Virginia Ballantyne
LCSW
California
Practical, strengths-based therapy for real life
Continue with VirginiaAt a glance
- Credentials
- LCSW
- License
- LCSW, California / 98267
- NPI
- 1932509064
- Experience
- 12 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- California
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
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- Motivational Interviewing
- LGBTQ+ affirming
- Phone video chat
About Virginia
Virginia Ballantyne is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who centers sessions on the person in front of her. She uses Motivational Interviewing and other approaches to help people find their own reasons to change. Her style is direct but warm, and she focuses on practical steps people can try between sessions.
She often works with people coping with trauma, intimate partner violence, anxiety, depression, and addiction. She also supports those dealing with relationship strain, parenting stress, grief, and career or life transitions. Virginia creates a sex positive, LGBTQ+ affirming space where issues of sexual identity and intimacy can be discussed without judgment.
Her approach blends Client-Centered Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques when useful. She draws on Narrative Therapy and a humanistic perspective to help clients tell their stories and find new meaning. Sessions emphasize strengths and real-world strategies that fit a person’s life.
Virginia has about 12 years of experience working in nonprofit and county settings with disadvantaged populations. That background informs her focus on social justice and respect for each person’s right to self-determination. She aims to build a collaborative relationship and to help people develop concrete coping skills.
She practices in California and sees people by phone, video, or live chat. To begin, readers can use the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire to schedule based on availability.
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How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Motivational Interviewing focuses on open conversation that helps people find their own motivation to change. It uses reflective listening and gentle questions to clarify goals and build commitment, which can help with addictions, ambivalence about change, and lifestyle shifts.
Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's experience and respects their pace. The therapist listens without judgment and follows the client's lead, which can support people facing depression, identity questions, or relationship concerns.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thought and behavior and teaches practical strategies to shift them. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress management through exercises and between-session practice.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That process may combine elements from different approaches to meet changing needs.
Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life. Because this therapist offers phone, video, and live chat, clients can choose what works for them; please confirm current session options before booking. These formats let people meet from different locations, shorten commute time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce technical demands like high-speed video when voice or text is sufficient. -
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Adoption and foster careBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesGender dysphoriaHIV / AIDSJealousyMoney and financial issuesMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Sexual assault and abuseSexualityWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issuesTherapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Motivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyExperience
12+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Virginia address?
She helps people with trauma and intimate partner violence, anxiety and depression, addictions, relationship problems, parenting stress, grief, career shifts, and many related issues.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is non-judgmental and strengths-based. She uses collaborative conversation and practical skills so clients can try changes between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has 12 years of clinical experience, including work in nonprofit and county services with disadvantaged populations.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW - practicing in California.
Which languages are supported and can international clients book?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered?
The biography indicates sessions are available by phone, video, or live chat. Confirm current session options before booking.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
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Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers