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Justine is accepting new clients with substance abuse issues. In-person or telehealth. She accepts Self-Pay, Cigna, Aetna, Healthkeepers Plus, Humana Medicaid, Medicare, Optima/Aetna Medicaid, and Sentara. Telehealth or In-Person.

In-Person and Telehealth
Mon-Fri 8 am–4 pm
Wed 4-9 pm
Every other Sat 8 am–12 pm
justine@therapyowls.com
804-286-0852

Justine Polk

M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern, CSAC, R-CPRS

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Hi, I’m Justine.

Most of the people I work with are used to holding it together.

They’ve pushed through trauma, addiction, high-pressure environments, or major life transitions—and from the outside, they often appear to be functioning well. But internally, something feels off. Disconnected. Exhausting. Hard to explain.

At a certain point, pushing through stops working.
That’s usually when they reach out.

My approach is direct, trauma-informed, and grounded in both clinical expertise and lived experience.

I’m not here to simply listen—I’m here to help you understand what’s actually keeping you stuck and what it will take to create meaningful change.

This work requires honesty, self-reflection, and a willingness to look deeper. In return, it creates clarity, direction, and a stronger, more grounded sense of self.

“I will help you rebuild your identity after trauma, addiction, major life transitions, and years of being misunderstood.”

I am a U.S. Navy Veteran and former 20-year military spouse, and much of my life has been shaped by high-responsibility environments, constant transition, and identity shifts.

Professionally, I’ve worked across higher education, entrepreneurship, and behavioral health—including founding and leading a company that later merged with Columbia University. Over the past five years, I’ve worked in residential substance use treatment in roles ranging from Peer Recovery Specialist and Substance Abuse Counselor to Director of Clinical Services.

I understand both the complexity of these experiences—and what it takes to rebuild while also managing your mental health and personal life.

I also specialize in working with individuals who have felt misunderstood for much of their lives—including those navigating neurodivergence, misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, addiction, and trauma.

When you don’t have the right framework to understand yourself, it can impact everything—your confidence, identity, relationships, and mental health.

Part of our work together is correcting that narrative.

Together, we develop a clearer, more accurate understanding of who you are—so you can move forward with confidence instead of self-doubt.

In Our Work Together, We Will:

      • Identify and shift patterns that are keeping you stuck
      • Rebuild your identity after trauma, addiction, or major life transitions
      • Strengthen emotional regulation and self-trust
      • Challenge beliefs that no longer align with who you are becoming
      • Create sustainable, meaningful change—not just insight

I will support you—but I will also be honest with you. Because real growth requires both.

Who I Work Best With

I work best with individuals who are ready to engage in meaningful, deeper work—those who are willing to look inward, take ownership of their growth, and move beyond surface-level change.

Specialties

      • Trauma & PTSD
      • Substance Use & Recovery
      • Identity Reconstruction & Life Transitions
      • Neurodivergence (Late Diagnosis)
      • Misdiagnosis & Diagnostic Clarity
      • Grief & Loss
      • Anxiety & Emotional Regulation
      • Military & Veteran Issues
      • Health Professionals
      • Executive Leaders

Credentials & Training

Education

M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Expected February 2027), Walden University
M.A. Teaching & Learning with Technology, 2010 – Ashford University
B.A. Organizational Management, 2008 – Ashford University

Behavioral Health Certifications

Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC)
Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant (CSAC-A)
Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (R-CPRS)
Psychological First Aid
First Aid & Basic Life Support

Business & Leadership Training

Stanford University, 2017 – Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ignite Program
Think Wrong Institute – Design Thinking Facilitator, 2017 – San Francisco, CA

Clinical Interests

      • Trauma-focused therapies, including EMDR and Brainspotting (anticipated Summer 2027), and integrative trauma treatment approaches
      • Identity reconstruction following trauma, addiction, and major life transitions
      • Attachment-based theories, including how early relational experiences shape identity, emotional regulation, and adult relationship patterns
      • Neurodivergence (ADHD, Autism), with a focus on late diagnosis, masking, and diagnostic clarity
      • The clinical impact of misdiagnosis on identity, self-concept, and treatment outcomes
      • Co-occurring disorders, including substance use and underlying trauma or neurodivergence
      • Emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and nervous system stabilization
      • Shame resilience, self-trust development, and rebuilding internal safety
      • Relapse prevention through identity development, meaning-making, and long-term recovery planning
      • The intersection of trauma, attachment, and identity development across the lifespan

You’ve spent a long time adapting, pushing through, and holding it all together.

If you’re ready to understand yourself more clearly and create real, lasting change—this is the work we can do together.

Ready to Get Started?