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175 licensed therapists & providers in Virginia—3 in Henrico. Available as soon as today, in person and online
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94% of patients feel truly understood by their provider. 3 out of 4 see improvement in depression & anxiety symptoms within 3 months
Discover how starting obsessive-compulsive disorder therapy (ocdt) therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
Hi! I’m a dedicated and compassionate Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and I’m truly honored to support you on your m...
About
Hi! I’m a dedicated and compassionate Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and I’m truly honored to support you on your mental health journey.
Shauna Polen is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with 1 year of clinical experience. She is committed to delivering evidence-based, personalized care. Shauna has experience supporting individuals with anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. Her approach is rooted in clinical expertise and genuine compassion for each person’s mental health journey.
Shauna earned her Master’s in Nursing from Norfolk State University with a focus on psychiatric mental health. She brings a background in clinical and theoretical care and tailors treatment using medication management, psychotherapy, and lifestyle adjustments. Her approach is client-centered and collaborative.
Shauna is passionate about education and advocacy in mental health care. She stays up to date on current research to ensure high-quality treatment. Known for her empathy and dedication, Shauna builds strong, trusting relationships with her clients and provides care that supports healing and long-term wellness.
Education and training
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Dena Wentz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 17 years of social work experience where she has helped individua...
Dena Wentz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 17 years of social work experience where she has helped individuals with coping and adjustment to chronic and acute illnesses and barriers to overall health and wellness. Areas of focus in other areas of clinical practice include anxiety, stress management, self-esteem, life transitions, relationship issues, parenting, grief and loss, depression, and coping with chronic illness.
Dena applies techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, humanistic modalities, acceptance and commitment theories, person-centered, and strength-based approaches to therapy. She uses solution-focused and mindfulness-based methods to help her clients meet their therapy goals. Because of her experience in the health care setting, she meets clients where they are at and is able to build rapport quickly with genuine concern. She helps clients to look at patterns of behaviors and increase awareness of emotions and stressors. She will help you explore barriers to connection in relationships.
Dena completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Millersville University and received her Master of Social Work from Temple University, both from Council of Social Work Education accredited programs. Dena is passionate about helping to provide individuals with tools for coping with life’s transitions and challenges, all the while helping you to grow so that you can live your best life today.
As one who has experienced personal trauma, loss, and hardship, I offer an empathetic, nonjudgmental space where you can safely ex...
As one who has experienced personal trauma, loss, and hardship, I offer an empathetic, nonjudgmental space where you can safely explore your experiences, develop new life skills, and engage in holistic healing.
I am a Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to delivering empathetic, research-driven care to individuals of all ages. I have worked with clients facing a range of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, PTSD, mood disorders, and other psychiatric conditions. Many individuals seek insight, emotional stability, and actionable strategies to navigate stressors, strengthen relationships, and regain a sense of control. I am particularly committed to empowering clients seeking deeper self-understanding, resilience, and working toward meaningful, lasting change.
My personality style is warm, empathetic, and approachable, creating a safe space where clients feel comfortable being open and honest. I help them feel heard, understood, and empowered. I value authenticity and maintain a nonjudgmental attitude, meeting each person where they are and helping clients build practical skills for lasting growth and healing.
Taking the first step toward mental wellness can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to do it alone. I am here to support you with empathy, understanding, and a commitment to your growth and healing. I encourage you to take the next step and begin your journey toward meaningful change.
I understand how life’s demands and challenges can affect every part of us, and I provide a supportive partnership to help you nav...
I understand how life’s demands and challenges can affect every part of us, and I provide a supportive partnership to help you navigate those seasons with clarity and confidence.
I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) with 7 years of experience providing care in outpatient, inpatient, and telehealth settings. I support individuals facing anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, personality disorders, and life transitions. Many of my clients seek clarity, symptom relief, and practical strategies to feel more balanced and in control.
I earned my Master of Science in nursing from Walden University. I provide thoughtful medication management paired with supportive, solution-focused care. My approach emphasizes education, shared decision-making, and realistic goal setting, grounded in evidence-based practice tailored to each person’s needs.
Seeking help takes courage, and you don’t have to navigate this alone. I offer a safe, nonjudgmental space where we work collaboratively to improve symptoms, strengthen coping skills, and build lasting emotional wellness. When you’re ready, I’m here to support your next steps forward.
As someone from a background that did not always understand the importance of mental health, I want to ensure that these needs are...
As someone from a background that did not always understand the importance of mental health, I want to ensure that these needs are provided for all.
I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) with 3 years of experience providing compassionate mental health care across the lifespan. My background as both a nurse and a provider has shaped my calm, steady, and holistic approach to treatment. I help individuals navigate anxiety, depression, stress, and daily challenges by creating a supportive environment where clients feel heard, respected, and understood.
I earned my master’s degree in nursing from Ohio University and use a patient-centered, safety-focused approach to guide care. I draw from methods such as motivational interviewing to tailor treatment to each person’s needs and goals, helping clients build insight, strengthen coping skills, and create meaningful change.
I am committed to offering a warm, collaborative space where you can explore your mental health needs at a pace that feels comfortable. Your story matters, and you deserve care that honors your voice. When you feel ready, I invite you to schedule an appointment so we can take the next steps in your healing together.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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OCD counseling is a specialized therapeutic approach aimed at supporting individuals coping with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The goal of this counseling is to help clients manage and alleviate the distressing symptoms of OCD by systematically addressing their obsessive thought patterns and compulsive behaviors.
In OCD counseling, Thriveworks Henrico therapists use cognitive behavioral techniques, including exposure and response prevention, to assist you in addressing and managing your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. An OCD therapist will collaborate with you to identify and modify irrational thought patterns while gradually and gently exposing you to anxiety-triggering situations, helping to disrupt the cycle of obsessive-compulsive rituals and promote healthier coping strategies.
Thriveworks OCD counseling in Henrico, VA is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
The number of sessions for OCD counseling is variable, contingent upon the individual’s unique needs, the severity of their condition, and their progress during treatment. Typically, Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), commonly used for OCD, comprises around 12 to 16 weekly sessions, but the exact session count can be customized based on the individual’s response to treatment and therapeutic objectives. Some opt for a more extended duration to comprehensively manage symptoms and address complex issues.
Many people joke about having Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), but if you or your loved one has OCD it’s no laughing matter. OCD can clinically be broken down into two components. The obsessions part means that a person has repeated thoughts, urges or mental pictures that cause anxious feelings. They range from a fear of germs or getting contaminated, to seeing things around them as disorganized and out-of-place, thoughts of aggressive behavior towards others or themselves, and battling unwanted mental images that are sexual, harmful or religion-based.
The compulsions component refers to an individual with OCD having to repetitively act out certain behaviors in response to urges they have stemming from the obsessive part of their impairment. Those compulsive behaviors can include excessive hand washing or general cleaning, arranging items in a specific and precise fashion, counting repetitively, or constantly checking on the status of something around them like whether their home’s lights are on. These are also clinically referred to as “rituals”. People who experience OCD, which is about one percent of the adult U.S. population, may try to avoid certain situations that trigger their obsessions, or turn to drugs and alcohol to calm down. Children can also face the challenges of OCD, and over time parents or teachers tend to first recognize the issue.
In addition to the signs of OCD mentioned above, if you or your loved one has this disorder it tends to present with these symptoms:
These symptoms can come and go, ease up over time, or conversely, they can get progressively worse. Some people with OCD may develop a persistent motor or vocalized tic. Vocal tics are things like repetitive throat-clearing, grunting or sniffing. Motor tics show up through sudden, quick repetitive body movements like an eye twitch. OCD has no known cause but certain risk factors seem to exist including genetics, childhood stress and trauma, and actual physical brain developmental differences in the frontal cortex and subcortical regions.
If you or your loved one has OCD, mental health professionals typically treat it with medications, counseling or a combination of both. What needs to be taken into consideration is whether the OCD-affected individual also has other mental disorders like depression, anxiety, or body dysmorphic disorder, which means a person falsely perceives that part of their body is abnormal. Medications utilized to treat OCD include serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Outpatient counseling, or coaching, approaches that have shown promise in children to adults with OCD include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and other similar therapies such as habit reversal training. Researchers have also found that a type of CBT referred to as Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) also shows promise in counteracting compulsive behaviors. It is becoming an effective adjunctive counseling resource in addition to other methods. The bottom line is that when you or someone you love is being challenged by OCD there are effective treatments available including outpatient coaching services.
As we’ve seen, when you or someone you care about experiences OCD it can cause other unhealthy conditions. Left unchecked, OCD can have a negative effect on your daily activities including relationships, schooling and job performance. You don’t have to go it alone any longer. At Thriveworks Henrico, VA our compassionate and helpful Counselors and Nurse Practitioners understand OCD and will work with you to overcome its tight grip as you progress towards a more positive outlook on life. For more information on our OCD coaching services, or how to become a certified Thriveworks Short Pump coach, call: (804) 205-3408 today or visit our Contact page now.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Henrico is located in the Gayton Crossing Shopping Center near Gayton Road and Gaskins Road, off West Broad Street. It is close to Vertical Church and just a short distance from the Tuckahoe Village West Recreation
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