Areas served: Lexington, VA and surrounding Rockbridge County
Lexington's mental health landscape includes both independent practitioners and providers affiliated with Rockbridge Area Community Services and Carilion Clinic's local presence. The community of approximately 7,000 residents is served by licensed clinical social workers, psychologists, and counselors offering individual therapy, family counseling, and specialized treatment modalities. Many providers serve both Washington and Lee University students and the broader Rockbridge County population, with some offering teletherapy to improve access in this rural setting.
Rockbridge Area Health Center is a Patient-Centered Medical Home offering comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral health services to the Lexington and Buena Vista communities. As a non-profit HRSA-supported health center, they serve patients regardless of income or insurance status with a sliding fee discount program and have earned top 30% Health Center Quality Leader recognition nationally. Their integrated, team-based care approach and multiple access points—including school-based clinics and mobile units—make quality healthcare accessible to the whole community.
Kelland Psychological Services, LLC is led by Dr. Chad Kelland, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in psychological assessment, individual psychotherapy, and couples counseling. Dr. Kelland uses a relationship-centered approach emphasizing trust and connection, integrating talk therapy with creative modalities like music, art, and mindfulness to address issues ranging from trauma and ADHD to relationship difficulties and life transitions. He serves clients across ages and backgrounds with both in-person and telehealth options, accepting major insurance and offering sliding-scale fees.
Molly Adams Counseling is a private practice in Lexington, VA specializing in individual psychotherapy for adults using a humanistic, psychodynamic approach combined with somatic experiencing techniques. Licensed Professional Counselor Molly Adams works with professionals, academics, and creatives experiencing anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, and life transitions, focusing on mind-body reconnection and healing. Currently not accepting new clients as of the listing date, but accepting inquiries for future availability.
Glenn R. Sullivan, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist running an independent practice in Lexington, Virginia, specializing in psychological assessment, forensic evaluation, and individual psychotherapy. With extensive expertise in treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD—and a background that includes a postdoctoral residency in post-deployment mental health at the VA—Dr. Sullivan combines clinical practice with academic work as an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Virginia Military Institute. He also provides consultation to physicians, attorneys, law enforcement, and other professionals.
Karmen Massie is a mental health professional based in Lexington, VA, offering therapy and counseling services from a downtown location. With a 5-star rating, she is dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized mental health support to her clients.
Carilion Clinic Outpatient Therapy in Lexington provides physical therapy services as part of the Carilion Clinic health system. Located at 1 Health Circle, this facility offers evidence-based rehabilitation and therapeutic services to help patients recover from injuries, surgery, and other conditions affecting mobility and function.
Compass Behavioral Group is a statewide behavioral health agency serving Virginia since 2004, specializing in evidence-based and trauma-informed therapies for youth, adults, and families. With 21 locations across Virginia, they provide comprehensive services including ABA therapy, intensive in-home support, multisystemic therapy, and outpatient mental health services. Their team of qualified professionals addresses mental health diagnoses, autism spectrum disorder, and complex behavioral health needs with a focus on stabilization and family support.
Well+Being Counseling is a trauma-informed private practice in Lexington, VA offering individual counseling for ages 16+ with a focus on anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, grief, and relational challenges. Led by Licensed Professional Counselor Sarah Hagenbuch and Resident-in-Counseling Gina, the practice specializes in EMDR therapy and person-centered, compassionate care tailored to each client's healing journey. They prioritize accessibility through reduced-fee appointments, Superbill support for insurance reimbursement, and free 15-minute consultations.
Rockbridge Area Community Services (RACSB) is a comprehensive mental health provider in Lexington, VA offering therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and 24-hour crisis intervention. They specialize in treating mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and supporting individuals with developmental disabilities through personalized, coordinated care plans.
Lexington Psychological Services is an independent practice led by Glenn R. Sullivan, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized expertise in psychological assessment, forensic evaluation, and trauma treatment. Dr. Sullivan brings extensive training in evidence-based treatment of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, complemented by his role as an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Virginia Military Institute. His practice offers individual psychotherapy, cognitive testing, and personality assessment for adults navigating mental health challenges, life transitions, and trauma recovery.
The Evans House is a mental health facility located in downtown Lexington, VA, providing therapeutic services and support to individuals in the Rockbridge County area. With a perfect 5-star rating from its community, this business is dedicated to delivering compassionate mental health care in an accessible local setting.
Rockbridge Wellness Group is a therapy practice in Lexington, VA (with an additional location in St. Johnsbury, VT) specializing in trauma healing through humanistic and somatic therapies. Led by Dr. Jennifer Keith, the practice focuses on building connection and processing experiences using relational therapy, Ego State Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients heal from trauma and move forward in their lives.
Kentucky Counseling Center ranks #1 in Lexington with a Lantern Score of 92/100 and 4.5 stars from 379 reviews. As one of Kentucky's largest mental health providers with over 100 licensed therapists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, they offer comprehensive services including therapy, medication management, and telehealth options. They're particularly well-suited for adults with anxiety or depression, teens struggling with school stress, couples navigating relationship challenges, and Medicaid recipients needing accessible care.
Kentucky Counseling Center offers extensive weekend availability with hours from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM both Saturday and Sunday. Kelland Psychological Services also offers limited Saturday hours from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Most other providers in Lexington operate on weekday schedules, making these two options particularly valuable for individuals who need therapy outside traditional business hours.
Rockbridge Area Health Center (ranked #2, 4.7 stars, 222 reviews) is a non-profit Patient-Centered Medical Home specifically serving uninsured, underinsured, and low-income families. Lexington Mental Health (ranked #9) is a state-funded community mental health center dedicated to serving Lexington County residents with affordable counseling and crisis intervention. Both facilities offer sliding scale fees and are designed to help patients who might otherwise avoid care due to cost.
Va Mental Health Clinic (ranked #8, 5 stars) is part of the Lexington VA Health Care System and provides comprehensive behavioral health services exclusively to veterans, including PTSD treatment, depression and anxiety care, and support for homeless veterans. Glenn R. Sullivan, PHD (ranked #11) also specializes in working with veterans and active-duty service members, offering PTSD treatment, trauma therapy, and forensic psychological assessments.
MindWell Mental Healthcare of Kentucky LLC (ranked #4, 5 stars, 19 reviews) specializes in comprehensive mental health evaluations and medication management via telehealth. Hopeful Horizons Behavioral Health (ranked #6, 5 stars) is led by board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Bruner and focuses on medication management for ADHD, treatment-resistant depression, and anxiety. Kentucky Counseling Center (ranked #1) also employs psychiatric nurse practitioners who can provide both therapy and psychiatry medication management in a coordinated approach.
Rockbridge Area Health Center (ranked #2, 4.7 stars, 222 reviews) is a comprehensive Patient-Centered Medical Home offering integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health services. Their behavioral health services are coordinated with medical care, making them ideal for patients needing whole-person treatment. As a non-profit HRSA-funded health center, they prioritize serving uninsured, underinsured, and low-income families in the Lexington and Buena Vista communities.
This depends on the severity and nature of your symptoms. Therapy (talk therapy) is highly effective for processing emotions, developing coping strategies, addressing relationship issues, and working through trauma or grief. Medication management becomes important when symptoms significantly interfere with daily functioning, when there's a diagnosed condition like major depression or bipolar disorder, or when therapy alone hasn't provided sufficient relief. Many people benefit from a combined approach—therapy to develop skills and process experiences, plus medication to manage neurochemical imbalances. Providers like Kentucky Counseling Center and Lexington Counseling & Psychiatry offer both services, allowing for coordinated care and the flexibility to adjust your treatment plan as your needs evolve.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs or DOs) who can prescribe medication and typically focus on medication management and diagnosis of mental health conditions. Psychologists hold doctoral degrees (PhD or PsyD) and specialize in psychotherapy and psychological testing/assessment, but cannot prescribe medication in most states. Licensed counselors (LPC, LPCC) and clinical social workers (LCSW) have master's degrees and provide talk therapy for a wide range of mental health concerns. Psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are advanced practice nurses who can diagnose conditions and prescribe medication. Your choice depends on your needs—if you think medication might help, start with a psychiatrist or PMHNP; for therapy-focused treatment, any licensed therapist can be effective; for psychological testing, seek out a psychologist.
Your first session, often called an intake or assessment, typically lasts 50-90 minutes and focuses on gathering information. Your therapist will ask about what brought you to therapy, your current symptoms and concerns, relevant personal and family history, past mental health treatment, medications, and your goals for therapy. This is also your opportunity to ask questions about their approach, experience, and what to expect going forward. Many people feel nervous before their first appointment—that's completely normal. Remember that therapists are trained to create a safe, non-judgmental space, and you can share only what feels comfortable. After the intake, your therapist will typically recommend a treatment approach and frequency of sessions. Building trust takes time, so give yourself a few sessions to determine if the therapist is a good fit for you.
The timeline varies significantly based on your concerns, goals, and the type of therapy. Some people notice improvements within 4-6 sessions, especially for specific issues like developing coping strategies for anxiety or working through a particular life transition. More complex concerns like trauma, deeply rooted relationship patterns, or personality issues may require several months to years of consistent work. Research suggests that about 50% of people show significant improvement after 8 sessions, and about 75% benefit by 6 months of weekly therapy. However, therapy isn't always linear—you may have breakthroughs followed by plateaus. Regular communication with your therapist about your progress helps ensure you're on track and allows for adjustments to your treatment plan as needed.
Research conducted especially since 2020 has shown that telehealth therapy is equally effective as in-person therapy for most mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and relationship issues. The key factors in therapy effectiveness—the therapeutic relationship, consistent attendance, and evidence-based techniques—translate well to video platforms. Telehealth offers significant advantages including eliminating travel time, increasing access for people in rural areas or with mobility limitations, and offering more scheduling flexibility. Some situations may benefit more from in-person care, such as severe mental health crises, certain types of play therapy with children, or if you lack a private, quiet space for video sessions. Providers like Kentucky Counseling Center and MindWell Mental Healthcare offer robust telehealth options for Lexington residents.
The most research-supported therapies for trauma and PTSD include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy. EMDR, offered by providers like Rockbridge Wellness Group, uses bilateral stimulation to help process traumatic memories. Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is particularly effective for children and adolescents. Somatic experiencing and body-based therapies address how trauma is stored in the body and nervous system—approaches used by providers like Molly Adams Counseling and Well+Being Counseling. Many trauma specialists also incorporate mindfulness, grounding techniques, and nervous system regulation. The most important factor is finding a trauma-informed therapist who creates a safe environment and moves at your pace, as feeling re-traumatized during treatment can be counterproductive.
Several Lexington providers explicitly advertise LGBTQIA+ affirming care. Hopeful Horizons Behavioral Health specifically mentions serving LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking affirming care, while Kelland Psychological Services highlights work with LGBTQ+ clients, and Well+Being Counseling emphasizes serving LGBTQIA+ clients in their practice description. When seeking affirming care, look for providers who explicitly state they welcome LGBTQIA+ clients, have training in gender and sexuality issues, and use inclusive language on their websites. During your initial contact, you can ask directly about their experience working with LGBTQIA+ clients, their approach to gender-affirming care, and whether they're knowledgeable about issues specific to your identity. Finding a therapist who truly understands and affirms your identity can make a significant difference in the effectiveness and comfort of your therapy experience.
These terms are often used interchangeably, though some practitioners make subtle distinctions. Marriage counseling traditionally focused specifically on married couples and often had a goal of preserving the marriage. Couples therapy is a broader term that includes any committed relationship (married, engaged, dating, cohabiting, same-sex, polyamorous) and recognizes that sometimes the healthiest outcome might be conscious uncoupling rather than staying together. Modern relationship therapy, offered by providers like Lexington Counseling & Psychiatry and Turning Point Mental Health Services, typically addresses communication patterns, conflict resolution, intimacy issues, trust and betrayal, life transitions, and helping couples decide whether to stay together or separate. The most important factor isn't the label but finding a therapist trained in evidence-based couples approaches like Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) or the Gottman Method who creates a safe space for both partners.
Consider discussing medication when symptoms significantly interfere with your daily functioning—such as difficulty getting out of bed, completing work tasks, maintaining relationships, or taking care of basic self-care. Medication may be appropriate if you've tried therapy and lifestyle changes without sufficient improvement, if you have moderate to severe symptoms, if you have a family history of mental health conditions that responded well to medication, or if your symptoms include significant sleep or appetite changes, concentration problems, or thoughts of self-harm. It's not an either-or decision—combining medication with therapy is often more effective than either alone. Providers like MindWell Mental Healthcare and Hopeful Horizons Behavioral Health specialize in medication management, while Kentucky Counseling Center offers both therapy and psychiatry, allowing for coordinated care. A comprehensive evaluation with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner can help determine whether medication is right for your situation.