Poythress Mitchell , LPC

Poythress Mitchell is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) based in Virginia with 27 years of experience in the mental health field. She has worked across diverse treatment settings including residential programs, case management, outpatient care, in-home services, and addiction treatment, bringing a broad understanding of clinical situations to her work.

Her practice blends experience and clinical training to support individuals and families in pursuing healing and greater wellbeing. She approaches therapy with compassion, directness, and a non-judgmental stance, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere where clients can explore goals and make meaningful changes. Her services include evaluation of mental stressors and substance use concerns, goal identification, teaching coping strategies for stress management, and developing and implementing individualized treatment plans.

Poythress holds a Master of Arts (MA) from Norfolk State University and maintains certifications in substance use counseling, including Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and Certified Advance Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC). She is also a Human Service Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) and has training in Contemporary Theory in Couple and Family Systems. These qualifications inform her work with issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, grief, anger management, stress, addictions, relationship challenges, parenting concerns, and other life transitions.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Poythress Mitchell draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and EMDR to address a range of concerns in online sessions. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating a supportive, empathetic environment where the client’s priorities guide the work - this approach is useful for building self-esteem, processing life transitions, and strengthening relationships. CBT helps identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns through practical skills and homework, and is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping challenges. EMDR uses structured processing techniques to help reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories and can be effective for trauma and PTSD when appropriate.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. She works with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences, and together they decide which methods to try and how to adapt them for online delivery. This collaborative stance helps ensure the approach fits the individual.

Online therapy offers flexibility with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing clients to access licensed professionals from different locations and to choose formats that match their schedules and comfort. These options support consistent engagement in therapy while accommodating busy lives and varying communication styles.