Therapist Spotlight: Virginia Harr, LCSW

Virginia Harr trauma therapist philadelphia

Virginia Harr, LCSW is a licensed therapist practicing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Virginia helps clients overcome symptoms of trauma, obsessive compulsive disorder, and life transitions to live life with an improved sense of well being and self understanding.

What made you become a therapist?

There are lots of reasons, but probably the most significant was being inspired as a teenager by my friend's mother who is a psychotherapist. Like many people, I have always been interested in the complexities of people's inner workings, and her insights would illuminate new ways of understanding interactions and relationships. Most significantly, I saw the way she helped those around her make sense of painful or conflicted emotions and guide them toward deeper self-knowledge. I wanted to be able to do that for other people.

What are your specialties?

I enjoy my work with trauma survivors, especially helping those whose early life experiences interfere with their quality of life today. I also have specialized training in working with individuals seeking relief from obsessive compulsive disorder. More generally though, I really enjoy helping people who are stuck, overwhelmed or at a cross roads in their life and looking for an opportunity to understand themselves more deeply with compassion and curiosity.

Why do you believe therapy can help?

Because I have seen it be a healing force in people's lives. I believe therapy is an opportunity to come to a place of deeper self understanding, which can offer clarity, increased flexibility and vitality. It can be a place to examine the patterns that define your life- in relationships, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to begin to understand where these began and also what sustains these patterns now in order to find new ways of being.

What are some books that inspire you?

There are so many, but a few I've read recently are The Goldfinch, Elanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and The Secret Life of Bees.   

What are your favorite self care activities?

To take care of myself I make sure to get quality time with my family and friends, hike on nice days, read fiction, and travel when I can.