St. Mary of Sorrows
Counseling Services
Primary Mission:
To facilitate healing growth, and wholeness.
Our staff are trained and experienced mental health professionals dedicated to providing counseling and psychotherapy within a context of Christian values, respect and empathy.
Hours: Are by appointment: weekdays, evenings and Saturday. Call counselors directly to make an appointment, or for more information.
Current Counseling Staff
Kathleen E. Scheg, JD, LCPC (MD), NCC ((703) 568-0525 uses her creativity, engaging style and heart centered presence to help clients heal, create more loving and fulfilling lives, and contribute to society. Ms. Scheg specializes in using mind-body-spirit approaches to address issues such as depression and anxiety, and also to promote personal transformation. She leads Releasing and Transforming Anger (RTA) groups, provides Core Career Counseling, and empowers clients with traumatic childhood histories. Ms. Scheg has empowered individual and groups to achieve their goals for over 25 years. Prior to becoming a pastoral counselor, Ms. Scheg was an attorney specializing in health care, and served in the Archdiocese of Washington and the Diocese of Richmond. She is a former Sister of Mercy.
Dick Schaad, MS (703) 569-9376 is a parishioner for 15 years, married and the father of six. He graduated as a Pastoral Counselor from Loyola College in Maryland in 1997, and joined St. Mary’s staff at that time. He welcomes couples, families, individuals and has special training in helping victims of sexual abuse.
Mary Ellen Ruff, LPC, ATR-BC (703) 303-4983 is a graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School’s Graduate Art Therapy Program. She has worked for the past 10 years with children, adolescents and adults, at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington and the Inova Kellar Center. Currently, Ms. Ruff is the Coordinator of the Family Drug Treatment Court in the City of Alexandria. She uses a combination of art therapy and counseling to address issues such as depression, social skills, anxiety, substance abuse, and trauma.
Psychiatric consultation is available on request.
We are available to help with:
Depression and loneliness Marital distress Life transitions
Anxiety and stress Family relations Personal growth and life goals
Anger Parent/child difficulties Interpersonal problems
Abuse Separation and divorce Low self esteem
Addictions Domestic violence Career counseling
Grief and loss ACOA/ACDF Personal work problems
Trauma Peer relationships Leadership development