Shelby R. Rucker, LCSW

I’m Shelby R. Rucker, LCSW, a Virginia-based therapist who believes growth happens when we get honest with ourselves—even about the parts we’d rather avoid. I take an affirmation-challenging approach, meaning I won’t just tell you what you want to hear—I’ll help you see what’s really holding you back. I accept all the messy, complicated, and even scary corners of who you are because real healing starts with facing it all. My style is direct but supportive, mixing real talk with practical strategies to help you move forward. I’m big on focusing on solutions, not just sitting in the problem, so sessions with me are about finding what actually works for you. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, or just feeling stuck, we’ll work together to break unhelpful patterns and build something better. Therapy should feel like progress, and that’s what we’ll aim for.