Katevonni Sorlouangsana

About Katevonni Sorlouangsana

Katevonni wants clients to know they do not have to come to therapy with the right words. They do not have to perform, explain themselves perfectly, or become someone else before they are allowed to ask for support. They can just show up as they are.

Katevonni earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from James Madison University and a Master’s in Counselor Education for Clinical Mental Health from Virginia Tech. Her training included work with middle and high school students as well as clients in a community clinical setting, giving her experience across adolescence and adulthood.

Katevonni especially enjoys working with middle and high school clients. Sometimes talking is not the easiest way in, so she may use drawing, music, games, role play, or other creative activities to help a client communicate in a way that feels more natural. The point is not the activity itself. It is finding a way for the client to be heard.

Katevonni starts with the person, not the technique. Her work is person-centered and strengths-based, and she wants the client to keep ownership of the process. Her role is to listen closely, notice strengths that may be hard for the client to see, and help them figure out how they want to move forward.

Growing up in a Thai and Lao family also shapes the way Katevonni thinks about people and relationships. She understands that decisions are not always just individual decisions. Family expectations, cultural values, and the feeling of balancing different worlds can all matter. Katevonni wants therapy to be a place where clients do not have to leave those parts of themselves at the door.