachment issues, relational trauma, and family dynamics.
How long will therapy last?
Because our clinical model emphasizes relationships rather than solutions, we believe in the significance of establishing a trusting relationship with your therapist. This makes for lasting change, but it takes time. We find that it generally takes at least six months and often longer to address in depth any issue you might be facing. Of course, along the way, we will check in with you to get your sense of the process, and it is ultimately up to you to measure the success of therapy.
I see you’re connected to a church. Is this Christian counseling?
The Downtown Counseling Center stems from the mission of Christ Episcopal Church to love people, aligning with the church’s understanding that “we love because God first loved us.”
That being said, this is not “Christian counseling.” Our therapists may be coming from a Christian framework, but they are also professional clinicians approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia to provide mental health services. They understand that everyone has a spiritual life worthy of respect, and they do not push Christian doctrine in therapy, nor prescribe unsolicited spiritual advice.
We welcome anyone who reaches out for help, regardless of their relationship to church and/or faith.
Besides therapy, what else is the Downtown Counseling Center doing?
In the coming years, we hope to provide mental health education opportunities for a wide array of communities in this area. Parenting courses, trauma seminars, classes on burnout, emotional intelligence, relationship building, the list goes on. These will be public offerings, accessible for the wider UVA and Charlottesville community.
We also plan on partnering with local agencies and communities who work with populations in need of mental health support. These agencies, while providing important support for at-risk populations, may see the mental health needs but have no expertise to address it. Especially in these communities, the need surpasses what help is currently offered by the community services board or other low-cost mental health clinics who are either overbooked or overworked. The Downtown Counseling Center plans to have the capacity, funding, and personnel to make these efforts more sustainable.
How do I get started?
Fill out the form on our contact page, and someone will be in touch with you within 24-48 hours to set up a time for a brief intake call with one of our clinicians. From there, we’ll be able to point you in the right direction, whether that’s setting you up with a therapist here or a resource elsewhere.