Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori West.
Hi Lori, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always known I had a heart for helping others and for sitting with people in hard, tender moments of life. That calling led me to move to Texas to pursue a graduate degree in counseling. After graduating and becoming licensed, I began working in private practice, where I found deep fulfillment walking alongside individuals and families during seasons of change, pain, and growth.
When my first daughter was born, my path shifted. I made the decision to step away from counseling and become a stay-at-home mom—a role I held for 12 years while raising our three children. During that time, our family also made Roanoke home, moving here 10 years ago so my husband could open his dental practice. Roanoke quickly became more than just a place we lived; it became the community we loved and invested in.
As my children grew older, I felt a steady pull back toward counseling—a desire that never really left, just waited. After 12 years away from the field, I felt the Lord leading me to get back into the career that I loved so I opened my own counseling practice right here in Roanoke. It felt like a full-circle moment: returning to the work I love while serving the community that has become home. Today, I’m grateful to blend my professional training, life experience, and deep care for people into a practice that supports others through their own journeys.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was stepping back into the counseling field after being away for 12 years. A lot had changed—new research, evolving best practices, and emerging therapeutic modalities—and it was intimidating at times to reenter a profession that had continued moving forward without me.
That said, I’ve always been a lifelong learner. I leaned into the discomfort and immersed myself in continued education and training, discovering newer, highly effective ways of counseling that have deepened my work and strengthened the care I provide to clients. In many ways, returning after a long break reignited my passion for learning and growth as a clinician.
Another significant challenge was starting a practice from scratch. I had to step outside my comfort zone—learning how to market myself, attend networking events, build relationships in the community, and take on the realities of entrepreneurship. Balancing the clinical side of counseling with the business side was a steep learning curve. But those challenges ultimately shaped me, helping me grow not only as a therapist, but as a business owner and community member. Looking back, each obstacle played a meaningful role in getting me to where I am today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Roanoke Counseling is a private therapy practice rooted in compassionate, high-quality care for adults, teens, and couples. I specialize in working with anxiety, trauma, life transitions, relationship concerns, and emotional overwhelm—helping clients feel safer in their bodies, clearer in their minds, and more connected in their day-to-day lives. My work is grounded in evidence-based practices while remaining deeply relational and tailored to each client. I also offer Christian counseling for individuals who wish to integrate their faith into the healing process.
What sets my practice apart is the intentional blend of clinical expertise with a warm, inviting approach to counseling. I strive to create a space where therapy feels less intimidating and more like meaningful self-care—somewhere clients can slow down, feel at ease, and genuinely look forward to coming. From low lighting and cozy blankets to a cup of warm coffee, every detail is designed to help clients settle in and feel safe enough to do deeper work.
This sense of comfort is always paired with thoughtful, trauma-informed care. I draw from modalities such as EMDR, attachment-based therapy, and nervous-system-focused approaches, while also bringing lived experience as a mom, wife, and active community member. Together, this allows clients to feel both emotionally supported and confidently guided as they move beyond survival mode into lasting healing and growth.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Roanoke Counseling feels both professional and deeply human. Clients often share that they feel genuinely seen, supported, and at ease from the very first interaction. Even the name Roanoke Counseling reflects my heart for this work—it represents my deep connection to the community where my family has built a life and where I feel called to serve. This practice isn’t just located here; it belongs here.
What I want readers to know is that Roanoke Counseling is a place where you can walk through the door and be met with compassion and care. It’s a space for those who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or simply desire more from their lives and relationships. My goal is to meet clients where they are and walk alongside them as they build insight, resilience and hope.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I don’t think so. 🙂
Pricing:
- $120 per 50 minute session for individual counseling
- $140 per 50 minute session for couples counseling
- Out of Network with Insurance
- Sliding Scale available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Roanoke-Counseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RoanokeCounseling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoanokeCounselingTX
