Amy Clay, LPC

12/16/2025

The start of a new year is a fantastic opportunity to focus on personal growth. We would be happy to help guide you on your journey.
If you are considering starting a relationship with a therapist, please reach out to schedule an initial consultation. We look forward to connecting with you and supporting your goals in the coming year.
https://sunstonecounselors.com/book-now/

It can feel unsettling when the things that used to “get you through” suddenly… don’t. Maybe shutting down doesn’t soothe anymore. Maybe avoiding hard conversations creates more tension than relief. Maybe staying hyper-independent feels less like strength and more like loneliness.

When old coping skills stop working, it’s because you’ve outgrown the version of you who needed them.

Many of the strategies we use as adults were built in childhood, shaped by environments where survival came first. They helped us feel safe when we didn’t have the support, space, or voice we needed. But as we grow, those unhealthy patterns can start to clash with the life we want now: deeper relationships, calm instead of chaos, connection instead of self-protection.

Outgrowing a coping skill is a quiet sign of healing. It’s your mind and body saying, “I’m ready for something healthier. Something more aligned. Something that actually supports who I’m becoming.”

If this resonates, you’re already noticing the shift. And that awareness is where healing begins. 🧡

sunstonecounselors.com

12/07/2025

Today is the DAY!!!! Join me in supporting my friend and colleague, Alicia Muñoz, LPC, at her upcoming book signing event at Stylish Patina 248 W Broad St on December 7th from 3-5 PM. Alicia is a certified relationship therapist & author and will be signing copies of her latest book “Happy Family Transform Your Time Together in 15 Minutes a Day” which offers guidance and prompts to deepen family connection. You can follow her on Instagram at . We encourage you to bring a copy of the book which can be purchased here https://a.co/d/8clADXg on Amazon. Alicia will also have a limited number of copies available at the event. Hope to see you there!

I'm excited to invite you to join me in supporting my friend and colleague, Alicia Muñoz, LPC, at her upcoming book signing event at Stylish Patina 248 W Broad St on December 7th from 3-5 PM. Alicia is a certified relationship therapist & author and will be signing copies of her latest book “Happy Family Transform Your Time Together in 15 Minutes a Day” which offers guidance and prompts to deepen family connection. You can follow her on Instagram at . We encourage you to bring a copy of the book which can be purchased here https://a.co/d/8clADXg on Amazon. Alicia will also have a limited number of copies available at the event. Hope to see you there!

12/02/2025

Meet Morgan Canner, MA! 🧡

Connecticut born, North Carolina educated, Florida seasoned, and now proudly calling Alexandria home (along with her sister and their rescue dog, Bogey, who fully believes he’s the star of the house).

She’s an East Coast girl through and through, and she brings that same grounded, genuine vibe into the therapy room.

Morgan works with teens and adults who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just trying to make sense of life’s plot twists. Her style is warm, person-centered, and rooted in building a real relationship where you don’t have to pretend you’re fine if you’re… definitely not fine.

She’s supported people through anxiety, depression, eating disorders, big life transitions, and that vague-but-heavy “I should have it together by now… right?” feeling. Morgan sees therapy as teamwork and a place to find clarity, strength, and a little more peace.

Morgan is based in Alexandria and available virtually across Virginia!

☀️ Book an appointment now: https://sunstonecounselors.com/counselor/morgan-canner-ma/

11/27/2025

For some, this season brings joy, connection, and traditions they look forward to all year.

For others, it brings stress, mixed feelings, complicated family dynamics, or memories that feel heavy.

For most of us? We’re somewhere in between.

Gratitude doesn’t have to look like a highlight reel or a perfect table setting. It can be a quiet moment of breathing room, a small win you noticed, or simply getting through the day.

Wherever you find yourself this season, your feelings are valid. And you don’t have to force anything that doesn’t feel true for you.

If the holidays bring up more than they bring out, support is here when you need it. 🧡

11/23/2025

I'm excited to invite you to join me in supporting my friend and colleague, Alicia Muñoz, LPC, at her upcoming book signing event at Stylish Patina 248 W Broad St on December 7th from 3-5 PM. Alicia is a certified relationship therapist & author and will be signing copies of her latest book “Happy Family Transform Your Time Together in 15 Minutes a Day” which offers guidance and prompts to deepen family connection. You can follow her on Instagram at . We encourage you to bring a copy of the book which can be purchased here https://a.co/d/8clADXg on Amazon. Alicia will also have a limited number of copies available at the event. Hope to see you there!

11/23/2025

Meet Rachel Lee, Resident in Counseling ✨

Therapist, dessert enthusiast, and your go-to person when life gets overwhelming, confusing, or just a little too much.

Rachel brings a warm, calming presence to the therapy room. The kind that makes you exhale a little deeper and feel safe being fully yourself. She believes every client deserves a space where they feel heard, supported, and empowered to grow at their own pace.

With experience across school settings, gifted education, residential care, and military families, Rachel understands the unique pressures many kids, teens, and adults face, especially here in Northern Virginia. As an Asian American and bilingual Korean speaker, she’s passionate about culturally attuned care and creating space for stories that often go unseen. 🧡

Rachel sees clients in McLean and offers virtual sessions across Virginia.

Book an appointment now: https://sunstonecounselors.com/counselor/rachel-lee/

11/17/2025

Meet Matthew Blomme, Resident in Counseling ☀️

Matthew’s approach to therapy is rooted in warmth, humor, and genuine connection. He believes that growth happens through relationships and that everyone deserves a space to feel seen, supported, and challenged in the best way. ✨

When he’s not in session, you’ll probably find him playing guitar, throwing bags in his co****le league, or reminiscing about his days in the Florida State University Marching Chiefs (trumpet section, of course 🎺).

Based in Alexandria and available virtually across Virginia, Matthew helps clients of all ages find growth through connection, and maybe a little fun along the way.

Book an appointment with Matthew: https://sunstonecounselors.com/counselor/matthew-blomme/

11/08/2025

I've just reached 500 followers! So glad so many of you are here! 🙌

11/08/2025

Happy to feature another talented Graduate Intern. Low rates are available for in-person meetings in Richmond and or virtual sessions for anyone living in Virginia. ☀️

Meet Nicole Chelonis, Graduate Intern! 🧡👋

Creative soul, world traveler, and gamer with a heart for helping people reconnect with themselves.

She works with teens, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, relationships, big life transitions, and identity exploration, including those who are part of or connected to the LGBTQ+ community.

Before becoming a therapist, Nicole was a foster parent supporting transgender teens, and she’s deeply passionate about creating affirming, inclusive spaces where everyone feels seen and supported. 🌈

Based in Richmond and available virtually across Virginia. Book your appointment today!

https://sunstonecounselors.com/counselor/nicole-chelonis/

11/03/2025

Hope everyone enjoyed their extra hour of sleep! 😴 With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I'm all about celebrating gratitude this month, and I’ve got a fun idea to share.

How about creating a sun drawing to list all the things we’re thankful for? ☀️ The possibilities are endless! You can put together your personal sunshine in a day or take your time and add to it throughout November. And why not make one for a friend or loved one, highlighting specific reasons you’re grateful for them? It’s such a sweet way to show your appreciation!

Gratitude is seriously a game-changer—it boosts our happiness, strengthens our relationships, and helps reduce stress. So let’s spread the gratitude love this season! I think we all could use a little extra positivity. 💗

If you are struggling to find gratitude, that makes sense too. Sunstone Counseling is here to support you. Please reach out to ☀️ clientcare@sunstonecounselors.com

11/02/2025

Co-regulation isn’t about fixing someone.
It’s about showing up — calm, steady, and present — so their nervous system can remember what safety feels like.
That’s what secure attachment really is: not perfection, but presence.

11/01/2025

Happy Halloween 😂🎃