Sherry McClanahan , LPC

Sherry McClanahan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Virginia. She brings a direct yet compassionate style to sessions and aims to help people identify strengths and move toward change. Sherry emphasizes a collaborative approach where the client helps shape goals and next steps. Sherry focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, and LGBT matters. She also helps with attachment and abandonment issues, codependency, body image, gender dysphoria, and problems related to intimacy and alternative sex culture. She works with adults who want practical ways to reduce distress and improve communication. Sessions tend to be straightforward and goal oriented. Sherry uses cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness strategies to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try new skills. She often pairs these with narrative and solution-focused techniques to clarify values and small, achievable changes. Her approach is welcoming to LGBTQ clients and aims to create an affirming space. Sherry values collaboration and will work with each person to set realistic steps they can practice between sessions. She explains tools in plain language and checks in about how they are working. Sherry sees clients through scheduled live sessions and messaging formats and typically responds at least once per day. People who prefer clear feedback, practical exercises, and a supportive but direct tone may find her style a good fit.

Approaches that translate to online care

Sherry uses cognitive-behavioral therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; this approach is very action oriented and works well for anxiety, depression, and stress. She also draws on mindfulness therapy, which teaches simple attention and breathing techniques to reduce reactivity and improve coping during difficult moments. Narrative therapy is used to look at the stories people tell about themselves and to rewrite those stories in ways that reflect their values and strengths.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. Sherry will discuss goals and preferences, then try methods that fit those priorities. The plan can change over time based on what is helpful and what feels manageable for the person in therapy.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face work and skill practice, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat suits quick check-ins, and messaging supports ongoing reflection between appointments. These options make scheduling more flexible and let people fit therapy into busy lives.