Counselors

Meet the Counselors of Family Service. Our caring professionals are available to provide traditional and/or innovative approaches to meet your needs. Specialties may include play therapy, faith-integrated services, group therapy and more.

If looking to receive services from one of our counselors, please contact Intake at 540-795-4653.

 

Sarah Harig, LPC, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, EMDR Therapist
Clinical Director

One stressful event can produce significant distress and affect our ability to cope effectively.  Trauma and stress affects our behavior, our bodies, and many other areas that are important to our quality of life.  However, trauma does not have to define us and there is hope for things to be different.  All clients have a well of resources within them that only need to be tapped into.  With the assistance of a caring professional who provides a safe nurturing environment, I believe all clients can achieve their goals and heal from trauma using the strengths they already possess.  I enjoy working with children, adolescents and families dealing with a wide range of emotional and behavioral concerns that are from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and experiences.  I approach my work with clients from an attachment focused, client-centered, trauma-informed, and relational perspective.  I incorporate play, art, and sandtray, as well as other treatment modalities, customized to fit each client’s needs.  My hope is to help my clients explore their inner worlds in order to gain insight, develop adaptive coping strategies, and heal from life experiences from the inside-out.  I am a Registered Play Therapist and am a member of the Association for Play Therapy and the Virginia Counselors Association.  

 

I facilitate and co-facilitate groups of domestic abusers, survivors of abuse, anger management clientele and veterans. My primary focus is in working with adult males who perpetrate abuse in their intimate relationships, assisting them in developing healthy alternatives to violent and controlling behaviors.  In addition, I work with survivors, assisting with issues related to self-sufficiency and independence as they transition from an abusive environment.

 

I am licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and am certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and BEST (Bio Energetic Synchronization Technique).  Since 2000, I have provided counseling services for adults, couples, families and adolescents. My desire is to meet the needs of my clients within a caring, relational environment. My hope is that each person gains greater insight into both one’s head and heart.

To learn more about EMDR Therapy, watch this video courtesy of EMDR International Association or visit their website.

 

 

Melody Harrison, LPC, CSAC
Counselor

We all face times when we can benefit from counseling and guidance to help us navigate life’s challenges and to make decisions about our life’s direction. Often just talking with an objective listening person is the beginning of realizing the positive changes we seek. I work collaboratively with clients to help them set personal goals and to find internal and external resources for reaching those goals. Individual counseling is a personal opportunity to receive support and gain coping skills during challenging times in life.

I have an MSW degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. I have been licensed since 1994. I have worked in a variety of public and private agencies prior to my current full-time employment working with veterans and families at Salem VAMC. I’m also a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

I believe that counseling is beneficial in empowering individuals as well as helping them recognize and utilize their inherent strengths. I enjoy helping people gain tools to become the best version of themselves. My experience includes working as a residential specialist in a group home for teen girls, therapeutic day treatment, and case management. While most of this experience is with children and adolescents, I also enjoy working with adults of various ages.