Virginia Hagen , LMHC

Virginia Hagen is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in Florida with 35 years of professional experience supporting people through depression, stress, anxiety, family conflict, grief and loss, and eating disorders. She also brings a long career in nursing to her work - she was a registered nurse for 50 years and is now retired from that role - and has worked across a broad range of mental health settings, including inpatient and outpatient care.

For a decade she maintained a private practice in Crystal River, Florida, and she has extensive experience working with families and children with special needs and ADHD. Her work has often involved custody matters, and she has testified in court on behalf of children. In addition to clinical practice, she offers Christian counseling informed by formal theological study. At age 60 she returned to school at Asbury Theological Seminary and earned a Certificate in Christian Studies (30 credits) in 2019. She was ordained by the Federation of Christian Ministers in 2019 and served as a hospital chaplain intern during one semester of Clinical Pastoral Education at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida.

Virginia strives to create an open, nonjudgmental environment where thoughts and feelings can be safely expressed. She integrates a variety of resources and practical skills aimed at empowering clients to use what they learn for the long term. She notes meaningful professional moments, including attending a retreat in Assisi, Italy in October 2025 to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi - an experience she found inspirational. Virginia acknowledges the courage it takes to begin therapy and expresses pride in those who take that first step.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns of connection and trust that form in relationships. It helps clients explore how past and present attachments shape emotional responses and relationship difficulties, making it useful for intimacy, abandonment, and family issues.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathic listening and collaboration. The therapist offers acceptance and support while helping clients identify their own goals and build self-trust, which can be especially helpful for self-esteem, life transitions, and decision-making.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to recognize and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with difficult life situations.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work itself. Virginia collaborates with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress is made and new issues emerge.

Online therapy offers flexibility and access through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity of care during life changes, and stay connected with licensed professionals and therapists from wherever the client is located in Florida.