Sonal Patel

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” -C.S. Lewis

“ Enter into children’s play and you will find the place where their minds, hearts and souls meet.“  -Virginia Axline

Sonal is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 17 years of experience working with children, adolescents and their families in community mental health, non-profit and private practice settings. She earned her Undergraduate degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech in 2002 and her Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Missouri State University in 2005. As Sonal gained experience in the field, she discovered her passion for working with children and families which led to her pursuing a Post Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Virginia Tech in 2012. 

Sonal works from a child-centered perspective and offers a play-based integrative approach to therapy in order to provide a safe, consistent therapeutic environment in which a child can experience full acceptance, empathy, and understanding. Sonal believes this allows the child to best express themselves by using their own natural language to process inner experiences and feelings through play and symbols. Sonal strongly feels families should be included as part of the therapeutic process whenever possible. It has been her experience that involving the family and natural supports in both treatment and planning for the child provides the greatest opportunity for a positive outcome.  

Sonal’s areas of specialty include assessment and treatment of anxiety, attachment, body image, childhood trauma, mood disorders and self-esteem. Her therapeutic approach integrates play and expressive therapies, such as art, sand and mindfulness. She uses a combination of play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment-focused therapy, and emotion-focused therapy to provide individual, family and couples treatment in a safe, supportive setting which promotes healing. 

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