Lawrence Matheny, LPC, LMFT

Lawrence Matheny is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Virginia. He brings 34 years of clinical experience and a long career that includes psychiatric hospital work and community mental health and substance misuse settings. He emphasizes straightforward, respectful care and believes people bring strengths they can use to change their lives.

He has a background in pastoral ministry and holds a master’s degree in Counseling and a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry. That experience informs an ability to discuss faith and values when those matters matter to the person seeking help. He has worked with people facing depression, anxiety, addiction, relationship and parenting strain, trauma, grief, and mood disorders.

Sessions focus on practical steps and clear goals. He uses methods that center the person’s own perspective while teaching skills to manage thoughts and behavior. Therapy can include talking through painful memories, learning new coping patterns, or finding small changes that lead to better days.

He mentions particular interest in aging and geriatric issues, caregiver stress, and the needs of people navigating long-term or complex life changes. That interest is part of a broader practice that includes work on self-esteem, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress.

People who choose to work together complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions. The therapist practices in Virginia and conducts work in English.

How these approaches shape online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters most to the person. The therapist follows the person’s lead, helps clarify goals, and supports choices rooted in the person’s values and experience.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to change thinking and behavior patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, or mood problems. CBT often includes short exercises and homework to practice new ways of responding between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped in the past, then recommend a mix of methods tailored to those needs. That collaborative planning is meant to make sessions focused and useful.

Online therapy can help fit counseling into a busy life by reducing travel time and making it easier to schedule regular sessions. It also lets people keep appointments during times when leaving home would be difficult, and it can support shorter check-ins when a full session isn’t needed. Because session formats are not specified here, confirm current session options before booking to ensure they meet your needs.