Linda G. Ritchie, Ph.D.
My Story
I spent the first 21 years of my life growing up in a small town in East Tennessee. Yes, I am fluent in hillbilly. I spent the next 23 years as an active duty army officer. I am also fluent in military and government acronyms.
As a military officer, a significant portion of the job is developing leadership skills – people skills. A military career is a fascinating experience of interacting with people across the spectrum of humanity.
I spent a good portion of time in countries other than the United States. I observed the differences in people and the fact that some people thrive in any given environment, and some don’t.
I developed an intense interest in understanding why people think, feel and behave in the way they do.
- What separates those who thrive versus those who merely survive – or don’t – in the same environment?
- How is it that some people remain calm and in control in situations where others become frazzled and unraveled?
- How is it that one person can calmly shoo a spider away and another has a total conniption fit at the mere sight of the tiny multilegged creature?
- What makes people do the things they do?
- What keeps them from overcoming their problems and get the kind of life they want?
So…filled with curiosity, just for grins, still on active duty, I went back to school to study psychology. I studied human thought, behavior, development, personality, motivation, neuroscience and relationship theory. After a quick (HaHa!) decade, I was holding a diploma that stated I was a doctor of philosophy in psychology.
In all fairness, some of that time was spent at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center doing my doctoral dissertation research after retiring from the Army.
Initially, I was decisively a cognitive behavioral therapist; focusing on the conscious thoughts and actions and their effects. I soon realized that while the cognitive behavioral techniques are indeed quite effective and very useful, they don’t address the enormous influence of our unconscious mind.
This led me to do a deep dive into hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programing. I am a lifelong learner. I keep up with the latest research through reading and training with national and international experts.
Through education and experience, I have learned that people’s largest barriers to change are frequently their own minds and beliefs. We are bombarded with messages that change isn’t easy and requires a lot of effort and time. I have found that to simply not be true.
Your mind has the ability to rapidly integrate new skills, strategies, and strengths.
You can take control in your beliefs, your behaviors and your relationships. I am passionate about helping people get out of their own way and live life the way they would like to live it.
At this point, I’ve worked with thousands of clients and I’ve distilled what works and what doesn’t. I know what’s fluff and what creates meaningful change.
I love helping people overcome anxiety, stress, fear, sleeplessness, sadness, or whatever they are struggling with. I use solid techniques that are effective; not just things that sound good and not just warmth and caring.
Warmth, caring, connection, rapport, are crucial for sure; but I want to make sure that I provide you with proven structured techniques so that you get success and reach the goals that you came in to get help with.
My clients are high-functioning, motivated, and committed to making changes.
Your time and money are valuable. Whether working with you individually, as a couple, or as a family, my goal is to help you achieve your desired goals as quickly as possible; not to keep you in therapy for months or years. I have been told it is not the best business plan!
The issue that all of us grapple with is change; how to do it. My clients know what they want but don’t know how to get there.
- They want to stop smoking but haven’t yet found a way to do it.
- They want to stop fighting with their spouse but haven’t yet figured out how.
- They want to feel comfortable and speak up in meetings at work but feel too anxious to do so.
- They want to relax but can’t turn off their racing mind.
I help people with specific strategies and techniques to get the results they want.
What are you experiencing that you don’t want and what would you rather have instead? You decide that. I help you get there.
Together we will set an agenda, establish goals, and identify strategies to help you quickly achieve your goals. As a result, sometimes our work together can be quite brief, lasting only a few sessions. In some circumstances, we may need more time.
I will work closely with you to work past problems and realize a happier more fulfilled life and relationship. I want you to achieve both short and long-term life changes.
I truly have the best and most rewarding job in the world! I love what I do because I know it literally changes lives.
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
- BA in Mass Communications and Spanish
East Tennessee State University - MA in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling
Chapman University - Ph.D. in Psychology
Capella University - Certified Hypnotherapist
- Licensed Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programing
- Licensed Professional Counselor (Virginia)#0701004007
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Virginia)#0717001121
- National Provider Number (NPI)#1730238213
SPECIALIZED TRAINING
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- T.E.A.M. CBT, Feeling Good Institute
- Approved Hypnosis Trainer for:
- American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
- Elman Hypnosis Institute
- International Certification Board of Clinical Hypnotherapists
- Marriage & Relationship Training:
- Gottman Method
- Imago Relationship Therapy
- The Developmental Model
- Emotional Focused Therapy
- Ester Perel
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
- Life Coaching
- Neuro Linguistic Programing (NLP)
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & AFFILIATIONS
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
- National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists (NACBT)
- Feeling Good Institute: T.E.A.M. CBT Certification
- The PAIRS (Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills) Foundation
- Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association
- American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)
- American Society for Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH)
- International Certification Board of Clinical Hypnotherapists (ICBCH)
- International Medical & Dental Hypnotherapy Association (IMDHA)
- The Dave Elman Hypnosis Institute
- Society of Neuro-Linguistic Programing
PERSONAL INTERESTS & HOBBIES
Iyenger yoga, weight training, downhill snow skiing, scuba diving, traveling in the US and abroad, reading spy thrillers, movies, boating with friends, trying new restaurants, doing nothing on a beach.
Are you ready to take control of your thoughts, feelings and behaviors?