Find a Solution You Can Live With
We create a safe, comfortable environment to explore any stress - past or present - you may have.
Practical Solutions
Practical Solutions Counseling Services, PLLC
At Practical Solutions Counseling Services, PLLC, Kristen and Rich Patterson are invested in helping clients process feelings, explore relationships, heal from their past. Kristen and Rich love to help clients discover and cultivate their own strengths. They help clients feel more confident and supported. Clients often leave their first session feeling much better. Kristen and Rich are here to see clients through the hard parts of life.
The Therapists
Meet Kristen
Kristen Patterson holds professional licenses in both North Carolina (LCMHC 14007) and Virginia (LPC 0701006006). She earned a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in January 2008 and has practiced in both public and private mental health agencies. Kristen currently practices with adults of any age. Kristen uses primarily Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and incorporates a number of other modalities to include Solution Focused, Motivational Interviewing, Reality Therapy, Humor Therapy, Narrative Therapy and others.
Kristen believes seeing a therapist is one of the most beneficial acts of self-care. She also recognizes it can be difficult to cross the threshold. Kristen strives to provide a comfortable, judgement free space for clients to process whatever they may be facing. She views each individual as unique in their personalities, strengths and needs and tries to come alongside them wherever they are within their own journey. Kristen provides support and encouragement, helps generate ideas and sometimes helps answer difficult questions. Kristen thrives on empowering clients to become a better version of themselves and live their best life.
Kristen’s specialties include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Coping Skills
- Anger Management
- Self Esteem
- Phase of Life and Transitions
- Career and Professional Development
- Sexual Orientation and Identity
- Relationships, Pre-Marital, Marital, Divorce
- (In)Fertility
- Postpartum Mood and Adjustment Reactions
- Parenting, Co-parenting, Step-parenting
- Blended Families
- Spirituality and Religious Concerns
Meet Rich
Richard Patterson holds a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling from Marymount University, awarded in August 1995. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Radford University, awarded in April 1990. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia (license number 0701008015) since November 2018 and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina (license number 19093) since August 2023. Rich has practiced in a counseling role for over 16 years. He has experience working with adults and couples.
Rich’s therapeutic approach is person centered and strengths based. He makes every effort to join clients wherever you are in your journey and works together with you to help you be your best self. Rich introduces tools and provides support to empower the client to manage everyday issues as well as be better prepared for future concerns. He has experience working with mood regulation related to depression, anxiety, Bipolar Disorder and other mood disorders. He can help manage excessive worry and enhance character development. He can also help clients cope with strong emotions and better manage anger. Rich’s focus is broadly based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy however he is subject to use approaches from Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Reality Therapy, Narrative Therapy and others.
Areas of expertise are:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mood Disorders
- General Stress
- Relationship Difficulties
- Coping Skills
- Phase of Life Transitions
- Self Esteem
- Anger Management
- Career and Professional Development
- Spirituality and Religious Concerns
