Virginia Ballantyne , LCSW

If this is an emergency, contact 9-1-1.

Virginia Ballantyne is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a clinician trained to provide psychotherapy and support, licensed in California as CA LCSW 98267. She identifies as a bi-racial woman and uses she/her pronouns. Virginia brings a humanistic, strengths-based perspective to her work and emphasizes collaboration and respect for each person s right to self-determination.

Her clinical focus includes supporting people who have experienced intimate partner violence, trauma and PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as well as those who were affected by a family member s substance use or mental illness during childhood. She offers a sex-positive and LGBTQ+ affirming practice where discussions about sexual identity, sexual desires, and intimacy can take place without judgment.

Virginia has training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy, and she tailors her approach to fit each person s background and goals. Her counseling style is nonjudgmental and eclectic, drawing on client-centered principles to help people access their own strengths and develop practical skills for managing stressors. She has years of experience working with disadvantaged populations in non-profit and county settings and values social justice and authenticity in clinical work.

She generally checks messages several times per day and responds as promptly as possible. Virginia is currently accepting new clients who reside in California and is available for sessions by phone, video, or live chat. She welcomes people ready to begin the work of change and growth.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Virginia combines client-centered therapy with evidence-based techniques to support change and growth. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration so people can explore their values and build on existing strengths; it is helpful for relationship concerns, identity questions, and coping with life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress, and developing practical strategies to shift those patterns and improve daily functioning.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for regulating intense emotions, tolerating distress, and improving interpersonal effectiveness, which can be beneficial for people struggling with strong reactivity or relationship challenges. The choice of approach is collaborative - the therapist will work with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences rather than applying a single model to everyone.

Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging makes it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and reach care from different locations. Licensed professionals can adapt these approaches to remote formats, offering flexibility in how and when sessions occur so clients can engage in therapy in ways that work best for them.