Your Next Step Starts Here
Welcome! I’m glad you’re here.
Next Step Therapy offers collaborative and supportive outpatient therapy services where we work alongside you to better understand what you're experiencing and find meaningful ways forward. Whether you're seeking support for yourself or your child, we provide a compassionate, trauma-informed space where growth is possible and change feels doable.
You’ve already taken the first step. Let’s take the next one together.
Services
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Individual therapy offers a supportive space to explore thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. I work to meet each client where they are, honoring their unique experiences, strengths, and readiness for change. Together, we develop a thoughtful, individualized treatment plan that reflects each client’s needs, goals, and pace, supporting meaningful growth both within and beyond the therapy space.
With children, individual therapy often looks different than it does with adults. Sessions may incorporate play, art, games, and other developmentally appropriate activities to help children express themselves, build emotional awareness, and develop coping skills. Parent involvement is an important part of the process. Brief check-ins before and/or after sessions allow time to share updates, discuss progress, and collaborate on strategies to support the child at home and in other settings. This team-based approach helps ensure consistency and reinforces growth beyond the therapy room.
Therapy is a collaborative process where meaningful growth happens through genuine connection, curiosity, and working together to understand what’s getting in the way. Sessions can be reflective, challenging, and even enjoyable!
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Family therapy provides an opportunity for families to work together toward shared goals. Sessions may include caregivers, children, and siblings depending on the needs of the family. When children are learning new coping, communication, or emotional regulation skills, progress is often strongest when caregivers are actively involved and supported. Family therapy helps strengthen understanding, improve communication, and create consistent strategies that can be used at home. By working together, families can build healthier patterns of connection, support one another through challenges, and foster lasting positive change.
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Parent sessions are a dedicated space for caregivers to check in, reflect, and receive guidance. These meetings allow us to review what strategies are working well, identify what may need adjusting, and problem-solve challenges together.
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Collaborative care is an important part of the therapeutic process. With your consent, I work closely with other professionals (including psychiatrists, pediatricians, teachers, school counselors, and other providers) to ensure consistency and progress across settings.
Collaboration is also especially important when medication is part of treatment, as communication between the therapist and prescribing provider can help monitor effectiveness, side effects, and overall progress.
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Telehealth services are available for adults (18+) only.
While virtual therapy can be highly effective for adults, younger children benefit most from in-person sessions. Child therapy often incorporates play-based, movement-based, and hands-on interventions that are more engaging and developmentally appropriate in an office setting. Being physically present also allows for stronger connection, better attention, and more effective skill-building.
Telehealth clients must be residents of Virginia and physically located in Virginia at the time of each session.
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I offer supervision to residents in counseling in the state of Virginia.
My supervision style is grounded in an integrative developmental model & discrimination mode. I tailor supervision to each supervisee’s developmental stage, clinical setting, and professional goals. My aim is to support supervisees in developing competence across eight core domains: intervention skills, assessment techniques, interpersonal assessment, case conceptualization, individual and cultural differences, theoretical orientation, treatment planning and goal-setting, and professional ethics.
I integrate evidence-based frameworks and trauma-informed principles. In addition to skill development, I place strong emphasis on helping supervisees clarify and develop their own clinical style and professional identity, so they can practice in a way that feels both effective and authentic.
I believe that the supervisory relationship should feel supportive, collaborative, and comfortable rather than overly clinical. My goal is to create a space where supervisees feel safe to ask questions, reflect openly, and take risks in their learning, while still maintaining clear structure, accountability, and ethical standards.
My supervision process typically includes an initial screening and consultation to ensure a good fit, followed by an initial session to review the supervision agreement and expectations. Supervision sessions are scheduled depending on what best supports your availability and licensure requirements. During sessions, we review clinical cases, interventions, documentation and ethical considerations, with attention to both clinical skill-building and reflective practice. I also incorporate feedback, guided reflection, and practical tools to support growth between sessions.
Individual Supervision Rate: $90 per session or $335 per month
Marli Criniti, MS, LPC
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia. I specialize in working with children (ages 4-12) and adults (ages 18+). I provide support for a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges. I have extensive experience working with ADHD and hold an ADHD-CCSP certification.
Areas of Focus:
ADHD
Anxiety
Attachment Trauma
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
C-PTSD (Complex Trauma)
Coping Skill Development
Depression
Divorce & Parent Separation
Family Conflict
Grief & Loss
Impulse Control
Life Transitions
LGBTQIA+
Parenting Support
Peer Relationship Issues
School Avoidance
Self-Esteem
Self-Harm
My Approach
My approach is collaborative, supportive, and engaged. While I create space for reflection and growth, I am not a distant or “blank slate” therapist. I actively participate in the process, offering guidance, validation, and practical tools along the way.
I integrate evidence-based therapies with expressive modalities to meet each client’s unique needs. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop practical coping strategies. Through Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, I teach emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness, helping clients respond rather than react. I also incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to build psychological flexibility and strengthen connection to personal values, along with Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed techniques to promote self-awareness and internal healing. When appropriate, I integrate somatic-based interventions to increase awareness of stress responses and support nervous system regulation. For children, I incorporate Play and Art Therapy techniques to create a developmentally appropriate space for emotional expression and processing.
Psychoeducation is central to my work as I believe understanding the “why” behind symptoms can be empowering. I provide age-appropriate education to help clients and parents normalize experiences and confidently apply strategies outside of sessions. With client consent, I collaborate with psychiatrists, pediatricians, teachers, school counselors, and other providers to support progress across settings.
My goal is to create a space that feels both supportive and engaging, where clients can feel comfortable being themselves while doing meaningful work.
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Finding the right fit is important. Contact me to schedule a complimentary consultation call to discuss your needs, ask questions, and determine whether my approach aligns with your goals.
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Telehealth services are available for adults (18+) only.
While virtual therapy can be highly effective for adults, younger children benefit most from in-person sessions. Child therapy often incorporates play-based, movement-based, and hands-on interventions that are more engaging and developmentally appropriate in an office setting.
Being physically present also allows for stronger connection, better attention, and more effective skill-building.
Telehealth clients must be residents of Virginia and physically located in Virginia at the time of each session.
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I believe in clear, upfront pricing so you can make informed decisions about your care.
Intake Session (90 minutes): $150
Individual Therapy Session (55-60 minutes): $130
Family Therapy Session (55-60 minutes): $130
The intake session allows time for a comprehensive assessment, goal setting, and treatment planning. Ongoing sessions focus on skill-building, processing, and progress toward your goals.
I offer Supervision to Residents in Counseling at the rate of $90 per session or $335 per month.
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I am currently in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield (commercial plans only) and Lyra Health.
If I am out-of-network with your insurance provider, I can provide a superbill upon request for you to submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Please note that reimbursement is not guaranteed. I encourage you to contact your insurance provider directly to verify your out-of-network benefits, deductible, and coverage details prior to beginning services.
I plan to expand my in-network partnerships in the future and will update this page as additional plans are accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions

