About Us

Tammy Villines, PsyD Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Villines graduated with her Doctorate Degree in Psychology (PsyD) in 2004 from the American School of Professional Psychology – Arlington, Virginia Campus. She has worked extensively with children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples in community mental health, private practice, and residential treatment settings.

Dr. Villines’ areas of specialty include complex family issues, divorce dynamics, child custody challenges, domestic violence, abuse and trauma, and comprehensive neuropsychological and related assessments. Her clinical work often intersects with the legal and social service systems, and she is experienced in providing expert testimony and/or other forms of client advocacy, as indicated. In addition to those specializations, she has significant experience working with children, adolescents, and adults, as well as with families and couples presenting with a wide range of highly acute and complex to mild and situational clinical issues.

Dr. Villines utilizes an evidence-based and integrative treatment approach, facilitating relational and individualized treatment plans. She incorporates cognitive-behavioral, trauma-informed, family systems, emotional-focused, humanistic, and dialectical behavioral therapy into her practice. Additionally, she provides play therapy to younger clients, or as clinically indicated. Dr. Villines also relies on developmental, neurobiological, and attachment style in understanding individual thinking and behavior.

Dr. Villines practiced in the Washington, D.C. area before relocating to central Virginia in 2019. She started VitalLife Psychology to provide a boutique model of practice, valuing client relationships and clinician availability over patient numbers. She remains committed to that practice model and stays abreast of clinical research outcomes and state and local legislative policies, procedures, and statutes to provide ‘best practice’ care. Her professional affiliations include The American Psychological Association (APA), Society for Couples and Family Psychology, Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists (VACP), Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), Parental Alienation Study Group, National Register of Health Service Psychologists, and The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC). Dr. Villines is also heavily involved in trainings, seminars, and other continuing education opportunities offered by The Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma (IVAT).