Virginia Ballantyne , LCSW

If this is an emergency, call 9-1-1. She generally checks messages here a few times per day and will respond as quickly as she can. Virginia A. Ballantyne is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW (CA LCSW 98267) who draws on more than a decade of clinical experience to support people navigating trauma, relationship challenges, addiction, and major life changes.

She identifies as a biracial woman and uses she/her pronouns. Her work focuses on intimate partner violence, trauma and PTSD, anxiety and depression, and the effects of growing up with family members who struggled with substance use or mental illness. She practices from a strengths-based, client-centered perspective that emphasizes each person’s capacity to find their own solutions and move toward improved wellbeing.

Virginia has formal training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy, and blends these methods to fit each individual’s background and needs. She creates a sex-positive space where questions about sexual intimacy, identity, and desire can be discussed without judgment, and she affirms LGBTQ+ identities while advocating for social justice and self-determination.

With extensive experience in non-profit and county services, she brings empathy and practical skills to help clients build coping strategies, improve communication, and address family and caregiving stresses. She offers sessions by phone, video, or live chat and welcomes those ready to begin therapeutic work.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Virginia brings together client-centered therapy and evidence-informed skills-based methods to support people in online sessions. Client-centered therapy focuses on the person’s strengths and values - the therapist listens, reflects, and collaborates so the client’s own goals guide the work. This approach is helpful for building self-understanding and resilience when facing life transitions or relationship concerns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps identify patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to anxiety, depression, or stress, and teaches practical strategies to shift those patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially useful for trauma-related difficulties, anger, or relationship conflict.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative part of therapy. Virginia tailors methods to each person’s needs, preferences, and goals, and works with clients to adjust strategies as progress unfolds. Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging provide flexibility for busy schedules, reduce travel time, and make it easier to access consistent support from licensed professionals and therapists regardless of location within the state.