Our Christian Counseling Center
Emmaus Family Counseling Center is a Christian counseling center serving local churches, families, couples and individuals in the Northern Virginia area.
The unique contribution of the Christian setting is that we as therapists are able to assist clients to more effectively cope with problems, resolve issues, and heal deep emotional wounds as the clients strengthen their religious and spiritual beliefs, influences and behaviors.
These new behaviors then become a springboard of personal change and growth. Our desire is to assist clients toward wellness and wholeness that only Christ can provide.
As counselors, who base their clinical practice on principles of the Scriptures, we are eclectic in practice, bringing to clients an assortment of counseling techniques to best assist in their quest for wholeness and deliverance.
We are dedicated to the following scripture:
Luke 24:32 NASB
They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?
While on the road to Emmaus, two disciples were joined by Jesus. As they talked, He explained all the things that had been foretold about Himself.
After he revealed Himself to them and left, they said, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened Scriptures to us?”.
That’s how we view the counseling process. The counselor joins the client on their journey and we ask Christ to join us and open our heart and mind to what He wants to say about the issues of life.
We look forward to partnering with you and seeking solutions to life’s challenges.
Our Counselors & Associates
Please contact your individual therapist – each button opens the therapist’s email contact form.
Lori is not taking new clients at this time. Please use the office General Inquiry/Questions contact form at https://www.efccva.com/
Chris Cole, MA, LPC, NCC.
Chris is the founder of Emmaus Family Counseling Center (2004) now located in Ashburn and Purcellville Virginia. He graduated from Grace Theological Seminary with an MA in Biblical Counseling where he studied under Larry Crabb and Dan Allender. He became licensed as a Professional Counselor in the State of Virginia in 1995. He served for 15 years as the Director of Counseling and the Director of Congregational Care at Christian Fellowship Church in Ashburn, Virginia. He also served as a network counselor with New Life from 2002 to 2020. He joined the staff of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg in 2009 to present day to provide counseling services.
Mr. Cole utilizes a Biblical framework to think through the issues that people seek help with. He brings many years of pastoral experience and counseling together to effectively bring healing and restoration to people in relationships. Areas of experience include working with men in recovery from sexual addiction, individual counseling as well as couples counseling. He has trained lay facilitators and implemented support and recovery programs in a local church setting. He also is an Approved Supervisor in Virginia for Resident Counselors. He lives with his wife Helen, and they have four grown children.
Beth Mich, MA, LPC, PLLC
Beth Mich earned her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton College in 1997 and her bachelor’s degree from James Madison University in 1993.
Her experience includes work with couples, individuals and older adolescents in both the non-profit and private sectors. Beth uses a psychodynamic approach to assist clients in better understanding themselves and their ways of relating with those significant to them.
She strives to help her clients make positive changes personally as well as interpersonally with respect to decision-making, boundary setting, identification and expression of needs, empathy building, etc. She works closely with clients to reach their goals, providing them with encouragement, insight and a faith-based perspective.
The primary issues she addresses include: life transitions, single parenting, conflict in marriage, blended families, communication issues, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, parenting of adolescents and premarital work.
Lori Thomas, MA, LPC
Lori Thomas, LPC, is a counselor at Emmaus Family Counseling Center who works from an attachment-focused perspective.
With the understanding that attachment develops in early childhood, and dysfunctional patterns may develop based on early experiences, Lori believes that nurturing healthy attachments is integral to the healing process.
This attachment-focused work is especially geared towards counseling children and their parents. Children who have experienced trauma, are in the foster care system, or are adopted are some of her favorite clients.
Lori has a strong Christian faith which influences her work with people of all ages. In addition to children, Lori works with teens, adults, couples and families. She strives to create a safe, therapeutic relationship with each client as they work on issues such as depression, anxiety, attachment, or marriage problems. This therapeutic relationship becomes a safe haven from which individuals and families can begin the work of healing.
Lori has an extensive history working with children who have experienced trauma, beginning as a foster and adoptive parent, which led to her interest in entering the field of counseling. Lori has completed many trainings, including a 40-hour Nurturing Attachments Postgraduate Training by Deborah Gray. She also earned certificates in Crisis Pregnancy Coaching through Light University.
Lori is the co-author (with Michael Trout) of The Jonathan Letters (2005), a book about caring for and adopting a child with reactive attachment disorder. She is also a contributing author to The Hope-Filled Parent (2008), Hope for Healing (2011) and Attachment Theory in Action: Building Connections Between Children and Parents (2018).
She is an active advocate and public speaker on children’s issues. She is the mother of seven children, three through birth and four through adoption. She served on the Board of Directors of The Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children (ATTACh) for nine years. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Paul, their youngest child, and two dogs.
Darcy Barrett, MA, Resident in Counseling
Darcy Barrett is a resident counselor currently working towards licensure as a professional counselor in Virginia. Darcy graduated from Regent University with a Political Psychology dual degree (M.A. Community Counseling, M.A. Political Science). She receives supervision under Chris Cole.
Darcy is most focused on working with Betrayal Trauma, PTSD-C, compulsive behaviors, ADHD, healthy sexuality, identity and spiritual formation. Her counseling approach is informed by but not limited to: cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal neurobiology, attachment, mindfulness, and trauma focused theories.
She is passionate about group therapy, boundaries, how God uses the power of fully knowing and telling our story, and His faithfulness in making beauty from ashes.
Darcy loves to read, travel, and eat good food with the good company of her husband of 17 years, her 3 boys, and their dog named Biscuit.
Brittney Williamson, M.Ed., Resident in Counseling
Brittney Williamson, M.Ed., Resident in Counseling, QMHP-A, QMHP-C is currently working towards licensure as a professional counselor in Virginia.
Brittney received her Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development with a focus in School Counseling from Lamar University and Completed Lamar University’s Clinical Mental Health Certificate Program. Brittney is currently receiving supervision under Chris Cole.
Brittney knows it is because of her strong Christian faith she is passionate about people and their purposes. Brittney believes establishing healthy and secure relationships is an indispensable attribute in helping her clients come to a place of hope and healing. Brittney uses Attachment-Based Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy integrated with Christian principles and values to help her clients obtain their goals and experience healing holistically. Knowing there can be multiple factors that directly or indirectly affect the security of a relationship; Brittney also provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), ADHD, Anxiety, Trauma therapies, and career counseling.
Whether you are a child, teenager, adult, couple, or family (biological, foster-adopt and/or blended), Brittney delights in meeting you where you are and building a therapeutic relationship with you.
In Brittney’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Christopher of nearly a decade, being a “Bonus” (Foster) Mom, and adding posts to her new blog The Purple Pen. As a family, they enjoy playing with their dog Courage, going for walks, riding bikes, laughing, watching movies, riding hoverboards, and spending time with family and friends.
Carrington Cunnington, MS, Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy, PCI Certified Parent Coach®
Carrington is a Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy working toward Virginia state licensure. She also graduated from the Parent Coaching Institute with a parent coaching certification. Carrington loves working with couples, children and adolescents, parents, and family units. She believes strongly in God’s biblical design for marriage and families and uses a variety of therapeutic approaches to help clients explore relationship dynamics and strengthen bonds.
Carrington is supervised in her residency by Chris Cole, LPC, and Laurie Hesler, MA, LMFT. You can reach Chris Cole via email by using his blue contact button above or by phone at 703-729-2822 ext. 2.
Carrington brings a systemic approach to therapy, meaning the context in which problems arise and the relationships surrounding them are a primary focus. She has a strong interest in digital literacy and helping parents understand the impact of technology on their children’s developing minds. She also enjoys incorporating creative approaches to therapy, utilizing art, play, enactments, and even animals to her therapy work for those clients who are interested.
Carrington grew up in Washington state and lived in New York and Illinois before settling in northern Virginia with her husband, Garrett, and their teenage triplets.
In her spare time, she’s usually content inside with a good book or outside on a camping, hiking, or biking adventure. If her dog Archie can come along, so much the better.
Emmaus Family Counseling Center Associates
EFCC has many friends and some of our friends help out at our practice. While they are not practitioners within EFCC, we truly appreciate their support.
Gregory A. Law, M.D.
Dr. Law is board certified in both General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He received his Doctor of Medicine from George Washington University School of Medicine in 1990.
He completed his residency in General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 1995 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He served as a psychiatrist in the U.S. Army from 1995 through 1998 at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, TX. He then came to work for Loudoun Hospital in 1998.
He has since been in private practice seeing children and adults primarily between the ages of 6 and 64 years of age. From 2000 to 2013, he also worked with adolescents in residential treatment at Graydon Manor in Leesburg, VA which subsequently became Grafton’s Leesburg campus where he was the medical director.
Dr. Law’s extensive experience ranges from working with youth in a residential setting to working with children and adults through outpatient services. He has a particular interest in integrating a Christian perspective in his work with those who are interested. Gregory can be reached by phone or fax at (703) 436-9941
Ashley Cole, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, NTP
Ashley is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) partnering with clients to uncover unique nutritional needs, imbalances, areas of dysfunction, and healing potential through a bio-individual protocol. In her practice, Ashley has worked with a wide range of clientele, and completely customizes protocols based on where each client is in his/her health journey. She understands that the path to true rebalancing, replenishing, and restoring takes time, and she’s by your side every step of the way. No more cookie-cutter solutions – it’s time for a health transformation that’s uniquely yours!
If you have additional questions, Ashley offers a free 15-20 minute discovery call, please inquire through one of the sources below.
Website : https://www.marktwellness.com/contact-us
Instagram : @ashley_marktwellness
