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Dorothy Charest, LPC

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Dorothy is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

4.5 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Dorothy. View 51 reviews
Speaks English
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in Virginia and Florida

Recent reviews

She’s the best. She doesn't forget anything she knows me and remembers everything I tell her she has helped me so much I will continue to see her until I'm a lot better but I'd say I'm 90% better than when I started seeing her so I think she is the best she listens very carefully and she gives great advice and I can text her anytime I want to and she immediately gets back with me so that is a blessing with me I'm a panic attack patient so sometimes I really need to talk to somebody and she is always there for me thank you so much if they were 20 stars I'd give her 20

Reviewed May 2024

Dorothy has been amazing. She has been helpful in her therapy as well as giving me someone to talk to. I am sometimes amazed at how well she seems to be able to read and understand me.

Reviewed February 2024

More about Dorothy

  • 18 years' experience
  • Female
  • LPC, LMHC

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor through the Virginia Board of Counseling and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor through the Florida Department of Health. I have over 18 years experience working with individuals affected by a range of concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance abuse. I am also a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor through the Virginia Board of Counseling and a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor through the Virginia Certification Board. Additionally, I am Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider through the Virginia Board of Psychology and have provided treatment for individuals with sexually compulsive behaviors for over 11 years.

I graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia in 2003 and continue to remain current in the field though professional training and workshops and have achieved certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional.

I utilize various treatment modalities including cognitive behavioral, schema therapy, humanistic, and solution-focused brief therapy and believe that treatment should be tailored to the individual client in a non-judgmental and safe environment.

Treatment can be both challenging and rewarding and I commend you for taking that first step and entrusting me to take that journey with you.

Specialties:

Mood disorders

Anxiety

Substance use disorders

Trauma

Anger management

Sexually compulsive disorders

Specialties

Stress Anxiety Addictions Relationship issues Anger management Depression LGBT Family conflicts Trauma and abuse Grief Intimacy-related issues Parenting issues Self esteem Career difficulties Bipolar disorder Coaching Compassion fatigue Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Personality disorders Phobias Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling) Sex addiction Sexual assault and abuse

Treatment Approaches

  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Solution-Focused Therapy
  • Trauma-Focused Therapy
  • Internal Family Systems

Licenses

Dorothy Charest's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1003179441.

  • LPC · Virginia · 0701004762 · Expires June 2025
  • LMHC · Florida · MH17918 · Expires March 2025

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.

Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.

Reviews for Dorothy Charest

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

4.5

51 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Great Knowledgeable Helped Helping Wonderful The best Helpful Grateful Professional Easy

She’s the best. She doesn't forget anything she knows me and remembers everything I tell her she has helped me so much I will continue to see her until I'm a lot better but I'd say I'm 90% better than when I started seeing her so I think she is the best she listens very carefully and she gives great advice and I can text her anytime I want to and she immediately gets back with me so that is a blessing with me I'm a panic attack patient so sometimes I really need to talk to somebody and she is always there for me thank you so much if they were 20 stars I'd give her 20

Reviewed May 2024

Dorothy has been amazing. She has been helpful in her therapy as well as giving me someone to talk to. I am sometimes amazed at how well she seems to be able to read and understand me.

Reviewed February 2024

Dorothy is the absolute best. She’s helped me turn my life around and continues to help guide me to be the best version of myself possible.

Reviewed January 2024

I love her. She helped me and still does. She has changed my life. I’m so much better. She is kind. Knowlagable and so helpful. Not just on the phone. I text her and she answered. She is wonderful for me. And I need her still. She showed me much I could not see. And I suffered till I met her and we dug for the root. She was so sweet and wonderful to me. Above and beyond the call of duty. Diligent. And caring. She understands everything!!

Reviewed December 2023

Dorothy is the best! She always responds quickly and gives good advice. 10/10 recommend :)

Reviewed November 2023

Always on and knows what to say to help me in most any time. She always answers me. And I appreciate her so much.

Reviewed August 2023

Still appreciating the help from Dorothy!

Reviewed July 2023

She is wonderful understanding and she knows me!! Now. And is a great fit for me. She is nothing if not the best I’ve ever worked with.

Reviewed April 2023

She makes you feel right at home, chatting on phone, wants you to thrive ,exceptionally knowledgeable and right there when you need her, truly comforting support is a message away.

Reviewed February 2023

Please disregard my option regarding her response time, I mis-clicked it-she has been nothing but fast in her responses. 10/10.

Reviewed February 2023

She’s the best I’m thankful for her counseling

Reviewed January 2023

Dorothy has been a great fit for me as a therapist. She understands my needs and has been extremely helpful and supportive in my trauma recovery journey.

Reviewed December 2022

I love my sessions with Dorothy. It keeps me engaged with my personal headspace and development!

Reviewed December 2022

She listens well and gives concise feedback

Reviewed November 2022

She is very professional and extremely knowledgable. I really appreciate her helping me and encouraging me.

Reviewed November 2022

Dorothy is great! Super involved, and pushes when needed! Very lucky to have her!

Reviewed August 2022

Dorothy does a great job, she is very skilled at helping you realize why you may react to certain situations and helps you with skills to deal with what ever issues you may be dealing with.

Reviewed July 2022

Thanks for everything!

Reviewed July 2022

Dorothy is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and very easy to talk to. She understands the issues I’m dealing with and how best to help me work through them. I’m so glad I was matched up with her

Reviewed July 2022

Best therapist I've ever had. She is a true professional.

Reviewed July 2022

I love my therapist. She is wonderful and I’m such a new person since she has been helping me. She knows just what to say to help me. And she remembers everything I say!! She is understanding and knowledgeable about my concern and things I didn’t know or notice. But now I’m so very much better. Happy. Singing in Church and being happy more and grateful more too. I can only change ME!! Not anyone else. She has changed my life for the better by 10 fold!! I’m so pleased and proud and grateful to have her as my counselor!! Thanks. She’s the best!!

Reviewed May 2022

Kind, patient & intuitive, Dorothy is a trusted partner in my journey for self improvement. I’m actually enjoying our sessions, and even though I may and do cry, she makes it a safe space to do so.

Reviewed March 2022

I’ve definitely worked through some issues with Dorothy. She’s been really great!

Reviewed March 2022

Dorothy helped me make a ton of progress in 6 months before I unfortunately had to move out of her area of care. She's incredibly kind and patient but frank in a way that really works with my style. She helped me realize things about myself that I was unaware of or had been repressing for years. Best therapist I've ever had!

Reviewed March 2022

She is wonderful to me. I love her.

Reviewed January 2022

I find Dorothy very supportive, kind, and attentive. She has excellent insights and ideas.

Reviewed January 2022

I'm a very practical person, but also very introspective. Dorothy's method of therapy appeals to my need to identify issues and develop a plan to overcome them and become a better version of myself.

Reviewed December 2021

Dorothy is kind, professional, approachable, and thorough. She quickly identified key areas in my life that I needed to make adjustments for my personal wellbeing and helped me come up with concrete steps. I greatly appreciate her time and dedication and her openness. I would strongly recommend her!

Reviewed November 2021

Dorothy has been such a great help for my mental space and awareness!

Reviewed November 2021

Dorothy is great, her extensive experience and knowledge really help and she provides resources to continue to working on my mental health.

Reviewed September 2021

She is knowledgeable and very easy to talk too. She seems to understand me perfectly and is helping me so much. I love her! She is kind. And I can text her anytime I need to tel her something or have a question. She always gets back to me same day. Quickly. And tells me don’t be afraid to text her. She has helped me with much stress and given me tools to make my life so much better and happier than in TEN YEARS NOW. I’m so blessed to have her in my life. And will continue to work with her. She is encouraging and sympathetic and is very understanding and great at letting you know a different side of things that perhaps you don’t see! She is wonderful and I think God for her

Reviewed September 2021

In the 2 sessions I have had, I already feel my issues are being discovered and as someone who did not think I had many problems I am quickly seeing everyone needs therapy!

Reviewed August 2021

Dorothy is a good listener, extremely patient,She always remembers what I had said to her in my last sessions, and it’s like we continue from that point forward. She remembers my concerns encourages me to engage in habits or practices that can help me. And I can see a difference since I started working with Dorothy.

Reviewed July 2021

Dorothy is kind, comprehensive, and strongly focused on the needs of her patients. She is a wonderful listener, garnering insights as she goes and giving strong recommendations. I always feel better after speaking with her which I think is the mark of a great councilor.

Reviewed May 2021

Dorothy Shellman is a compassionate, knowledgeable, and insightful counselor who builds trust as she guides me to identify my core concerns and helps me discover solutions.

Reviewed May 2021

I'm new. But we communicate well and I feel she gets me 100%! She is giving me tools to help me see my life differently. And I love her as my counselor! A GREAT BEGINNING! Almost 3 weeks in! I already see some things that are me!!

Reviewed May 2021

Dorothy has been a huge help with working on some lingering issues I was holding on to for a long time. She definitely pushes my thought process in different and positive ways. I’ve been very happy with my experience on better help/with Dorothy. Regards!

Reviewed May 2021

Dorothy is extremely professional and knowledgeable. She is experienced in many different areas and I am grateful I get to work with her. Thanks Dorothy!

Reviewed April 2021

Dorothy's expertise provides her with great insight to help you with whatever issue you are struggling with. Her counseling and guidance has been a tremendous help for me.

Reviewed January 2021

I love my counselor, she’s amazing!

Reviewed December 2020

Dorothy is so empathetic, but also has a gentle way of helping me get to the root of my feelings quickly. Then helps me with doable strategies to help me cope. I’m really happy to have found her.

Reviewed November 2020

I'm very grateful that Dorothy Shellman chose me to be one of her patients through Betterhelp. She's really great at working with me to see things in a different light, I've had many "aha" moments during our sessions and I feel as though we have just scratched the surface. I really enjoy our weekly conversations because I can tell that she's present with me, that she remembers all of our sessions, that she "knows" me even though we've never met in person. I can definitely say that I'm in a better place now than when I first started therapy and I have Dorothy to thank for that.

Reviewed September 2020

Very talented counselor who is direct and has a variety of tools and experience. Useful clinical insight.

Reviewed August 2020

This experience has been so much more than I thought it would be. I went in a bit skeptical but I am already experiencing results after only a few weeks. There's a ways to go but I am glad I have started on this path and I am glad that I am working with Dorothy. I feel she has my best interests in mind.

Reviewed May 2020

Dorothy is great. Very candid and receptive, especially knowledgeable about my struggles. Very helpful insight. Grateful for her.

Reviewed April 2020

Dorothy is a responsive, knowledgeable, and kind counselor. She never "mails it in" with generic advice, unlike some therapists. I've had poor experiences in the past with counselors doing the minimum. Dorothy, on the other hand, has fantastic insight and diagnostic ability. I especially like that she recommends specific resources and books. I'd definitely recommend her! (I'm being treated for depression and communication difficulties.)

Reviewed April 2020

Dorothy does a great job. She is caring, responsive and compassionate.

Reviewed April 2020

She is very professional and is easy to talk with. I feel at ease with her. I’m a bit of a mess, but she is great with her input and concern. I look forward to developing a good relationship with her!

Reviewed February 2020

My sessions with Dorothy have been great. It is evident she is an experienced and skilled therapist/counselor. So far she has been helping me with my focus issues of anxiety and anger, and helping not only identify how these issues have surfaced but also helped me identify aspects of my personality that I didn't consider before. Our work so far has been very helpful for me.

Reviewed February 2020

She listens and gives great advice. Dorothy is very knowledgeable.

Reviewed November 2019

So far Dorothy has been extremely helpful and I look forward to working with her. She seems to really understand the issues and provides good resources and ideas to help correct problems.

Reviewed November 2019

How was your experience with Dorothy?

Frequently asked questions

Does Dorothy Charest offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Dorothy Charest works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Dorothy Charest speak?

Dorothy Charest speaks English.

How many years of experience does Dorothy Charest have?

Dorothy Charest has 18 years of experience.

Where is Dorothy Charest licensed to practice?

Dorothy Charest is licensed to practice in Virginia and Florida.

Does Dorothy Charest accept clients outside of the United States?

No, Dorothy Charest does not accept clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Dorothy Charest offer?

Dorothy Charest offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems.

How can I communicate with Dorothy Charest?

Dorothy Charest can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Dorothy Charest?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.