Michelle Mays, LPC, CSAT-S
Michelle Mays received her Masters in Counseling in 2001 in Seattle, Washington where she then opened a private practice focused on helping those struggling with sexual addiction, trauma and relationship issues. In 2005 she crossed the country and moved back to Northern Virginia where she opened a private practice in Leesburg. One of Michelle’s passions to is educate and train other counselors to become excellent providers of care and healing for clients. In 2011 Michelle founded the Center for Relational Recovery, a counseling and training center focused on providing leading edge treatment to sex addicts, partners of sex addicts, trauma survivors, and those struggling with relationship issues.
The Center for Relational Recovery is grounded in the belief that all change happens in relationship and that our attachments to others are both the most meaningful and at times the most challenging parts of our lives. Our programs are grounded in a relational attachment-based model that leads to transformed lives and relationships.
Michelle is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and Supervisor trained under Dr. Patrick Carnes. She is also trained in Post Induction Therapy by Pia Mellody for the treatment of relational trauma and is in the process of completing her certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples as well as her Ph.D in Clinical Sexology. Michelle is a registered Supervisor with the state of Virginia and is Licensed as a Professional Counselor in both Virginia and Washington DC.
Michelle is a member of the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health, the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals, the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, the American Counseling Association, and the Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association.
Clinical Associates
Bruce Butler, LPC, CSAT
Bruce Butler is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia. He is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and is also in the process of completing his certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples.
Bruce specializes in working with couples who are struggling with issues such as communication problems, betrayal or infidelity, and sexual addiction. Bruce works from an attachment perspective helping couples to create emotional safety, deep bonding and connection within the relationship.
Bruce received his Masters in Counseling in 2010 from Liberty University. He is a member of the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals, the Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association, the American Association of Christian Counselors, and the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Laurie Barton, LPC, CSAT
Laurie Barton earned her Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology in 2004 at Argosy University in Washington, D.C. Laurie specializes in working with complex trauma, addiction, codependence, anxiety, depression, and relational issues.
Laurie’s passion is to bring healing, renewal, and wholeness to individuals and relationships. She works from psychodynamic, attachment, and humanistic perspectives and also integrates insights from interpersonal neurobiology as it relates to childhood trauma and relational dynamics.
Prior to joining the Center for Relational Recovery, Laurie worked in community mental health, where she specialized in working with adolescents and adults with substance dependence and co-occurring mental illness.
Laurie is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association. She is also a trained facilitator in HeartSync, a faith-based approach to emotional healing, and is a Metro DC Leader for HeartSync Ministries
Jenna Young, MA, CSAT-Candidate
Resident in Counseling
Jenna Young is a Resident in Counseling at CRR. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Liberty University. Jenna also has a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from James Madison University. Previously, she worked for the federal government in resource management and finance.
Jenna brings a deep empathy for individuals and relationships dealing with betrayal trauma, infidelity, and sex addiction. Her passion is to help individuals and relationships recover and thrive. She is familiar with Internal Family Systems and Emotionally Focused Therapy and utilizes an attachment theory driven approach to understand relationships. She believes a holistic approach is necessary to healing and enjoys helping people foster and create resiliency.
Her experiences provide a unique perspective regarding the challenges working for the federal government and military can create, as well as the stressors of being a stay-at-home/trailing spouse. She is personally knowledgeable about the challenges of relocating and uprooting every few years, living abroad, and the skills needed to adapt to new environments and face significant life changes.
Jenna is a member of the American Counseling Association, the Virginia Counselors Association, the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals, and the Rho Eta Sigma Epsilon Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota. She is a certified SYMBIS facilitator and can integrate a faith-based approach to counseling for those clients who appreciate that perspective.
Administrative Team
Angela Cook, Business Operations Manager
Angela Cook is the Business Operations Manager for the Center of Relational Recovery and PartnerHope. Angela brings over 15 years of Operations Management experience to the team. Prior to joining CRR and PH, Angela served as the Director of Operations for Silver Eagle Group, LLC, Head of Operations for Fundation Group LLC as well as, the Director of Customer Service for E*TRADE Financial.
Angela holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Radford University. She currently resides in Winchester, Virginia where she enjoys time with her husband (Mike), cat (DK), and 2 dogs (Chip, a German Shepherd, and Bella, an Olde English Bulldog).