A View from the Couch: RESTON Style

It was sometime in 1991, I was living in Arlington and attending graduate school at Catholic University to get a Master's Degree in Social Work. A friend asked me to join her at an event in Reston and I said "Reston, where is that?" Little did I know that within a year,  Reston would become home sweet home.  

In 1992, a newlywed of six months, my husband and I starting looking  to purchase a home.  One of his friends lived in Reston and suggested we visit their home and look around Reston.  At the time we were renting in Oakton and his friend gave my husband directions via Wiehle Avenue. He said "You will pass a temple (Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation), Laurie will be hooked on Reston when she sees that."

It was snowing on the day that we saw the house that would become our first home. As the snow fell, we dined at Uno's at Reston Town Center before making the drive back to our apartment. Phase 1 of the Town Center had just opened, it was certainly not the sprawling mecca that we visit today.   We moved into our town house in March 1992 and then moved a half mile away to a single family home in 1999; my husband's friend was right: I was hooked and Reston is home.

For many years I worked for Prince William County in Manassas. It was an easy commute out of Reston.  I then worked in a group practice of therapists for six years in Fairfax until I opened up my own psychotherapy practice in Herndon this past May. My specialties include working with women who are struggling with work/family balance, who have low self-esteem and seek empowerment or who feel lost amdist empty-nest syndrome. I also specialize in working with adolescents who are depressed, anxious or having family conflict and I work with many adpoted teenagers and their families.   

I am really excited to be working in the Reston-Herndon community.  For years, I was a "Fairfax" therapist.  My professional networks were in Fairfax and when friends asked for a therapist around town, my Reston repertoire was minimal.  Now that I am a "Reston-Herndon" therapist, my tentacles are stretching. I have created a supervision group of Reston therapists that meets twice per month to consult about cases and share practice ideas.

I have attended the Women's Networking Luncheon of Herndon and have joined the Women Who Mean Business networking group that is affiliated with the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation Sisterhood. 

On my professional blog, I write about all things therapy with a splash of parenting advice and a touch of 'whatever-is-on-my-mind' at the moment. I am excited to blog on Patch and incorporate my therapy quips in with the community in which I work and live.

Do come back for more, you won't be disappointed.

Laurie Levine

www.laurielevinelcsw.com