Who we are
Revelations Counseling
Our licensed therapists at our clinical practice, located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, apply evidence-based treatments and diagnostic assessments to achieve meaningful change, personal growth, and positive outcomes. We offer treatment services for individuals, couples, families, and groups to improve psychological health, personal resilience, relational satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Our therapists are experienced in managing issues related to anxiety, trauma and stressor-related disorders, relational distress, mood disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar), neurocognitive developmental issues (e.g., autism, ADHD), dissociative disorders, personality disorders, substance use, and other addictions.
Our clinical practice specialties include couples and family therapy, trauma-informed care (e.g., EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy), youth and teen counseling, and the integration of spirituality and faith. Our treatment services are also culturally attuned to the challenges faced by individuals currently or previously employed in hazardous occupations with inherently dangerous duty assignments—e.g., military, veterans, law enforcement, fire, rescue, emergency medicine, and other first responders.
Our Counseling Services
For Individuals
Counseling For Individuals, Couples, & Families
Committing to individual therapy requires courage, and our therapists take the responsibility of your trust in us very seriously. There are no judgments, just exceptionally experienced counsel that will collaborate with you to forge the pathways for problem-solving and change. We help navigate past adverse childhood experiences or other trauma, guide new perspectives on present functioning, and build a vision for future experiences where you will discover your best. Our therapists see clients of all ages, from young children to senior citizens, and we maintain certifications and training in the treatment of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and acute stress disorders, substance use, couples and family systems issues, career transitions, and mood disorders.
There is a primal desire within the human spirit to find secure attachment with someone who will commit to the blessing of reciprocity with unconditional acceptance; despite all our fears and imperfections, these healthy relationships are determined to resolve the deep human need for belonging, worthiness, and profound intimacy. This is love defined, and it is no myth. When we dance, we occasionally step on one another’s feet. Couples therapy offers renewed choreography—to encourage your intentional pursuit of knowing one another more fully, to communicate more effectively, to organically repair conflicts, and to dream and aspire together. The climb is most definitely worth the view.
The family is an emotional system with relational interdependencies among all its members. Family therapy applies systems theory to evaluate the existing structures, processes, and patterns in how a family communicates, manages conflict, makes decisions, defines its individual roles and values, and examines the influences of its generational legacies—both the positive and the negative. In healthy families, every member feels encouraged to be their authentic self—without masks or pretense—and also gains confidence in expressing relational and emotional needs without either hostility or fear. No challenge is too great for the cohesive family that cheerfully reflects love and respect in every direction.
Additional Specialties
Our youth and teens are facing more intense pressure today than ever before. Normal developmental issues associated with academic performance, peer influences, and body image are challenging enough for young people trying to find self-confidence and shape their identity. The targeting of children with adult themes in popular culture, on social media, and the accessible images of violent and sexual content on smartphones only adds additional risk for harm to developing minds. Parents may feel shut out from their children's private worlds and sometimes feel they are imperfect messengers of the loving guidance their children need. At Revelations, we are here to bridge that distance. Most of our therapists have young children of their own, and some have also served as school counselors, in adolescent residential treatment centers, and have received prestigious awards for their clinical excellence in treating youth and adolescents.
Our CEO is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, and our Chief Clinical Officer served alongside him for 21 years as a military spouse. Our entire practice is very personally attuned to the uniquely inherent challenges of long deployments, post-deployment reintegration with the family, and multiple relocations to new homes and schools for the next duty assignment. Revelations also provides counsel to transitioning active-duty military and their family members who may feel uncertain about future employment or financial wellness. We empathize with how removing the uniform often invokes a sense of change in a service member’s identity, the loss of their tribe, and the risk of isolation. Among all the hazardous duty assignments of public service—including law enforcement, fire, and rescue—when duty requires the full measure of personal sacrifice, the invisible wounds of those experiences may present clinically as post-traumatic stress, substance use disorder, and major depression. Sometimes the job results in recovering from even more profound loss and physical injuries (e.g., traumatic brain injury, amputations, etc.). Our therapists honor and specialize in the care of these patriots of public service, as well as survivors, their caregivers, and the entire family system.
Research surveys have consistently found that nearly 90% of Americans believe in God or a Higher Power; moreover, the vast majority of these individuals consider their personal spiritual practices an important part of their daily lives. At Revelations, our counselors believe that a responsible multicultural perspective of our clients must not only account for gender, race, and ethnicity, but also be prepared to integrate our clients’ spirituality as a fundamental facet of their identity.
*Looking for a service you don’t see listed? Call our office at (540) 602-2545 to see if we provide it!
We have an exceptional team of counselors who offer a wide range of therapeutic specialties and services here at Revelations. Our counselors are empaneled with several insurance plans, provide sliding-scale fee options, and accept self-pay. Whether you’re hoping to grow personally, strengthen your relationships, or need support during a challenging season, we have a therapist here for you.
Guy Strawder, LMFT, LPC, MHA
Chief Executive Officer
Guy Strawder is a principal with Revelations Counseling & Consulting with nearly 40 years of operations, policy, and leadership experience...
Joanne Strawder, LCSW
Chief Clinical Officer
Joanne is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and completed her master’s degree in social work at Virginia Commonwealth University. As...
Victoria Tripp, LCSW, LICSW, OSW-C
Director of Clinical Services
Tori is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and completed her education at the National Catholic School of Social Service at...
Amy Martin, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Amy is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Science...
Heather Ulstad, M.S. MERP
Resident in Counseling
Heather serves a dual role at Revelations as both the Senior Operations Director and a Resident in Counseling. Her roles...
Patient Resources
Client Portal
- Schedule or reschedule an appointment
- Access your appointment
- Online bill pay
- Provide feedback
- Fillable (and HIPAA secure) documents
Counseling FAQs
We often hear the same questions from people visiting our website or considering therapy for the first time. Here are some of these questions and answers.
This really depends upon the presenting complaint and diagnosis, the collaborative goals you set with your counselor, and what you would hope to achieve in your therapy. You and your counselor will explore this at the start of treatment, and will evaluate progress with your treatment plan at defined periodic intervals. As a client, you always have the right to refuse therapeutic recommendations and can choose to end therapy at any point.
If your partner doesn’t want to attend counseling, it can still help to go on your own. The first step is to simply communicate to them what you are observing in your relationship. It will be a natural response for him or her to resist treatment at first. Let them know how important they are to you, and communicate your confidence that seeking a competent therapist will help both of you find a new perspective. If they still feel uncomfortable about the idea, be transparent and let them know you still intend to seek treatment for yourself and possibly the family. Individual counseling should provide insights into your own thinking and attachment style, as well as tools to communicate your emotional needs more effectively and manage conflict. Often, the change your partner sees in your own progress is the encouragement they need.
At Revelations, our therapists are collectively empaneled with several insurance companies offering coverage for behavioral health services, including:
- Aetna
- Anthem BCBS
- Anthem Healthkeepers HMO (Commercial)
- Anthem Healthkeepers Plus (Medicaid)
- Carefirst BCBS
- ChampVA HAC
- Cigna
- Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plans
- Mail Administrator
- Medicare Advantage HMO
- Optima/Sentara Health Plan
- Selman & Co.
- Silac Insurance Company
- Third Parties – Local Churches
- Tricare East (Humana Tricare)
- UMR
- United Healthcare
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network Regions 1-3
- WPS Tricare for Life
Please contact our office to confirm if your preferred provider accepts your health insurance.
For those without coverage or seeking additional options, we may be able to offer sliding-scale fees and discounted rates to help make your care more affordable.
Our practice does not currently conduct psychological evaluations or offer medication management, but we regularly assist our clients with recommendations and referrals to local community resources that will fit their needs.
*Have a question that you don’t see here? Call our office at (540) 602-2545, and we can address your question personally.
Have questions about our counseling services? Want to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists?
Are you a licensed provider seeking a dynamic, collaborative practice with great benefits? Are you working toward your licensure and looking for a certified, experienced supervisor to facilitate your professional growth?