Virginia Chavez, LPCC, M.S., PPS

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

Virginia and Moose, the Therapy Dog

I am committed to supporting you where you are in your journey, always validating your experiences and encouraging you to be vulnerable. In therapy, you’ll find a safe, non-judgmental space.

As your counselor, I bring real life experience. I know what it means to have responsibilities, challenges, and disappointments in life. I will never shy away from sharing my own experiences to help you in your journey. Above all, I am willing to sit in the “uncomfortable” right alongside you. I will also challenge you to be Self-Led. I will encourage you to go deeper, in order to emerge with a greater understanding of who you are, your strengths and your beauty. In counseling, we can create deeper courage, and a deeper connection within ourselves and with others. Counseling can help you cultivate meaningful change. You will know more confidence, deeper curiosity, and stronger connections in your life.

As an Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed therapist, my goal is to help you HEAL by accessing and healing your protective and wounded inner parts. Together we will create inner and outer CONNECTEDNESS by helping you first access your Self. Learning how to step into a life with confidence, calm, compassion, courage, creativity, clarity, curiosity, and connectedness, and CHOICE. YOU do have choice. You no longer have to live in the life of “shoulding yourself.” The power that comes with being Self-Led is truly transformational.

I am also Certified in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy. We all experience anxiety. And at times, we may need extra support to learn how to lean into that discomfort, (I know, sounds crazy right??). But the more we learn to live with anxiety, welcome the discomfort, the more skillful we will become at responding to anxiety. Isn’t that the whole point? To increase our functioning, live our lives the way WE want, and not be held hostage by the grips of anxiety. I look forward to supporting you on your journey to a fuller and more courageous life.

What my Clients Say

  • " Coming to sessions and being consistent has helped me so much. Others can see a change in me. Therapy has brought me more peace and has helped me focus on what I can control."

  • " I want to thank you. I had never felt anything like that before, Connecting with my inner self. I was so excited to talk about it. I’m excited to continue to learn ways about myself that I never have before. "

  • " I was reflecting on the year and how I'm in such a different head space than last year, both physically and mentally. I feel like for the first time in my entire life I’m not seeking other's approval. It’s a huge shift! "

My Office

My Training & Education

Licensure

  • California Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor #12109

Education

  • Master of Science in Educational Counseling, with an emphasis in School and Family Based Counseling, University of La Verne

  • Pupil Personnel Services Credential; School Counseling Specialty

  • Bachelor of Science in Human Development with a Minor in Education, University of California, Davis

Training/Certifications

  • IFS Online Circle

  • IFS Immersion: Integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) across clinical applications

  • Anxiety Certification: Integrate CBT and Exposure & Response Prevention for Treatment of GAD, Panic Disorder, OCD, Social Anxiety, and Phobias. 

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1 Gottman Couples Therapy

  • Prepare/Enrich Facilitator - Strong Marriages and Healthy Relationships

  • Understanding & Working with LGBTQ+ Youth

  • Empathic Strain and Vicarious Trauma

  • ADHD: Benefits of Time Management

  • Trauma and Compassion Fatigue in the Schools

  • Demystifying Anxiety and Finding Tools to Cope

  • School Consultation and Special Education

  • The Neurobiology of Trauma: Using a Trauma-focused Lens to Support and Intervene with Students

  • The Impact of Suicide on the Family

  • Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation - SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention