Authentic Connections Counseling LLC

07/26/2025

I started a book club! It’s a space to connect, read great books, and have honest conversations. If you’re interested, let me know—would love to have you join us! 📚✨

Cycle Breaker Book Club

Delivering the world’s best social experience with exceptional stories in service of mental wellness.

07/21/2025

https://accounselingllc.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/Emotion-regulation-workbook

An ADHD-friendly workbook to improve emotional regulation, identify triggers, and build coping skills. Learn practical tools to manage big emotions and stay grounded—designed by a licensed therapist specializing in ADHD (who has also been diagnosed with ADHD).

07/21/2025

Read our newest blog post and get free access to our Grounding Strategies Worksheet!

Discover the difference between body-based and brain-based grounding strategies — and learn how to choose the best tools for your nervous system needs.

07/15/2025

Just a reminder 💡
I’m hosting a free virtual event this Friday for anyone who wants to better understand ADHD—whether you’re navigating it yourself, parenting a child with ADHD, or supporting clients or students.

It’s going to be a practical, supportive, and no-fluff kind of event—and I’d love to have you there (or feel free to pass it along to someone who could benefit!).

🧠 Free ADHD Webinar
📅 This Friday, 7/18/25
🕓 3 PM (EST)
📍 Virtual
🔗 https://forms.gle/1mKr77BJqm4XAucJ7

Hope to see you there!

Hosted by Cammie Terry, LPC, NCC, ADHD-CCSP, owner of Authentic Connections Counseling LLC, this is a free, virtual event happening on July 18th at 3 PM EST via Google Meet. Please complete the form to receive your link and updates. This free event is designed for parents, caregivers, educators, the...

07/14/2025

Www.accounselingllc.com/julia

07/14/2025

Www.accounselingllc.com/marilee

07/13/2025

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I’m too much” or “I don’t belong,” you’re not alone.

Many neurodivergent people—especially those with ADHD, autism, or complex trauma—carry deep shame around how we show up in relationships.
We might be sharp. Blunt. Quiet. Disconnected. Overwhelmed. “Too intense.” Or we’ve been told that we are.

And when we don’t have strong friendships or safe community, that shame only grows louder.

But here’s the truth:
You are not too much. You are not broken.
You are human—and you are worthy of connection.

When we find people who see through our prickly edges…
Who give us patience, compassion, and presence…
Our shame starts to soften.
And so do we.

We become more intentional. More grounded. More ourselves.

💛 Friendship doesn’t erase our struggles—but it can help us heal them.

Tag a friend who sees the real you.
And if you haven’t found that yet, hold on. You will.

💛 If this resonates with you and you’re ready to start healing your shame, I created a workbook just for this.
It’s called Breaking Free from Shame—and it now comes with access to a private support group for connection, encouragement, and healing alongside others who get it.

You don’t have to go through this alone.

💥 Use code LAUNCH25 at checkout to get 25% off during the print launch!
Digital Version: https://accounselingllc.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/breakfreefromshame
Print Version: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHC3LPBC?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

Let’s be real: Breaking Free from Shame: A Workbook for Overcoming Shame and Building Self-Worth This transformative workbook is designed to help you understand the roots of shame, how it shows up in your daily life, and—most importantly—how to break free from it. With a blend of compassionate...

07/13/2025

07/12/2025

Struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, or feeling disconnected?
You don’t have to go through it alone. We have two virtual therapists now accepting new clients in Virginia—let’s find the right fit for you.

Whether you’re a high schooler overwhelmed by pressure, a young adult navigating identity or life transitions, or an adult carrying the weight of anxiety, grief, or trauma—we're here to help.

At Authentic Connections Counseling, our licensed therapists offer a safe, compassionate space to explore what’s holding you back and reconnect with who you are.

🌿 Marilee Sonnen, LPC
Marilee works with teens, adults, and couples who are tired of pretending everything’s okay. Her clients are often carrying old emotional wounds—grief, anxiety, trauma, shame, or relationship pain—and are ready for something deeper than just “coping.” With a gentle, grounded presence and a trauma-informed lens, she helps you build real self-worth, reconnect with your body, and heal from the inside out.

✅ Specialties: Anxiety, trauma, depression, grief/loss, relationship challenges, self-worth, identity

🧠 Modalities: Person-Centered, CBT, IFS, somatic therapy, mindfulness, EFT

💻 100% Virtual | Teens, adults, and couples | Accepting new clients

🌱 Julia Maggio, Resident in Counseling
Julia supports teens and adults who feel lost, stuck, or overwhelmed—especially during times of transition. Many of her clients struggle with anxiety, emotional regulation, and identity questions, often carrying inner criticism and self-doubt. Julia brings a calm, validating presence to therapy, helping clients understand their emotions, connect to their values, and feel seen in a world that often misunderstands them.

✅ Specialties: Anxiety, emotional regulation, self-doubt, life transitions, identity

🧠 Modalities: Person-Centered, strengths-based, trauma-informed, relational

💻 100% Virtual | High school teens and adults | Accepting new clients

Let’s find the right fit for you.
We offer free 15-minute consultations to help you feel confident before starting therapy.

🗓 www.accounselingllc.com
📍 Virtual therapy across Virginia
✨ Authentic care. Real connection. Deep healing

07/09/2025

🌿 Now Accepting New Virtual Clients 🌿

Authentic Connections Counseling has immediate virtual openings for teens, young adults, adults, and couples. If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy—or returning to it—we’re here to support you.
Our compassionate therapists specialize in anxiety, ADHD, trauma, grief, and more, offering personalized care from the comfort of your home.

💻 Convenient online sessions
📍 Based in Virginia
📅 Flexible scheduling available

Send us a message or visit www.accounselingllc.com to learn more or schedule a free consultation.

Authentic Connections Counseling LLC offers a holistic approach that provides compassionate, specialized therapy for teens and adults in Ashburn, VA.

06/26/2025

06/13/2025

Read our blog post about the overlap between trauma and ADHD.

https://www.accounselingllc.com/blog/adhd-and-trauma

Understanding the Overlap Between ADHD and PTSD: How Top-Down and Bottom-Up Disorders Impact Your Life — Authentic Connections Counseling LLC Holistic Mental Health Services in Northern Virginia

Learn about the challenges of managing ADHD and PTSD together, and how these top-down and bottom-up disorders interact. Find practical tips for managing both conditions.