Philosophy of Care

Peighton Corley is a Resident in Counseling who specializes in work with the transgender community.  Peighton sees clients individually who are 18 years or older.  Other significant clinical focuses include anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, OCD, BPD, and college transitions.  Peighton is passionate about providing sex positive therapy especially for clients interested in or participating in kink and/or non-monogamy.  

Peighton earned their bachelor’s in Psychology at James Madison University where they also studied visual arts and Japanese.  They then earned their Master’s in Clinical Mental Health from Old Dominion University.  They most recently completed their PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from ODU, where their dissertation focused on assessing clinical competency for clinicians working with transgender populations.  Through their studies, mentorships, and life experience, they have developed a praxis deeply rooted in anti-racism, anti-colonialism, anti-capitalism, feminism, and queer critical theory. They identify as non-binary, polyamorous, bisexual, and neurodivergent. They are a practicing Pagan and Hekate devotee and welcome the clients to utilize their spirituality to strengthen their therapeutic gains. Outside of therapy they like to go to raves, draw, play video games, spend time with their dogs, and hassle their partners for sweet treats. 

Peighton primarily utilizes narrative therapy techniques to support building positive self-talk that critically rejects ableism, racism, and cishet-normativity. Peighton also utilizes trauma-informed techniques, behaviorism, DBT, and ACT to address client needs. As a feminist scholar, they believe it is most important to listen and affirm your experiences since evidenced-based practice is often significantly lacking for queer, POC, and femme populations.  

Education

B.A Psychology (James Madison University, 2020) 

M.S.Ed. Clinical Mental Health (Old Dominion University, 2023) 

PhD Counselor Education and Supervision (Old Dominion University, 2026) 

Specialties 

• Gender and sexuality affirming therapies 
• Anxiety and depression 
• Neurodivergence 
• BPD 
• OCD 
• College Transition 

Locations 

Peighton sees clients in-person in the Virginia Beach office and via Telehealth.