Clinical Staff

Profession: Psychotherapist

Practice Description: Anne Aja, Ed.D. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been providing psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, marriage, family and sex therapy since 1982. Dr. Aja is a partner at Rock Landing Psychological Group.

Practice Specialties or interests: Dr. Aja works with individuals, couples and families. She is an AASECT certified sex therapist and is certified by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Dr. Aja provides a full range of psychotherapy services to include:

Helping individuals heal wounds from the past and achieve a stronger sense of self or identity

Empowering individuals to create the life they want for themselves

Hypnosis as a means to expedite change

Helping couples create more intimacy and passion in their lives

Sex Therapy to deal with the problems of sexual functioning, low desire, sexual identity, sexual addiction, painful sex or the lack of sexual confidence.

Ages treated: Adults and some adolescents under special circumstances

Session Format: Individual, Couple and Family

Treatment Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal, Developmental, Hypnotherapy and Sex Therapy

Demographic Specialties: Dr. Aja works with individuals and couples of all races and sexual orientations.

Education:

Temple University BS 1969

Syracuse University MS 1975

College of William and Mary Ed.D. 1982

License:

Licensed Professional Counselor

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Links:

Psychology Today Therapy Directory

Profession: Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Practice Description: I am licensed to practice psychology independently in Virginia, a Certified Christian Life Coach, Certified Christian Therapist and hold a Certificate of Proficiency in the Treatment of Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders.

I use my clinical skills to empower and improve the mental/emotional well being of my clients so that they can live happier, healthier and more productive lives.

Therapeutic approach includes: Supportive Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Client Centered Therapy.

Practice interests/specialties include: Stress/Anxiety, Parenting, Women’s Issues, Depression, Anger Management, Self Esteem Issues, Substance Abuse/Use.

Ages treated: adults (30 years and up)

Education: I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology from Virginia State College and graduate degree in Clinical Psychology from Pennsylvania State University. I have provided clinical services to populations in various settings including: corrections, outpatient and inpatient for 25 + years. In addition to direct service, I have provided workshops, trainings and taught on the graduate level.

Profession: Licensed Professional Counselor

Practice Description: Dr. Fenighson has 21 years of experience as a counselor and a family life educator with York County Public and Poquoson City Schools.

Specialties/special interests: Stress and stress related issues, Relationship problems, Depression and Anxiety, Sexual orientation, Career changes, Self-esteem, Life transitions, and Family conflicts

Ages treated: Age 15 and above

Session Format: 55 minutes

Treatment Approaches: Humanistic and Behavioral

Demographic Specialties: Open to all

Education: College of William and Mary Ed.D. 1982

Fulbright Scholar England and Japan

License: Licensed Professional Counselor

Profession: Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Practice Description:  Cara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who treats a wide variety of issues, including anxiety and mood disorders, relationship difficulties, sleep issues and insomnia, adjustment problems and life transitions, stress management, family conflict, and communication difficulties.

Cara entered this field in order to enrich the daily lives of people, to help them develop more satisfying interpersonal relationships, assist them with the obstacles they face in life, and guide them toward making the changes they desire to accomplish their goals.  She has diversified experience, working with people of all ages, from a variety of cultural backgrounds and currently treats a broad population of clients, including adolescents, adults, individuals, families, couples, and parents.   Cara has a special interest in working with the young adult population.

Cara utilizes a client-centered treatment approach that is suited to each client’s specific needs.   By helping to determine a client’s motivation for change in their lives, a unique treatment approach is developed.  Cara offers a supportive and encouraging environment in which treatment takes place.  Her style incorporates skill building, prioritization, development of insight, and is supportive and accommodating.

Ages Treated:  Adults and Adolescents 18+

Session Format: Individual, Couples, Family

Treatment Approaches: Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral, Solution-Focused, Mindfulness, Supportive

Education:

The American University, BA in Psychology, 2001

New York University, MSW, 2008

License: Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Profession:  Psychiatry

Practice Specialties:  Dr. Jafri provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management to adolescents and adults.  Dr. Jafri specializes in the treatment of Mood Disorders, Depression, Anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Dr. Jafri has a particular interest in therapy based approaches and Psychodynamic Therapy.

Ages treated:  Adolescents and Adults

Session Format:  Psychiatric Evaluation and Medical Management

Profession: Psychotherapy/ Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Practice Description: Ms. Mills-Desroches has more than 25 years of experience working with individuals, families and groups. She has provided therapy to clients in medical, in-patient, out-patient, residential and in-home settings.

Specialties/Interests: Mood Disorders, Depression, Anger Management, Anxiety, Stress Management, Trauma and Abuse, Behavioral & Emotional problems in children and adolescents, ADHD, Parenting, Self Esteem, Grief and Loss, Aging

Treatment Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Ages Treated: Age 5 to seniors

Session Format: Individual and Family Therapy

Demographis Specialties: Persons of all nationalities, colors, faiths, and LGBTQ friendly.

Education:

Christopher Newport University B.A. 1993
Virginia Commonwealth University M.S.W. 1994

License: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Member of the National Association of Social Workers

Profession: Psychotherapist

Practice Description: Kristyn joins Rock Landing Psychological Group with diversified experiences, having been a Mental Health Practitioner in multiple Clinical settings in the Tidewater area for quite some time. She has worked within a Behavioral Sciences Acute Care Hospital setting, in local Community Services Boards providing Therapeutic Day Treatment Programs, Private Residential Settings, Intensive In-Home Agencies, has Supervised QMHP’s in Community Mental and Rehabilitative Services, oversaw ARTS/Substance Use Disorders services, and worked in a Managed Care Organizations. Most importantly, Kristyn has been providing Outpatient Psychotherapeutic Services to Individuals, Couples, and Families for nearly 30 years. She also has provided Group therapy where groups were either Processing of Emotions and/or Opportunities for Education in areas such as Self Esteem, Anger Management and Coping with Chronic Pain related to Fibromyalgia.

Practice Specialties: Expertise include utilizing brief, structured interventions and therapeutic approaches in which to begin to build insight and to explore new perspectives to enhance the healing process. (CBT, DBT, Trauma Informed Treatment, Relaxation Techniques, Rogerian and Erik Erikson’s Developmental Crisis) It is hoped that in working together, within a supportive environment and within a non-judgmental partnership with patients, exploring improved coping on issues such as Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma and Abuse, Grief, Acute Stress, PTSD, Mood Disorders, Thought Disorders, Women’s Issues, Men’s Issues, Military Life Contentions, Occupational Distress, New Mother Concerns, Blended Families and LBGTQ matters, progress, resolution, self-awareness and triumph will prevail.

Ages Treated: Young Adults (aged 16 and up) to 116.

Session Format: Individual, Couple and Family Therapy

Education: I received both my Bachelor’s Degree (1991) and my Master’s Degree (1993) in Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University. I have been Board Certified by the Virginia Department of Health Professions to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1997.

Profession: Licensed Professional Counselor

Practice Description:  Dr. Supler was a teacher before becoming a therapist, so her philosophy embraces teaching clients about the connections between their emotional symptoms and their behavior, feelings and thoughts.  Her goal is to give clients the tools they need to manage their emotional stress effectively.

Therapeutic Approach:  Dr. Supler uses a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, psycho-education, trauma processing techniques (including EMDR), and anxiety reduction/relaxation strategies to resolve emotional symptoms, then teaches coping and relaxation strategies that can be used to deal with future events.

Practice Specialties or Interests:  Anxiety Disorders, Alcohol and Drug Abuse/Dependence; Compulsive Disorders & OCD; Depression; Grief; Life Changes; Marital Conflict; PTSD/Trauma; and Stress-related Disorders.

Ages Treated:  Adolescents 18 and above; Adults
Demographic Specialties:  All

Education:
University of Virginia, Ph.D. in Counselor Education, 1996
University of Virginia, M.Ed. in Special Education, 1986
University of Virginia, BA in English, 1982

License:
Licensed Professional Counselor

Practice Description:  Dr. Wessells trained in individual and family psychotherapy.  He is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.  He is also a clinical member of the American Psychological Association.  While treating a wide range of emotional and behavioral problems, Dr. Wessells specializes in marital and family therapy.  He also uses cognitive behavioral therapy and insight oriented approaches to deal with problems of disordered eating, depression, anxiety disorders, loss and dual diagnosed patients.

Ages Treated:  Dr. Wessells treats primarily adolescents and adults. He works with children 13 + in the context of family therapy.

Education: 

BS in 1968 from Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University)

MS in 1972 From Virginia Commonwealth University

Extern training at the Georgetown University Family Center under Murray Bowen MD, 1977-1978 and 1978-1979

EDD. in 1982 from the College of William & Mary

Licenses:  Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT), Licenses Professional Counselor (LPC)