Meet Virginia Cardello (she/her), Graduate Student Therapist
Empathetic | Grounded | Resilient
Meet Virginia Cadello
Stepping into therapy requires courage, and finding a supportive space should feel natural and welcoming. Born and raised in Overland Park, my practice as a therapist is built on unconditional empathy, non-judgmental presence, and meeting you exactly where you are in life. Grounded in a growth mindset, I view every setback not as a defeat, but as a new beginning and an opportunity to heal. In a world filled with digital noise, therapy offers a rare, dedicated space to slow down, reset your nervous system, and restore essential human connection. Whether we are utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to restructure unhelpful thoughts, incorporating art-based interventions to foster free expression, or simply holding space when there are no simple answers, I am dedicated to walking alongside you with genuine warmth and curiosity.
My path to becoming a clinician is driven by a deep sense of social responsibility and a desire to serve as a steady, reliable anchor for others. Raised as the oldest sister to three younger brothers and navigating a Catholic education before discovering my own spiritual path, I developed an early foundation in caretaking, resilience, and honoring shared human connection. Having navigated my own personal trials and traumatic events, I bring a deeply empathetic, unshakable perspective to the therapy room, offering a safe, confidential space where clients can speak about heavy experiences they may have never shared out loud before. Currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Psychology and Counseling at Avila University, I bring extensive experience working with college students, families, and diverse populations, with a dedicated focus on trauma-informed care, anxiety, and helping survivors rebuild trust and process deep emotional weight.
Outside the therapy room, I embrace a creative, grounded, and animal-centered lifestyle. Raised by an artistic father, I am an avid artist who loves painting, fine-line marker drawing, and exploring different hands-on media, a passion I often integrate into my clinical work through art therapy practices. A lifelong athlete who played basketball, volleyball, and threw shot put in track, I also carry a deep love for nature, personal spiritual rituals, and an ethical commitment to a vegetarian lifestyle for over ten years. At home, I am a devoted pet parent to my Chihuahua, Minka, and two cats, Aries and Mars. Above all, I strive to live out the same grounded presence and open-mindedness that I bring to my clients, helping you discover your own capacity for resilience, purpose, and self-expression.
Therapy with Virginia: A Safe Space for Healing
My journey toward counseling is based in a lifelong desire to serve as a supportive, compassionate presence for others during life's most pivotal moments. Growing up in Overland Park as the oldest of four siblings, I naturally stepped into a caretaking role early on, helping look after my younger brothers and learning the value of deep family connection. Navigating my own personal trials and traumatic events shaped my unshakable clinical presence—I bring a calm, steady, and entirely non-judgmental environment where you can bring your heaviest burdens without fear of being met with shock or discomfort. My goal is to serve as the first truly safe person with whom you can share experiences you may have never spoken out loud before.
Clinically, I focus on meeting you right where you are, honoring the fact that you are the ultimate expert on your own life. Currently pursuing my Master’s in Psychology and Counseling at Avila University, I bring broad experience working with diverse populations, college students, and families. I specialize in supporting individuals through trauma and anxiety, helping clients break through self-blame, process deep emotional weight, and recognize that setbacks are not defeats, but opportunities for growth and new beginnings.
I draw heavily on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help restructure unhelpful thought patterns and frequently integrate expressive art interventions into sessions. Beyond individual therapy, I am also passionate about working with couples and guiding them toward healthier communication and connection. Whatever brings you into the therapy room, I am dedicated to walking alongside you as you rebuild trust, tap into your innate resilience, and construct a meaningful path forward.
Take the Next Step
Beginning therapy is a powerful investment in yourself, and you don't have to carry your weight alone. Whether you are working through past trauma, managing daily anxiety, navigating major life changes, or simply looking for a calm, non-judgmental space to express yourself freely, I am here to walk alongside you.
Sessions with me are $75, and I have a limited number of sliding scale sessions available each week.
Virginia Outside the Therapy Room
When she isn’t practicing therapy, Virginia prioritizes a grounded, creative, and relaxed lifestyle. Inspired by her father who studied art, she has been painting and making art for as long as she can remember. Lately, she enjoys working with fine-line markers, pen, and paper to create detailed drawings and explore different media, a creative passion she loves bringing into the clinical space through art therapy card decks and hands-on expression.
Virginia is a lifelong athlete who grew up playing basketball, volleyball, and running cross country, as well as competing in track as a shot put thrower. Deeply connected to nature, personal spiritual practices, and mindfulness rituals, she has also been a dedicated vegetarian for ten years out of a deep love for animals and environmental ethics. At home, she is a proud pet parent to a Chihuahua named Minka and two cats, Aries and Mars. Above all, Virginia values hands-on creativity, personal growth, and bringing the same calm, humble, and open-minded energy to her daily life as she does to her therapy sessions.
