Our Mission Statement

The goal of Hope Counseling Center is to offer Faith-centered counseling at affordable rates to help strengthen and encourage our clients.

MEET THE COUNSELORS

Kathy Bornarth, M.A., NCC, LPC | Email | 703-378-1011

Greetings and welcome to Hope Counseling Center!

Before deciding on a counselor to help you resolve your life’s personal challenges, it’s always best to find out a little about the person you’ll be working with. Here’s some information about me that might help you make that decision.

First and foremost, I’m a Christian counselor. That means, I incorporate spiritual truths into my practice. I have a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters degree in counseling and as such, am able to integrate psychological principles with spiritual truths as we seek to find answers to your questions.

I live in Northern Virginia with my husband, son, and 2 dogs. I also have 2 grown daughters. We moved here 3 years ago after my husband retired from the Navy. I’ve traveled around quite a bit and even lived in Italy for a time.

My areas of specialty include depression, anxiety, communication issues, marital issues, premarital counseling, eating disorders, boundaries, grief and loss, parenting issues, and general life adjustment issues. I love to work with elderly, adults, adolescents, and military family members.

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor, a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and a National Certified Counselor. I’ve been licensed for over 12 years and also have a license in PA and NC.

I look forward to speaking with you. Have a blessed day!

Kaisha Keith, MS, LPC, RPT | Email | 703-298-7570

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, with a Master of Science Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University in Maryland, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy and Counseling At-Risk Youth from Johns Hopkins University.

As a Registered Play Therapist, I specialize in work with children and adolescents, and employ sand tray therapy and other expressive modalities to enhance a child's sense of safety, confidence, competence, and creativity.

I also work with adults, couples, and families; and value exploring the healing elements of faith with those wishing to integrate their spirituality in the counseling relationship.

Specialized experience in health care, military, church, and public service settings also provides me a unique understanding of the distinctive demands on the families of caregivers, vocational ministry personnel, first responders, and other professionals at risk for compassion fatigue, burnout, PTSD, and secondary traumatic stress. I have also focused in the areas of divorce, co-parenting, grief, and characteristics of adult children.

While originally from Michigan and Illinois, I have now been a resident of Fairfax County for over two decades, where I live with my 16-year-old daughter.

Judy Valeski, M.Ed. | Email | 703-596-5839

As life’s journey presents us with a wide array of difficulties, it is easy to lose focus and forget the other parts in our lives which can bring us hope, peace, and balance. I believe that the entire person, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, needs to be considered in order to make one whole again. By addressing each trouble from this perspective we are then able to peel back the layers and resolve each basic problem at its root.

I have a Masters degree in Counseling and Development and a Bachelors degree in Psychology. During my internship, I worked as an oncology counselor helping children, adolescents, adults, and the aging. It was through this opportunity, that it became clear that HOPE is so important in each of our lives. and that there is always something available to us when we do hope.

Before I found my calling to be a counselor, I worked intensively as a Family Coach for 10 years, helping parents with developmental issues surrounding their children, along with marital conflicts. It is my goal to support the family and marriage system by sorting out past or present issues which many times get passed down through generations.

When meeting with clients, I use varying techniques and tools, such as play therapy, art therapy, and guided meditation, to make the sessions more interactive. I have found this allows for a more relaxed environment where healing can occur. I specialize in communication skills, couples counseling, grief and loss, single parenting, depression and anxiety, career counseling, and chronic illness.

For healing to occur, a comfortable environment is necessary. It is important to find a counselor you can identify with and feel comfortable around and not all personalities mesh well together. I would love to speak or meet with you and see where it leads us! If it is not meant to be, I will help you find someone who can help you in the way you need! Take care and have a wonderful day!

Linda Oberleitner, RN, NCC, LPC | Email | 703-975-8937

All of us have times when life can be difficult and we feel sad, confused, frustrated, anxious or hopeless.   Often people choose to pursue counseling because of difficulty with relationships and handling life’s stressors. Counseling can help us feel understood, find ways to cope, look at our circumstances differently, and find new methods to problem solve. Counseling can restore hope to our situation and improve our symptoms and our lives for the better.

I  am a registered nurse, have worked as a high school counselor and currently treat  adults in the  Fairfax County Mental Health system. I have experience treating symptoms of depression, anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia, bipolar, as well as helping families cope with a family member with serious mental illness. I enjoy working with clients related to relationships, communication, boundaries, parenting and career.

I have two grown children at different stages of launching into adulthood and live with my husband and 2 adorable Westies.   I look forward to working with you and accompanying you on your journey to better living.

Elizabeth Mahoney, MSW, LCSW | Email | 703-829-7022

Greetings!  I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a focus on children and families.  I obtained my Masters in Social Work at University of Pittsburgh and spent one year working as a pediatric oncology social worker.  I left Pennsylvania after I graduated and came to Fairfax County to work at Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services.  For the last eight years I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from families and children that are constantly bombarded with life stressors.

During our initial visit, I will spend time getting to know you and find out more about what brings you to therapy.  Over our next few sessions we will explore goals that will lead to coping strategies that address the current problem.

I am skilled in working with individuals, couples and families.  I tailor treatment to the individual and use such treatment modalities as cognitive behavioral therapy, structural therapy, and systems theory.

I am able to address a multitude of needs including: depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stressful life changes, parenting issues, loss/grief, family discord, adolescent behavioral issues, infertility, and surrogacy/adoption as alternative parenthood routes.

My husband and I are currently in the throes of parenting a preschooler and toddler.  We became parents through adoption.  I am very passionate about helping other families navigate the adoption or surrogacy process.