Therapist profile
Dr. Sonya Medina, VA Psychologist 0810003270
Dr. Sonya Medina, VA Psychologist - Stress and trauma
Continue with SonyaAbout
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness exercises
- Motivational interviewing
About Sonya
Dr. Sonya Medina is a VA Psychologist with 24 years of clinical practice in Virginia. She has worked in juvenile justice, residential treatment, and with veterans. Her main concerns include mood and anxiety disorders, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and compassion fatigue.
Dr. Medina uses a cognitive behavioral approach to help people notice thinking patterns that keep problems going. She helps clients name thoughts that lead to painful feelings and then practices new behaviors that reduce distress. Sessions often focus on small, concrete steps a person can try between meetings.
Her background includes long-term work with complex needs and trauma. That experience informs how she structures sessions and sets goals. She also draws on mindfulness techniques to help manage strong emotions and on motivational interviewing to support change when habits are stubborn.
People who come to her for relationship or family concerns can expect clear, direct feedback and practical strategies for problem solving. She pays attention to how past relationships affect current patterns and helps people practice different ways of communicating and setting limits.
Dr. Medina frames therapy as a collaborative process. She works with adults to break negative cycles, build new habits, and pursue a better quality of life. To begin, prospective clients follow the standard intake steps on the site to match and schedule a first session.
How sessions work
Approaches you can try online and how they help
Dr. Medina commonly uses cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness in her work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small changes in behavior to reduce distress. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and patterns that keep people stuck. Mindfulness Therapy teaches attention and breathing practices to lessen the intensity of strong emotions and improve moment-to-moment coping.She also draws on motivational interviewing when people are weighing change. That approach uses targeted questions and reflections to clarify goals and build commitment to small steps. The therapist and client decide together which approaches to try based on the client’s goals and what feels most practical.
Confirm available session formats before booking, as the biography does not list them. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by removing travel time and allowing appointments to happen during work breaks or between tasks. They can also let a therapist guide short skills practice, review homework, or run focused sessions on communication and coping skills without requiring a long commute.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
24+ years
Listed in
Virginia
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and related concerns such as caregiver stress and family of origin issues.
How would she approach therapy with me?
She primarily uses cognitive behavioral methods to identify unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors. She also incorporates mindfulness and motivational interviewing depending on the situation.
How much experience does she have?
She has 24 years of clinical experience working in juvenile justice, residential treatment, and with veterans.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is listed as a VA Psychologist and is located in Virginia.
Does she work in other languages or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify which formats are offered.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.