Life Cycles Counseling with Adina Silvestri

Life Cycles Counseling with Adina Silvestri I am a licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia who works with children and families. I specialize in treating women with substance abuse issues.

I specialize in treating women with substance abuse issues and eating disorders. I help children who have experienced trauma lead full and healthy lives. I am Adina Silvestri EdD, LPC and I am a licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia, working with children and families. My clinical work also includes providing supervision to counselors-in-training. As an innovative counselor educator, I enjoy teaching aspiring counselors the skills needed to become empathetic, creative counselors. In addition to my clinical work and teaching, I take an active role in the community. I was the 2015 President for the Jaycees, and I work with the Drive for the Blind, raising money and coordinating volunteer projects. I also write a column called "The Counselor’s Corner" for them. Additionally I mentor students at South University. My hobbies include sailing and running.

"We're out of time."Every single week, just as I was getting somewhere real in 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 therapy, I'd hear those four words...
11/28/2025

"We're out of time."
Every single week, just as I was getting somewhere real in 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 therapy, I'd hear those four words from my therapist.

Our session was over, and we wouldn't speak again until next week—even when it felt like I was on the brink of an emotional breakthrough.

Week after week, the pattern repeated. Start to open up, clock runs out, leave before the real work begins.

I wasn't getting to the root of my issues. I was just... coping with my symptoms.

And I knew I wasn't the only one feeling this way.

👉🏻 That's why I created Therapy Intensives for my own clients.

Unlike traditional 50-minute sessions, these intensives allow you to stay in the work, to explore, and to really dig beneath the surface to the root of your challenges.

Think of it as part mental health retreat, part breakthrough coaching session.
Intensives are a concentrated, personalized, and immersive therapy experience designed for rapid healing and deep transformation.

They can last anywhere from 2 to 20 hours and can be done in one day or across multiple sessions.

Whether it's Internal Family Systems, Brainspotting, hypnotherapy, somatic integration, or Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, the extended length of these sessions allow space for layered therapeutic modalities.

You no longer have to dance around the edges of your challenges.

Now you can dive in deep knowing you're fully supported.

If you've been craving deeper healing and more space to do the work, a Therapy Intensive might just be your next step.

Schedule a free consultation to explore whether a Therapy Intensive is right for you.

Book today here: https://calendly.com/adina-2/15min

11/26/2025

When we start to feel anger bubbling up inside us…
As women, we’re conditioned to shove it down beneath politeness and a smile.

But anger isn’t something women need to hide.

Through Internal Family Systems (IFS), we can start to see anger not as a flaw we need to hide but as a protector.

It’s that tightness in your chest when someone crosses a boundary you put in place.

The sharp edge of frustration when you feel forced to say yes when you’d rather say no.

IFS helps women begin to reframe their anger and ask:
🛡️ What is this anger protecting me from?
🛡️ What deeper wound or fear is it covering up?
🛡️ What does this part of me need in order to feel safe?

Often, anger is shielding us from feelings of inadequacy, rejection, or helplessness.

But when we push anger away, we also lose access to the clarity and strength it provides.

Once you start embracing your anger instead of fearing it, it becomes the guiding light we need to recognize…
🌟 When we are undervaluing ourselves
🌟 When our boundaries need to be stronger
🌟And when we are ready to step into our full power. 💪🏻

So, tell me, were you – like many of us - taught to suppress your anger?

Are you ready to listen to what it’s been trying to tell you?

You've been reading about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy.And you know it could help with depression, anxiety, PTSD.But ...
11/24/2025

You've been reading about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy.
And you know it could help with depression, anxiety, PTSD.
But a part of you still wonders...

👉🏻 What REALLY happens during a session?
👉🏻 Is taking ketamine safe?
👉🏻 Will I completely lose control?

Those questions are completely valid, and pretty common too!

At first glance, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) can sound intimidating.

But in reality, it’s a carefully guided, deeply supported approach that can help you access profound healing and lasting change.

Every session happens in a calm, therapeutic setting with a trained KAP therapist at your side gently guiding you every step of the way.

Don’t think of it as “taking a drug.”

Instead, think of it as a way to give your brain the space it needs to process emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them.

Then you and your therapist will engage in integration therapy to help you:

✔️ Process your experience,
✔️ Extract valuable insights,
✔️ And develop strategies to integrate these insights into your daily life.

Still have questions? I'm happy to answer them in the comments.

Or, if you want to learn more about KAP and other approaches to healing, I share weekly insights in my newsletter. This week's edition explores how KAP works and why it's becoming a breakthrough option for those who've tried everything else.

Subscribe to get this week's newsletter here: https://adina-silvestri.kit.com/

11/21/2025

If the TSA could stamp “Work-Life Balance” on my passport, that’d be great. 😅✈️

When you start recognizing the faces at TSA…
you might be traveling a little too much.

Headed to Puerto Rico for sunshine, family time,
and pretending my inbox doesn’t exist for a bit. 🌴☀️

Aisle or window — what’s your go-to seat? 👇✨



You've tried everything to make the anger go away.Deep breaths. Journaling. Telling yourself to "let it go."But what if ...
11/21/2025

You've tried everything to make the anger go away.
Deep breaths. Journaling. Telling yourself to "let it go."
But what if your anger isn't the problem?

What if it’s actually the signal pointing you back to your unmet needs and neglected boundaries?

Through IFS therapy, you can learn to befriend your anger instead of fearing it.

And when you do, that’s when transformation happens.

🌟 You stop second-guessing yourself.

🌟 You speak up without guilt.

🌟 You create boundaries that stick.

🌟 You stop resenting others and start respecting yourself.

Are you ready to hear what your anger is trying to say?

Book your free IFS consultation through here 🔗

https://adinasilvestri.com/counseling-services/therapyintensivevirginia/

11/20/2025

Ketamine therapy isn't what most people think it is.
It's not always about "tripping" or having some wild psychedelic experience.

But I get why people feel hesitant about it.

It's normal to feel uncertain before trying something new.

And when it comes to healing work that asks you to let go and trust the process, a little bit of skepticism and hesitation is normal.

So let me clear up the biggest concern I hear:

❌ You won't lose control.

While KAP does induce a dissociative state, meaning you may feel detached from your usual thoughts, you are still present and aware.

With the right support and guidance, it becomes a guided journey into your inner world. 🪷

It allows you to safely process difficult emotions and memories that may be contributing to your mental health challenges.

From there, you'll be better able to gain valuable insights from these experiences, understand their impact on your life, and develop strategies for lasting change.

👉🏻 Are you curious about KAP?

Drop any questions or concerns you have in the comments below. I'd love to help ease your mind. 😊

Tomorrow night, we open the door to a space that feels like an exhale. Hypnotherapy to guide you inward. Sound to soothe...
11/18/2025

Tomorrow night, we open the door to a space that feels like an exhale. Hypnotherapy to guide you inward. Sound to soothe your nervous system. A pause you can feel in your bones.

You still have time to join us, in person or online.

🌀 Hypnosis & Soundbath w/ Adina + Katie
📍 4025 MacArthur Ave, Richmond, VA
🗓 Wednesday, November 19 at 6:30pm
🔗 Reserve your spot: link in bio or buffalofirefly.com/pages/classes-events-adina-katie

Have ever left therapy thinking, “But I was just getting started…”?You’re not alone. Traditional sessions can often feel...
11/18/2025

Have ever left therapy thinking, “But I was just getting started…”?
You’re not alone.

Traditional sessions can often feel limiting.

Like you’re FINALLY peeling back a layer, only to have to pause and pick up again next week.

And for creative minds, that start-stop rhythm can make it hard to stay in flow or go deep enough to uncover what’s really going on. 🧠

That’s why my Therapy Intensives resonate so deeply with creatives.

With those whose minds move in squiggly, nonlinear ways rather than neat, predictable patterns.

Intensives honor the way YOUR mind works.

They give you plenty of space for ideas to unfold and connections to be made without the rush of a ticking clock.

And when you’re given the time you need to truly get to the root of your challenges, it’s a whole new level of breakthrough.

(Instead of week after week of, ‘Are we really getting anywhere?).

If you’re interested in holistic modalities that keep your unique mind at the center of your healing process, be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter.

In it, I share tips and insight from alternative approaches that are perfect for nonlinear, creative minds.

This week, I’ll be digging into exactly why therapy intensives fit so well with creative minds.

Subscribe to the newsletter here: https://adina-silvestri.kit.com/

11/14/2025

Ever feel like you’re constantly fighting with yourself?
One part wants rest. Another says you can’t slow down now!
IFS therapy can help make sense of that inner tug-of-war.

⚛️ Internal Family Systems therapy (or IFS) sees the mind as naturally multiple.

It’s based around the idea that your mind cannot be viewed as just one whole.

Instead, it’s made up of a system of inner parts that face the brunt of trauma and feel all the pain, fear, and worthlessness that it causes.

Beneath these wounded parts is your Self – your core part that is always clear and calm, regardless of trauma.

That Self is in everyone.

It can’t be damaged and, most of all, it KNOWS how to heal. ❤️‍🩹

IFS helps you reconnect, access, and understand your Self.

From there, you can heal your parts, understand their fears, and help them find balance again.

Because healing doesn’t mean getting rid of or burying your parts.

It means leading them from your Self with compassion, courage, and clarity.

👉🏻 Curious about IFS or want to experience it firsthand?

Book a free IFS therapy consultation to see if it’s the right fit for your healing journey: https://calendly.com/adina-2/15min

Have you been on the fence about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?Many people are curious, but cautious, about KAP.And th...
11/12/2025

Have you been on the fence about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Many people are curious, but cautious, about KAP.

And that makes sense. It's not something you should jump into blindly.

But here's the thing: KAP isn't just another wellness trend.

It’s a science-backed treatment designed to help you get unstuck.

👉🏻 Here’s how it works…

Ketamine affects your glutamate system.

This is the part of your brain that improves neuroplasticity, allowing your brain to form new neural pathways…

AND get away from the old stuck ones. 🙌🏻

It also helps quiet your Default Mode Network (DMN).

Your DMN is what’s responsible for your overthinking, negative self-talk, and depressive loops.

Because ketamine targets these areas directly, KAP has been gaining attention as a groundbreaking approach to treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety.

Of course, KAP isn’t for everyone.

If you have a history of psychosis or uncontrolled high blood pressure, it’s best to discuss with your medical team if KAP is right for you.

So, if you feel stuck despite therapy, medication, or other healing approaches, Ketamine-Assisted Therapy might be worth exploring.

💁🏻‍♀️ Any questions or concerns about KAP?

Don’t be afraid to ask!

Leave them in the comments below, and I’ll be sure to answer them all.

I didn't start exploring ketamine therapy because it was trendy. �I did it because I was tired of watching people suffer...
11/10/2025

I didn't start exploring ketamine therapy because it was trendy. �I did it because I was tired of watching people suffer while waiting for relief.

I had been following ketamine's popularity for a handful of years already.

Most notably, I was paying attention to its remarkable rapid-acting antidepressant effects.

When research showed that ketamine could provide relief—often within hours!—for severe, treatment-resistant depression, I decided I needed to explore this treatment firsthand.

💁🏻‍♀️ My motto has always been, "I'll go first, THEN you."

Whenever I bring a new modality into my practice, I try it myself first. I won't ask my clients to be brave enough to try something new without understanding what that courage feels like.

So I experienced a ketamine session myself—and it was proof that healing doesn't have to be slow or overly complicated.

Sometimes, we just need to try a different approach.

Of course, ketamine isn't a magic fix.

But its ability to bring relief in a matter of hours—NOT years—gives hope to those who feel like they've tried everything else.

👉🏻 If you're curious about holistic, science-backed approaches to healing like ketamine-assisted therapy and more, I share new insights every week in my newsletter.

This week's edition is going to dive into how exactly to prepare for your first ketamine session, from setting your intention to creating the right environment.

📩 Subscribe here: https://adina-silvestri.kit.com/

Quick fixes can only get you so far when it comes to managing stress and anger. The S.T.O.P. Method offers a deeper appr...
11/07/2025

Quick fixes can only get you so far when it comes to managing stress and anger. The S.T.O.P. Method offers a deeper approach that helps you build lasting emotional awareness. Practicing it regularly strengthens your ability to respond rather than react.

Read the full article to learn how to integrate it into your daily life. →https://adinasilvestri.com/anger-management-spotlight-the-s-t-o-p-method/

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