Mrs. Makenna Sands, Licensed Professional Counselor

(she/her)
Preferred Name: Makenna

EMDR Certified Therapist

EMDR Consultant-in-Training

Online Therapy

About Me

I am honored to witness clients harness their own natural capacity to heal their wounded parts. I strive to create a safe and secure place for clients to tap into curiosity and compassion, to increase awareness into the origins of their present-day pains, and to rediscover their true selves. My counseling approach aims to help clients harness their underlying resiliencies, identify and honor their attachment needs, experience greater self-compassion, and enjoy more authentic and satisfying relationships. I maintain a trauma-informed and attachment-focused perspective. I am trained in EMDR therapy and utilize this along with Emotion-Focused, IFS/ego state work, CBT, mindfulness, and solution-focused counseling techniques within a collaborative counseling relationship. I invite you to stop asking yourself "What is wrong with me?" and together we will consider "What has happened to me, and how have I done my best to survive?". Exploring this question together will help us harness your adaptability to move from surviving to thriving. I look forward to celebrating with you along your healing journey!

Education & Experience

Masters in Counselor Education, Radford University, 2021

Professional & Volunteer Affiliations

Virginia Counselors Association

Specialty Area

  • Abuse/Neglect
  • Anxiety/Panic Attacks
  • Attachment Disorders
  • Depression
  • Family Issues
  • Marriage/Relationship Issues
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Spirituality
  • Stress Management
  • Traumatic Incident

Population Served

  • Adults
  • Couples
  • Underserved

Language

  • English

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • BlueCross BlueShield
  • Cigna
  • Medicaid
  • TRICARE
  • UnitedHealth