About Kathy
Kathryn Goss Atanasov
PhD, LPC, NCC, EMDR-C, CSAC, ACS
Hi, I'm Dr. Kathy, a licensed professional counselor and certified substance abuse counselor in the state of Virginia. I also an approved clinical supervisor for counseling residents working on licensure.
With a background in school, mental health, and addiction counseling, I am the owner and director of Therapy Owls. In addition to private practice, I am a PRN counselor at the Farley Center (since 2016) and a contributing faculty member with Walden University, where I teach various graduate counseling courses for aspiring mental health counselors.
I work with my clients to create an individualized treatment plan to best meet their therapeutic goals and teach them to be their own therapists. I take a holistic approach by examining lifestyle choices including exercise, coping skills, nutrition, social engagement, and more.
I specialize in evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, and Brainspotting (BSP) - all of which have been shown to reduce the distress of past and present events. I continue my professional development and have trained in CBT at the Beck Institute in Philadelphia and have completed several advanced-level trainings in EMDR for substance abuse, complex trauma, and ego-state work. This is not to say I don't regularly conduct talk therapy sessions where I incorporate Motivational Interviewing, Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Ego State Theory, and Brief Solution-Focused Therapy. Fun Fact: In March 2019, I was thrilled to meet and train with the creator of CBT, Dr. Aaron Beck, at the Beck Institute. He was 97 and still supervising psychology residents, researching, and publishing! Sadly, Dr. Beck recently passed at the age of 100 in 2021.
I received both my Master's in School Counseling and my Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from the College of William & Mary (W&M). W&M is the second oldest university in the United States and counts George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Glenn Close, and Jon Stewart among its alumni. Williamsburg is a historic old town that boasts a fabulous living museum called Colonial Williamsburg and is only a few miles away from Jamestown (of Pocahontas fame) and Yorktown (where the British surrendered to General George Washington at the Battle of Yorktown, securing American independence in 1781). I also have a bachelor's in history from Texas A&M University (1997) and a master's in history from Boston College (2000). Did I mention I like history?
When I am not working my traditional jobs, I try to run my household and not cook. I love to read, listen to audiobooks, and travel.
I specialize in treating adults (18+) with:
Substance Abuse
Trauma and PTSD
Abuse/Neglect
Sexual Assault
I am committed to social justice and am an ally of LBGTQ+ community.
Credentials & Training
Education
Doctorate Counselor Education and Supervision (Mental Health and Addictions, 2016)
College of William & Mary Ph.D.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Master's of Education - (Counseling, 2007)
College of William & Mary ME.d
Williamsburg, Virginia
Master's of Arts - (Modern European History, 2000)
Boston College M.A
Chestnut Hill, MA
Secondary Teacher Certification - (Social Studies, 1998)
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
Bachelor's of Arts - (History, 1997)
Texas A&M University B.A.
College Station, TX
Professional Positions
Psychotherapist and Owner, Therapy Owls (2022-present)
Contributing Faculty, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota (2018-present)
Substance Abuse Therapist, The Farley Center, Williamsburg, VA (2016-present)
Licensures And Certifications
Certified EMDR Therapist
Certified Brainspotting Therapist
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Virginia
Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC), Virginia
Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), Virginia
Professional School Counselor (PSC), Virginia
Secondary Teaching Certification in Social Studies, Lifetime Certification, Texas
Advanced Clinical Trainings
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Beck Institute, Philadelphia)
Interventions for High Functioning Autism (Paul Livelli, PhD)
Polyvagal Theory (Deb Dana, LCSW and Stephen Porges, PhD)
Flash Technique Basic and Advanced (Phil Mansfield, PhD)
Foundations of the Internal Family Systems Model (Richard Schwartz, PhD)
EMDR Basic Training Phases 1 & 2
EMDR with Complex Trauma (Roger Solomon, PhD)
Traumatic Attachment to a Perpetrator using EMDR (Roger Solomon, PhD)
EMDR on Grief and Mourning (Roger Solomon, PhD)
Trauma and the 12 Steps (Jamie Marich, PhD)
EMDR for Chronic Pain (Mark Grant, PhD)
Easy Ego States Intervention (Robin Shapiro, PhD)
Attachment-Focused EMDR (Laurel Parnell, PhD)
Complex PTSD & Dissociative Disorders (Joanne Twombly, LCSW)
Attachment, Attunement, and EMDR (Kate Kestle, LCSW)
Ego State and the Distancing Technique for OCD (Paula Krenzel, PhD & Jennifer Tattersall, LCSW)
Brainspotting Phases 1 & 2 (Christine Ranck, PhD & Cynthia Schwartzberg, LCSW)
Imagespotting (Cynthia Schwartzberg, LCSW)
Brainspotting Intensive (Cherie Lindberg, LPC)
Brainspotting Couples Co-Regulating (Cherie Lindberg, LPC & Cynthia Schwartzberg, LCSW)
Brainspotting and Parts Work Advanced (Cherie Lindberg, LPC & Cynthia Schwartzberg, LCSW)
Brainspotting Phase 3 (David Grand, PhD)