About Kathryn
Kathryn Shumate is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Virginia with four decades of experience. She helps people who are facing addiction, grief, trauma, and LGBTQ-related concerns. Her work focuses on practical support and steady guidance during hard times.
She creates an open, nonjudgmental space where clients can speak honestly about difficult feelings. Conversations are paced to the person's readiness, and the goal is to find workable steps forward. Kathryn emphasizes listening first, then helping clients decide what changes matter most to them.
Background and approach
Her approach is grounded in client-centered therapy, so sessions center on each person's needs and values. She encourages self-compassion and clearer communication as tools for healing. For people coping with loss or post-traumatic stress, she offers steady support and practical coping strategies.
Kathryn also addresses caregiver stress, communication problems, and issues around forgiveness and self-love. She aims to help people rebuild routines, set boundaries, and regain confidence after difficult experiences. Her style is calm and straightforward, with attention to everyday struggles.
Sessions are offered in English and Kathryn accepts international clients. People who prefer a thoughtful listener who helps them make realistic plans often find her approach useful. To begin, she guides clients through simple next steps so progress can start at a manageable pace.
Client-centered care through online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening closely to each person and following their lead. The therapist prioritizes understanding your experience without judgement and helps you decide what changes feel most important. This approach is useful for grief, healing from trauma, self-worth issues, and making sense of life transitions.In practice, the therapist will work with you to find what feels helpful rather than imposing a set plan. Figuring out the right combination of conversation, practical exercises, and pacing is a collaborative process. She will partner with you to tailor the approach to your goals and preferences.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy easier to fit into daily life. Video helps with face-to-face conversation and reading nonverbal cues. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging offer shorter exchanges for quick support or between-session contact. These options give flexibility for different schedules, energy levels, and tech needs while keeping the focus on the therapeutic relationship and the work you want to do together.
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What this counselor works with
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Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 40 years
- Licensed
- Virginia
- Languages
- English