Healing isn't linear. But it does move.
I'm Nathan Cooke, LCSW — a therapist, meditation teacher, and the founder of New River Healing. I work with individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, depression, and the quieter struggles that don't always have a name. In-person in Blacksburg, and via telehealth throughout Virginia.
Three ways we can work together.
Every client brings something different. My practice is built around three core offerings — and the understanding that most people need some combination of all three.
Growth through Therapy
My approach integrates mindfulness, inner child work, CBT, EMDR, and radical acceptance — not as separate menus, but as a layered, whole-person practice. Mindfulness keeps the work grounded in the present. CBT offers practical tools to challenge unhelpful patterns. EMDR reaches the experiences that talk therapy alone doesn't always resolve. Together, these approaches support meaningful growth, resilience, and a deeper sense of self-compassion.
Peace through Meditation & Mindfulness
Meditation is a practice of presence — a deliberate pause to slow down and meet the moment as it is. The goal isn't to silence thoughts, but to notice them without getting pulled in. With each breath, awareness deepens and patience builds. Even a few minutes carries over, making it easier to stay grounded and present throughout the day. I'm not just a proponent of meditation; it's a practice I live.
LCSW Clinical Supervision
Providing supervision is an opportunity to support clinicians as they develop both skill and professional identity. I create a collaborative space that encourages reflection, ethical clarity, and evidence-based practice. My supervision integrates mindfulness, CBT principles, and radical acceptance — helping clinicians build confidence, sharpen clinical judgment, and stay grounded in their work. I am a Virginia LCSW Board Approved Supervisor.
The methods — and the thinking behind them.
I don't pick one modality and apply it regardless of fit. What you're carrying, and what you need, shapes what we use. Here's the clinical foundation most of my work builds on:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & DBT
Practical tools to challenge unhelpful thinking patterns, regulate emotions, and build behavioral flexibility. Skills-based, structured, and grounded in what's happening in your real life right now.
Mindfulness & Meditation
Creating space between stimulus and response. Mindfulness keeps the work present-focused and helps you observe thoughts without being defined by them. I practice what I teach.
EMDR
For trauma, anxiety, and experiences that have stayed raw despite years of understanding them — EMDR works at the level where those memories are stored, helping reduce emotional intensity and build more adaptive perspectives.
Inner child work & radical acceptance
Earlier wounds — neglect, harsh criticism, rupture in early relationships — show up in adult life in predictable ways. Inner child work brings attention to those wounds with care. Radical acceptance anchors the process in reality, easing resistance and allowing for greater steadiness.
Between-session tools matter. I provide structured worksheets — thought records, grounding logs, anxiety trackers, and coping plans — so the work travels with you. Visit the worksheets page to download them free.
Individuals across the New River Valley — and throughout Virginia.
My office is in Blacksburg, but I see clients across the region in-person and via secure telehealth throughout Virginia. Access to quality mental health care is genuinely limited in many parts of Southwest Virginia — telehealth exists to close that gap.
I work with adults, young adults, and older adolescents navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, relationship struggles, and life transitions. I also work with Veterans through SonderMind and the VA Community Care program.
Twenty years of clinical work. One consistent thread.
I earned my Master of Social Work from West Virginia University and have spent over two decades working with individuals and families — from intensive in-home therapy with New River Valley Community Services, to building New River Healing as a private practice focused on the work I'm most drawn to.
I'm also a father to three kids who have taught me more about presence, repair, and resilience than any training has. We spend as much time as possible in the woods and creeks of Virginia and West Virginia — and occasionally, somewhere much further away.
LCSW #0904012916 · NPI: 1831765783
This practice is not a crisis resource. Here's what is.
If you are experiencing an emergency or feel that you may be at risk of harming yourself or others, please call 911 immediately or go to your nearest emergency room.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: If you are in emotional distress or thinking about suicide, you are not alone. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Support is available 24/7, free and confidential.
This website and my services are not intended for crisis situations. Once you are safe, I'm here.
The first step is just a conversation.
I offer a free initial consultation — no intake forms, no commitment. Just a chance to talk about what you're carrying and whether working together feels like a good fit.
Schedule a free consultation