About holly markley, lpc
Down-to-earth therapy that goes deeper
I'm Holly, a Licensed Professional Counselor providing online therapy to adults throughout Virginia and West Virginia. I work with people who are ready to move beyond managing symptoms and get to the root of what's been driving their anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, depression, or grief.
what you can expect
You can be honest here
Some days, you'll come in knowing exactly what you want to talk about. Other days, you may need to vent, or you may not even know why you feel upset, stuck, or overwhelmed. Either way, that's okay.
I'll give you room to say what you need to say without judging you, rushing you toward answers, or expecting you to make it sound neat and reasonable. Together, we'll slow things down, notice what's happening underneath, and help you understand yourself with more honesty and compassion.
There's room for serious work here, but therapy with me isn't stiff. Some sessions are open and conversational, while others are more structured, like when we use EMDR. Whatever we're doing, I bring a lot of energy, and I can be a calm, steady presence when that's what you need. Also, a little humor along the way helps us breathe, stay grounded, and talk honestly about difficult things.
Sometimes what’s happening now touches something older
I know personally that changes in the present can stir up pain you thought was behind you. During a season when I had to step away from work and rethink who I was beyond my roles and responsibilities, I realized that many of my reactions weren't just about the present. They were connected to beliefs about my worth that I had carried since I was younger.
It wasn't okay for a while. But taking the time to look at what was really going on helped me understand myself and heal in a deeper way.
That experience is a big part of why I work the way I do. Present struggles often start to make sense once we understand what they're connected to.
I'm a Christian, and my faith shapes the compassion, honesty, and respect I bring to this work. You don't have to share my beliefs to be fully accepted here.
Therapy with me is…
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I want therapy to feel like a place where you can exhale. You don’t have to impress me, hide parts of yourself, or worry about saying something wrong.
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I'll talk with you in plain, everyday language and explain things as we go, including how methods like EMDR work. You'll know what we're doing and why.
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Instead of judging a reaction, I want to understand what it may be trying to do for you. We'll get curious about where it came from and whether it still fits your life now.
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I’ll be straightforward with you, but I won’t shame you. When I notice something that may be keeping you stuck, I’ll bring it into the conversation so we can look at it together.
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We won’t rush into deeper work before you’re ready. As trust builds, we can explore the memories, beliefs, and experiences that may still be shaping how you feel and respond today.
areas i help with
Perfectionism
Depression
Therapy for Christians
The background behind my work
Over the past 30 years, I’ve worked in many different settings and with people in different roles and stages of life. My experience includes group homes, schools, community mental health, outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient treatment, case management, court and detention settings, supervision, and higher education.
Working with children and teenagers taught me to look beyond behavior and become curious about the pain or unmet needs behind it. Today, I bring that same curiosity to my work with adults, helping clients understand helping clients understand the patterns and old messages they've carried for years.
I never want to stop learning. Every role, every client, and every training has shaped the therapist I am today.
Education & Credentials
Licensed Professional Counselor - Virginia
Licensed Professional Counselor - West Virginia
Approved Supervisor for LPC Residents - Virginia
Master of Education in Counseling Psychology
Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapist (C-DBT)
Certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
EMDR Trained through the EMDR Institute
My Approach
My work is rooted in understanding how your past, especially your childhood, shapes what's happening for you now. I often use EMDR and parts work to help heal those deeper patterns, and I bring in DBT skills when they're a good fit for what you need.