By Cindy Adams
"What are we working on today?"
Abbie Stonelake poses this question at the beginning of each counseling session. The simple inquiry isn't just conversation, it's an invitation to intentional work. Together, they navigate toward growth.
Abbie is one of four counselors at enCircle, each carrying a weekly caseload of about 15 clients. Most of these clients carry the weight of past trauma and include many veterans, adopted children and people whose mental health care is only possible through Medicaid. Abbie has earned a reputation for connecting with teenagers, even the most resistant. There's something about her. Likely, it’s her genuine warmth and absence of judgment.
"I'm the same therapist throughout the day," Abbie explains, "but I'm not the same therapist for each person. I meet each person where they are, and each person is unique."
Abbie adapts her approach to each client. For some, healing emerges through art therapy. For others, it's structured conversation or mindfulness techniques. The method matters less than the foundation of trust. And, of course, a willingness to embrace the sometimes uncomfortable work of growth.
"Therapy is a weird space," Abbie reflects. "And it's a very vulnerable, beautiful space."
Abbie understands journeys that require persistence. After earning her degree in Pennsylvania, she discovered that Virginia's licensure requirements would mean additional classes, a residency period, and state board examinations. Most counselors don't navigate these transitions while simultaneously welcoming two children into the world, but Abbie did.
"It's usually a little simpler," she admits with a laugh. "Working while being a student and a mother has required me to find balance and set priorities. I used to work into the evenings, but now that pushes up against bath time and that's not at all realistic!"
Her voice softens when she speaks about one particular client. This relationship has spanned four years, from the tumultuous early teens to the threshold of adulthood. Initially, they met twice a week. Now, monthly sessions suffice, their conversations shifting toward college applications and the transition to a new counselor. There's talk of psychology as a major, the client becoming the helper.
"The goal is always to discharge clients in a healthier place," Abbie says. "One they have created themselves and one that represents a better version of themselves."
The question "What are we working on today?” is an invitation. It’s an invitation to cross a bridge between where clients are and where they hope to be. Abbie, and counselors like her, are walking faithfully alongside.
Learn more about enCircle's Counseling services here.
