Sandcastle Kids Counseling
4388 Holland Rd Suite 110
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
www.sandcastlekidscounseling.com
757-810-7555
Our Staff
Crystal D. Crosby,PhD,RPT,LPC,NCC,CCMHC
I grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina and at a young age developed an unrelenting passion for helping children. This was evident when I started working for the YMCA at the age of 15 as a counselor to elementary school aged children. As my interest grew so did my determination to learn more about psychology and children, therefore I went to Liberty University where I received a Bachelors of Science in Psychology specializing in child development. After graduating I was given an amazing opportunity to work overseas in educating and counseling youth of Botswana regarding HIV/AIDS. After working for over two years I recognized my need to further my education. I received a Master of Arts in professional counseling with a specialization in child therapy and trauma therapy from Richmont Graduate University. I began my work experience at a community mental health facility for three years where I developed a deeper understanding of trauma and how it affects children’s development. I then sought out training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy and received a certification in this field. I moved to Virginia Beach in 2013 were I worked as an in home counselor for a year while I obtained my license. Then I was an outpatient counselor at Coastal Virginia Counseling for over two years before deciding to go out on my own and create my private practice. Through this experiences I have blended my education with my background to develop a culturally appropriate stance to trauma and psychology in children. My passion and desire to help children and families has grown tremendously as I hope to continue my work locally as well as at a global level.
Education: I received a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology at Liberty University in 2005 with a specialization in child development. I then completed a Master of Arts at Richmont Graduate University in Chattanooga, Tennessee in Professional Counseling. I received specializations in child and adolescent therapy as well as trauma therapy. I then completed my PhD in International Psychology with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2020.
Experience: I began my counseling internship at a community mental health facility in Chattanooga Tennessee where I counseled as an outpatient therapist for three years with children and adolescents. I then moved to Virginia where I was an intensive in home therapist for one year with children which lead to counseling in private practice for the last three years for children, adolescents and adults. My theoretical orientation is eclectic, drawing from several diverse counseling theories to meet the needs of each individual client. The base of my theoretical orientation is Cognitive Behavior Therapy which I combine with using art and play in therapy in order to teach everyday coping skills to improve emotional awareness. Person-Centered theory is also incorporated in order to build rapport and trust with each client. Some techniques used in my practice are identifying, challenging and changing distorted cognitions, evaluating self-talk, identifying cause and effect through problem-solving, setting goals, reframing, communication skills and many others. I believe through understanding how our thoughts, feelings and behaviors affect our lives and ways we can control these is essential to overcoming daily challenges.
Credentials: I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2013. I am a National Certified Counselor as well as a Certified Clinical Mental Health Clinician with the National Board for Certified Counselors since 2012. I completed specialized training in becoming a Certified Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapist in 2013 and completed training for supervisors in 2023. I have a PhD in International Psychology with a specialization in Trauma from The Chicago School or Professional Psychology which was completed in 2020. I am a Registerd Play Therapist as of August 2024.
Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor: 0701005637
MAURIE BURTON, RIC, NCC
Maurie specializes in working with children and teens from the age 8 and up, and is truly passionate about utilizing digital play and art interventions into therapy. Maurie also understands how life can sometimes make it difficult to come in in person to a therapy office, so Maurie is passionate about utilizing telehealth therapy for kids and teens to make therapy more accessible. Maurie is a Resident in Counseling with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from zing digital play and art interventions in therapy. Maurie is a local to the Hampton Roads area who adores her two dogs and loves spending time outdoors. Whether you are looking for a counselor for yourself or a loved one, Maurie would love to work with you to build a happy and fulfilling life.
Education: Maurie received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Christopher Newport University in 2017. She then went on to earn her Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University in 2020.
Experience: Maurie began counseling at a small private practice in Norfolk, Virginia for her internship. She then finished her counseling internship at the Regent University Counseling Center where she counseled college students for three semesters. Her theoretical orientation is eclectic, meaning that she’s draw important concepts from several counseling theories so as to best meet the needs of each individual client. The majority of her theoretical orientation is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which she combines with aspects from Psychodynamic Therapy while using creative expression methods such as art and play. She also incorporates concepts from Person-Centered Therapy to build rapport and trust with clients. Some techniques she uses in sessions are identifying, challenging and changing distorted cognitions, evaluating self-talk, identifying cause and effect through problem-solving, setting goals, reframing, improving communication skills and many others. She believes that through understanding how our thoughts, feelings and behaviors affect our lives and ways we can control these as essential to overcoming daily challenges.
Credentials: Maurie has a temporary license as a Licensed Resident in Counseling from the Commonwealth of Virginia which she received in June of 2021. National Certified Counselor from the National Board of Certified Counselors in January of 2022.
Virginia Resident in Counseling License #: 0704014078
Jillian Phillips, LPC
I graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (and a minor in children’s rights) in 2016. In 2021, I obtained a Master of Science in Counseling and Human Development (with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling) at Radford University. In the Fall of 2022, I joined the team at Sandcastle Kids Counseling and received my state counseling license in July 2025. Currently, I am in the final phase of requirements to receive my Registered Play Therapist (RPT) certification.
AREAS OF FOCUS
POPULATION
My training and direct experience have been centered on working with children and their parents using Adlerian Play Therapy, an evidence-based treatment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions are also woven into my approach. Through treatment, I help youth express their feelings, use their voice, and uncover the truth I believe each person holds inside.
LGBTQAI+ COMMUNITY
Whether you are grappling with your gender or sexual identity, journeying the difficult process(es) of “coming out,” or struggling to be accepted by friends and loved ones, you are valid, worthy, and above all deserve a safe space to process what is going on in your life.
GRIEF
Grief is not only felt in the absence of a loved one but also in any major loss in life. These feelings ebb and flow, sometimes you can rest your head just above the surface and other times you may feel as if you’re drowning in the wake of your loss. Processing your grief is not about “overcoming” it or “moving on” but instead about integrating your pain into your life in a way that allows you to move forward.
TRAUMA
Operating primarily from an Adlerian lens, I use play therapy and a variety of play modalities to help your child express the experiences they might not presently be able to verbalize. Through this work, I help your child better understand their emotions, behaviors, and experiences. I also work with parents of youth to help them support their children through this process.
Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor: 0701015105
Ashley Seeley, RIC
Education
Ashley received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology at Old Dominion University in 2019. She then went on to earn her Masters of Science in Education in Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Old Dominion University in 2023.
Experience
While working on her Master’s degree, Ashley completed two semesters of internship at Chesapeake Regional Hospital where she provided both inpatient and outpatient services to various members of the Hampton Roads area. She spent a third semester interning at the Barry Robinson Center, a local youth residential facility.
Ashley primarily uses a combination of person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, and dialectical-behavioral when working with her clients but aims to make each client’s experience in therapy unique and specific to them and their needs. She also likes to incorporate art and play into the therapeutic process whenever she can. Some techniques she often uses are identifying, challenging, and changing distorted cognitions, evaluating self-talk, identifying cause and effect through problem-solving, setting goals, reframing, improving communication skills, and many others. She believes that through understanding how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors affect our lives and ways, we can control these as essential to overcoming daily challenges.
Credentials
Ashley has a temporary license as a Licensed Resident in Counseling from the Commonwealth of Virginia which she received in March of 2024.
Georgia Hronek, RIC
Education
Georgia holds a master’s degree in Counseling in Clinical Mental Health which she received in 2024 and a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish which she received in 2018.
Experience
Georgia has been living in Virginia Beach for the better part of three decades and is grateful to finally be working with children and adolescents as a Resident in Counseling. After completing high school locally, she attended Marymount University in the DMV area of Virginia where she received a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish in 2018. During her senior year of undergrad, she worked with children at a non- profit organization providing preventative services for children. She gained basic familiarity with a facet of child sexual abuse by observing the forensic interviewing of children in alleged sexual abuse cases. During this time she gained more experience with the young child population by facilitating small group playgroups for low- income children.
After graduation, she was employed as a Before and After School Program facilitator with Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation, where she fostered the mental and social development of children at the kindergarten through elementary school level. After this time, she decided to return to school to further her career and be able to work on fostering the development of individuals on a clinical basis.
In 2021, she began her master’s program at Old Dominion University. During the first half of the program, she worked as a preschool teacher, deepening her understanding of early childhood needs and development, and parental discipline strategies. When the internship phase of her master’s program began, she worked as an in- home mental health professional, gaining experience with preteens and families and mental health concerns including suicidality, self- harm, depression and bipolar disorder. She graduated with a M.S.Ed. in Counseling, with a concentration in clinical mental health in 2024. She became a Licensed Resident in Counseling in February of 2025 when she began working at Sandcastle Kids Counseling.
Her style of therapy is eclectic, drawing from many theoretical orientations to work best with the needs of each client. She primarily uses Person-Centered (Rogerian) counseling interventions and techniques from Adlerian Play, and does frequently include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques.
The areas of counseling that she has the most familiarity with include anxiety, depression, suicidality, sexual abuse victims, blended families and working with clients that experience these circumstances comorbid with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD.
Credentials
Georgia has a temporary license as a Licensed Resident in Counseling from the Commonwealth of Virginia which she received in February of 2025. Georgia’s Virginia Licensed Resident in Counseling number is 0704017799.